The Great Reversal

October 2012

PICKAWAY TO GARDEN

By Paul Hang

The Great Reversal

The trees of October show us three seasons. The month starts out with most trees still sporting the greenery of summer (well this year maybe not so much). As the month progresses the leaves change. The chlorophyll withdraws from the leaves and reveals their underlying colors of autumn. By the end of the month the leaves have fallen and we are faced with the stark bare limbs of winter. Not much time for us to adjust. Of course the trees have been adjusting for months. They have stored up food in their roots. The buds of next year's leaves and twigs have been formed since July. Even the leaves have prepared their once in a lifetime journey by developing a layer of cells between their stems and the supporting twigs. When the time comes they drop.

With buds and seeds readied it may seem that the plant world is done. The world has gone to seed. When we go to seed it is not good news. Unlike us nature's going to seed is a sign of hope not despair. Nature's going to seed is a sign of success. Seed is a plant's way of surviving the winter just waiting to spring to life when the time comes.

The latest climate information from NOAA tells us that, here in Circleville, the average date of the first 32f degree temperature is October 11th. In one year out of ten we reach 32f degrees on September 28th. In nine out of ten years we have reached 32f degrees by October 25th. Of course frost can occur at a higher temperature than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. By Halloween we will almost certainly have had frost and maybe even a hard freeze. Given our cool September, when we experienced 38f degrees on the 19th, all bets are off!

Once frost has hit our gardens their look changes dramatically. Many flowers and vegetable plants will be killed. But this need not be the case. If you can cover and protect your plants on the first frost you may be able to keep them growing and flowering for several more weeks.

October is one of those months, like May, which mark a transition. Each is our favorite until the next comes around. The naturalist Edwin Way Teale, in his A Walk Through the Year, sums up my feelings on those warm days of October. "Winter seems far away. The insects of the meadow sing on as though they would sing forever. This is the plateau before the mountain climb, the still pool before the rapids, the lull before the storm. It is a time rich in beauty before a time of bleakness. It is a drifting time before the great reversal."

Things to do in the garden:

Plant trees and shrubs. Fall is the best time to plant these. Usually more rain falls. The roots continue to develop until the ground freezes to their depth. They have a good start when spring gives them a boost. Protect them from gnawing rodents using hardware cloth or the plastic wrappings available.

Plant bulbs for spring flowering plants. They look best planted in groups not in single file like a row of soldiers. They are showier if you plant them as a triangle with the point facing the vantage point. Place bulb food in the holes.

Speaking of bulbs, you can still plant shallots and garlic. This is the best time to plant them, pointed side up. Harvest in summer after their leaves turn yellow.

Dig dahlias, cannas, tuberous begonias and caladiums and store in a cool dry place. Most basements are too warm. Gladioli and calla lilies are dug by some but others tell me they leave them in the ground without harm. If you chance it make sure you mulch generously.

Rose bushes should not be fertilized anymore this season. Cut them back halfway once the blooms have faded and keep watering until the rains are abundant.  Cut back Iris to four inches.

Before a frost bring in your houseplants. Spray them good with the hose to blast away any bugs. Give them a few days in a protected place to acclimate before bringing them into the warmer and drier climate of the house.

Once the vegetable plants have quit producing pull them out and get them into the compost heap or the trash if they were diseased. Mark down where they were planted so you don't plant them in the same place next year.

Get those bird feeders out, clean and fill with black oil sunflower seeds, Niger seed for the goldfinches. Once you notice that the hummingbirds have ceased to feed you can bring in their feeders and clean and store them away until the next great reversal. It will come.