OCTOBER GARDENING CALENDER

First week in October:
 Dig dahlias, gladiolus, tubers and other tender bulbs.
 Plant blooming chrysanthemums to add color to fall landscapes.
 Water evergreens if needed.
 Take a soil sample of the gardens, so that the results are available in time to add fertilizer or lime that will improve or adjust soil fertility.
 Consider using shredded white pine needles as mulch around azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and andromedas.

Second Week:
 Rake deciduous tree leaves and add them to the compost pile.
 Pick and destroy bagworms from evergreens and shrubs. This will eliminate the spring hatching of overwintering eggs.
 Plant shrubs and divide crowded perennials.
 Prune leaves and stems of herbaceous perennials as they turn brown.

Third Week:
 Continue to mow the lawn so that it will not be matted down under heavy snow, if we have any.
 Plant spring flowering bulbs.
 Rake and clean up rose gardens to prevent black spot and other diseases.
 Keep an eye open for reduced prices on end-of-the-season gardening tools and equipment to be used next year or given as gifts.

Final Week:
 Transplant small trees after leaves have fallen.
 Secure vines to their support systems.
 Clean up garden debris and add to the compost pile.

Sussex County Fall Workshops

Three more workshops are slated on the Sussex Co. Master Gardener summer/fall schedule. All are free, except where noted, and will be in the Carvel Center building, except where noted. Register by contacting Karen Adams at 302-856-2585 ext. 540/ adams@udel.edu or online at http://ag.udel.edu/rec/Extension/MasterGardeners/ workshopreg.html. On the workshop list are:

Color for All Seasons – Lisa Arni – Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m.

Beauty and the Beets – Tracy Mulveny – Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.

Hands-On Holiday Arrangement – Mary Noel – Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. –

Cost is $8. Class size is limited to 30.

MASTER GARDENER CLASS

Applications are now being accepted−for the next Master Gardener class that will begin in September 2011. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2011. The application form can be downloaded from the website http://ag.udel.edu/rec/Extension/MasterGardeners/MGTraining.html.

KENT COUNTY FALL WORKSHOPS

All workshops in Kent Co. are free, excepted where noted, and are held at the Paradee Center, except where noted. Please call the Paradee Center to register at 302-730-4000.
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Growing Bulbs – Ellen Scheel and Eileen Wells – Friday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Corn Husk Wreaths – Marilyn McFarlin – Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. – Class size limited to 15. Cost: $7.

Feeding the Birds – presenter to be announced – Thursday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.

Making a Christmas Centerpiece – Pat Renfrow – Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $10.