Gardener’s almanac (Oct. 4)
Fertilize bulb beds — Beds of spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips should be fertilized in October, Ward Upham of K-State says. It’s best to have a soil test to see exactly what the soil needs, he says. If the bed has been fertilized before, there is usually enough phosphorus and potassium. But if it is needed, use a complete fertilizer (such as 10-10-10 or 9-9-6) at the rate of 1 rounded teaspoon per square foot, or 2.5 pounds per 100 square feet, Upham says. If the soil needs only nitrogen, blood meal is an excellent fertilizer, he says. Use 2 pounds per 100 square feet or 1 teaspoon per square foot. Lawn fertilizers such as a 27-3-3 or 30-3-3 can be used at a third of the label rate, Upham says.
Call before digging — “Most people don’t know what is buried under their property,” Upham writes in this week’s Horticulture 2014 newsletter. “Always call Kansas One Call before planting or setting fence.” The number is 811, or go to the website kansasonecall.com.
“Actually,” Upham writes, “people should never dig deeply enough by hand to hit a gas line while planting a tree unless a large tree spade is used. When hand digging, make the hole just deep enough so that the tree sits slightly above nursery level. To determine the depth of the hole, measure the distance from the root flare (point where trunk and roots meet) to the bottom of the root ball. If the flare isn’t visible (very common), remove enough soil or media so that it is.
“The width of the planting hole is also very important. It should be two to three times the width of the root ball. Loosening the soil outside the hole so it is five times the diameter of the root ball will allow the tree to spread its roots faster.”
Plant — Fescue grass seed by Oct. 15; garlic through October.
Where to donate produce – If you have fruit or vegetables from your garden at their peak that you would like to give to people in need, you can take the produce to these locations during business hours:
Kansas Food Bank, 1919 E. Douglas; Augusta Ace Home Center, 316 W. Seventh, Augusta; Brady Nursery, 11200 W. Kellogg; Hillside Nursery, 2200 S. Hillside; Hillside Feed and Seed, 1805 S. Hillside; Johnson’s Garden Centers, 802 N. Ridge Road, 21st and Woodlawn, 2707 W. 13th St.; and Valley Feed & Seed, 1903 S. Meridian.
Garden events
Scenic Landscapes twilight tour — Scenic Landscapes Water Garden Nursery will be open and all alight from dusk to midnight for its annual twilight tour Saturday. The nursery at 5911 W. Maple will have free hot dogs and other refreshments. Blue Note 6 with Kathy Roush will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. The event is free, and donations will be accepted for an orphanage in Kenya.
This story was originally published October 3, 2014 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Gardener’s almanac (Oct. 4)."