November 2002, Vol 1 Issue 19

Purdue Extension GardenTIPS E-Newsletter

Welcome 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/

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Plants prepare for winter by slowing down, and so does GardenTIPS.
Starting with this issue, the E-Newsletter will be sent once a month until spring.
Please continue to visit us through the winter as we post the same useful information!

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Preparing the Garden for Winter
Rosie Lerner, Purdue Consumer Horticulture Specialist

Many of us gardeners have mixed feelings about this time of year: sad to see another garden year draw to a close, but at the same time relieved to get a break from the chores of weeding, watering, pruning and more weeding. But before you hibernate, there are still a few more chores to take care of outdoors.

Winter mulch isn't necessary for all garden plants, but it can mean survival for some less hardy plants. Winter mulch has a different purpose than summer mulch. The main benefits of winter cover are to protect against wide temperature fluctuations in the soil and to prevent extreme cold temperatures from harming plants.

Soil tends to heave when subjected to wide temperature changes, pushing plant roots up out of the ground. Heaving is most harmful to relatively shallow-rooted plants, such as strawberries and newly planted specimens of any kind that have not yet had a chance to develop solid footing. Winter mulch also prevents extreme cold damage to above-ground plant parts.

Full Story, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/preparingforwinter.html

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Where Chocolate Comes From
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/chocolate.html
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Late Season Tips on Lawn Maintenance
Zac Reicher, Purdue University Turfgrass Specialist

Though lawns take very little work at this time of the year, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to help insure the health of your lawn.

Keep mowing well into the fall, as long as the grass keeps growing or as long as tree leaves keep falling on your lawn.
Fertilize in November after growth has slowed or stopped but while it is still green. Use a quick-release form of nitrogen (I like urea) and apply 1.0-1.5 lbs N/1000 sq. ft.
Rake off, or preferably, mulch the tree leaves to prevent them from smothering the turf.
Minimize or eliminate traffic on the lawn after it has stopped growing because it cannot heal itself during the winter. This is especially true on frosty mornings while the grass is still green.
Instead of piling snow into one large pile at the end of the driveway or walk, try to spread the snow more evenly on the lawn. This will help to prevent snow mold.

More Fall Lawn Tips, http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/index.html

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November Garden Calendar
http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/calendar.html
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More Information on:
Garden Flowers: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/flowers.html
Landscape Plants: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/landscape.html
Lawn Care: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/lawn.html
Fruits & Vegetables: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/fruits.html
Insects, Pests, & Diseases: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/insects.html
Indoor Plants: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/indoor.html

Visit the GardenTIPS Web site for more information and links:
http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/

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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.