Dear Master Gardener: My peony has become too shaded and is not blooming well. I need to move it. When is the best time to move my peony, and while I’m at it, can I divide it?
Answer: Peonies do not like to be disturbed; however, sometimes it is necessary to move them to a better location. Peonies can be divided and moved in September. Dig up and lift the peony clump and divide it into sections with a sharp knife or shovel making sure to have at least three eyes per division. Keep in mind that the smaller the division, the longer it will take your peony to bloom again. Cover the peony roots so the pink buds (eyes) are pointing up and are approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches below the soil line. If they are planted too deep, your peony will never bloom. Plant them in full sun, in well-drained soil, and space your divisions four feet apart. It is important to replant divided peonies immediately.
Dear Master Gardener: To save money, I would like to try saving some flower seeds this year. How should they be stored?
Answer: Store different kinds of seeds in individual envelopes, label the envelope with the name, variety, and date you collected them. Then, place them together in a container. Keep the seeds dry and cool — a temperature between 32 and 41 degrees is ideal, so your refrigerator is a good place. Use saved seeds within one year as the germination rate and vigor of seeds decline with age.
Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Smaller, younger plants are easier to plant and establish more readily. Plus, they are less expensive. Mulch over the roots with 3-4 inches of wood chips, keeping the mulch an inch or two from the trunk — it should look like a donut. No mulch volcanoes please! Water weekly (unless there is enough rainfall) until the ground freezes (which is usually around Thanksgiving or later.)September is the best month to control broadleaf weeds in your lawn. Dandelions, plantain and creeping Charlie are cool season plants that are actively growing in the fall. Dig or pull what you can and spot spray individual weeds or clusters that are scattered throughout the lawn. If you have large patches of weeds — you may be better off killing the entire patch — using a broad-leaf herbicide containing 2,4-D. Apply it according to the package directions when temperatures are 60-80 degrees. Make sure the grass is actively growing and not drought-stressed. Any chemical or fertilizer can really damage droughty turf.Late summer/early fall is the best time to start a lawn from seed. Spread seed at a half rate in perpendicular directions across the site for uniform distribution of the seed. Lightly rake, allowing about 10-15% of the seed to show. Follow a light and frequent watering regimen by applying light irrigation up to three or four times per day. Minimize irrigation if it rains. After germination, reduce the watering frequency as roots grow into the soil.Apply fertilizer to your lawn in early to mid-September. Early fall application encourages increased root growth, earlier green-up next spring, and thicker, healthier grass. Start lowering the blade on your lawn mower as temperatures cool. Continue mowing until the grass stops growing, generally toward the end of October. By the last time you mow, the height of the grass going into winter should be about 2 to 2 1/2 inches high. Shortening grass height before winter can minimize diseases that occur when grass is too long during the winter. Longer grass over the winter may also encourage vole activity. De-thatch the lawn every few years in September. Aerate if you didn’t do it in spring.Visit the farmer’s market for a great selection of locally grown, tasty, and nutritious produce. Minnesota grown apples will be ripening now — look for Honeycrisp after Sept. 15. If you grow your own apples, pick them when the fruit easily twists off the branch without breaking the spur or branch. Pick plums when they are fully ripe to get the best flavor.Pick grapes as they reach maturity using taste as your guide. Taste-test a grape every few days and harvest the clusters once they are sweet enough for your liking and have lost their tartness.Harvest eggplants when they are six to eight inches long and glossy. Use a knife or pruner to cut the fruits off the plant to prevent damaging the plant.Cure winter squash and pumpkins after harvesting them from your garden by placing them in a warm room for 10 days to toughen their skin. Once cured, you can store them at 50-55 degrees, where they should keep for several months.Although Asian lady beetles are beneficial insects that feed on aphids and other pests, they can be quite a terrible nuisance in the fall. They congregate on the sunny south or west sides of houses as temperatures drop. Some make their way indoors. They are annoying, but essentially harmless. If they get into your home, just vacuum them up and empty them into the trash. Don’t smash them because they will leave stains.Now is a good time to seal cracks and openings with weather stripping or caulk to keep bats out of your house and provide enough time for them to find a new winter hibernation site.Before bringing your houseplants back inside, check for signs of insects, spider mites, eggs or webbing and remove or treat them. Wipe off pots and wash saucers. Remove any plant debris from the soil surface. You may want to re-pot plants with fresh, sterile potting soil to avoid bringing unwanted pests into your home.Plant spring blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinth, snow drops, allium, crocus, and scilla this month through mid-October. Choose bulbs that are firm with crisp, papery skins and make sure they are hardy to zone 3. The sooner you plant your bulbs the more likely they will make it through the winter. Placing a layer of chicken wire over newly planted crocus and tulip bulbs will prevent squirrels from digging them up. To protect your bulbs over the winter, mulch them after the soil freezes. Move amaryllis indoors before the first frost. Store the bulb in a cool, dark place or continue to grow it in its pot indoors.Move citrus plants such as lemon, orange or kumquat indoors for the winter. Isolate them for several weeks, checking for unwanted insects to avoid infecting your other houseplants. Grow them in a sunny spot, as they need some direct sun for at least part of the day. Keep the leaves clean by periodically wiping them with a soft, damp cloth. Hummingbirds start migrating south as early as mid-August and most leave the state by the end of September, although you may still see stragglers into October. So, it is time to clean and store your feeders when you no longer have hummingbirds visiting.
You may get your garden questions answered by calling the new Master Gardener Help Line at 218-824-1068 and leaving a message. A Master Gardener will return your call. Or, emailing me at
umnmastergardener@gmail.com
and I will answer you in the column if space allows.
University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners are trained and certified volunteers for the University of Minnesota Extension. Information given in this column is based on university research.
Comments are closed.