Fall Color with Chrysanthemums

As temperatures drop and annuals fade out, it is time to add mums to your fall landscape. Ashcombe offers over 40 different varieties in nearly every shade imaginable with yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. This year we will be adding 6 new and improved varieties including three season-extenders that bloom mid to late October. Look for these on your next visit to Ashcombe.

Please note that mums are not reliably hardy in this area. Follow these basic steps to increase the hardiness of your mum:

• Plant early to establish vigorous roots
• Plant in sunny spot with good drainage
• In winter, protect with straw, leaves or tree branches
• Uncover mid-March and cut back
• Keep trimmed to 8" until July
• Can be divided every other year

Fall Harvest Days
THE FIRST 4 WEEKENDS
IN OCTOBER

• The last weekend in October is our annual Fall Auction, beginning at 9:00am. There will be antiques, garden supplies and miscellaneous items up for auction.
• Pick-your-own pumpkins & hayrides October 1-2, 8-9, 11-23, 29-0
• Scarecrow making October 9, 10:00am - 4:00pm
• Face painting every Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm
• 'Meet Our Farm Animals.' Every weekend you can learn about our animals
• Special harvest foods and apples, cider, pumpkins and squash.
• Gourds, mums, pansies and other fall decorating items.

AMELANCHIER
(Juneberry or Serviceberry)
Large shrub or small tree that may grow to 25 feet, delicate white spring flowers; sweet, dark purple fruits June-August; deep orange to red fall color; use as a specimen or along woodland edge or plant in front of larger evergreens. Fruits attract 26 species of birds including grouse, woodpeckers, thrushes, bluebird, orioles, tanager, and cardinals.

ARONIA
(Chokecherry)
Deciduous shrub that grows 2-8 feet tall; white spring flowers turn into dry fleshy red or black berries that persist into winter; rich orange and red fall color; attractive when used in borders or in massing. An important late winter source of food for turkey, grouse, quail, pheasants, catbirds, mockingbirds, bluebirds, robins, cedar waxwings, thrashers and more.

BARBARIS
(Barberry)
Small deciduous shrub that ranges in size from 1 to 5 feet; small yellow spring blossoms become globular red berries that persist into winter, useful as hedge plants or for erosion control or as accents in borders. Provides cover and nest sites for grouse, quail, pheasants, mockingbirds, catbirds, junco and sparrows. Berries are relished by robins, waxwings, cardinals, juncos, mockingbirds, catbirds, pheasants, grouse and quail.

CAMPSIS
(Trumpet Vine)
Vigorous growing deciduous vine with orange-red tubular summer flowers; can grow to 30 feet and can support itself by clinging to stone, brick or wood; nectar adored by hummingbirds; goldfinches favor seed.

CELASTRUS
(Bittersweet)
Vigorous deciduous vine that grows to 60 feet; females produce orange fall fruits if pollinated by a nearby male plant; easy to grow, especially adaptable to dry locations. Fruits favored by 15 species of birds including turkey, grouse, quail, pheasants, mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds, cedar waxwings and cardinals.

CEPHALANTHUS
(Buttonbush)
Deciduous shrub that grows 3-12 feet tall and can grow in standing water that is 1-2 feet deep; very fragrant tubular spring flowers with abundant nectar and seed capsules throughout winter. Excellent nest site for wetland birds such as ducks, teals, redwinged blackbirds. Seeds attract these same birds - nectar attracts hummingbirds!

CORNUS FLORIDA
(Flowering Dogwood)
Small tree that may grow to 40 feet; white to rose spring flowers; scarlet drapes August-November; scarlet fall color; use as specimen or as understory tree. Fruits attract over 100 species of birds including turkey, grouse, quail, woodpeckers, catbird, robin, bluebird, waxwing, thrushes, warblers, cardinals.

CORNUS STOLONIFERS
(Yellow or Red Twig Dogwood)
Deciduous shrubs that grow 4-8 feet tall and have bright yellow or red winter twigs with ornamental value; creamy white summer flowers and white fruits; dark red winter color; excellent as a border shrub or to prevent soil erosion. Fruits are relished by over 35 species of birds including turkey, grouse, quail, pheasant, woodpeckers, catbirds, robins, bluebirds, waxwing, finches. Gold finches use upright twigs as a favorite nesting spot.

ILEX GLABRA
(Inkberry)
Evergreen shrub that grows 4-10 feet tall; produces inconspicuous flowers and glossy black fruits that persist throughout winter; highly ornamental, extremely hardy and easy to grow. Provides food and cover for turkeys, quail, flickers, mockingbirds, robins, bluebirds, cedar waxwings, and towhees.

Few shrubs can match viburnum's handsome, healthy leaves, which earn the plant a place in the landscape even when they're not in fruit or flower. Viburnum leaves range from shiny to felty, leathery to deeply-veined, and from the darkest green through rich medium green to gray in color. As a bonus, the foliage of most deciduous viburnums turn brilliant yellow-orange to red-purple in the fall. Their gray-brown, twiggy framework is often covered with a soft felt, making it attractive even after they've lost their leaves.

Viburnums are widely adapted and versatile. There are deciduous viburnums hardy enough to survive frigid northern winters and evergreen viburnums that thrive in the hot and humid south. Many viburnums become medium-sized shrubs (about 6' to 8' tall) and equally wide, but others grow much larger or smaller. A few viburnums even have the habit of a small tree. Viburnums can be used as single specimens, in perennial borders, combined with other flowering shrubs, as screens, as hedges and in naturalized areas.

