THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510130096
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
LAST SUNDAY afternoon was beautiful - but not too warm, sunny and bright. A great day for working in your yard or garden, which is what I did.
As I worked, I thought about how important fall is to gardening. And how many people do not do nearly enough in the fall but put it off until spring. Here are some of my ``fall thoughts.''
My beds are filled with young weeds, especially chickweed. Virginia Tech specialists say many weeds, including Bermuda grass, are growing so fast that they will absorb Roundup faster this time of year, resulting in a better kill.
Now is the time to check your beds for tiny weeds and spray with Roundup, Kleenup or any other herbicide containing glyphosate.
A couple of visitors have recently commented, ``Your grass sure looks a lot better than mine.'' It made me ask myself why. I answered the comments by saying, ``It never gets watered.'' And that's possibly the reason it looks better now. Flower beds at our place are watered by automatic irrigation but the grass is not.
During the summer, when it was so hot and dry, I dragged around a hose and watered the grass twice. I think one reason so many people have fescue that looks so ragged in August and September is that they pamper it with too much water and too much fertilizer. Make it tough next year by leaving it alone.
It's my belief only three things are needed for good fescue: Overseed every September with the grass of your choice (there's hardly an iota of difference in any of them); fertilize three times before the year end; and use a crabgrass prevention product once every two or three years in the spring. This month, for the first time in many years, I'm going to use Weed and Feed. It's an expensive and not very efficient way to kill weeds, but I have so many, I thought I'd try it once more.
I can't remember a fall when we've had such good weather for transplanting old plants or planting new ones. The days are warm, rains have been frequent and we've had a few mornings of good heavy dew. If you have plants that need moving, do so now, and plant new trees and shrubs this month.
Speaking of shrubs, here's one I can't say enough good things about. It's called ``Tree Top Ivy,'' a trademark name of a new shrub grown by The Ivy Farm on the Eastern Shore. It was discovered in the top of a tree in North Carolina and has been propagated to become an excellent foundation shrub. Mine is blooming now. Blooms are followed by blue berries that last until birds eat them. It is medium-to-fast growing, stays green all winter and requires no care. The only precaution is that it will not be healthy in a wet spot.
Prices have been high because of limited supply but were recently reduced, starting at $10 to $15 for a one-gallon pot. It's sold locally by McDonald Garden Centers and other garden centers. After growing Tree Top Ivy for over a year, I recommend it highly.
Another joy of fall is eating an Asian pear, often called ``crunch apple.'' They're large, almost the size of a grapefruit, juicy and sweet. The best part is you can grow your own. They grow fast and bear fruit by the second or third season. Their white blooms are beautiful each spring, followed by delicious fruit. Their only enemy is the raccoon. I might spray mine once or twice a season and always have had a good crop. They're available for planting now at McDonald centers, Smithfield Gardens and perhaps other outlets. They're available by mail from Stark Bros. or J.E. Miller Nurseries. by CNB