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.
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).
Easy Care Shrub Roses
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.
Container 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.
Did You Know?
Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, is made from the dried stigmas of a crocus
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.
