2013 Fall Home Improvement September 25, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
Page 7
by Derek Hurley
CHORES
Counting down the days for yard and lawn
summer of 2013 has passed over us, but that does not mean there is a lack of
work to be done outside. The incoming cooler temperatures and shorter days
bring with them a different list of tasks and chores.
THE
A bit of planning, a little extra dirty
work done now, and the outer natu-
ral areas of the homestead can still
look good and even pay dividends
in the spring.
Here are some tips for getting
through the seasonal transitions.
These suggestions are provided by
local lawn enthusiasts and horticul-
tural expert Candice Miller from
the University of Illinois Garden-
er’s Corner.
From summer to fall
While the drought this year was
less severe than that of 2012, the
ending days of the season proved
to be hot and dry for those living
in the Midwest. As a result, the
familiar sight of brown lawns has
returned. Without the aid of ad-
ditional watering, at best the lawn
may be a mixture of brown and
light green as stems of grass cling
to life.
The end of summer and the begin-
ning of fall is a good time to repair
some of the damage done to these
lawns. Now is the time to clean up
any remaining plant material from
the garden and consider using it to
begin a compost pile. This transi-
tion is also a good time to add
anure or other similar material to
improve the soil. Clean up any
leftover weeds, as they can harbor
pests or various plant ailments.
To prepare for a potentially health-
ier lawn in the future, this transi-
tion period is also a good time for
a fresh application of soil. One
suggestion is to top-dress the lawn
with a high-quality black dirt or
compost before planting any new
grass seed or sod. While planting of
new seed is typically completed be-
fore September, there is still an op-
portunity to plant. Watering should
still be done before the transition to
fall is complete.
This is also the time to plant spring
flowering bulbs, such as daffodils
or tulips.
On the topic of flowers, this is also
a good time to divide and plant
perennials, as well as remove those
that are not growing to the same
quality as before. Be sure to plant
new perennials early in the fall to
take advantage of the relatively
warm soil. Adding mulch will help
to ensure plant growth.
In addition, consider fall annuals,
such as chrysanthemums, for a late-
year improvement to your garden.
Mid-July through about mid-
September is a good time to plant
certain crops like broccoli, lettuce,
turnips, carrots, radishes or spin-
ach. The season for growing these
crops can be extended by using
floating row covers or cold frames.
In addition, late summer to early
fall is a great time for tree planting.
Just remember to plant trees and
shrubs to the appropriate depth and
provide additional watering after
planting. New plants should also
be topped with mulch to conserve
water and insulate the roots.
