Fall is the best time of year to fertilize lawns,
and University of Minnesota turf experts suggest
you put down two autumn applications. You can
put down the first application in mid-September;
the second should follow in about 6 weeks (around
the end of October). The two applications help build
up the energy reserves in the grass crowns and
roots, enabling the turf to green up quickly in
spring. For fall fertilization it’s important to use a
lower nitrogen fertilizer with higher potassium
content. Bachman’s has worked with a local
manufacturing company to produce a fall fertilizer
blend that we believe is just right for the Twin Cities
area. Our Fall Winterizer fertilizer is an 18-0-12
formulation, and in keeping with current research,
it does not contain phosphorous.
Contaner-Grown Evergreens
If you’ve been thinking about adding evergreens to your landscape or need to replace one that has been damaged, now is a good time to act. Evergreens fill many niches in the landscape. They can be foundation plantings, companions in mixed borders, hedges, screens, windbreaks and magnificent stand-alone specimens. They also lend shape to our winter landscapes that no other group of plants can do as well.
You’ll find some evergreens that you can use as low groundcovers; others that grow as high as skyscrapers. Variations in color are endless, too. Some evergreens prefer full sun, others like partial shade. The only universal truth about evergreens is that this is a good time to plant any of them. Cooler fall weather gives them a head start on root
establishment before the growing season ends.
Easy Care Shrub Rose
Everyone loves roses but very few people
enjoy the work that it takes to successfully
grow and winter them in our climate. Hardy
shrub roses offer you an easy-care alternative.
To be classified as a hardy shrub rose, the
plant has to reliably survive our winter without
any special care. (All you need do is rake a
bunch of leaves around the base of the shrub
in late fall. No digging, trenching, mounding or
rose cones are needed.) In spring, you simply
trim out any winter damaged parts and the plant comes right back, bigger and better than ever. If we have a mild winter, there might not be any damage at all. When we have severe winters, exposed parts of the rose may die, but the plant will return from its hardy root system.
Like all roses, shrub roses thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. If you live north of the metropolitan area, be sure to check the hardiness zone information on the tag. Planting shrub roses in the fall is a great way to get a jump on spring. Just take extra care going into the winter freeze by watering and mulching the plants with straw the first year.
Wood Mulches
Mulches play an integral role in successful, healthy plantings
and mulches made from wood are some of the best. Wood mulches accomplish several tasks at once. They are attractive, help conserve moisture, reduce weeds and cool the soil. As an added value, they also build the soil as they slowly degrade.
Choices include mulches made of shredded bark–some very fine and partially composted–or chips made of hardwood. If you have an area that is sloped or very exposed, use wood mulch that is shredded; it tends to knit together and stay in place better than chips. Shredded cypress is one of the longest-lasting wood mulches. When you first put it down, it has a reddish color that slowly ages to a soft gray. You’ll find displays near the mulches that show a sample of each type.
To determine how much mulch you’ll need, measure the area and
calculate the number of square feet. As a basic guideline, a three-
cubic foot bag of wood mulch will cover approximately 18 square feet 2 inches deep. If you have a large area to cover, you may opt to arrange for your mulch to be delivered in bulk. This service is available through all Bachman’s garden centers. If you have access to a truck or trailer
you can pick up bulk wood or stone mulch at Bachman’s Cedar Acres
in Farmington (952-469-3833) or Bachman’s on Lyndale in
Minneapolis (612-861-7676).
Rebecca Brown
Outdoor Living & Entertaining Expert
Fragrance Diffusers Need a surefire way to scent a room without lighting a candle or pulling out a room spray? Ever tried a fragrance diffuser? They often come in glass bottles with long sticks dipping down into essence oils. Diffusers
are a remarkably simple way to get a little or a lot of fragrance into a room. Here are just a few good reasons to give them a sniff:
• You can adjust how much scent perfumes the room; for a small bit,
turn one or two diffuser sticks up, out of the fragrance oil. For more,
turn several sticks.
• There is no open flame, so no danger or soot that can sometimes be
seen with use of heavily scented petroleum based candles.
• Each room can have its own scent signature. Diffusers come in floral, herbal, spice & musk notes which make it easy to pick something
perfect for the kitchen, bed or bath.
• New scents arriving this fall are bamboo teak, burl wood, olive
patchouli, and blends that feature white orchid/vanilla/freesia/jasmine/
eucalyptus/sweet basil/rosemary...and so many more!
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
