| There are certain challenges when gardening in | | | | A recipe for a healthy garden includes: |
| the Nevada climate, but don't despair; it doesn't | | | | Spreading 3 to 4 inches of some form of organic |
| mean you can't have a lush green lawn filled with | | | | material on the bed. |
| vibrant annuals or spring bulbs. There are | | | | Add two to three pounds of 16-20-0 fertilizer and |
| however, some maintenance and planting tips that | | | | equal amounts of sulfur per 100 square feet. |
| need to be considered during the autumn months. | | | | Work ingredients into the top 8 to 10 inches of |
| Here is a handy checklist for those fall gardening | | | | the soil with a spade or rototiller. |
| to do's: | | | | Get those bulbs planted - Nothing is more uplifting |
| Reseeding lawns - The hot summer temperatures | | | | on a cold winter day, then looking out and seeing |
| can do a lot of damage to a lawn; late | | | | a bed of brightly colored tulips providing hope for |
| September is an ideal time for reseeding and | | | | spring. Late October is the time to get those |
| repairing that damage. Make certain you don't | | | | bulbs in the ground while the soil is cool. Normally |
| purchase bargain varieties of lawn seed, such as | | | | these bulbs thrive in areas where the ground has |
| Kentucky 31 or K31. Most people are disappointed | | | | been chilly for a long time, but this is a condition |
| with this grass due to its coarse texture. | | | | we can simulate. Place the bulbs in a paper bag |
| A year round green lawn can be obtained by | | | | and store them in your vegetable crisper for four |
| over seeding it with perennial ryegrass versus | | | | to six weeks before planting. |
| annual ryegrass. | | | | Prepare your beds using plenty of organic matter |
| Give your lawn one last feeding using a fertilizer | | | | and ensuring you have good drainage. Once they |
| containing potassium and cut back watering your | | | | have bloomed, mulch with at least 2 inches of |
| lawn to once a week in the winter months. | | | | well-rotted manure. Don't forget that our winter |
| Colorful annuals - Believe it or not, autumn planting | | | | temperatures may be quite warm, just make |
| is the time to get the most color and longevity | | | | certain to occasionally dig into the soil to test it |
| from your annuals in the Las Vegas area. They | | | | for moisture, they may need watering. |
| thrive in the milder climate and with some loving | | | | Roses - After the fall blooming is over, trim back |
| care may bloom again next spring. | | | | the canes using a 45 degree angle cut, by about |
| Here are some ideas for cool-season annuals: | | | | one-third. Do any heavy pruning in the early spring. |
| African daisies, alyssum, asters, baby's breath, | | | | Garden clean-up - Make certain to compost any |
| bachelor buttons, bells of Ireland, calendulas, | | | | dead vegetables or foliage and rake up any fallen |
| candytuft, carnations, clarkia, columbine, | | | | leaves. |
| delphinium, dianthus or sweet William, gaill ardia, | | | | Garden tool tune-up - Now is the time to ensure |
| hollyhock, larkspur, nirembergia, pansy, petunia, | | | | your tools are ready for next spring. Wash them |
| poppies, snapdragons, statice, stocks, sweet peas, | | | | off, sand down the wooden handles and metal |
| verbena, viola, ornamental kale and cabbage. | | | | parts, wiping them with an oiled rag to prevent |
| Compost for your bedding plants - Our dry soil is | | | | rust. It's a bit of a chore, but you'll be glad you |
| scarce in organic matter, which needs to be | | | | took the time. |
| supplemented in the form of compost or peat | | | | Gardening in Nevada has its challenges, but a little |
| moss. It provides much needed drainage and | | | | bit of tender loving care at this time of year will |
| oxygen as well as feeding nutrients to the plants. | | | | result in happy, healthy plants next spring. |