Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Monday September 21, 2009

Sunday, September 20, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Monday September 21, 2009

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Q&A: Using Landscape Fabric for Winter Mulch

Question: After the growing season, can I put black landscape fabric over my perennials? Will the fabric hurt the perennials if they are covered for about five months? I'm hoping to stay ahead of winter weeds. I plan on rolling back the fabric once the weather gets warm again.

Answer: Rather than landscape fabric, which might smother some of the more sensitive perennials, you might simply use a layer of several inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark or chopped leaves. Place the mulch around but not quite touching the plants' crowns. This would inhibit those early weeds and also feed the soil as it breaks down. It can easily be brushed aside or, if fairly decomposed, dug into the soil when you add plants in the spring. The other option is to permanently install landscape fabric over the whole bed, cutting holes for the plants and covering the fabric with a thin layer of decorative mulch.

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Q&A: Pumpkins Turn to Mush

Question: Last year, we grew beautiful pumpkin vines and fruit, but when went to harvest them (before the first frost) the pumpkins had turned to mush. What did we do wrong, and how can we prevent this from happening again?

Answer: When fruit is in contact with moist soil for long periods of time, rot organisms such as phytophthora blight can cause problems. Soft sunken spots form where the fruit touches the soil, and if the conditions are good for the fungus, it can cause complete collapse of the fruit. The rot can also start where the fruit has been wounded by pests or rough handling. To minimize the problem, prop the pumpkins up off the ground with bricks or other braces so they are not in contact with moist soil. Use care when doing this, though, so you don't break the vines or crack the stems.

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Tip: Repot Primroses

In warm winter areas repot English primroses for flowering in fall and winter. Repot primroses in a new clay pot one size larger than the old one with fresh soil, and add a time-release fertilizer such as Osmocote.

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors