As the season changes, we start to see the onset of powdery mildew on summer-flowering plants such as dahlia, begonia, gerbera, and New Guinea Impatiens. There is no use combating the inevitable. These plants lack the vigor they once had in early summer and become prone to disease later in the season.
As warm weather flowers like cosmos, zinnia, Salpiglossis, and Oenothera begin to die back — it’s time to change them out for mums, pansies, violas, Iceland poppy, and snapdragon. Ornamental grasses are another good plant for fall.
Fall is the time to provide needed sulfur, zinc, iron and manganese for citrus, gardenias, and blueberries. Hydrangea Blue (aluminum sulfate) is applied in fall and spring to force hydrangea flowers to turn blue. Hydrangeas are forming next summer’s flowers NOW. The time to prune hydrangeas is right after flowering, and only as much as needed to remove spent flowers and small canes. Pruning later than October will reduce the number of blossoms next year.
Ultra Bloom 0-10-10 is recommended for camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas to promote strong spring flowering (phosphorus). It will also aid in many plants’ resistance to cold damage and disease (potassium). Always apply fertilizers and supplements to moist soil and water well afterwards.
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