September To-Do List

Enjoy your local garden centers and farmers' markets in the fall

Fall is the best time for planting many things. The soil is still warm from the summer, we’re getting cooler air temperatures, and the summer drought seems to be over. The University of Maryland Extension and our friends at Jonathan Green agree that now is the time for fertilizing and seeding the lawn. When seeding, we recommend the Black Beauty line of grass seed. Use a seed starting fertilizer and consider Mag-i-cal to help bolster your soil’s pH and overall health.  Choose the seed that fits your landscape, be it shady, sunny or a little of each. The dark green grass that emerges in 14-21 days from seed will overwinter providing a nice-looking lawn for spring. If grass seed isn’t necessary, give your lawn a fall feeding of fertilizer to boost the lawn with nitrogen for greening and potassium for overall grass health.

Like grass seed, consider sowing wildflower seed now too. You’ll need to do it soon, though. Ideally sow seed 8 weeks before a killing frost.

Plant a tree. The saying goes that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. Trees I planted 20 years ago have created summer shade, winter protection from the wind and year-round beauty. I use Bartlett Tree Experts to thin out the trees and to remove any dying branches or branches that get in the way of mowing and gardening. My yard does not have room for one more tree, but if it did, I’d plant one now. Go with Native trees like Redbuds and exotic trees like Japanese maples. The varieties are endless. Dig a hole wider than the root ball, but no deeper. Add some Biotone transplant fertilizer and compost or soil amendment like LeafGro around the sides of the root ball. Make sure the trunk flare is visible above the soil line after mulch is added. Water weekly (more if the temperatures are up) until the soil freezes.

My neighbor's Crepe Myrtle has beautiful fall leaf color and bark texture

Perennials are great to plant now. Consider adding some natives for the pollinators as they migrate south. For butterflies, Goldenrod seems to be a favorite. Birds feast on dogwood berries and Winterberry hollies. Our local Audubon Society is a good resource for information on specific birds’ diet and habitat preferences. Stake your tall, fall bloomers like dahlias and salvias. Add some of the compost leftover from planting to top dress your gardens, Well-rotted manures work well as compost too.

Solidago/Golden Rod provides for Monarchs during migration

Mums are the stars of the fall garden. They work out well as perennials if they get in the ground soon. Kept in pots until they are finished blooming, mums are a seasonal spot of color on the porch and patio. They will not generally overwinter in pots. 

Choose mums that have just started to bloom

Pansies are great for fall color and will rebloom come late winter and early spring. While they may not overwinter in pots, similar to the mums, they do overwinter if planted in the ground. Area landscapers will plant pansies and their viola cousins for late color now and early color in spring. 

Freeze or can some of summer’s bounty. Freeze cherry and plum tomatoes whole. The University of Maryland has all sorts of tips for harvesting and preserving herbs and vegetables.

Harvest green tomatoes before frost. Store them at room temperature in brown paper bags.

My tomatoes may not ripen in time. Into paper bags they go!

Plant vegetables for fall harvest. It may be late for Brussels Sprouts, but plenty of time for kale, spinach, Swiss chard and root crops like beets and radishes.

Start or refresh a compost. Mine is just a woven wire fence staked on four corners. Fill it with alternating layers of green grass clippings, and brown leaves. Use a garden fork to turn weekly. Add the compost to your garden next spring or summer.

Get ready to dig up summer bulbs after the first light frost. Cannas, begonias, dahlias, gladiolus will not survive overwinter if the temperatures fall below 0 degrees F. 

Plant spring blooming bulbs once the ground is cooler, usually in mid-October- November. Tulips, daffodils, crocus, alliums and scores of other bulbs planted in the fall will provide beautiful color come spring. 

Trowel, auger, or bulb planters come in handy this time of year. 

Houseplants that have summered outside should be acclimated to lower light levels outside before moving them. Clean off leaves with a light mixture of mild soap and water. Then spray them with either Horticultural Oil and/or Insecticidal Soap.

The Z Z looks like an angel with the light over the pot

Ficus and Pachira enjoying their indoor home

Leave the leaves. In garden beds, they will suppress weeds and will serve as a habitat for frogs, turtles, birds, lizards and beneficial insects through the winter. In lawns, mow the leaves with the grass. Add leaves to the compost pile as well. Leaves add nutrients to the soil making it healthier as they decay.

