Those of us who live in the south know gardening and lawn care look a little different in the fall than in other parts of the country. Unlike many people, we are not preparing for harsh winter weather. Our growing season is longer, just as our foliage is different. There are a few key things you can do this time of year to keep your garden and lawn looking their best. Master Gardener David W. Marshall shares these tips with he Tallahassee Democrat offers these tips:
Lawn looking shabby?
Let’s start with the lawn. If you’re noticing off-color or browning areas in your lawn now, check quickly and closely for tropical sod webworm damage. If you act quickly, you can reduce the damage from these night-feeding caterpillars. Don’t bother trying to find the caterpillars themselves, as they are nocturnal, so you’re not likely to find one during the day. Rather, look for the telltale signs of their chewing.
If you confirm damage, I recommend applying one of the many lawn insecticides that list control for sod webworms, because I have lost, and I have seen others lose, large sections of lawn if sod webworms go uncontrolled. A liquid insecticide, using a hose-end sprayer, can help you get the insecticide evenly applied to the grass. If you choose a granular insecticide, which you can apply with a fertilizer spreader, you will need to lightly water in the insecticide after application.
No matter which insecticide you use, monitor the infestation and damage and be prepared to make another application later if necessary. A little damage is tolerable, but your goal is to avoid entirely losing sections of your lawn that you will have to replant next year. The sod webworm moths are widespread in our area now and will be laying eggs, which develop into caterpillars, until the weather is significantly cooler.
Mow over weeds
Personally, I don’t worry too much about killing lawn weeds. I focus more on keeping the grass healthy so that it outcompetes most weeds. I admit, though, that I am faced with many cool-season weeds that start in late fall and are very abundant and growing vigorously by March. I just mow them with the grass until they die out in late spring.
But if you are significantly troubled by these cool-season weeds, note that in October, when night temperatures fall to 55 to 60 degrees for four or five days, it is the time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide such as atrazine, Dimension, or Gallery to prevent the emergence of cool-season annual weeds. Be sure to check the label of any herbicide before buying it to make sure it’s safe for your type of grass and follow directions carefully.
Cool-season annuals
In mid-October, you can begin planting cool-season annuals such as petunias, calibrachoa, nemesia, diascia, dianthus, verbena, Erysimum ‘Citrona’, and alyssum ‘Snow Princess’. In late October to November, add pansies and violas. Practically all the cool-season annuals will need full sun. Don’t forget the option of container plantings, which quickly add color to sunny porches, patios, or decks.
If you wish to add some flowers before mid-October, you can still plant warm season annuals such as angelonia, zinnias, impatiens, or melampodium. They will likely last until late November or early December when you usually have a freeze. You could even still plant pentas in a sunny area.
Plant trees and shrubs
Fall and winter are the best times to plant trees and shrubs. Just remember to water the new plants regularly. Try to add some trees that have fall color, such as Oriental persimmon, crape myrtle, dogwood, Chinese pistachio, American hornbeam, Japanese maple, hickory, red maple, sweetgum, ginkgo, bald cypress, and black gum.
As we move into fall and the camellia flowering season, it is a good time to visit the nursery to select camellias while in bloom. The sasanqua camellias, which generally bloom earlier, are excellent landscape plants.
You can read the full article here, including tips on how to attract hummingbirds, and which winter vegetables you should be planting this month, and how to manage your citrus.