 | Peter X. Salmeron
was born in Peru and came to the US in 1971. He attended WSU and KU, earning a BS in Biology. He started Complete Landscaping Systems in 1983, on a part-time basis, and became a full-time entrepreneur in 1987. Today, Complete Landscaping Systems is one of the leading grounds maintenance and landscaping companies in Kansas and recipient of the Department of Commerce Service Company of the Year Award for Kansas in 2001. Mr. Salmeron is former President of the Wichita Garden Show Association and its Board and current Board member, is an executive member of the Board of Directors for Wichita Chamber of Commerce, President of Amigoes de Ser, was named SBA Small Business Person of the Year for 2000, and new Board member of the Wichita Conventions Bureau. You can contact Mr. Salmeron by phone at (316) 832-0061 or by email at petersalmeron@lycos.com |
Lawn, Garden & Landscaping
2005-08-01 09:54:00
Is fall good for outdoor planting?
ANSWER: In the landscape industry, some definition of fall is needed. The digging season associated with fall has more to do with the leaves dropping and moisture content of the ground, than it does a specific date on the calendar. Rainy periods in the fall make digging and transport of plants from the fields difficult. And, dry periods in the fall make digging difficult because it becomes more difficult to keep soil undisturbed around root balls.Plants that have been dug from nurseries in the fall are generally dormant and less likely to stress from transplanting. The dormant season allows the plant's root structure to grow and become established before energy is expended in the spring and summer. Trees and shrubs planted in early fall will have time to become established. Regularly scheduled watering in the winter months is still necessary to help plants survive.For great fall color, try these favorites: Black-Eyed Susan and Snapdragon flowers. Now is a great time to purchase fall bulbs for planting in November. These bulbs will yield bright colors in the spring: Anemone, Daffodil, Dahlia, Gladiolus, Hyacinth, Narcissus, Ranunculus and Tulips. Consider planting grasses like Regal Mist and trees like the Chinese Pistache and Modesto Ash. Beautiful plants will only be complemented by a beautiful lawn. Lawns thrive in the fall growing season. It's the perfect time to address lawn problems and a great time to feed and prepare them for the coming winter. The care and maintenance your lawn receives during this time of year is essential to its success year round. Here's how to keep your lawn healthy in the fall:• Mow grass at a height of 2 - 3 inches. • Even though it is cooler in the fall, lawns still need regular watering to maintain plant health and better survive winter conditions. Continue watering until the ground begins to freeze. • Aerate grass in September or October. Compacted soils are all too common here. Aeration boosts water penetration, which reduces runoff on slopes and helps water and fertilizer nutrients get down to the roots. Aerate again in the spring.• Mid-to late October is the best time of year to fertilize your lawn. Fertilizer provides grass with nutrients for spring growth. Use zero phosphorous lawn fertilizer unless you are establishing a new lawn or you have a soil test that indicates additional phosphorus is needed. Water your lawn for 1 - 2 hours after fertilizer application. Fertilizer not only improves turf quality, root growth and color - it also builds cold resistance into your grass. • September is the best time of year to treat dandelions, plantain, clover and Creeping Char-lie. Limited weeds should be removed by hand or spot-treated with herbicide. • Sweep up and reuse lawn care products that fall on streets, sidewalk and driveways. Here's How to Recycle Your Leaves:• Compost. Recycles nutrients and helps keep leaves out of streets and storm sewers. • Mulch. Use leaves, whole or shredded by a mower, as winter or spring mulch. • Mow. If you have less than 2 inches of leaves covering your lawn, you can leave them in place and make several passes over them with a mower. By shredding them into a fine, thin layer, you will provide your grass with valuable nutrients and end up with a lawn that looks like it was just raked. If you're still watering seven days of the week, STOP! Your yard will still thrive when you reduce the number of days you water each week. Water in three short, four-minute cycles during the early-morning hours. For brown spots or problem areas, try hand-watering rather than increasing the timer on your sprinkler system.
