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Did you enjoy your summer vacation? Almost faster than
you know it, fall has come and it's time to get back to
work in the yard. Unlike other parts of the country, our
garden work begins now, as the weather starts to cool.
Some folks use summer to plan their next attack, while
others go as dormant as their chaparral. Whatever your
strategy, get out a pencil and paper, and start planning.
Plant
►Fall is traditionally the best time of year to plant most
natives, especially such water sensitive plants as wooly
blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), wild lilac (Ceanothus
species), and flannel bush (Fremontodendron species).
Make sure you dig a good hole, fill it with water, let it
drain, place the plant with care for the roots and for the
best orientation, backfill , and water again.
►Look for native bulbs. You'll find Calochortus,
Dichelostemma, Triteleia, and Allium this time of year.
Select species appropriate to various spots in your yard.
Calochortus splendens and Dichelostemma volubile, for
example, are great to plant amid low shrubs as they send
their blooms up above the foliage. Triteleia laxa and
Calochortus venustus are great for grassy areas. Try
Allium unifolium, A. validum, and Triteleia peduncularis
for areas that receive water throughout the year.
Wildflowers
►Fall is a great time to sow your wildflower seeds.
Select a special mix or create your own. Make sure the
area is free of weeds and unwanted grasses. Rough up
the soil surface, sow your seeds, and water. You don't
need to add any cover soil; the seeds will do just fine.
►Soak Lupinus species over night before sowing. Their
hard cases are designed to let them wait for ideal winter
rains before sprouting. I f there are no rains once you've
soaked and planted them, make sure the seed bed
remains moist and give the sprouts a chance to become
established.
Watering
►I f it hasn't rained, you can star t watering some summer
deciduous plants now. Deep soak gooseberries and
currants (Ribes species) once a week to bring them out
of dormancy. You can also star t watering spots that were
kept bone dry for native bulbs like Calochortus or
Dichelostema.
Divide
► Dig up and divide cool season grasses such as
Festuca, Nassella, Leymus, Calamagrostis, and Melica.
This is also a good time to divide Carex tumulicola.
Make sure each clump has a good root ball. Water well.
►Divide Heuchera, Potentilla , Horkelia , and other
clumping perennials. Attend the Propagation Class at
Fall Festival for tips on how to make more plants.
►In late November and early December, divide native iris. You can dig up the entire bunch and divide into
smaller clumps that have good roots, or simply cut out
sections from around the edges. Make sure they are well
watered until new growth appears. This is the best time
to divide iris as cooler weather and new root growth,
combined with supplemental watering, allows the
divisions to establish before next spring.
Prune and Cut Back
►Complete your clean-up of summer blooming
perennials and shrubs such as Salvia, Eriogonum, and Monardella species. They'll star t their winter growth
soon and it's best to do this work when they are dormant.
►In late fall , cut Romneya down to an inch or two from the
base.
►DON'T cut back your manzanita or Ceanothus.
Manzanitas set their flower buds in late spring. If you
prune them now, you'll be cutting out blooms that will
appear in just a month or two.
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