Newsletter - October 2007

Hello and welcome to fall. October is a very busy month in the garden that should begin with a visit to a nursery or garden center. Especially if you're looking for autumn colors, but several maintenance chores must be done now too.

First look for color in trees, shrubs, or lacking enough room, flowers. We have three tree varieties that change reliably with just a hint of cold weather. Think wind and fog. The first is the American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The cultivar 'Burgundy turns red, 'Palo Alto" turns orange to red and 'Festival' turns red, orange and yellow. The shape is pyramidal with a 60' height & 15' to 20' spread. The second tree is Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis). These get about 40' high, but are spreading in shape and very drought tolerant. They are planted on I80 between Vacaville and Dixon, along some of the off ramps in Vallejo and display spectacular reds, oranges and yellows. The Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum) holds its own against the Pistache for size and form, but is a better tree if its location is next to lawn irrigation. Other reliable trees for color include the Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana), Claret Ash (Fraxinus o. Raywood') both red, Gingko (Gingko biloba) and Birch (Betula pendula) for yellow and most deciduous fruit trees give gorgeous color. For those of you from back east looking for hardwoods such as maple, walnut and oak, don't expect them to live up to your memories here. It doesn't get cold enough and usually the only color you'll see in your garden is brown. Always buy fall leaf color during the season to insure your color preference.

If you have plenty of trees, shrubs may be an alternate source for color. For leaf change I like the Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina). It has a graceful, weeping form, a small 15' height with intense orange and red leaves in the fall. I know its called sumac, but it is not poisonous. I also like the Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus). This is usually smaller to about 8' high and wide, and the rich, red autumn color sings. If you don't mind flower, or fruit color instead of leaf color use Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis). This shiny-leafed evergreen blooms with masses of red-orange tubular flowers from September to November and is a favorite for hummingbirds. It grows between 6'-8' and accepts sun or shade. For berry color use firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), or if thorns aren't your thing, look at Parney Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lacteus). Both bring robins and mocking birds to the autumn/winter garden.

For autumn flower color chrysanthemums and asters are the best perennials. To fill in for winter color add pansies, violas, stock, snapdragons, dianthus and calendulas.

So you're all set for planting, but don't leave the nursery yet. If you have crab grass, spread pre-emergent crab grass control. Usually it comes mixed into the lawn fertilizer. I know the lawn is growing like crazy now and fertilizing is the last thing you want to do, but this is when crab grass is setting seed. You don't want it to germinate and if you wait until later it will be too late. While you're looking at fertilizers, get some 0-10-10 for winter hardiness protection for shrubs and flowers. Stop using nitrogen. Our first frost date is October 15 and we don't want our plants to have tender new growth that will freeze. If you have frost sensitive plants, you may want to purchase some "Cloud Cover" an antidessicant to add another layer of frost protection. Speaking of frost, we often go down to 18 degrees in Fairfield/Suisun. The garden centers know this and will be putting all their tender plants such as hibiscus and bougainvillea on sale. These are great deals if you have a green house. Otherwise, pass them by.

There are plenty of things to keep you busy this month and I haven't even mentioned raking leaves for compost and harvesting pumpkins for Halloween. If you have questions e-mail, or call.