A Busy September in the Garden

Now that Labor Day is in the rearview mirror and all the kids are back in school, people everywhere are amping up for the busy fall season. This is especially true for gardeners. This time of year is chock-full of gardening and taking-care-of-outside chores. As most serious gardeners know, September is not the end of the season. In reality, it is the beginning. What you do between September and late November will help determine how heavy your workload is for next spring.

Many gardeners are well on their way to having a fall garden by now. Depending on where they live, the planning and prep has been done and they have already planted or are ready to move on to planting. Those winter greens and vegetables will be very welcome as fall turns to winter.

But what if you are not doing a fall garden this year? If you want to plant in the spring or just want a healthy backyard environment for your warm weather enjoyment, there is a lot that can be done now to make that happen. Putting in a little time now can save you time, money and worry as you come out of winter next year.

Plant a tree: If you are not up to going the whole fall garden route but still want to get your hands in some soil, consider planting a tree. Every day is a great day for a tree, but September through November is the ideal time for planting one. This will give their roots time to establish before hard freezes and allows them to concentrate their energy on growing roots before they put out leaves in the spring. The key to success with this schedule is to encourage strong and healthy root growth and to water deeply. We recommend Root Build 240 for the roots. For more information, check out our tree planting blog here.

Apply Beneficial Nematodes: We strongly encourage fall applications of these microscopic organisms to control pests that overwinter in the soil. We have beneficial nematodes that can control a myriad of pests, including various beetles, ticks, fungus gnats and caterpillars. Apply some now and apply again in the spring to knockdown any pests that got away. These fascinating creatures do amazing unseen work in the ground. We have a ton of information on them here. And they are on sale through September!

Move your garden to containers: If you have some plants that you’d like to keep going or some favorites that you like to have around, put them in containers. It will be easier to protect them (and yourself) from the elements. Put them close to the house or on a porch for easy access and raise them off the ground; this will keep them from becoming waterlogged in the wetness of fall and winter. Here is a video with some tips on fall container planting. 

Lawns: Your lawn will enjoy some dethatching, fertilization and aeration at this time of year. And, while you’re at it, you may as well go after those stubborn perennial weeds. Weeds draw up nutrients in the fall to prepare for winter; if you apply herbicide now it will be drawn up as well. Corn Gluten Meal may work well for you; it will fertilize as well as kill weeds. Check out our blog on this versatile corn by-product. We also have many other excellent weed control options here.

Clean out sheds, greenhouses and cold frames: Now that the weather is cooling off (except here in Southern Arizona), get out and clear up the clutter that it was just too darn hot to deal with over the summer. If you are planting again, you will want this clean slate. If you are not, cleaning now will give you a chance to move items that shouldn’t be out in the cold and free you from spending your spring days going through debris from the year before. Be sure to empty and clean out all the compost and decaying plant matter from old pots and containers to keep overwintering pests from finding a home there.

Trim things up: Help your plants by maximizing light sources as we move into the darker months. Remove thick or overhanging vegetation around your garden, greenhouse or patio. To encourage pumpkins to ripen by Halloween, trim up any leaves and/or re-direct vines that may be shadowing them. If you have apple trees – lucky you – run the mower under them so you’ll be able to easily spot any windfalls.


Compost: Not composting? Start now to take advantage of falling leaves and dead plant material. If you are already composting, you probably know already that the bounty of leaves in the fall are an excellent addition to a compost pile. Check out our composting products here.

Plan for beauty: Now that you have a trimmed up and cleaner yard environment, and a plan for all the fallen leaves that someone will have to rake up, it's time to plant bulbs for next year’s enjoyment. Stick them in now and when they start popping out next spring you will be so glad you did.                                                                 
Above all, get out and enjoy this time of beautiful time of year. The sunny, cool days and crisp nights of autumn are something that this Virginia native gets homesick for every year at this time.

Submitted by Pam

Man, It’s Stupid Hot Out There!

No matter where you stand in the climate change conversation, it is undeniably HOT out there these days – outrageously, hellishly, suffocatingly hot! 200 million Americans are currently experiencing record-breaking heat, with many places expected to reach temperatures higher than those we’ll have here in Arizona. And don’t give me the “it’s a dry heat” refrain, an oven is also a dry heat. I have lived in places with high humidity and know how debilitating it can be and most of the places dealing with this heat wave will also have that humidity. The combination of heat and humidity is just plain miserable.

Never touch metal that's been in direct sunlight.

