Now that it is officially fall, let’s take some time to enjoy the seasonal changes. Fall can be much more than just

Ornamental Kale

cleaning up and clearing. It is a great time to add some seasonal color to your homes landscape. Even though the garden is done for the year and most plants are slowing down their growth, you can add a new look to your home by making some colorful changes using plants like the following:

Ornamental kale when planted directly into the ground is easy to care for and can last well into the winter. It is native to North America, is easy to grow and some varieties can grow to be 18 inches in height. Kales feathery and lacy leaves range in colors from green to red to even white, depending on the variety that you choose. It thrives in temperatures below fifty degrees in well drained soil. Ornamental cabbage has similar traits buts its leaves are wavy edged and form rosettes with pink, purple, red or white centers.

Fall Pansies

Fall pansies add a nice punch of color to the dull brown and tan tones of the rest of the fall landscape. They have gained in popularity over the years and are easy to find in garden centers, hardware stores and home center stores. Choose compact plants with deep green foliage.  Plant in well-drained, rich soil, in a sunny to partly-shady area of your landscape.  As the plants flower through out the season deadhead the blossoms to extend flowering. Fall pansies are cool-weather lovers that can actually make it through frosts and even single-digit temperatures. They may even surprise you when they return voluntarily in the spring!

Chrysanthemums are a popular choice for fall color. They come in a variety of single and bi-colored blooms. There are many different kinds of flowers with cushion, daisy, and pom-pom being the most common. Mums are a wise choice for instant color and mostly come in decorative containers so you can just take them home and display them. They are also disease and pest resistant and make a big color splash with little effort.  Once they bloom out they can be left in their containers and stored in the garage for spring planting. Just do not let them dry out entirely.

Pumpkins, it would not be fall without them! You can even go to a local farm

Chrysanthemums

and pick them yourself! If picking them is not for you, don’t worry,  you can by them at roadside stands, garden centers and even at the grocery store. Choose one with a firm skin, with no soft spots and a uniform, deep orange color.  A   flat bottom  pumpkin will allow it to stand up on its own. A nice firm green stem makes a pumpkin really stand out. Do not carve it yet, cut pumpkins only last a short time. Know how you want to use them in your display and pick them up early when the selections are the best.  Add a few corn stalks and some gourds and you have an outstanding entrance way display!

Outdoor Halloween Decoration

A is for Assessing and Analyzing

• What worked well this year? Was there a type of plant or vegetable that grew well, were there
  

  Linda's Serenity Garden May 2010

  disappointments? We had a very dry year, some things survived the drought. In comparison, last year we had too much rain. Making notes of the strengths and weakness of your gardening efforts and then reviewing them in the Spring will help make your garden successful and enjoyable. Consider making a photo record too, digital pictures are easy to take and transfer to your computer, along with notes, and resources.

• Have you had a soil test recently? Whether you are planting perennials, annuals, bulbs, or lawns, the nutrients are depleted over time. Fall is the perfect time to have the soil tested and amended so it will produce the best results for you. Soil test Kits are available for $9.00 at the Penn State Extension office.

B is for Bulbs and Birds

• “Bulbs” is an inclusive term describing a variety of fleshy underground matter that includes true bulbs like
  

  Tulips Mount Vernon, WA April 2010

  tulips, corms such as crocus, and rhizomes for example: lily of the valley and bearded iris. Spring flowering bulbs need full sun, well drained soil, but only minimal care. These bulbs, once they start to show, serve as reminders that better and nicer days are ahead. Years of selection and breeding have provided spectacular color and disease resistant varieties.

• There are approximately thirty-five species of birds that can be seen in your yard in the winter time. Think about a family project of attracting birds and caring for them during the harsh months of the year. With the right feed and feeders, birds will provide entertainment, action and color. Bird watching, indentifying, and journaling them are good ways to pass the dreary days of winter. So take some time in the fall to select a good feeder, provide shelter and water for them.

