Home & Garden

Even now, your tomatoes may reach for the sky or wither as the days get shorter.

If you've been landing since April, chances are you're feeling tired and ready to hang up or don't want to stop at all. Wouldn't a fresh plum be good here? What happens if you separate that comma and put it on the west side? How can I get more shade, more light, fountains, asparagus beds...? Yes, gardening is addictive.

Because every year is different. Constant experimentation, digging and making mistakes is what makes gardening fun.

So, if you want to enjoy the rest of the long days and prepare for success or perhaps next summer's surprises, here are 30 quick jobs for you. If it's too hot outside or the full moon is keeping you awake, there are a few things you can do at home. There are those who run out into the open air as soon as it gets dark and the bees go home or early in the morning. Finally, there are a few essential tools and plants to help you dream for the coming year. Most of them can be walked in 15 minutes.

interior

Order or buy autumn bulbs. Get it done ASAP before your local garden center and best mail order stores sell out. Try irises (also known as reticulated) or crocuses for early flowering and daffodils for midsummer (they bloom more reliably than many tulips). Onions come in so many different sizes, colors, and flowering periods that you'll be spoiled for choice, but you can't go wrong. Or choose the Siberian Iris, which is about half the size of the traditional bearded iris and slightly more drought tolerant than the regular bearded iris. Be sure to include a few species that your pollinators will enjoy.

Write down. What specifically did you develop this year, where and when? From seeds or seedlings? For example, I grow Hakurai radishes, which have a sweet, mild taste like radishes. But I realized too late and didn't give him enough space and sunlight. Remember, if you can, when and where you planted; If you like something but don't really like it, try moving it to next year. (Personally, I should grow fewer tomatoes).

Make a list of garden tools that need to be replaced, repaired, sharpened, or improved. Perhaps you need a new raincoat, tiles, or a birdbathing fountain.

Defrost and clean out the extra freezer to make room for this summer's groceries and look for science projects that might be lurking there. (Depending on the size of your freezer, this could take longer, as I discovered when my freezer recently broke down during a brave service.) And why not share your old leftovers in the comments below?

Clear the seed storage. As a rule, seeds last longer in Colorado. But anything over five years old can be hopped guilt-free, and for best germination, don't store it for more than a few years. Set aside any groups of early fall plants you think you might want to grow.

Mulch is used. Whether you choose fine gravel, cedar, or recycled rubber, mulching isn't the only secret to cutting down on watering. It also protects plants from extreme temperatures by keeping the soil warm longer.

Sprinkler System Maintenance, Repair, or Upgrade Schedule . Or, if you have a DIY system, evaluate how your current method works (or doesn't) and order the parts. Think of smarter and more efficient systems.

Contact the landscape company about a renovation they want to do in 2023. Their schedules are often scheduled months in advance, especially now that the pandemic has turned home into a workplace. Consider three things: the size and complexity of your project; own experience and willingness to spend time on service; How much can you spend? Get recommendations from neighbors and local garden centers. Finally, don't waste your time with a person who can't or won't answer all of your questions or talk to you like a reasonable adult.

If you have a medium to large tree that has not been felled recently, contact a certified arborist to make an appointment. They probably want to wait until the tree sheds its leaves and goes completely dormant to prune or prune.

a) receive information about insect pests and diseases; b) take advantage of free or cheap lessons; c) Research new plants before buying. Certain types of trees, for example, may need more wind protection than others, may be toxic to pests, or may be a Goldilocks choice for your garden. The same for Plant Select highlights trees, shrubs and flowering plants that grow well in unique soil and climate conditions.

in the world with a wallet

Replace broken one . The hose finally came off and an even more annoying leak appeared? Did the end of an old rusty metal shovel break off from your yard? Take the checklist from the gadget assessment task and go shopping. Secondhand stores like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and ARC sometimes come across good gadgets that someone broke during an upgrade. Look at you, my new lawn.

Even if you have a sprinkler system, watering kits are not suitable for the Colorado gardener. Our salsa dances on ice every day. If you're trying to conserve as much water as possible - which, if true, is a great feature for you - you still need to feed some of the plants a little to get them in order. Try what I call a "thrifty girl drip" - two nesting buckets, one with a small hole in the bottom. fill the bucket to the top of the leak; Take it to the factory and repair any leaks.

Buy trees, shrubs and perennials . Any suggestions! In autumn, the earth retains summer warmth. You may need to re-wet the potting soil and replace it soon to regain strength, so buy some good potting soil in the meantime. Perennials and shrubs planted in September will get off to a great start the following spring and bloom next year. An important exception: many conifers, especially dwarf ones.

