Inland Northwest, High Desert
October 18, 2001
By Cathy Walworth,
Twin Falls, ID
Cut Back on Water
Cut back on watering your gardens until you're watering only about every 10 days. Remember to water deeply, rather than just sprinkling the surface. Annuals that are still hanging on might appreciate a little morning drink, but everything else needs to slow down and send roots down for the winter.
Get Ready for the Holidays
Plant amaryllis bulbs now. Some of the new varieties have bigger, fluffier blooms in more colors than ever before. Add some to your holiday decorating and give some as gifts.
Plant Garlic
Plant garlic -- \"a rose to the nose.\" Break heads of garlic into individual cloves and plant about a hand\'s width apart. Be sure to buy your garlic locally. Some states, such as Idaho, have import laws banning garlic from other states.
Hide the Pruners
Make no cuts on roses now. It's still warm and sunny enough that the silly things think they ought to put out new growth every place you cut. That new growth will only be zapped with the first hard frost. Just sit back and watch the pretty, bright hips form. You can prune around Thanksgiving.
There's Still Time for Bulbs
Snap up late-season bargains on bulbs now. Plant them in big drifts -- otherwise they look like little soldiers all lined up in a row. Remember to water them. Forgetting to water is the Number One mistake new gardeners make when they plant bulbs. Remember that bulbs are, in effect, just big seeds: Nothing happens without water.
