Fall Yard Maintenance: Winterizer, Weed Control, and Tree Care
Hello, again!
With temperatures nearing freezing overnight later this week, it's time to prep our plants for their winter rest. The leaves have started to fall from my sweetgum and other deciduous trees. I've been mowing regularly to keep them at bay and break them down into valuable nutrients for the turf area. ferti•lome Humic also helps break down leaves and other organics in lawn and landscape areas. Now that cooler weather has arrived, I've got a few more projects to finish, like planting my spring-flowering bulbs and winter-hardy pansies.
Just as we winterize our turf areas with ferti•lome Winterizer, our landscape plants benefit from a late-fall feeding as well. ferti•lome Tree and Shrub Food is an ideal balanced fertilizer for the job. Just apply it under the canopy of your trees and shrubs, no digging required, and water in! Additionally, I like to use ferti•lome Gardener's Special in my perennial and bulb areas.
Fall is also a great time to control weeds in both our turf areas and landscape beds. Hi-Yield KillzAll Quick is a non-selective systemic weed and grass killer that will get rid of nearly all vegetation, roots, and all. Since it's non-selective, special care should be taken to avoid overspray onto any desired vegetation. We recommend using a piece of cardboard to shield desired plants when spraying. KillzAll Quick is rainproof within 10 minutes and reaches the roots in 1 to 2 hours.
Once the weeds are dead, I apply Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper to prevent weeds from creeping back into sensitive landscapes, such as warm-season established lawns and ornamental beds.
Fall is also a great time to manage volunteer trees, as they can get out of hand within just a couple of years. Mulberry, ailanthus, cottonwood, and others can reach overhead before you know it. ferti•lome Brush Killer • Stump Killer is a great ready-to-use control. Just cut the volunteer tree at its base, then use the built-in brush to apply the product to the stump. Brush Killer • Stump Killer is made to combat stump and vine regrowth after cutting, ensuring the tree won't return next season. This pro tip will save you so much future effort!
I hope you stopped by the garden centers last weekend for our Christmas Open House. The stores look spectacular! With our fresh holiday greenery and Christmas trees arriving next week, be sure to stop by for a great selection of Fraser firs from North Carolina, concolor firs from New Mexico, and noble firs from the Pacific Northwest.
The holiday spirit is in full swing here at Johnson's. Be sure to check out and sign up for one of our annual Holiday Workshops to create a festive amaryllis planter, or dress up your porch with a fresh evergreen wreath or porch pot. Don't forget to save the date for November 21 & 22 to Meet the Johnson's Grinch Live and take some fun FREE holiday photos with your family at Johnson's.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
