Fall 2002 Newsletter

Every fall it seems more and more people are decorating their porches and patios with autumn themes. Corn shocks, straw bales, scarecrows and pumpkins grace nearly every home in our area. Your decorating could not be complete without the vibrant colors of our fall garden mums.

Our production crew starts planting mum cuttings in the middle of June. Through the summer they are fertilized, shaped and pruned until about August when we allow them to start setting buds. Flowers start to open around the first of September as the days get shorter.

Mums bloom in intervals. Some are very early to bloom and some are very late andothers bloom somewhere in between. We carry a wide selection of colors and sizes sure to fit everyone's decor. Each year we also add and eliminate varieties to fine tune our selection.

This year we have added 9 new varieties! Look for these on your next visit to Ashcombe:

Please be sure to join us for our annual Fall event, designed for the whole family!
October 4, 5, 11, 12 and daily from the 14th through the 26th.

HAYRIDES, CORN MAIZE AND PICK—YOUR—OWN PUMPKINS
October 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 14th—26th.

SCARECROW MAKING
Saturday, October 5th 9:00am—4:00pm.
$15.00 or $5.00 if you bring your own clothes. (We'll supply the head, clothes, straw, etc.)

SOAP MAKING DEMONSTRATION
with Patsy Buck, Saturday October 5th, from 9:00am — 4:00pm.

CAPTAIN JACK KETTLE KORN
Saturday, October 12th.
Popcorn making demonstration.

Fall is an excellent time for planting. Many gardeners think of spring as the planting season and miss out on the great opportunity that autumn provides.

The soil is perfect. Warm temperatures (unlike spring) enhance rooting. Also the soil is soft and workable, which is excellent for root growth.

Cool air temperature minimizes wilting and transplant shock. The days are growing shorter. Thus, the plants receive fewer hours of searing sun compared to mid summer. With reduced heat, less water is lost through the leaves and plants don't 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 plants.

Many insects are going dormant, thus plants suffer less from insect attack. Also, those pesky bugs will be less bothersome as you garden.

Fall planting allows you to get a jump start on spring gardening chores. Spring is often a very busy time in many people's lives, as 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 next year. Plants will generally be bigger and showier than those planted in the subsequent spring.

Your garden chores are fresh in your mind. You may not remember the problems, changes or editing that needs to be done several months from now.

Here at Ashcombe, we recognize that fall is a great planting time and are growing fresh plant material for this season. We continue to offer a good selection of quality plants. 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 girdling roots.

Prepare the soil by adding compost, manure or other organic matter to existing soil. This will help to improve drainage — and minimize soggy conditions, which can promote root rot.

Break apart the root ball to encourage the roots to quickly 'grab onto' their new home. Otherwise, they many never grow out into the surrounding soil.

Provide a winter mulch over the top of the plant after the ground is frozen. This will help to insulate the ground and prevent plants from heaving. Evergreen boughs work best (such as those left over Christmas decorations and trees). Shredded leaves can also be used. Be sure to remove this covering as plants emerge in spring.

Plants need time to get established before the onset of winter. That is, their roots need time to grow into the surrounding soil. When soil temperatures get too cold, root growth ceases. Since seasonal temperatures vary from year to year, it is difficult to give an absolute safe planting interval. The earlier you plant, the less risk there is.

Here in Zone 6, September planting is generally safe. As the season progresses it gets more risky. However, many report successful planting through November. If the choice is to leave a plant in a pot over the winter or plant it, your best chances for survival are usually to plant it and mulch heavily.

Wood Link Audubon Series bird houses, tube feeders, bird baths and bird bath heaters will be top picks with your feathered friends this winter!

Bulbs will be arriving soon with many new varieties and colors of tulips, daffodils and rock garden varieties.

For outdoor decorating, be sure to browse through our selection of indoor—outdoor stepping stones, flags, patio and garden furniture, concrete and resin statuary, new ceramic containers and so much more!

Each season brings its special appeal to us and fall is one of my favorites. Apples, cider, pumpkins, gourds, big heads of pure white cauliflower, hayrides, children laughing and enjoying themselves as they slide down the slide in 'Hay World'. Perhaps in these busy and intense times, we need a few moments to return to our childhood, the sights and sounds, and smells and savor the times when we didn't have the loads to carry as we do now. Each of us has the opportunity to 'remember when' and delight in the magic of the past as it becomes present in our minds.

Here at Ashcombe, we've tried to capture those special moments with our fall activities, hayrides, corn maize, hayworld, Giant Pumpkins and much more. Since we started growing vegetables over forty years ago, there have been some wonderful new selections of pumpkins, squash, gourds and corn that make decorating your home a fun task. New mini—pumpkins are scheduled to come out this year a little larger than the Jack—Be—Littles of past years. We will have over a dozen varieties of pumpkins and squash and many types of gourds from little to large. Come out and enjoy this special season with us.