IT TOOK LONG ENOUGH, BUT FALL IS FINALLY HERE!
OCTOBER 2022 / VOLUME 187
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OCTOBER HORTICULTURAL
AND GARDEN TIPS
A variety of topics (Turfgrass, Ornamentals, Fruits & Vegetables, and Water Gardens) are highlighted this month. So, learn about what you should be doing in the month of OCTOBER by clicking on GARDEN TIPS.
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FROM GREEN COUNTRY MASTER COMPOSTERS |
October is a plentiful month to either refresh or start your compost pile. You should have at least some yard waste materials, kitchen food waste, and other greens and browns for composting. This month we will revisit a few October ideas for composting. Nothing reminds us more of autumn than falling leaves and holiday gourds which includes pumpkins for decoration, and for Jack-o'-lanterns.
Here are a few repeat ideas for October composting that were mentioned in the October, 2021 Compost Connection article.
- Donate pumpkins to a zoo. Many animals eat whole pumpkins, parts of pumpkins, or use pumpkins for enrichment.
- Save the seeds for roasting a nutritious snack. Or, set the seeds out for birds and other critters to eat.
- Do not compost seeds! You don't want to be weeding your compost pile.
- Cut larger pumpkins into smaller pieces which helps with faster decomposition.
- Ask your children or grandchildren for their pumpkin recycling ideas. They may surprise you!
- Use cleaned out pumpkins (not Jack-o'-lanterns unless you block the face holes) as planters. Add potting soil in the pumpkin or decorative gourd, add plants, or start seeds, ivy, etc. Fill any empty space with more soil. Add water and let it grow!
- Ask neighbors, local farmers, or gardeners if they can use or compost leftover pumpkins.
- Check to see if your city or town has a recycling plan for pumpkins. Many communities are incorporating these free resources.
- Get your scouts or civic groups involved in collecting or recycling leftover pumpkins.
- Simply place your whole or hollowed out pumpkins in a flowerbed, garden, yard, or under trees to let wildlife, birds, etc. feast on this autumn bounty. If it's a whole pumpkin, just cut off the top to help get them started. (Note this is not necessary for elephants!!!) If you've cleaned out a pumpkin to use as a Jack-o'-lantern, throw the pulp and seeds out for critters.
REMEMBER: If you wish to add such to a compost pile, cut gourds into smaller chunks for faster decomposition and do NOT compost the seeds.
LEAVES: Recycle or compost what you can, but please consider leaving some leaves whole (but not on a fescue lawn). They provide camouflage, food, and shelter for many beneficial insects that are necessary for healthy yards, flowerbeds, and gardens. This several-inch layer of leaves also provides nutrients and natural mulch.
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TOOL OF THE MONTH:
BULB AUGER
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Since it's still bulb planting time, we're repeating last month's cool tool idea again.
Ok, so it's not the latest revolutionary idea but, if someone had a lot of bulbs to plant and didn't know about these handy little augers, this just might make their day. Paired with your favorite cordless drill, bulb augers can make the job much easier and faster.
There are many brands, makes, and models online and on the market so not even gonna try to recommend one over the other. Just Google it, Amazon it, or go by your favorite nursery to see what's available. Any way you choose to buy one, it will save you a ton of work vs digging by hand, particularly if the soil is dry and/or of the challenging type.
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Simply said, click on FALL GARDENING TIPS for a general list of gardening thingys you should strongly consider doing this time of year.
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Very few gardening practices are as beneficial as mulching. Simply said, proper mulching can deliver more than just tidy aesthetics to garden beds. It can help maintain an optimal growing environment under normal seasonal conditions as well as preserve your landscape plants when weather extremes arrive.
To get some key questions answered (i.e. what are the benefits, what should be mulched, when and how to properly mulch, what makes good mulch, etc.) click on THE ART OF MULCHING for much more info on this subject. You'll find some good info whether you be a novice outsider or an expert gardener.
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SOIL SAMPLING & TESTING:
NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO DO SO
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Sometimes in mid-growing season we wonder what we are doing wrong that causes our plants to look so weak and sometimes sickly. After all, we fertilized with nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. So, what else do we need?
