Weekly Gardening Tips - October 29, 2011
Mitzi Davis
Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County
- Fall is an excellent time for taking soil samples from your lawn and garden. Soil tests will measure the pH of the soil, organic matter content, and salinity. The test will also measure plant available nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper and give suggestions to improve your soil. Testing kits for the CSU Plant, Soil and Water testing laboratory are available at local nurseries, Jax Farm and Ranch or the Larimer County Extension office, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive in Fort Collins. You can also call the Extension Office at (970) 498-6000 for more information.
- Overwinter your geraniums inside to get a head start next spring. You can cut them back to half the original size and repot them in potting mix rather than garden soil. Check for insects or disease. Grow in a cool room with plenty of bright, direct sunlight. You can also take cuttings from your plants. Make 3-4” long stem cuttings that include a growing tip. Remove the lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone and stick into moist, porous, rooting medium. It will take six to eight weeks to root. After rooting, plant geraniums in 4” pot in a sunny window.
- You should wait until spring to prune your roses, but keep some soil or mulch handy to mound around your roses for winter protection. Wait until the leaves drop and the ground is near freezing, usually late November or early December before covering the base of the plant.
- Strawberries need protection from our drying winds, intense sunlight and lack of moisture during winter. Apply mulch after the plants are dormant, but before nighttime temperatures drop to 20 degrees F. You can use organic mulch, like straw, or you can cover the bed with a heavy weight “floating” row cover.
Updated Thursday, May 17, 2012
