Regional Digest

Flower & Garden Magazine, Nov, 1999 by J. Robert Nuss, Ray R. Rothenberger, Marianne Binetti, William C. Welch, Jeri Cretti, John Cretti, Keith Muraoka, Denise Cerny, Fred V. Jackson

Fall is the most important time of year for fertilizing the lawn, so use a slow-release lawn food formulated for fall and winter application. This is also the best time to buy and plant spring-blooming bulbs. This year, choose the shorter, more dependable bulbs instead of tall tulips and daffodils that fall over in the rain. Rock garden tulips, snowdrops, crocus and dwarf daffodils will give you many happy returns on your planting investment.

-- Marianne Binetti

SOUTH

Certain spring-flowering bulbs offer a great opportunity for spring color that can return and increase each year. Many narcissus fit into this category. For best results, select varieties known to naturalize in your area. Heirloom types known to be widely adaptable across the South include Campernelle jonquil (Narcissus x odorus), jonquil (Narcissus Jonquilla), lent lily (Narcissus Pseudonarcissus) and Narcissus Tazetta `Grand Primo.' Narcissus thrive in areas where the soil drains well and they get a reasonable amount of sunlight. This can even be under deciduous trees.

Finding these hardy narcissus may be a challenge in the nursery trade, but specialty bulb sources like Old House Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michi-gan, are helping to make them available again. An equally valuable heirloom bulb that's easier to find is the summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum). These survivors produce attractive foliage soon after planting and clusters of bell-shaped flowers for six to eight weeks in late winter and early spring. Summer snowflakes also make a worthy substitute for lilies of the valley. Prepare the soil for bulbs by tilling it 8 to 10 inches deep and adding 4 to 5 pounds of balanced fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed area.

As soon as soil temperatures have cooled in your area, it is time to plant pansies, ranunculus, anemones, ornamental kale and cabbage, snapdragons and other cool-season annuals. These are all good companions for spring bulbs since they reach their peak as the bulbs begin dying back. They also help conceal the dying foliage of bulbs, which must go through their entire growth cycle if they are to bloom again next year. In areas north of Zone 8, you may wish to delay planting until late winter.

In the vegetable garden, plant seed of mustard, turnips, spinach, carrots and lettuce. Transplants of cabbage, broccoli and kale may be set out for late fall and winter harvest. Before planting fall and winter vegetables, till in the remaining mulch between rows and add fertilizer to the soil. Consider adding a few rows in the vegetable garden for cut flowers. Direct seed annual poppies, larkspur and cornflower at this time. Select colors that compliment the inside of your home. Other cut flowers that may be set out now include candytuft, sweet peas, stock and snapdragons.

Ryegrasses may be planted now on bare sites or over-seeded among permanent grasses. Annual ryegrass is the least expensive and most widely available. Distribute the seed at the rate of 4 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet on areas prepared by tilling and fertilizing. Perennial ryegrass is not usually perennial in the South, but its texture is finer, and it's easier to mow than the annual types. It is also considerably more expensive. For an interesting change, try seeding ryegrass in pots filled with narcissus, tulips, hyacinths or other spring bulbs. Clip the grass occasionally with scissors to keep it neat and fertilize with water-soluble fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks since it will grow rapidly during the winter.