2
WATER
When Santa Anas arrive, make sure to
get extra water on plants and lawns as
needed, especially container plants.
FERTILIZE
For lawns, use Marathon Fertilizer for
Tall Fescue or Scott’s Turf Builder or
Turf Builder Plus 2 to feed and control
broadleaf weeds. Feed ornamentals
with Gro-Power. Feed Vegetables with
Gro-Power Tomato and Vegetable Food
or Dr. Earth Organic Tomato and
Vegetable Food. Feed Citrus, Avocado,
and Fruit Trees with Gro-Power Citrus
and Avocado Food. Feed Palms and
Tropicals with Gro-Power Palm Tree and
Tropical Food. Do not feed Camellias
and Azaleas until after they are through
flowering in spring.
PLANT
Bulbs like Daffodils, Ranunculus,
Freesias, Anemones and more. Winter
Annuals like Stocks, Snapdragons,
Pansies, and Primrose in the shade.
California Natives and drought tolerant
plants are best planted this time of
year to get root systems established.
Don’t miss winter bedding, cool season
vegetables, early Camellias and Azaleas,
Cotoneaster, Liquidambar, and Ginko.
October
Garden Tasks
Nootka Rose – Cloves streaked red on
mahogany background with solid red clove
tips. Medium to large bulbs are very attractive
braided. Strong flavor.
Early Italian Purple – Produces larger
cloves than most softnecks. Better adapted to
summer heat. is hefty garlic infuses entrees,
soups and salads with sweet, mild flavor. ese
easy-growing, widely adapted garlics will keep
10 months. Garlic may begin growth late in
fall or early in spring.
Potatoes – Now, for the bad news about
potatoes. ey will be late again this year
and although we expect them in November,
watch our facebook page for updates on their
arrival time. Growers have to harvest later
than usual due to Mother Nature. If it’s too
wet, they can’t dig them, and where they are
grown, it has been wet. Also, it’s not until
they start to be dug up that growers know
what the quality and quantity of the harvest
will be. We do expect a rainbow of colors this
year so look for spuds that are white, purple,
red, or yellow.
What’s In Store continued from p1
Staghorn Ferns
continued from p1
care not to keep them wet all the time,
especially during cooler months, because
they might rot. Staghorn ferns will respond
well to fertilizer. Walter Andersen Nursery
recommends putting Gro-Power tablets up
behind the base shields once or twice per year.
is is the EASIEST way to feed your ferns.
If you prefer to use a water soluble fertilizer,
apply it once or twice per month from March
until September. e foliage will be larger
and darker green if they get regular feedings.
However, it will encourage them to grow
faster, meaning more frequent remounts!
As your ferns multiply, they may become too
large for their space. If so, they can be easily
divided by removing portions of the older
clumps and mounting them on new boards or
planting them in wire baskets. It is best if the
divisions are not too small, about 10” to 12”
diameter divisions are almost foolproof. Use
an old saw or knife to cut into the base, about
3” deep and remove as much of the rooted area
as possible. As a general rule, the mounting
board should be about two times as large as
the plant being mounted. Redwood or cedar
boards last the longest. Place moistened (to
reduce dust) green moss behind the division
and more around the edge. is will help hold
moisture and give it something to root into.
In most cases, we recommend holding the
plant in place with monofilament line (15# to
20# fish line) laced back and forth across the
shields. Small nails at the edge of the board are
the easiest way to hold the crisscrossed line in
place. Use ample amounts of line to keep the
plant firmly in place. On a very large plant, it
may be necessary to use extra long zip ties or
a stainless steel strap to keep it attached to the
board. Wire baskets are ideal if you want the
plant to grow into a ball. Place a few divisions
through the side of the basket and one on
the top and in a few months it will be very
presentable. Newly remounted plants will
need more frequent watering than established
plants. rip and scale are infrequent pests
and are easily controlled with a systemic
insecticide such as Bayer 2-in-1 Insect Control
Plus Fertilizer. Placing these spikes in the moss
behind your plant will control bugs for up to
a month without you having to spray, and it
will feed them too!
To see David Ross’ care recommendations
for staghorn ferns, follow this link: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=JyKayFAwg7M.
Staghorn
Walter Andersen Nursery in Poway will host its fourth annual Fall Rose Show Oct. 12-13. e
show is free for exhibitors and attendees. Entries will be taken Oct. 12 from 8-10:30am with
judging taking place from 11am-1pm. Show hours are Oct. 12 from 1-5pm and Oct. 13 from
9am-4pm. For details on entries, see the schedule at www.walterandersen.com/pdf/2013-fall-
show.pdf.
Save The Date: Fall Rose Show