outdoors
T H
I S
M
O
N
T H
I N
T H
E
G A R D E N
Fall is the perfect time to dig compost
and amendments into the soil of new
or empty garden beds. For established
perennial beds, rake mulch away from
plants, spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of
compost, then replace the mulch.
Finish dividing and transplanting
perennials such as coneflowers, hostas,
and daylilies,
above,
this month. Plants
need time to establish before cold
weather arrives. Do not divide plants
that seem diseased or unhealthy.
Keep garden debris—leaves, fruit, nuts-
picked up to reduce winter hiding places
for insects. Diseased or bug-infested
leaves should be discarded, not
composted, to reduce the chance of
plant problems next year.
OCTOBER GARDENER
YARD GOODS
S O U N D
S Y S T E M
The Ryobi SonicTape lets
you plan your landscape
without dragging a
measuring tape all over the
yard. Accurate up to 30
feet, this high-tech
system bounces
sound signals to
measure distances
indoors or out.
$18; homedepot.com
G a r d e n e r s a r e h e l p i n g t o k e e p t o n s o
f
h o r t i c u l t u r a l p l a s t i c o u t o f l a n d f i l l s t h r o u g h
r e c y c l i n g p r o g r a m
s a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y .
C h e c k w
i t h l o c a l g a r d e n c e n t e r s o r b o t a n i c a l
g a r d e n s t o s e e i f t h e y w
i l l a c c e p t y o u r c l e a n ,
s o r t e d p l a s t i c n u r s e r y p o t s f o
r r e c y c l i n g .
SUSAN APPLEGET HURST, SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR
TECHNIQUES
I T S A
K E E P E R
Y o u r ja c k - o ’- la n te r n w ill
lo o k fre s h ( b u t s p o o k y ) fo r
d a y s w h e n y o u s p ra y it
in s id e a n d o u t w ith a n
a n ti- tr a n s p ir a n t, w h ic h
h e lp s p r e v e n t m o is tu re
lo ss. U se th e s p ra y a g a in in
D e c e m b e r o n w r e a th s a n d
e v e r g re e n s to k e e p th e m
lo o k in g fre s h fo r w e e k s .
W e lik e W ilt-P ru f;
$15;
available at garden centers or
gardeners.com/BHG
I 3 8 OCTOBER
2008
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTOS: (COMPOST) ROB CARDILLO; (DIVIDING DAYLILIES) PETE KRUMHARDT; (DEBRIS AND RAKE) MARTY BALDWIN; (RYOBI TAPE AND WILT-PRUF) BLAINE MOATS