C is for Cleaning and Composting

• As the growing season slows down, less time is required to maintain the home landscape. Now is a good time
  

  Compost Bin Made of Pallets

  to clean up while the weather is still nice. Take some time to edge around your plantings, remove any weeds and take out any insect eggs, nests, and debris. Taking them out now will prevent hundreds of seeds germinating in the Spring. Trim back any damaged limbs and branches. Sanitize and oil all your garden tools to prevent disease and corrosion. While you should continue to mow your grass, remember your mower should also be prepared properly for the winter. Change the oil and filter; check the plug, and lastly, drain the fuel. Doing all of this will extend the life of the mower and improve its performance.

• Your way of recycling naturally: start a compost pile with grass clippings and spent plants as you clean up your vegetable garden. You can also add the used potting soil from your container plantings. With the onslaught of falling leaves, they can be shredded with your mower and added to the compost pile too.

• By Steve Ward
  Master Gardener Coordinator
  Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
• “Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.”
• Used with permission

Give your birdwatcher friends gifts that attract birds. Show them that you know what

Garden Sparrows Table Fountain

makes them happy and that you care about them. There are many practical gifts that can be used in the lawn or garden that are pleasing to the eye. There are many designs and materials the gift giver can choose from. These gifts are not limited to any one occasion. You can give bird gifts for birthdays, anniversary, thank you gifts, and especially Christmas.

Birds are attracted to flowers and the sound of running water. Potted plants or hanging baskets are one gift item. Hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers, so red flowers are a good choice. An outdoor tabletop water feature is a great idea for a bird gift item. If your friend has a flower filled lawn or garden then feeders and other bird accessories that will attract birds will be a great addition to their garden.  Here are some suggestions on how

Red Spiral Sunflower Feeder

to select bird gifts.

Bird feeders: Black Oil Sunflower seeds attract the widest range of birds, such as Chickadees, Grosbeaks, Jays, Cardinals, Finches, Nuthatches, and the beloved Goldfinch. Starting with this type of feeder is a must.  Even the long time birdwatcher friends can always benefit from “just one more”.   A simple tube feeder that holds sunflower seeds would look good hanging from a tree or pole.

All finches are attracted to thistle seeds. These tube feeders look the same as other feeders, but have small feeding ports on their sides with perches.  You can find the best tube feeders from Songbird Essentials.  They  are made in the U.S.A. and will last for many years. The entire Songbird Essentials line is featured on our website.

Bird Baths really look good in a lawn or garden.  You are giving hours of pleasure as your

Cloud Bird Bath

friend watches the birds bathe and play in the water. Bird baths are made from many materials and come in many price ranges.  If you want a long lasting and durable bird bath I suggest one made of  concrete with reinforcing fibers such as our Cloud Bird Bath.   Birds are attracted to running water and a bird bath with a built in water dripper or sprayer is particularly effective. Decorative bird baths come in a variety of designs such as flower or cloud motifs. Brass and ceramic bird baths are another option as well as bird themed baths for still more variety.

Birds are attracted to bird houses and the proper one will lure in a particular type of bird, such as bluebirds. Birdhouses are always a welcomed gift for bird watchers; they know that they will look good in their lawn or garden.

Garden Figurine

Bird theme garden figurines make a great gift for the lawn or garden of your birding friend.  Bird decor items such as doormats, mugs, mouse pads, and ornaments are always appreciated.  We offer matching sets on our site.

Fall is in the air. For those of you who do not keep your bird feeders out all

Songbird Essentials Small Hopper Feeder

summer it is time to get them out and make sure they are ready for winter. The first thing you need to so is to make sure they are clean. Feeders can be sanitized with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water. Commercial bird feeder cleaning solutions are also effective.

For the best sanitation and disease prevention, make sure you clean each feeder inside and out. All feeding ports, perches, lids, platforms and reservoirs all need to be cleaned. Also the feeders hooks, poles or anywhere else the birds may perch need to be cleaned of feces.

Songbird Essentials Best Hummingbird Combo Brush Set

Use rubber gloves while cleaning the feeders. Use stiff brushes to ensure a thorough cleaning. We have specialized cleaning brushes for different sizes and and types of feeders on our website. A regular bottle brush can be effective. An old toothbrush works great for cleaning small parts, feeding ports and tight corners.

When done make sure you rinse the feeder thoroughly. The feeder and all parts should be rinsed at least 10 seconds in clear, clean water to make sure all chemical residue is removed. I like to use a garden hose to do my final rinse.