It's flannel sheet time
Summer may be over ... too bad the work isn't. As usual, we have plenty to do in the yard and garden.
Late September and early October are the best times to do the last lawn fertilization. Instead of using a "balanced" fertilizer, use one with a smaller middle number. The last mowing should be quite short, about 1 1/2" to 2" high.
If you have persistent weeds such as ground morning glory, fall is one of the best times to spray them. If Roundup isn't working, try Brush Killer. Paint each stub as soon as you cut it. This will kill anything short of a steel post.
To get those green tomatoes to ripen, you need to be mean. Let the plants go dry until they start to wilt before watering. Also take a sharp shovel and jab down in a few places around the edges. These steps will stress the plant and it will realize it needs to get those "fruits" ripe before it croaks!
Hopefully you haven't had any frost yet. Because we've been going later before the cold hits, our area has been changed from zone 5 to zone 6. For many years, the average first frost would hit around Sept. 15. Now, it often doesn't arrive until some time in early October.
There is a big difference between a "frost" and a "killing frost." The first is a night that barely gets down to 32 degrees and nips only the tenderest of plants. A killing frost is when the temperature gets down to 28 degrees, or below. That will turn all but the hardiest of plants black.
I was asked recently what to do with Oriental lilies after they bloom. They are easy care ... just wait until the leaves/stalks turn brown, then cut those to the ground. Next spring, carefully dig in some balanced fertilizer when you see new growth.
Other tall beauties are not so easy. Take dahlias, for instance. These need to be dug up and the big tubers kept over winter. Wait until about 10 days after a hard frost turns the leaves black. This gives the plant time to move all the energy down to the roots. Then dig them up. Don't wash the dirt off as they rot easily. Instead, let it dry, shake it off, then store in whatever works for you. I recommend some type of wood shavings and paper bags. Write the name/color on each if you have more than one type. Store indoors over the winter in a cool area that does not freeze such as a crawl space or an interior garage wall - next to the house.
There are other bulbs that need to be dug and stored as they won't survive our North Idaho winters. These include gladiolas, canna lilies and calla lilies.
If you've been "summering" your tropical houseplants outdoors, be sure to bring them back inside before the first frost hits. Any temperature under 50 degrees is too cold for them. If you feel the need for long sleeves, it's time.
Most of us enjoy watching the birds, especially during winter. Clean those feeders, fill them up with goodies and hang them out. Songbirds like to stay near cover, so locate your feeder close to a dense shrub or evergreen so they can dive in when a hawk threatens.
When you see spring flowering bulbs for sale, you might want to buy a few extras to "force." Pot them, then create a false winter by keeping them refrigerated for several weeks. Once they start to grow, bring them out and enjoy their blooms.
If you have a dog, you'll enjoy the sign I recently saw. It said, "Take off your shoes, the dog needs something to chew on."
Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. Since then, she has always kept a garden of some sort, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and house plants. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.