CHOOSING A VIBURNUM
Before you choose a viburnum for your garden, consider your climate and growing conditions. The deciduous viburnums are the hardiest, some of them tolerating the winter lows of USDA Hardiness Zone 2 (-50°F). The evergreens and semi-evergreens are hardy to Zone 4 (-30°F) or Zone 5 (-20°F). Most Viburnums prefer full sun and will bloom most abundantly if they have it. Many will also grow into lush, floriferous shrubs in bright shade like that under high-canopied trees. However, nearly all viburnums tolerate part shade, and some may require it if your summers are especially torrid, Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) seems to be the most shade tolerant.

Choose species or cultivars that can reach their mature size without being crowded by nearby plants or buildings. Most viburnums look best if they're allowed to achieve their natural forms without pruning.

PLANTING AND CARE
Ample moisture is perhaps the only requirement for growing healthy viburnums. Most viburnums prefer soil that is well drained, but not too dry. They need about one inch of water per week during the growing season. During dry spells, it is wise to water them deeply once a week. They grow best in deep, loamy soils enriched with organic matter, but they will also grow well in soils of average fertility.

Give new plants a generous hold and a fertile growing medium. Plant in a large hole and backfill it with stone-free soil enriched with rotted manure or compost, or peat moss. Mulch with shredded bark, keep the plants well watered during the first growing season, and replace the mulch and fertilize every other year.

Viburnums are generally vigorous, trouble-free shrubs, living about 10 to 20 years in the average landscape planting. Some, like Siebold viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii), last much longer. By and large, viburnums have few pest problems, especially if they are not subjected to excessive temperature or drought stress. Leaf spot, a bacterial disease, can become a problem with the Koreanspice viburnums. The cranberry bush types, so called because of the color and the appearance of their fruit, are prone to aphid infestations, especially the European species (Viburnum opulus).

As a rule, viburnums should not be heavily pruned, but you may need to occasionally remove crossing branches or wayward twigs. To renew growth on old viburnums, you can selectively remove some of the large, older branches at the base, which will encourage the growth of vigorous new shoots. Viburnums bloom on new wood, so prune after they flower.

The Benefits of Fall Planting

Many people are unaware that fall is a wonderful time to plant. Gardeners often think of spring as the planting season and miss out on a great opportunity.

The following conditions make fall perennial planting ideal

• The soil is perfect. Warm soil temperatures (unlike spring) enhance rooting. Also the soil is soft and workable - which is excellent for root growth.
• Cool air temperatures minimize wilting and transplant shock. The days are growing shorter. Thus the plants receive fewer hours of searing sun compared to mid-summer. With less heat, less water is lost through the leaves, thus plants don¹t suffer as much as in hotter months. Cooler temperatures also make garden chores more pleasant.
• Moisture levels are generally higher. Precipitation is often greater in the fall and thus soil moisture is more abundant and available to the plants.
• Many insects are going dormant, thus plants suffer less from insect attack. Also, those pesty bugs will be less bothersome as you garden.
• Fall planting allows you to get a jump start on the spring gardening chores. Spring is often a very busy time in many people¹s lives. There are numerous garden chores to accomplish. Planting hardy plants in the fall will lessen your spring work.
• Fall planting enables you to plan for and plant a better display for the next year. Plants will generally be bigger and showier than those planted in the subsequent spring.
• Your garden needs are fresh in your mind. You may not remember the problems, the changes, the editing that needs to be done several months from now. Now is a great time to evaluate your perennial plantings.
  Does your garden lack color at times?
  Are there holes or empty areas?
  Are your plants overcrowded?
  Do you have misplaced plants? Tall in front of short, colors that clash, etc. Fall is a great time to remedy these problems while they are very apparent and still fresh in your mind.

• Nurseries recognize that fall is a great planting time and are growing fresh plant material for this season, thus there is better plant selection available. Specials are often run late in the season You may be able to find great bargains. Plants which have not sold all season and have been in a pot too long may be pot bound. Remember to break apart the root ball and tease the roots apart to disrupt those girdling roots.

Here are some tips for successful fall planting

Fall Treats

ASHCOMBE RECIPE TOMATO BUTTER

20 quarts ground ripe tomatoes (approx. 53 lbs.)
12 medium onions, ground
2 quarts vinegar
12 cups brown sugar
8 cups granulated sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon
4 tsp. ground coves
4 tsp. allspice
4 Tbsp. salt

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup shortening
2 cups pumpkin
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves

14 gallons cider
39 quarts smokehouse apples
8 lbs. sugar
1/4 to 1/2 oz artificial cinnamon or oil of cinnamon

6 large green peppers
11/2 cup canned tuna fish
2 cups cooked rice
2 Tbsp. minced, fresh carnation petals
1 cup water
3 Tbsp. carnation butter (see recipe to follow)
2 small onions, chopped
2 Tbsp. flour
11/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
2 Tbsp. carnation cooking oil
(see recipe to follow)

1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Topping: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine-softened, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Bake at 350° for 1 hour 15 minutes.

40 cups pumpkin puree (10 quarts)
15 lbs. brown sugar
71/2 cups lemon juice
20 tsp. grated lemon peel
20 tsp. grated orange peel
20 tsp. ground ginger
20 tsp. cinnamon
5 tsp. allspice
salt

We've been sending out our newsletters for a number of years as a means of getting valuable information to you. I would like to mention that we have an extensive selection of plant care sheets that can help you do a better job with your growing. This year has been a challenge to all plant growers and to the garden centers selling plants. We appreciate the loyal support during recent drought when our sales slipped greatly due to a lack or rainfall. The advice we have to offer plant lovers is to select carefully the plants you want and mulch heavily to keep the soil from drying out. Talk to our people and they will tell you the best way to grow your fall plants. And fall is a good time to plant. Enjoy it! Thank you again,

Sincerely,
Glenn M. Gross

Previous Newsletters:

• June 1999

  May 1999

• March 1999