We Arizonans take pride in our ability to muddle through our summers. Most of us accept the heat as payment for having such mild winters. There are many strategies to get through, but when asked how one copes, my favorite response is “Live like a desert creature”. Simply put, avoid the sun at all costs, don’t over exert yourself and drink plenty of water. Seeking shade is a competitive sport around here in the hottest months; I’ve seen groups of people clumped together under the thin strip of shade a telephone pole offers.Even local reptiles know this game. Having said all that, many (probably most) Arizonans, myself included, are lucky enough to travel from air-conditioned homes in our air-conditioned cars to other air-conditioned locations. But, getting to that car in the parking lot and getting it cooled down can be pretty gnarly!

 

"Facekinis" in China - not creepy at all. 

People can wear lighter clothing (or add questionable sun protection like the image on the left) and adjust their routines in answer to excessive heat, but what is a  plant to do? The higher the temperatures, the more need for water; finding ways to stretch your water is key. In Arizona, Xeriscaping has long been a widely appreciated model for growing. With its emphasis   on water conservation, mulching and using heat   tolerant plants, it is an ideal solution for areas like   ours that experience heat and drought.The elimination or reduction of turf is also a key factor in Xeriscapes. Many people around the country still love their lawns, but in cities like ours where water is at a premium they have become less socially acceptable. I encourage every reader to reconsider their lawn and either eliminate or reduce them; it is a small but important way to serve the environment.

Backyard Xeriscape, Tucson, AZ

Adopting a Xeriscape approach to landscapes and gardening takes some planning ahead. This works well in Arizona because we always know it will be hot and dry. With current climate conditions being what they are, excessive heat and/or drought is a reality now for non-desert parts of our nation and, if you want to grow something, planning ahead is for everyone. Here are some ways you can build a heat tolerant green space; some take planning, but others offer heat help right away:

Soil Amendments – Building a soil that holds and properly distributes water and water-borne nutrients to plants is a solid foundation that gives plants the tools to fight the heat. You can chose something like Earthshine, a soil enhancer mix that contains biochar and other beneficial additives. Or a powder like Harvest Gold Organics Premium Soil Conditioner, which contains silica and micronutrients. Or even a single ingredient additive like the Elemite, also known as ARBICO Organics™ Soil Replenish™. Another (very affordable!) option is ARBICO Organics™ Rice Hulls. The bottom line is that any type of high quality soil amendment will bring you healthier soil, which means healthier plants that can better handle heat and drought stressors.

Composting & Mulching – You can increase your soil’s water holding capacity by up to 7 times by simply adding compost. You can use ready-to-go compost or begin making your own; we have options for you here. Mulch, mulch, mulch – in any form, by any name, just do it! Mulching options are many: coco coir like Prococo Coconut Coir, and other cover crops and biodegradable weed block paper, which provides weed control as well as mulch. Another interesting option is Slug Gone. This sustainable slug (and snail) control product is made from wool and is placed in and around garden beds. It will swell from the moisture and make a scratchy mat that slugs will refuse to cross. In performing its slug control duty, it also retains moisture and reduces water usage.

Yucca in its native environment

Adjuvants – Another way to protect plants from heat stressors is to add adjuvants to their water. Yucca (Yucca schidigera) is a desert native and knows all the tricks to survive in such a harsh environment. Adjuvants like RAW Yucca Flow and Therm X-70 that use extracts from these plants deliver the secrets of the Yucca plant to your backyard. You can give your plants immediate heat relief by adding these adjuvants right away.

Covers – Use covers to protect your plants from the pounding sun. Here are many versions to choose from, or create your own. Here is a video to show you how.

Containers – Consider moving plants from beds to containers. Container planting makes water conservation easier and gives you the ability to move plants in and out of the sun.


Embrace heat-loving plants – Seek out and cultivate plants that are well adapted to hot weather. Here are some great heat-friendly plants that you are probably familiar with:
Sunflowers – with a name like that…
Amaranth - pretty – and you can eat it!
Echinacea – beloved by pollinators – 
Yarrow - native to temperate North America

Yarrow blooms

Unless you live in the far northern regions of our country, you may be surprised to find there are native summer species waiting to be loved. Here in the Tucson, we have a fabulous source for desert-adapted native and heirloom plants thanks to Native Seeds/SEARCH. They have a remarkable variety of interesting seeds and stories that go with them.

Stay cool out there.
                                                                                                                         Submitted by Pam

Can You Compost Without a Yard or Garden? Yes, You Can!

