Ah Fall, time to clean up and prepare the landscape for winter.

Lawns- Early fall is a great time to seed as summers heat is still in the soil and speeds germination while nights are cool. Two feedings should be done in the fall- First around Labor Day and the second in mid November.  Watch for grubs in the lawns. There was a significant amount of Japanese Beetles around this year in certain areas.

Good time to put on amendments like lime or gypsum as freezing and thawing of the ground over the winter works the amendments into the ground. Lawns in our area tend to be slightly acidic so a liming every few years may be needed. This could be done at any time but freezing and thawing, over the winter helps the ground take in the lime very readily so fall can be an excellent time to put it on. A soil test can determine your lawns needs for lime and fertilizer and the Union County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office in Westfield (908-654-9852) can tell you how to take samples and how to send them in.

Gardens- Clean the gardens of debris and old leaves, esp. if you had problems with disease. Shrubs and perennials should have a light mulch covering to hold moisture and protect roots. Shrubs can be fed using a granular fertilizer after Mid October. 

Planting shrubs and other ornamentals can be done in early fall. While out in the landscape, watch for two insect problems that have been prevalent on ornamentals. The first are scales, which is an insect which hits many different shrubs, growing on the stems and branches. There are many different types- some are white and almost powdery, while others may appear hard and shiny. They can be controlled when temperatures are over 40 degrees F with horticultural oils.

The other insects are called weevils and again hit many different ornamentals. The adults cause a notched appearance to leaves. This damage is very noticeable on broadleaves, like rhododendrons or hollies. The grub or larval stage does the greatest damage by chewing and destroying the plants root system. The insect can be controlled by using a systemic insect control containing “Acephate” in Mid may and repeating two more times at monthly intervals. Merit is also another systemic that has good control. Use care with all pesticides and read the directions completely before using.