Say goodbye to September

I hope your yard hasn't been visited by frost yet. Mine hasn't and hopefully won't be for a while yet. The term "frost" refers to temperatures right at or just below 32 degrees. A "killing frost" means the temperature is 28 degrees or below.

Many of us save seeds from our favorite annuals. Be sure to do this right away. Carefully cut them off the plant. Bring indoors and spread on a pie plate or something with edges. Let dry several days, then put into zip lock bags and store in the refrigerator until early next spring.

Please don't get in a hurry to take those hummingbird feeders down. Even though the birds you fed this summer may have headed south, others will be coming through from farther north in Idaho and Canada. They will appreciate a place to "fuel up" for their journey.

Speaking of birds, there are many songbirds who stay here all winter. A feeder full of their favorite seeds will be much appreciated. Be sure to hang it near cover ... thick shrubs or dense trees. The birds will feel much safer from a sudden hawk attack.

If you're looking for another chore, go ahead and dig up those gladiola bulbs. These are the easiest of the bulbs to store over winter. Just clean the dirt off, put them into a mesh bag or old nylon stocking and hang in a cool dark place until spring.

Dahlia tubers are much trickier to winter. If they get too dry, they'll shrivel up and die. If they get too damp, they'll rot. Nevertheless, they are worth trying to save. Once the tops freeze, give them a week or 10 days to move their energy down to the bulbs. Dig, knock off the dirt and store in whatever works for you. I have the best luck with wood shavings in individual small paper bags. Be sure to check them once or twice during the winter to see how they're doing. Spray with a bit of water if they're looking dry. Leave the bag open a while if they look too wet.

For those folks who haven't yet applied their fall lawn fertilizer, do it soon. This is the most important one as it prepares them for winter and readies them to get started in early spring.

Keep your eye on the forecasts. Once they tell you that the night is going to go below freezing, go ahead and pick those tomatoes. Those that have grown to full size will ripen and turn red without much effort. Just bring them inside to a warm room. Place them in a single layer and check often for the ripe ones.

Also, take cuttings of those favorite coleus plants before they freeze. Then pull off the bottom leaves and put the cuttings into a jar of water. They will root quickly. As soon as the roots are an inch long, pot each into a 4-inch pot using good potting soil. Keep in a sunny window during winter.

For the garlic lovers, now is the time to get those planted. Each clove can be taken apart and the pieces planted with the pointed sides up. Garlic is one of those things that people either like or hate. There isn't any in between.

I read this a while back and it gave me a chuckle, so I'm sharing it. "Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the snake and the snake didn't have a leg to stand on." Cute, huh?

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.