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 Flowering clematis

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September

Hort Shorts

  • Dig gladiosul corms about eight weeks after plants have flowered — the tops don’t have to be dead. Cut away stems close to new corms. Destroy all corms with disease spots.
  • Start geranium cuttings now for late fall and winter blooming as indoor plants. Take two-to-four inch cuttings of current season’s healthy growth. Trim leaves from lower 1 1/2 inch of stem. Dust bottom of cutting with Roottone. Place lower inch of cuttings in pots or flats of clean, moist sand. Place in a light but shady place. Keep sand moist but not wet. Cuttings should be rooted and ready for potting in three weeks. Potting soil should drain well, but still hold moisture satisfactorily. A good mixture is equal parts of topsoil, sand and peat.
  • Some rose specialists recommend cutting tall and leggy plants back as much in the fall as done in late winter or spring. Fertilize and water plants well to encourage strong new growth for fall blooms. Keep up insect and disease control.
  • Control insects and diseases on pecan trees to protect nut crop and prevent premature leaf shedding. Early leaf drop can lower nut quality and reduce next year’s crop.
  • Almost all southern soils need organic matter worked in before shrubs are planted. This could be peat moss, rotted manure, rotted sawdust, leaf mold, ground pinebark, or similar material. Then more air can get to the roots, and the soil will hold more moisture. It is best to wait until winter to plant or replant a moved shrub after the planting site is properly prepared. Water at planting to get rid of air pockets around roots. Hollies and aucubas have both male and female plants. When female plants do not produce berries, plant a male plant nearly to produce pollen for the female blooms—it causes them to produce berries.
  • Most shrubs like a slightly acid soil. A high pH indicates too much lime in the soil. Soil should be tested to determine the existing pH. The County Extension Office will advise on testing procedure. To lower pH, use sulphur. One and 1/2 pounds per 100 square feet will lower pH one numeral (i.e. 7.5 to 6.5).
  • Chelated iron sprayed on foliage will correct the iron deficiency chlorosis. Use amount recommended on container. If this does not correct the chlorosis, check for poor root activity, including nematode damage, poor drainage, or lack of soil protection. Dying of tips or borders of leaves can be a symptom of fertilizer injury. It’s better to give a light application often, rather than fertilizing heavily but seldom. If flowering shrubs are growing fast, they may be delayed in producing blooms. Healthy plants sometimes are slow to form flower buds.
  • Roses and crepe myrtles seldom flower heavily in shaded locations. Sometimes it is necessary to root-prune to “shock” shrubs into flower. The best time for this is midwinter. Cut outer roots with a sharp instrument in a circle around plant to a depth of 12 inches. This is especially useful with lilac. One caution: root pruning will reduce rate of growth.
  • Banging the lawnmower into shrubs or ornamental trees, especially dogwoods, can be fatal. Borers, too, will welcome the chance to bore into injuries. Place short metal posts around the base of shrubs located in the lawn area; sections of water pipe are useful for this. Paint all wounds on dogwood with wound compound.
  • If you failed to sow seed buy a few started plants of snapdragon, stock, calendula, and sweet alyssum. These are available in nurseries in individual pots, or in trays of 12 or more. They transplant easily, and withstand winter weather. Sometimes during mild periods in autumn and early winter they produce blooms. Calendulas often bloom during mild winter periods in the lower south.
  • Plant these bulbs now for spring blooms: For upper South areas, plant Dutch, French and Roman hyacinth, narcissus, snowdrop, scilla, crocus, and ranuculus. For mid-South, including North Carolina coastal areas: amaryllis, Easter lily, calla lily and Zephyranthes. If there is doubt about which region your area falls in, consult a nursery about a particular bulb.
  • Some annuals respond better when fall planted. Among these are all types of poppies, phlox, and cornflower. In the upper South plant these seeds in late September. In the lower South, wait for cool days of October. Their long taproots do not like to be disturbed by transplanting. Prepare trenches now for sowing sweet peas in late fall.

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