Most importantly, enjoy the colors, temperatures and unhurriedness of fall. It's time to take it easy. Just ask your plants. 

 

 

Plant of the Week: Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, is native to the Southern Coastal Plains in the southeastern United States, growing in the swamps in Worcester and Wicomico Counties on the Eastern Shore.

The unique conifer is deciduous in winter

The northern-most stand of Bald Cypress are on the western shore of Maryland in Calvert County. 100 acres of land known as the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp has been preserved by the state with help from the Nature Conservancy. A boardwalk allows visitors to walk through the swamp safely; as far as I know, we don't have to watch for alligators. Take a look at this link to the Maryland Biodiversity Project for more about Taxodium distichum in Maryland. 

Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

I had seen these cypress somewhere before. On a visit to Magnolia Plantation outside of Charleston, SC several years ago, two of us were astounded at the amount of birds, turtles, frogs and other wildlife that called these cypress swamps their home.

Early March in South Carolina

The deciduous conifers send up knobby trunks in large colonies around the trees, both underwater and in wet soil.

Distinctive 'knobby knees' protrude in wet soil in Calvert County, MD

'Knobs' grow in water as well in this South Carolina Swamp

 I was surprised to find that we sell the Bald Cypress in both our nursery and water garden areas. It turns out that they are highly adaptable to wet or dry soils. Large trees in large pots are available for delivery and planting. 

We sell a limited number of the distinctive tree

See smaller pots of trees in our water garden area. 

The narrow bright green leaves turn orange in the fall before falling off. The tree will grow to about 70 feet with spread of 30 feet. The tree features a high canopy, making it nice to walk and stand beneath. Bald Cypress can grow in standing water and tolerate dry soil. It is a very adaptable plants. 

Follow this link for more information on Taxodium distichum from Plant Finder.

To access information on other trees, shrubs, and perennials, go to our website and click on Plant Finder.  

Photos on this blog are from J Gannon and C Engel. 

Seminars and Workshops for Fall

 Our speakers are excited to bring seminars back this fall. Bonsai classes are the first Saturday of each month, others are on Saturdays unless noted. Please see our Instagram and facebook pages for updates or call 410-527-0700. All are free to attend, requiring no pre-registration. 

September 7, 9 am      Bonsai Forest Planting Demonstration All bonsai classes are presented by Martha     Meehan of Meehan's Miniatures. 

Bonsai forest grouping

Saike, forest and slab grouping are the subjects of Martha Meehan's demonstration.  Learn how best to group and style bonsai while finding out which trees are most suitable for this project. 

 September 14, 9 am    Fall Garden and Container Designs Demonstration

Freshen up fall perennial gardens and containers with the addition of autumn blooms and color. We’ll also look at trees and shrubs to add to containers and landscapes now.

 September 28, 9 am    Fall Lawn Clinic

Brian Brannan, Garden Shop Manager

Fall is the BEST time to seed a new lawn or repair an existing one. Our experts will discuss which fertilizers, seed and weed control to use for fantastic results now and next spring.

 October 5, 9 am    Bonsai Show and Tell

 Bonsai from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

It’s your turn to take the stage and show us your own bonsai tree. Everyone is encouraged to share their projects, telling us a bit about them and bask in the glory of your accomplishments. The Plant of the Month will be determined from the Show and Tell today.

 Wednesday, October 2, 10 am    Arrival of the Giant Pumpkin

Seth unloading last year's "Aunt Lisa"

How big will it be this year? Over 1,000 pounds? 2,000 pounds? Be here when the Giant Pumpkin arrives! Guess how many seeds are in this year’s pumpkin and record it in our book. We will count the seeds on October 26 at noon to find the winner and award gift cards.

October 19, 11 am-4 pm      Ask the Expert---Bartlett Tree Experts

John is president of The Maryland Arborist Association

John Davis from Bartlett Tree Experts is here to answer any questions you may have about tree and shrub care, including pruning, insect and disease management and general landscape maintenance. Bring in photos, leaves or branches for a free diagnosis. Bartlett Tree Experts partner with Valley View Farms to provide care and information about trees and shrubs in our community.