Did you know that this week is International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW)? I didn’t either until a few days ago, even though it’s apparently been around since 1995. The goal is “to raise the awareness of the public regarding the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain high quality soil, to grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, improve water quality and protect the environment”. With such lofty aspirations, what can an individual do to participate, especially someone who does not garden or lives in an apartment (or some other dwelling without a yard)? Plenty, as it turns out.

2019 ICAW Poster Contest Winner

If you are on the fence about taking the leap into composting, you should know that the many benefits of compost more than make up for the little bit of effort that it takes to do it. Compost can significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills (as much as 75% of municipal waste), reduce methane gas emissions, clean up toxins in the soil and improve soil structure and health. All of which helps cool down and green up the environment.

Even if you are serious about your commitment to a better Earth, you may still have some concerns about the composting process, especially in small-space homes. Most of these are probably very common and can be overcome. For instance:

• The hassle of it all – Granted, there will be a change in the way things are done, but they do not necessarily mean more work and can actually reduce waste-related work. For instance, you will be making fewer trips to the dumpster and your trash will be lighter. Bear in mind that, when making a lifestyle change, the greatest effort is often in changing an attitude.

• It will take up too much room – All you really need is a bit of counter or floor space to place a bin in. There are many fine options out there that are designed with indoor composting in mind and we carry several of them. If you are a DIY kind of person, you could re-purpose a plastic bin or make your own from scraps of wood.

• It’ll smell up the place – Don’t accept the myth that all compost is disgusting and smelly. The odor should be closer to dirt than decomposition. If you are adding the proper items in the proper way, any odor problem you may have comes from the way the compost is being maintained. Your compost can start stinking if it is not mixed enough, or has too much moisture, or not enough green material. All of which can be fixed easily. For more details, look here.

So, release your misgivings and start having fun with this simple yet effective way to help our planet.

No, not these kind of earthworms.

There are a couple of options that work exceptionally well for indoor composting that I’d like to mention. These are Vermiculture and Bokashi. In Vermiculture, earthworms are used to accelerate the composting process and, ultimately, to create castings. These castings are rich in nutrients, microbes and bacillus and work exceptionally well to elevate soil. Vermiculture is done in contained worm bins and produce very little to no odor. See what we offer in the world of worms here. The process of composting with Bokashi originated in Japan, where creativity in maximizing living space is a way of life. There are pros and cons to this method, however. You can incorporate more types of matter into the compost (which makes that part easier); but you will not produce a traditional compost, it will be a fermented liquid which has specific application requirements (which makes that part harder). You’ll find more information here and a video here. Should you decide this is the method for you, we have all you need to get you started and keep you going.

So what is a poor, non-gardening apartment dweller to do with all the compost that will be produced? After all, you can only fill so many potted plants. There are some interesting options out there, including:

Farmers Markets – Ask the vendors if they would like donations to their compost piles, either in the form of compost itself or thoughtfully collected scraps. Even if they are a “no”, they may have other ideas for you. Markets close to you can easily be found online.

Schools – Many schools have gardens and most are happy to accept donations of nearly any form. Here at ARBICO, we donate compost and other gardening supplies to the kids at La Paloma Academy.

Community Gardens – Neighborhood gardens are common in many, if not most, places these days. You are already a part of a community, with your new-found composting spirit, you can become part of the community gardeners.                                     

Chicken Lovers – Raising backyard chickens is all the rage and the community is strong. While they may not need compost, your scraps could be greatly appreciated. Reach out on the BackYard Chickens site or go back to the Farmers Market and look for someone selling eggs.

Go Online – Offer compost and/or scraps on Craigslist or some similar site. Of course, always take the necessary precautions when opening yourself up to strangers. A more gentle approach would be to post on your Facebook.

City/Local Services - Check out local colleges and universities to see if they have sustainability programs you can tap into. Go to your municipality’s website to see what they have going. If you contact your local county extension office, someone there will probably have some good suggestions for you.

Give Back -  Why not give back directly to Mother Earth? The next time you are hiking or walking your dog or just out in nature, sprinkle some compost around a tree or in a field. As long as you make sure you are not on private property and that the compost is clean, it should be a win-win type of thing. For extra fun, make it a family affair and put your heads together to find new and interesting spots to visit for each compost drop.

If, after having read all this, you still don’t want to start yet another time-consuming project, I recommend purchasing some of the compost, castings and compost teas we have to offer. These are all exceptional products, but, this week, I’d like to draw your attention to what we have from Tank’s Green Stuff. They are dedicated to everything that  International Compost Awareness Week stands for (learn more about them here). We are proud they are here in Tucson and working with us.


Submitted by Pam