Yes, we need to fertilize, but we need to fertilize smartly! Giving our lawns and gardens what they need and the minerals and elements required for proper absorption can only be determined by a soil test. Blanket application of fertilizer without soil test results may very well result in a waste of time, money, and effort. More importantly, they may pose serious environmental problems such as excess chemicals flowing into our waterways. And, don't forget about soil pH . . . it's gotta be right as well.
Bottom line . . . a basic soil test will provide you that scientific basis for evaluating available plant nutrients and existing pH in lawns and gardens. For more information on soil testing and proper soil sampling, click on SOIL SAMPLING & TESTING.
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PANSIES, PANSIES, AND MORE PANSIES |
The word pansy comes from the French word pensee meaning “a thought” and “heart’s ease.” In the language of flowers a gift of pansies means “you are in my thoughts.”
Pansies really are the tough guys of the flower world. Through the bitter cold, ice and snow their bright colors and smiling faces help us get through the short, dark days of winter. With a little help from us they will keep right on blooming until really warm weather comes next year when they naturally fade away.
To learn more about this amazing little plant (and it's cousins), click on PANSIES.
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IT'S DEFINITELY TIME
FOR FESCUE . . . BUT HURRY!
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Ok, fall is here, y’all, and that means it is time to plant cool season grasses. Here in Green Country the most popular cool season grass is Tall Fescue. September through October when the nights are longer and the daytime highs aren’t quite so hot is THE best time to plant. It's actually better than in the spring because it gives the turf root system several months to grow a healthy roots before the heat visits us again next year.
You may very well know the routine of fescue seeding/reseeding by now but, if you're new to doing this or would like to have an update on the subject, click on FALL FESCUE for some key tips.
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WINTER GARDEN TOOL PREP & STORAGE |
Our trusted gardening tools can take a beating throughout the growing season. Gardeners will all agree that there is nothing more important than the tools they use to keep their gardens well-groomed and looking picture perfect. As we approach winter, we need to start prepping our garden tools and equipment for storage over the wintry months so they will be ready for use come next spring.
If you are interested in some time-tested tips on keeping your tools in tip-top shape, click on WINTER TOOL PREP.
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Many years you might ask if watering is really necessary in the winter. Well, if our rainfall rate does not get any better, that's easily a Big 10-4 for this year. While leaves fall and blooms fade, roots still need hydration to develop strong root systems to survive through the cold winter and perform well during next year's hot summer.
So, for more information on how you should be watering this fall and winter, click on WISE WINTER WATERING for some key information.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Since 1983, the Tulsa Master Gardeners have been serving the public by offering research-based horticultural information to residents of Tulsa and the surrounding area. The Tulsa Master Gardener Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization. As such, it receives no city, state or federal funding for its Tulsa community outreach programs. In fact, the Tulsa's Master Gardener programs are self-funded by its own fundraisers, from member donations, and from public donations.
The main Tulsa Master Gardener fundraiser is its Annual Spring Plant Sale that is held each April. Other fundraisers include the Garden Tour and Garage Sale in June. And, one of the most important income sources that sometimes gets overlooked are the personal and corporate donations. These are so important in helping us to meet our financial obligations and we want you to know they are very much appreciated.
MG Endowment Fund
The Tulsa Master Gardeners have been around for over three decades and we plan to be around for many more decades. Furthermore, we are considered one of the top five Master Gardener county programs in the entire nation. We are because of the size of our Foundation membership, the number, diversity and activity level of our various community outreach programs, and our overall financial strength!
So, we are pleased to announce, in partnership with the Tulsa Community Foundation, the Master Gardener Foundation has established an Endowment Fund to ensure our long-term financial strength. Our plans are to build this fund for many years before making any withdrawals from it. Please consider us as you make your annual gift giving as well as longer-term estate planning decisions. Remember, all donations are fully tax deductible!
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the long-term success of the Tulsa Master Gardener program, click on
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the Tulsa Master Gardener program's annual expenses, click on
We thank ALL of you for having been such faithful contributors both in the past and in advance for your future consideration and participation! So proud to be a part of the Tulsa area - such a giving community!
========================================================Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.
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TULSA MASTER GARDENERS
4116 East 15th Street Tulsa, OK 74112
918-746-3701
mg@tulsamastergardeners.org
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