 October 26, 12-2 pm    Owl-O-Ween

Kathy (second from left) and others from Phoenix Wildlife Center

Fascinated by owls? Join us for a close look at these magnificent birds and learn more about their habitat from Kathy Woods and volunteers from The Phoenix Wildlife Center. Phoenix Wildlife Center is dedicated to the rehabilitation and return to the wild of owls and other wildlife.

 October 26, 12 noon    Great Pumpkin Seed Contest

Tom, Tim and Nick

Tom Tasselmyer, WBAL's Chief Meteorologist, Laurie and other members of the Tasselmyer family, count the seeds in the giant pumpkin. Guesses have been made through the month. Once counted, we will find the winning guesses and award a $300. Valley View Farms Gift Card for 1st place, $200. for 2nd and $100. for 3rd. Good luck to all!

November 2, 9 am    Winter Bonsai Care

As Old Man Winter approaches, care of both indoor and outdoor bonsai take center stage. Martha will discuss methods used to keep bonsai happy and healthy through the next few months. Our Plants of the Month are Citrus.

 November 2, 11 am    Winterizing the Water Garden

Winter is just around the corner. Tim McQuaid will provide tips to keep the pond healthy, the fish safe and the plants resting until the spring thaw.

 December 7, 9 am     Bonsai--- All about Pines

Martha Meehan will identify various types of pines and discuss their unique characteristics and care. Our Plant of the Month-- you guessed it, Pine.

 December 7, 11 am    Winter Porch Pot Designs

Join us for some ideas on how to create container evergreen designs and displays that will knock your stockings off just in time for holiday decorating outside. Guest speaker Claire Jones provides our inspiration.

Please join us and share ideas that you may have for future seminars and speakers. Thank you. 

 

Horticulture's Premier International Meeting Columbus, Ohio 2024

 Cultivate '24 has come to an end. This amazing horticultural trade show, education venue, and networking event is an annual tradition for our grower, John Miller and me. We look for trends, new and improved plants, better ways to display, how to interact with social media and so much more. Here are some of the things we did over the 4 days of the event. 

On day 1, an all day workshop on creating content and sharing it on social media was attended by people from all over the U S and the world. Led by Kate Dubow, Clint Albin, Katie Elzer-Peters and Maria Failla,

we toured a cool garden center, Groovy Plants Ranch, first. It's hard not to compare this grower/garden center with our own. Their site was flat, (ours is not), and concentrated on houseplants, succulents, annuals, tropicals and a limited selection of  perennials. Easy to navigate and full of surprises, it was a joy to tour and talk about with the owners and members of our group. I've been here several times and have watched it grow. Groovy Plants Ranch lives up to its name creating a groovy vibe in it's surroundings. 

Beautiful gardens border the entrance...love the VW bus

This beetle has a fairy garden 

A potting area for DIYers 

One of my team members

Worth a visit 

We boarded the bus and headed to an award-winning landscapers' home.  Nick and Allison McCullough allowed us into their home landscape to view a remarkable site where entertainment areas, vegetable gardens, and other areas had their own 'rooms' divided by walls of green. 

Landscaper Nick McCullough

Nick says the lawn will go as his children grow; for now it serves as a play area for them between all the garden spaces at their home and their parents' home next door. 

Border planting between neighbors (family)

The landscape is still young. I loved their use of strong foliage elements in the containers and the color palate of green, gray and burgundy/purple. This unified the yard and house time after time. 

Loved the purple and gray accent plants and planters 

Foliage first for color, texture and design

Easy to maintain plantings between walkway and house

More gray accents with watering cans

Seating in the shade under topiary tree planting

Fun metal accents throughout the landscapes

Living walls open to a bridge to Mom's house

Upon our return to the convention center, we all shared Instagram stories and reels from our visits to the two stops earlier in the day. 

Up next, I will share some plant photos from the show and from our local trial gardens.

Mom's garden is beautiful as well 

 This book, authored by our hosts, provides wonderful inspiration to those of us who wish for help in designing our own home gardens.