Granite State Times

A UNH Extension Newsletter

Granite State Gardening

TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE GARDENERS AND HOMESTEADERS

October Gardening Tips

Prevent landscape tree disease issues, like apple scab, by thoroughly raking up all fallen leaves and disposing of them.

Do not add diseased foliage to the compost pile unless you are sure it will get hot enough (140℉) to kill the pathogen.

 

Cut back perennials that are diseased but leave healthy seed heads standing. Songbirds and beneficial insects may use dried, remaining plants for food and shelter throughout the winter months. All perennials left standing for the winter should be cut to the ground in the spring before new growth starts.

 

Dig and save tender bulbs such as dahlias, cannas, and gladiolus. Wash the soil from the bulbs or tubers and let them dry for a few days out of direct sunlight. Pack them in peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings and store them in a cool dry place throughout the winter.

 

Wait to plant spring-blooming bulbs until the soil temperature drops below 60°F, which can be measured with a soil thermometer.  If bulbs are planted when temperatures are warm, they may come up too soon and their foliage may be susceptible to winter damage.

 

Bring houseplants back indoors before hard frost. Carefully check for insect and disease issues before hauling plants inside.

 

Harvest and store the last vegetables in the garden. Root crops can be left in the ground almost up until the soil freezes. Winter squash should be harvested before frost and when their skins are hard enough to resist puncture from a fingernail. Carrots, potatoes, onions, pumpkins, and squash can be kept for several months if they are handled carefully and kept in a cool and humid place.

Fall Gardening

Growing Garlic

 

Just in time for planting, our guide provides proven recommendations for growing garlic in NH.

Wildlife & Bulbs

 

Proven tips and solutions for protecting your bulbs from voles, chipmunks, deer and other wildlife.

Fall Perennial Care

 

There are reasons to reconsider the traditional approach of cutting perennials to the ground.

Get Certified as "Pollinator-Friendly!"

Love gardens and supporting pollinators? UNH and UMaine Extension are now offering a Pollinator Garden Certification to help residents take action to protect pollinators by planting pollinator-friendly gardens. Learn how the process works on our website and start working toward certification today! ure Groupie team is launching a new outdoor brand, committed to fun and sustainable products whose profits empower generations of outdoor enthusiasts to volunteer for nature! Your purchase of sustainable, responsibly made, comfortable Nature Groupie gear supports getting more people outside volunteering for nature - to help wildlife, coastal ecosystems, forests and communities. Are you a Nature Groupie?you ever wished there was one place to find and save all your favorite Extension content? Well, now there is! Whether you love our home, yard and gardening tips, healthy recipes, wildlife and forestry content, youth activities or more, now you can "pin" all your favorite content on Pinterest! Start pinning today and be sure to check back often as we'll be adding more pins all the time.Nature Groupie is launching a new outdoor brand, committed to fun and sustainable products whose profits empower generations of outdoor enthusiasts to volunteer for nature! Your purchase of sustainable, responsibly made, comfortable Nature Groupie gear supports getting more people outside, volunteering for nature - to help wildlife, coastal ecosystems, forests and communities. Are you a Nature Groupie?

Granite State Gardening Podcast

Granite State Gardening is a University of New Hampshire podcast for gardeners, landowners and homesteaders in New Hampshire and Northern New England. Listen and subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts or on the UNH Extension website.

 

Landscape Weeds

Lawn Mushrooms

 

Mushrooms growing in lawns can raise concerns for pets and children. So what can you do?

Japanese Knotweed

 

Timing is key for control, and chemical control is most effective in the fall after flowering.

Ground Ivy

 

Also known as creeping charlie, this tough lawn weed takes proper ID and persistence to control.

Household Pests

Cluster Flies

 

This fly invades NH homes in the fall and takes residence over winter.

Asian Ladybugs

 

Another seasonal pest that enters homes in the fall to overwinter indoors.

Mice in the House

 

Prevention, protection and trapping when necessary to keep mice outside.

Upcoming Events and Programs

Oct 20 - Hearts of Glass Film and Panel Discussion [online]

 

Oct 4 and 20 - NH Stone Wall Mapper Training [online]

 

Oct 21 - Growing Christmas Trees in NH [Facebook Live]

Oct 22 - Chainsaw Safety Training for Landowners in North Haverhill

 

Oct 22 - Recognizing and Managing Wildlife Habitat on your Land in Epping

 

Nov 1 - Tips and Tipping for Long Lasting Holiday Decorations {webinar}

 

Nov 3 and 4 - Landscaping for Water Quality workshop [online]

Ask UNH Extension

Ask Questions, Explore Opportunities, Get Ideas. Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Master Gardeners are ready and available to help with topics including gardening, lawns, pests, fruits and vegetables, food safety, and much more. For research-based information you can trust, Ask UNH Extension.

 

1-877-EXT-GROW (398-4769)

answers@unh.edu

 

UNH Cooperative Extension connects New Hampshire’s citizens and communities to trusted, research-based knowledge and information from the state’s flagship public university. For over 100 years, we have been drawing on our deep understanding of the state’s needs to support the economy, improve lives and make natural resources healthier and more productive.

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. University of New Hampshire, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and N.H. counties cooperating.