Start Thinking Spring!

If you have a problem with rodents and squirrels browsing on bulbs, you can plant in bulb cages or add chicken wire over the bulbs before covering with soil. The daffodil is one flowering bulb that marauders tend to leave alone, as are crown imperials. Plant crown imperials near tulips and other choice plantings that are susceptible to rodent damage, as mice and other rodents are repelled by these bulbs. Adding dried hot peppers such as cayenne pepper flakes or dried and shredded habaneros to the planting hole is another deterrent.

For some added color indoors, plant a few pots of bulbs for forcing. Place some stones or packaging popcorn in the bottoms of your containers, and fill containers about 1/2 to 2/3 full of good potting soil. Add the bulbs, and fill dirt around them, leaving the growing tip exposed. Water and keep moist, but not soggy. Bulbs require three to four months of chilling. A coldframe, an unheated shed, porch, or garage is ideal for this. Gradually bring the pots to a cool indoor location, an unused bedroom at around 60 degrees would be an example, and allow the bulbs to become acclimated to increasing warmth. After a week or so, bring them into a bright and warmer location. Keep them watered, but not wet. By bringing in pots of flowers several weeks apart, you can enjoy a succession of blooms.

Plan your spring garden now, and enjoy the colorful show after the long, drab winter is over!

September Honey-Do List:

1. Continue to start or renovate lawns at this time. Aeration and dethatching can be tackled.

2. Naturally, purchase spring flowering bulbs at this time! Store them for planting later in the month and on until the ground freezes.

3. Start inspecting houseplants for insects and diseases. Treat and repot before moving them indoors as the weather begins to cool.

4. Remove spent plants from vegetable and annual plantings. If potted flowers are starting to look a bit shabby, pull these up and add pots of mums, pansies, asters, flowering kale and flowering cabbage.

5. Begin to turn over vegetable gardens and add organic material to your beds.

6. As your summer bulbs start to decline or the tops start to die, dig them up and let them ripen for a few days before storing. A good time to do this is during a stretch of dry, sunny weather.

7. For the zones 5 and 6 areas of our

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