BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT VACATION

Don't forget your plant friends. Unless you are growing plants that like a little neglect (and there really are very few plants like this), chances are you will need to care for your plants if you are gone for more than a day or so. But how to do this?

• Drip irrigation with a timer. This is the most expensive way to ensure that your outdoor plants are watered but also the most dependable and precise.
• Ask a friend. This is the least expensive (money-wise), but maybe the best if you have an assortment of plants of different types. If you have houseplants, see if you can bring them to their home so they can watch over them.
• Soaker hoses with a timer are a great way to slowly and deeply water your established plants.
• There are other devices, such as attaching a hose to a rain barrel or turning soda bottles into drip systems. These may work for short trips, but it may not be enough water for a lot of plants.

Keep in mind that plants in containers dry out more quickly, so you may need to give them extra attention. Also, consider moving your indoor plants to areas that won't contribute to drying out, such as vents and bright sunny windows.

Before a short trip, consider watering thoroughly and mulching to keep evaporation to a minimum.

GET YOUR GARDEN READY FOR FALL

Fall is an underrated time of the year. Yes, Spring is about fresh, bright colors, and boundless optimism about the gardening year ahead, but fall is when you can celebrate what you've done in the garden and prepare for year ahead! Here are some tips for the final months of the year:

• Harvest Don't forget to harvest your vegetables and fruits when they are at their peak. Enjoy the work you've done to get fresh fruits and veggies! Oh, and if you have a few tomatoes that don't quite get ripe, well, fried green tomatoes are really quite delicious!
• Refresh Add some fresh color to your garden. Pansies, mums, and ornamental cabbage are in, and consider adding some textures to your containers, such as wintergreen or grasses. Come on in, and we'll give you some ideas.
• Water We know, we know. Although it's cooler, there's still not enough rain to excuse you from watering. Keep watering your plants. The good news is that cooler weather slows down plant growth.
• Plant Fall is great time to plant trees and shrubs. The cooler weather is less stressful on many plants, and getting them in the ground now gives their root systems a chance to establish themselves. Spring bulbs (daffodils, tulips, crocus, et al) are coming in and should be planted soon. Garlic is coming in and ready to go into the ground!
• Prepare Your lawn, that is. Mid-September through mid-October is a great time to fertilize, over-seed, and mulch. The ground is still warm (NW grass seed germinates when the ground is 55F or warmer) and the rains naturally keep the ground moist.

  Apply lime to discourage moss	Lilly Miller Super Sweet	25lb bag covers 2000 sqft
  Apply fertilizer	EB Stone Lawn Food	20lb bag covers 2000 sqft
  Overseed or patch areas	Supreme Blend (full sun) or Show and Shade Blend (shade or sun)	2lb bag covers 2000 sqft for overseeding
  Mulch	EB Stone Top Coat	1.5 cuft bag covers 72 sqft with 1/4" layer

POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY
GARDENING

Did you know that one out of every three foods we eat rely on pollinators. Pollinators fertilize flowers, which then produce seeds, which you can find buried in that apple you eat or on the outside of the strawberry that you pick. In the non-edible world, pollinators help maintain a thriving ecosystem by continuing plant species and adding biodiversity.

As you garden, think about what you are doing in your garden to encourage bees, birds, and butterflies. And also to ensure that we aren't doing to anything detrimental to our flying and buzzing friends.

• Create a pollinator-friendly environment in your backyard. Plant flowers that encourage bees and birds, like asters, coneflowers, lavender, sunflowers, yarrow, etc. Have water dishes in a safe place for pollinators to get a drink.
• Check the labels of any insecticide, herbicide, or fungicide that you use. Be aware of spraying where the bees are and minimizing spray drift.
• Take care of the environment. Climate change not only affects humans.
• Come on in to pick up our list of pollinator friendly plants.