There’s plenty to do in the garden at this time of year.

Continue to water.
Trees may be showing signs of salt burn (brown tips on leaves) due to lack of deep watering.

To water deeply; lay your garden hose down about 18’ from the trunk, turn on hose so it just dribbles out – as if someone didn’t turn it off tightly. Let it run for several hours, or all night. This will ‘cleanse’ the soil of accumulated salts and give a deep soak. This is also helpful for newly planted trees- to soak deeply into the root ball. It is also beneficial to apply a balanced fertilizer, such as Master Nursery 16-16-16 Fertilizer.

A lot of bugs are busy now!
Continue to hose off plants – keep them clean! Watch for Giant Whitefly (look for fuzz on the back of leaves) and aphids. Insect populations tend to ‘peak’ during hot weather. It will get better as the weather cools! If you have to, use an insecticide such as Master Nursery Pest Fighter Year Round Spray Oil.

Get rid of those weeds!
So… maybe the weeds have already taken over. Don’t give up! Remove them now or they will be twice as bad in the spring. Patches of bare soil invite weeds, use Monterey Brand “Weed Impede” or “Weed Stopper” to kill the weeds that are growing already.

Fall is a great time to plant shrubs and trees.
They won’t have to put energy into flowers or fruits, and can devote their resources to growing healthy root systems. (As long as the soil is around 40 degrees or above.)

Celebrate fall with us! We've gathered the colors and textures of the season and present them in a fun and inspiring atmosphere. Our Friendly Farm animals will be back and you and your kids can visit them every day! There are also lots of creative displays, beautiful plants ablaze with fall color, a Harvest marketplace full of Halloween treats, cornstalks, pumpkins and gourds and funny scarecrows to delight you. On the weekends we have fall decorating and planting classes, live musical acts and fun contests for you to participate in. Drop by for a complete schedule of events or download one at www.orchardnursery.com . We look forward to seeing you throughout the season!

A few reminders for this time of year.

• Lots of water for everything, especially container plants.
• Camellias that do not receive enough water in warmer weather will drop their flower buds later.
• Don't cut lawns too short. Raise the mower height a little. Cut on the high side so crown and root area are shaded and kept cooler.
• Feed your lawn with Master Nursery Fall and Winter Lawn Food.
• And don't forget water for yourself. Wear loose clothing and don't forget a hat and sunscreen.
  

Without good soil, plants won’t thrive. The plant roots support the top, absorb and transport water and nutrients. They also need air. Healthy roots grow healthy plants!

Soil contains particles (minerals), water, air and organic matter (living and dead). A good balance of these will make a good soil for your plants. Without getting into a technical discussion, if you take about 50% amendment material (Master Nursery “Bumper Crop” is one of our favorites) mixing it in well (as if you are making a cake), your soil should be fine. Clay soil tends to be hard, sandy tends to be loose – both types will benefit. Caution: do not add sand to adobe (clay) soil – you will be making bricks!

If your gardening budget is limited, invest in amending your soil. A small plant in good soil will outgrow a large plant in poor soil!

Mix amendment into the top 2 inches of soil for small plants.

• Don’t bury deeper that it is already growing; the soil level should end up the same as it is in the nursery container. (That is do not dig a deeper hole and bury the stem.)

• Always water your plant first, by either setting it into a bucket of water or slow hose. Gently remove from the container by pushing up from the bottom

• Check the roots. If they are matted or growing in circles, gently spread them so they will grow down and out (exceptions are azaleas, camellias, and bougainvilleas).

• Dig your hole, at least 2 times the width and 3-6 inches deeper than the height of the current root ball. Place the plant in the hole, and gently fill in soil around it. Think of a gentle rain – not a downpour.

• How often to water depends on your conditions. Warm dry fall winds and weather contribute to dehydration of plant roots. It is beneficial to water with Master Nursery Liquid Soil Penetrate in the beginning of the season and reapply in 2 weeks. Small plants should be watered daily at first. Keep soil moist, not soggy, until established (when new leaves form and it appears to be growing)