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October 2002, Vol 1 Issue 16 Purdue Extension GardenTIPS E-NewsletterWelcome to the Garden TIPS E-Newsletter. Listed below are tips and links to articles. Follow the links to the GardenTIPS Web site for more information and links at: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/ ===================================================== Much
Ado About Leaves Ah, the beauty of Mother Nature's palette coming to life in the fall color of our forest and landscape plants. For some, this marvel is overshadowed by the chores of raking and disposing of fall leaves. What's needed here is an attitude adjustment! Autumn leaves don't have to become trash. On the contrary, they easily can be turned into valuable soil-enhancing organic matter. For many urban dwellers, who already have their yard waste picked up by the city, this service is likely to continue. Many communities compost their leaves and make the finished compost available to their citizens. Compost improves soil aeration, moisture retention and drainage, and nutrient-holding capabilities. For those who do not have the luxury of yard waste pick up, there are several ways to manage tree leaves at home. Green-thumbed gardeners long have known the value of recycling plant material. Dry leaves can be plowed or tilled under in the vegetable or annual flower bed in fall to provide a source of organic matter. Shredding the leaves first will speed the breakdown so that the leaves will not be visible by spring. Be sure to mix the leaves into the soil, rather than leaving them on top through the winter, to avoid keeping the soil too cold and wet to work in the spring. Full Story, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/leaves.html ===================================================== Fall Ideal for
Planting Trees Because spring is the time for new growth, most people think of planting trees and shrubs then. But cool temperatures and adequate rainfall make fall a good time to plant as well. The soil may be warmer and less damp than in the spring, and you may have more time to get the job done in fall. Fall-planted stock does demand extra attention. Plants may not have enough time to establish a good root system before winter hits. Cold winter winds and sunshine cause plants to lose water from their branches, and the roots must be able to replace that water if plants are to survive. Evergreens, particularly broad-leaved evergreens, are more susceptible to winter desiccation because their leaves have more surface from which to lose water than narrow-leaved evergreens and bare trees. Select balled-and-burlapped or container-grown plants rather than bare-rooted stock. Bare-root plants should only be planted in late winter or early spring while the plants are still dormant. Full Story, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/falltreeplanting.html ===================================================== More Information on: Visit the GardenTIPS Web site
for more information and links: ===================================================== GardenTIPS is a Purdue University Extension gardening Web site. This E-Newsletter is sent out twice a month. Browse our garden tips, information, and links at: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/. If you are having trouble receiving this E-Newsletter, please contact the list owner at: extension@purdue.edu If you wish to unsubscribe or switch to the HTML version, go to the Garden TIPS Subscription page at: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/subscribe.html. |