Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station has a list, which is accessible on their site, of hundreds of plant species that may deter deer from eating and damaging them. That list is broken down into four categories: A. Rarely Damaged, B. Seldom Severely Damaged, C. Occasionally Severely Damaged, and D. Frequently Severely Damaged. That’s a lot of information to weed through to find exactly what you’re looking for, so here we’ve identified four deer-resistant vines for fall planting. It is, however, important to note that there aren’t really any plants deer won’t consume because if food is scarce and a herd is large enough they will eat whatever they can find.

For the most part, vines are too high off of the ground for deer to damage, but when vine are young they may get eaten before they have a chance to sprout. If you want flowering vines whose leaves will remain intact try these four vines:

4 Deer Resistant Vines

1. Winter Jasmine – This vine does not have the aroma of typical jasmine. It’s a cheerful plant that doesn’t need much attention and flowers from mid to late winter. You can grow it as a vertical vine or scrambling shrub. It can withstand full sun, moderate watering and will grow in -10°F or -23°C. In the end you’ll be happy you nurtured the Winter Jasmine because at its maturity it grows up to 15 feet.
2. Wisteria – This is a beautiful flowering vine, but be sure you purchase the American Wisteria because the Japanese and Chinese species can easily get out of control growing up to 50 feet and engulfing large trees. With the American Wisteria that isn’t a worry; although the flowers and vines are smaller than those of its Asian cousins it’s still an absolutely gorgeous choice. Wisteria flourishes in full or partial sun and with low water.
3. American Bittersweet – When choosing a Bittersweet be sure to get the species that’s native to eastern and central North America or you’ll have the invasive Oriental Bittersweet on your hands. The American Bittersweet treats us with whitest-yellowish flowers in the summer and later brightly colored fruit that last into early winter. Be forewarned: If eaten by humans it is toxic. It will grow in 40°F or 40°C temperatures.
4. Clematis – If you want a more delicate flower then this is the right choice. Most often seen in purple and white these plants come in about five different species, which determines where the will grow the best. Place them in full or partial sun and water moderately, and you’ll eventually have a vine up to 25 feet.

Even though you’re using the vines to deter deer, the great thing about them is they’re gorgeous and will bring life and beauty to your yard or garden. And, as they’re a fairly low-maintenance choice you’ll be pleased with nurturing them for years to come. Now you can watch deer graze nearby and, hopefully, leave your garden alone.

Image: iStockPhoto

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Having been overloaded with the abundant amount of tomatoes and cucumbers that have matured, what seems like all at once over the last month, there is little time to spare in getting ready for the next run of fruits and vegetables to mature. Late summer and early fall are a great time for gardeners. So many wonderful seeds that have been cared for all season long are now coming to fruition. Even though a lot of these selections can be harvested throughout the year, the best tasting, and plumpest varieties only come at this harvest. A lot of it has to do with the very specific temperatures that these fruits and vegetables thrive in that can only be found at this time of year.

What You Can Do For Your Fall Harvest

Throughout the season you may have gotten a fairly good mix of rain and sun to produce fine crops this year. It is common to reach this point and all of a sudden hit a dry spot. It is important to keep your produce hydrated so that they can reach their mature picking point. That is why it is so important not to just think that you’ve made it this far and the garden will take care of itself now. You must remain keeping an eye on your fall harvest. Many of the selections are particularly delicate and it would be a shame to lose them now.

What You Can Find In Your Fall Harvest

Most people think immediately of pumpkins and squash when they think of the fall harvest. What about all of those delicious apples and pears that come around this time of year. You can also find all of your chicories maturing this time of year which include your radicchios, endives, escaroles, and other fine leafs. Fennels, shallots and garlics are at their best at this particular time of year. Other root vegetables that join the potato maturing right now are your carrots, turnips, radishes, beets, yams, and yuccas. Another item that is surely found all year around but only at its best at this moment is all of your Chile varieties. Zucchinis, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, and green tomatoes are all in the late season harvesting family.

Your garden is sure to keep you busy all season long with various little tasks to take care of. Enjoy the fruits of your labors.

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Cucumbers are a relatively easy selection to grow for first time gardeners, and they are an ideal selection for the more seasoned growers. For these reasons and the attractive versatility that the cucumber offers, they are a very popular seed for people’s gardens. So, if you’ve sowed your cucumber seeds properly in pronounced mounds of nutrient-rich loose soil, approximately six inches apart, receiving plenty of direct sunlight, and adequate hydration that can run off thoroughly. If you’ve kept close attention to the first flower (male) and the flowers to follow about a week later (female), chances are, your cucumber plants experienced a very successful season, and if you live in a particularly warm region, your cucumbers are probably ready for harvest since they only need about 60 days in consistently warm weather to reach maturity. If you attempted to sow your seeds too soon and got hit with some left over frost, you most likely know by now already that crop is mostly shot.

Other Reasons You May Experience Disappointment When Harvesting Cucumbers

If you’ve somehow grown the type of cucumber plant that only produces female flowers (gynecious) and were concerned you had no males for pollination. If you have no prior knowledge of this, it is very possible that you were standing in your garden scratching your head in confusion. If you’ve sowed your seeds to close together, the vines will strangle each other. Without properly dug drainage for excess water to run off, your cucumbers will grow in mold, which will ruin most of, if not all of your crop. Although the plant vines can be trained to climb, it is more common for the cucumbers to remain on the ground.

