Fall is a great time to fertilize and overseed a lawn after the stress of summer. It is also a good time to start a new lawn as there is less competition from weeds and insects and minimal extreme heat. Whether it is a new lawn or an established one, chose a good slow release fertilizer such as Country Green Winterizer 15-0-30 or C.I.L. Golfgreen 12-0-18. Notice that those products are low in Nitrogen and high in Potash. This provides enough nutrients to get through winter and into spring and also provides disease resistance. 

There is no need to fertilize trees and shrubs at this time because it will stimulate growth and could potentially shock them when winter sets in.

The Yellow Headed Sawfly - A common larvae is causing damage to trees in Saskatoon right now. Although there are different species, the Yellow-headed Sawfly is the most common and a serious pest in our region.

The sawfly infests and feeds on spruce trees that are growing singly or on the edge of a group of trees. The larva resemble a caterpillar. You may notice complete defoliation of branches and twigs with only a few chewed brown needle stubs remaining. Repeated severe infestation over a three year period can kill trees.

You can spray the tree with a biological insecticide like BTK which has to be ingested by the larvae while eating which can last 30-40 days! A faster and more effective solution is to spray with Permethrin (Ambush) which is a low toxicity (to mammals) insecticide, works immediately, and can have a 7day residual...follow label directions. More than one application may be necessary especially after rainfall. 

It is time now to replant lettuce, spinach, and radishes to have a continuous crop throughout the summer. There is also time to reseed beets and carrots for baby carrots and beets. Shop Early's Seeds. There is still time to plant set onions for a nice fresh crop of green onions in a couple weeks. (We have a few to give-a-way at the till when you visit our store.)

Don't forget to give your tomatoes some calcium to help with blossom end rot and to give your flowers and vegetables a fertilizing (any water soluble product is good like 15-30-15 or 20-20-20) as the heavy rains might have pushed nutrients deeper in the ground and the plants could use a boost to get them to flourish. Happy gardening!

News Talk CKOM Interview with Spencer Early - June 2012. Topic: How to get rid of dandelions and the use of pesticides.

There are both organic and traditional ways to keep dandelion weeds under control.  Organic gardeners will prevent infestations by plucking seed heads by hand, or digging out the roots using tools. Using corn gluten is another organic option that controls the pre-emergence inhibition of dandelions (existing weeds are not affected).  Traditional gardeners can choose a selective herbicide. Recommended Product: Weed-B-Gone a selective herbicide that uses iron, a natural way to rid your lawn of dandelions. Weeds absorb iron through leaves and roots. Iron oxidation causes weeds to dry up, turn black, shrivel and die.

If gardeners have started their plants in the house, now that the weather is starting to warm up it is time to start hardening off your plants. If the weather is +5 or warmer start taking your plants outside every day. Start with a couple hours and slowly start increasing the time a little bit every day until it is planting time. Make sure when you first start putting them out that you put them in a well protected area out of direct sun and wind. Make sure also that you keep them well watered as being outside will dry them out quicker than inside.