VOLUME 13, ISSUE 36 • September 7, 2017

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Are you loving this early fall weather? I am, too. It gives us hope to get back out in the garden to tweak things that are just a little off-course. It's also a great time to implement those fall landscaping projects.

In this edition of e-gardens:

• Tasks for this weekend;
• Oxblood lilies - one of my favorite fall bulbs;
• Overseeding with ryegrass;
• The true story on "winterizing" fertilizers; and
• Problems with plants' leaves.

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Photo: Oxblood lilies brighten fall gardens.

Gardening This Weekend

The middle of September is like the fulcrum of a teeter-totter. It's like the Continental Divide. It's a dividing time by which some jobs must be finished and when others can be begun. Confused? I'll straighten it all out.

Photo: Fall crocus.

Great Little Source of Fall Color

The first time I saw this beautiful little bulb blooming, it was in front of an abandoned farmhouse alongside the old McKinney airport. It's become one of my personal favorites in our landscape, and I'll share details.

Photo: Oxblood lily blooming in the Sperry landscape today.

Overseeding Warm-Season Turf

Like the looks of a well-groomed green lawn in the winter? It won't come from bermuda or St. Augustine. Both of those turn brown with the first freeze. You must overseed with ryegrass, and that time is here now. I have the details.

If you like the looks of green turf all winter, it's time to plant rye.

Question of the Week 1: September 7, 2017

"Neil, do I need a 'winterizer' fertilizer?"

You'll see that term in every nursery, and everybody says that it's critical. But what is it that makes a plant food a "winterizer?" You might be surprised.

Fall feeding is critical. But do you need a "winterizer" fertilizer?

Question of the Week 2: September 7, 2017

"Neil, something has eaten holes in my plants' leaves. Should I treat for the problem?"

Good question, and I'll have an answer that will apply to almost all of your plants.

Photo: Elm leaf beetle larvae have been feeding all summer. Are they worth treating now?

And in closing…

That's it for another e-gardens. I'm hoping you found it useful. If so, please let others know about it. Your recommendations are our best advertising.

Until next time, check in on our podcasts, my radio programs, my newspaper columns, our website and my page on Facebook. See you in church!

Until next week,

Happy gardening!

(Portions of this edition were previously seen in prior editions of e-gardens. I've been under the weather this week, but I checked each story carefully to be certain of relevance.)

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