garden center

Winterizing your gardens

• Perennials need to be cut back when the foliage dries out and turns brown. Removal of the dead foliage prevents fungus and insect problems next spring.
• Annuals and vegetables should be pulled out after the first frost.
• Remove any weeds. Weeds are full of seeds in the fall. Removing them before the seeds spread will save a lot of work in the spring.
• To protect your evergreens from water loss caused by our severe winter winds, spray them with Wilt Pruf. You spray the foliage once in November and again in December for the best results. Evergreens that will benefit from this treatment are: rhododendrons, holly, box woods, mt. laurel, and azaleas.
• Winter in Maine can be damaging to most roses, excluding hardy rugosa roses. There are many options available to protect your roses through the winter. Spray them with Wilt Pruf to protect the new growth from wind damage, add extra mulch around the base of the plant after the ground is frozen. Rose cones are available to put over the rose once the ground has frozen. We stock two sizes of theses. Another way to protect roses is to wrap the plant with burlap. This comes in pre-measured packages or it is sold by the yard. Attaching the burlap to grade stakes is a great way to build a shield around the plant.
• Tender bulbs such as Canna Lilies, gladiolas, and dahlias do not survive our zone 4/5 winters. They should be dug up and stored in a paper bag containing vermiculite or peat moss and placed in a cool, dry place about 40-45 degrees. You can also divide the tubers at this time.

Planting Fall Bulbs

• We have an abundance of spring blooming bulbs from Netherland Bulb Company including: tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and alliums.
• Falls bulbs can be planted anytime from September through November, as long as the ground isn't frozen. When bulbs are planted, be sure to add some fertilizer. We stock Espoma's bone meal and bulb tone in a variety of sizes. These feed the bulbs slowly, safely, and will provide a long lasting food reservoir to ensure superior results in the spring. We also offer Scotts timed released bulb food. This product offers a slow release of nitrogen for up to 2 months, and will deliver nourishment to your bulbs to encourage vigorous root growth and lush foliage in the spring.

Winterizing your lawn

• Fall is a great time to reseed your lawn. We have a full line of grass seed from Scotts and Do-It Best, including a fall grass seed mixture specially formulated for cooler temperatures and increased rainfall. It works great to thicken existing lawns and blend in bare spots.
• Fertilize your lawn one more time mid to late fall with a high phosphorus fertilizer to encourage root growth. We stock a variety of winterizer fertilizers including Scotts Turf Builder Winterguard with or without weed control.
• Once your lawn has stopped growing and before the snow flies, mow your lawn one more time. Lower the deck on your mower to cut the grass about 1 inch. Make sure to rake the lawn aggressively to pick up any built up thatch and leaves. Leaving such debris on your lawn will make it higher risk to develop snow mold.