This week in your Massachusetts garden & landscape
Week of September 10, 2018
Nutrients are lost when carrots are peeled due to most of the nutrients being located near the skin. Rather than peeling the carrots, scrub the surface of the carrots after harvesting to remove any soil. Store the carrots in the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator to help maintain their moisture.
- Plant a few pots of culinary herbs for the kitchen windowsill. Two or three seeds in 6” pot is just right. As the days grow shorter, a supplemental light source may be needed.
- Harvest sweet corn early in the morning and store the ears in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- A new sedum ‘Plum Dazzled’ is a must for a sunny spot in the perennial garden. Whether it be used as a groundcover, in a container or along the edge of a border, its purple foliage and raspberry-pink flowers bloom from mid to late summer. Reaching only 8” tall and clump forming in its growth habit, ‘Plum Dazzled’ is hardy in zones 4-9.
- A beautiful new heuchera ‘Forever Purple’ is the only purple heuchera that holds its color all four seasons. Gorgeous foliage with ruffles, the flowers are a bonus in the shade garden. Hardy in zones 4-9.
- Whether you are patching, over seeding or starting a new lawn, now is a great time to seed lawns. Spread fresh topsoil, if needed, or lightly rake existing soil to create a seed bed. Once the soil work is complete, spread the seed as evenly as possible coming in contact with the soil. Spreading a light layer of straw over the seed helps to keep the birds from eating it as well as helping to maintain moisture. Water the newly seeded area daily until the seeds sprout. The cool nights and fall rains will be a big help.
- Removing any leaves or flowers stalks that have turned black or are tattered of perennials will keep the perennial garden looking great and healthy as well. Cut back disfigured, aging foliage of columbine, delphinium, hollyhock and cranesbill and they will produce new leaves, and sometimes, new flowers.
