| NW Natural Yard Days September 1-30 |
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 Apply compost, organic fertilizer
and bark mulch this fall, and next year you’ll
have a healthier, less water-consuming yard with fewer
weeds. During the month of September, Seattle Public
Utilities, King County and other local agencies will
again sponsor Northwest Natural Yard Days. Participating
hardware stores and garden centers will be offering discounts
of 20% and more on compost, organic fertilizers, and
bark mulch. For more information about Northwest Natural
Yard Days and a list of participating retailers, visit www.yarddays.com. |
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Fall Gardening with
Marianne Binetti
Sunday, September 10, 2006 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Molbak's, 13625 NE 175th, Woodinville (425) 483-5000
Goodbye Lawn...Hello Garden with Ciscoe Morris
Sunday, October 15, 2006 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave NW, Seattle (206) 782-2543
Fall Plant Palettes for a Drought Tolerant Garden
Saturday, October 21, 2006
10:00 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
At the home of Stacie Crooks in Shoreline
Pre-registration required. Attendees must reside in Saving
Water Partnership service area. Click here to see service area: http://savingwater.org/about_partners.htm.
For descriptions and registration, visit http://savingwater.org/education_classes.htm#savvy. |
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Fall is for planting
Fall is one of the best times to plant, according to Carolyn Jones, Director/Curator of the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden and Great Plant Picks program. Here are her tips:
Enjoy the best of both worlds. Autumn combines still-warm soil with cooler air and returning rains. If you plant in autumn, your new garden additions have months to stretch out their roots without demand for water from thirsty new shoots and leaves. By next summer, your plants will be well on their way to becoming established and needing less water.
Consider what your garden has to offer. Nurseries can be as tantalizing as candy stores. Before you pick up a sale plant, make sure you have the sun, shade, soil and drainage conditions to make it happy.
Add fall color to
your palette. Shop
(or plant swap) in autumn and chances are that you'll
pick up many plants that look their best at this
time of year. Sedums and ornamental grasses work
well together with their contrasting textures and
tones – they're also waterwise.
Plant ahead for
spring color and drought tolerance. Each
fall gives a new opportunity to experiment with spring-flowering
bulbs. Try new species or new colors of familiar
ones, such as tulips and daffodils. While a few types
of bulbs, such as lilies and snowdrops, don't like
to dry out in summer, most bulbs are very drought
tolerant. Some bulbs, such as ornamental alliums,
may actually rot if they become too wet when dormant.
For these, skip summer irrigation and plant them
where they stay out of winter downpours.
If you can find
it, plant it! Sure,
you won't find every plant in your garden center
in fall, but hunt around – spring-blooming
trees, shrubs and perennials may be on sale since
they aren't at their showiest. As long as the plant
looks like it has been well cared for, don't hesitate
to rescue it for years of pleasure to come.
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Featured
Natural Lawn &
Garden Guides
Growing Healthy Soil |
Make your soil healthy and watch your plants flourish |
The Plant List |
100’s of plant ideas, perfect for your garden’s
sun and soil conditions |
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Natural Lawn & Garden Series
Learn how to have a healthy and beautiful garden with our guides.
• Growing Healthy Soil
• Choosing the Right Plants
• The Plant List
• Smart Watering
• Composting at Home
• Natural Pest, Weed & Disease
Control
• Natural Lawn Care
• Natural Yard Care (summary)
View these guides online or to request a Natural Lawn & Garden Guide, contact
the Natural Lawn & Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224 or at info@lawnandgardenhotline.org |
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Featured Websites for
Plant Ideas
Great Plant Picks
www.greatplantpicks.org
Search by keywords like "fall color" or "drought
tolerant" or
by plant types such as trees or perennials. You'll find plant photos and information
on size, growing conditions and hardiness.
Native Plant Guide
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/
wlr/PI/Go-Native/Index.aspx
Search for Northwest native plants that thrive best in your
yard. Browse through more than 100 photos. View planting plan ideas and
create a customized shopping list. |
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Saving Water
Partnership List:
Cedar River Water and Sewer District
City of Bothell
City of Duvall
Coal Creek Utility District
Highline Water District
Water District 20
Water District 45
Water District 49
Water District 90
Water District 119
Water District 125
City of Mercer Island
Northshore Utility District
Olympic View Water and Sewer
Seattle Public Utilities
Shoreline Water District
Soos Creek Water and Sewer District
Woodinville Water District |
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The Natural Lawn &
Garden
Hotline
For environmentally friendly
answers to your garden questons
(206) 633-0224 or at
info@lawnandgardenhotline.org |
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| We welcome your suggestions. Please share them by emailing
Liz Fikejs, Seattle Public Utilities at liz.fikejs@seattle.gov |
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Photo & garden credits:
Photos: Stacie Crooks Garden Design
Jacqui James Photography |
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How to subscribe or remove name:
To add or remove your name from our subscription list, please go to:
http://seattle.gov/lists/gardening.htm |
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View our summer edition:
http://www.savingwater.org/
savvygardener/archive/summer_2006/default.htm |
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