Trade snacks and seeds with your friends ! Besides being free, these kids can't be abandoned like some supermarket survivors. And watching these treasures flourish will remind you that gardening is as much social as it is solitary.

Submit a page image . Winter is coming and it's mostly gray and brown. It's time to dig out the metal or stone exterior accessories. If you think garden art is boring, consider plants that add color and interest in winter. Try red-twig dogwood or tall ornamental grasses. or brilliant golden thuja. (Landscape snobs call them "everyone" because everyone has them, but for good reason: being happy is easy.)

Art. root irrigation. If you are planting trees this fall, remember that they need drip irrigation the most. So find an auger that goes into the soil close to, but not over, the roots, or something like a TreeGator that you quickly fill with a hose and then move on.

damper hose. I replaced my broken foam hose with Melnor's durable canvas hose and tried the 25' and 50' versions. There is no jury yet, but it is easy to handle, carry and store.

tubers! While there may be many options for mail-order homes, check with your local independent garden center first. Running one of these businesses is not for the faint of heart. They are highly seasonal and may be affected by higher utility and equipment costs. The second option is an online store focused on the intermountain western region.

Be sure to visit regional public parks such as the Denver Botanic Gardens and smaller parks in your city. The end of summer is often marked by the sale of plants. While you're at it, get a membership.

In the garden

Dead, dead, dead (if we are not talking about roses with blackberries - pods that form at the base of previous flowers - decorative). One large bush or three small bushes can be destroyed in 15 minutes. Dead head prevents flowers from blooming at the end of the season. Continue dead watering.

Bunker battle . If grasshoppers have become a plague in your home, try EcoBran, a low-concentration insecticide that USDA studies have shown to be safe for bees and birds. you can't buy Bookmark Pages and set a calendar alert so you can get there early next year; The grasshopper is most effective at a young age. If your plants thrive on small pests, try to reduce the area (apparently, they consider lemon balm a nursery).

Hunt or scare off annoying bees . Yellow Vests love to get drunk this time of year, so if they try to sneak into the Wine Down Party or Wednesday Ice Cream Party, grab a few traps and keep them away from the gathering place. Look for places where you can see other bee nests. But if you don't mind this garden predator, mark its location and leave it alone for now; Among their prey were locusts. And in no case spoil the beneficial parasites of bees and queen bees.

Clean out the birdbath. He said enough! If the birds don't come, try inexpensive solar-powered fountains. The gardener told me that birds like noisy water.

Weed control . Capped seed flies on the wind, my friend, you don't answer. If we're lucky and it rains a lot, we'll get out and dig up something with roots.

Speaking of digging, if you're planning a new garden, loosen up the dirt or grass and get to work. Yes, I said stay away. I learned this technique by making scary clay and being lazy. If you simply destroy the root-clay mat and leave it open for a week or three, the next digging session will be easier because time, sunlight and (hopefully) rain will continue to destroy it. The same applies to digging a hole for a new bush or tree.

Start using fall fertilizer for shrubs and perennials . Feeding in the fall simply means it's time for the plants to flower and grow their roots as deep as possible; It continuously nourishes the micro-organisms that help provide plant roots with nutrients from the soil. I have had great success with Santa Fe Landscaper's Yum Yum Mix Winterizer.

Garage cleaning . Yes, I know it's the worst job. Garages have become cultural spaces where we get rid of old things and stop projects to forget about them. But do you really want to do it in bad weather? Instead, tackle it now as the three-day weekend approaches and you might have a day to half-finish something. Find a rake. Sharpen your blade. Get rid of the clutter. confuse? Tackle one small area at a time—or hire a job to complete it.

Wash windows and screens . Worst second job ever! But with the autumn season of trees comes the season of open windows. Divide and conquer again, one window. Clean the road, fill it with the right oil, and check the locks, seals and connecting rods while you have time to assess the condition and fix any problems before wind and snow ruin them.

Wait. same. going to cut a wreath . Stand in the sun and eat shiny little tomatoes warmed by the sun. If possible, do the tasks on this list at a meditative pace, watching the sunrise or feeling the cool night air blow from the city. Here you live among stones, sand, mud and amazing beauty. Watch this. No, I've already seen it. Put your to-do list aside and take the time to plan for the upcoming season and enjoy the bounty of late summer. Focus on what makes you feel a little better and let go of everything else. being young Lying on the ground and looking at the insects.

So remember the garden: its small, modest, place of honor. Take part in everything that happens under heaven.

love the world.

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