Personalize with myajc.com
Welcome, Guest
Member Center | Logout
Customer Care
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Subscribe | Print Edition
Get Mobile Access
 

Lawn & Garden Weather Center
  


USDA Plant Hardiness ZONE map
Click to enlarge

Resources:
 National Arboretum Website
 Rainfall Accumulation Maps
 NWS Storm Prediction Center

Bookmark This Page

Gardening Blog
9.05.2006
Prepare Your Roses for Fall
On the threshold of fall we should be concerned with how we are going to prepare our rose beds for the chilly months ahead. Here's some tips on keeping your rose garden healthy:

  • In early fall, suspend fertilization.

  • After foliage drops, spray with fungicide.

  • Cover plants with a minimum of 8" of loose, well-drained soil, mulch or compost.

  • Prune canes back to 36" to prevent damage from winter winds.

  • Try to keep your rose beds free of weeds and spent rose petals on the ground. If you notice petals or leaves with blackspot and mildew, discard them in a trash bag.

Click Here for Previous Blogs

 

 


Topsoil Maps

Click to enlarge


Topsoil Temperature

 
Topsoil Moisture


Vegetation Cover

Flower of the Week!

Can you guess what type of flower this is?

Click Here to Find Out
 
Click Here for Previous Flowers of the Week

Gardening Tips

Plant buying

Leaves: Unless they're supposed to be colored or variegated, leaves should be a healthy shade of green. Look out for any signs of pests and diseases.

Stems and branches: Avoid plants with broken stems or branches.

Compost: Moss, liverwort or weeds in the pot are not freebies that you want. Also watch out for compost that is bone dry.

Roots: Knock the plant gently and take a look at the roots. Avoid plants where you see the roots are jammed in and curling around. These have been in their pot too long and are pot-bound. Also avoid any that have only recently been repotted and are more compost than roots.

Irrigation

-Target the specific areas of the plant that needs water. For most plants this means watering the area of soil around the roots.

 -Avoid watering in the midday sun because the water will evaporate. The best time to water the garden is early in the morning or evening.

-To reduce evaporation, don't water when it's windy.

-Watering plants less frequently, but deeply and thoroughly helps them to develop healthy, deep root systems.