When Is It Time To Start Harvesting Cucumbers?

A well-managed garden grown in an ideal season can yield an abundant amount of cucumbers. Depending upon the type of seed you sowed, the maturity times can vary, but the cucumber variations all generally share the same short growing period of about 60 days. One week prior to this mark will probably begin producing mature fruits and from there, the rest will follow quickly. To begin your harvest you should prepare yourself with a pair of durable and comfortable gardening gloves, and a pair of sharp gardening sheers. The mature cucumber can range anywhere from three to eight inches in length and impressive girth depending on whether you’ve chosen a slicing cucumber or a pickling cucumber. The common cucumber will display a dark green color when mature although there are types that range anywhere from light green and yellow to all white in color. It is important to wear your gardening gloves as the cucumbers will tend to have small prickly spikes that can easily puncture the skin. The proper way to remove the fruit from the vine is to slightly twist rather than just pull the fruit off. Gently rinse the fruits of any dirt, allow them to dry and enjoy.

The cucumber is easily enjoyed sliced up in salads and is often pickled so that they can be eaten over the winter months, until spring is upon us and it is time to prepare your garden again.

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No matter how many times you’ve done it, and how experienced a gardener you are, it’s always cool to watch your spring garden grow from a tiny seed. It’s a bit miraculous, when you think about it. Here is a quick guide of what to plant and when.

Planning Ahead for Your Spring Garden

When: If you’re thinking spring, simply find out the “average last frost date” for your area. Connecticut and California might look very different. Plant about a week after that to ensure that your seedlings won’t be subjected to frost. By the time the weather is warm, your flowers will have started to bloom.

However, it’s also important to also understand that if you’re planting vegetables, some actually thrive on cool weather and taste better after a little frost (namely: broccoli, lettuce, tomato, cabbage).

Another option is to plant sooner indoors and transfer outdoors, especially if you live in the Northeast and your last frost date isn’t until April.

What: The following annuals can tolerate the coolest weather in the early Spring. Plant these first in your spring garden–all will result in bountiful colors.

• Calendula
• Wallflower
• Bachelor button

Next up are seeds that will tolerate cool weather, but not too cool. Plant the following well into March, but definitely after the danger of frost has passed.

• Cosmos
• Zinnias
• Dianthus
• Nicotania
• Tulips

Once you’re into April and anticipating warm weather into the 60s, you can safely plant your late Spring blooms:

• Iris
• Lilly of the Valley
• Blubells
• Anemone

Tips:

If you’re planting exclusively outdoors and are not doing transplants, it can be difficult to manage the growing process. Sometimes it is a challenge to differentiate between the growing plant and weed. Clearly mark your seedlings.

If you are planting indoors, remember that your seeds need plenty of warmth and light. You might accomplish this by using a heating pad during the nursing process. Sunlight might be adequate, but you might also want to use a fluorescent light to ensure that the stems are strong.

Sources:

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/ten-steps-to-beginning-a-garden/

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/good-time-plant-seeds-flowers-spring-summer-52999.html

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When you think of the month of January, starting to plant your vegetables is probably not the first thing that comes to your mind. If you live in the southern or west coast of the United States, you should be okay to plant some vegetables, but make sure to be aware of any impending frosts so you can make the necessary arrangements. If you are unsure of how your weather is going to be during January, a small potted vegetable patch by a sunny window works perfectly.

Vegetables to Plant in January

Tomatoes and peppers are perfect to plant indoors this January. They are super easy to grow and they can be transported outside when it gets warmer. It takes about 6-8 weeks for them to mature, so by that time it should be warm enough for them to take root in your backyard! Another vegetable that you can start this month is onion. If you’re in a warmer zone, plant now indoors. They should be matured and can be transported outside in only two months. Make sure that if you’ll be keeping your onions inside to cut the tops off so they only grow to about three inches instead of their normal 5-6 inches.

For outdoors lovers, there is a vegetable you can plant this earlier in the year that won’t die outright! The Broad Bean is a hardy bean that is able to subsist in less than warm temperatures. The Broad Bean grows easily and steadily and will be ready for harvesting early this year if you plant in late January. If you live in a place that doesn’t get a lot of freezes, this vegetable will thrive in your environment and you can plant it as your first vegetable of the year! Did you know how easy it is to grow mushrooms? If you’re a fan of mushrooms and love to garden all year long, mushrooms are extremely easy to grow in the winter months and grow quickly.

January is the perfect time to start planning for your spring and summer vegetables and flowers that you will be planting. Get out the gardening catalog and plan which seeds you’ll be purchasing this year in advance so you’ll be ready to “sow” when the spring comes around!

Now that you know which vegetables to plant in January, what’s your pick?

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When we think of ideal planting times, spring instantly pops to mind first. Although spring is a prime time to plant, fall, specifically October, offers some distinct benefits for planting flowers and plants. For starters, the cooler air in fall is easier on gardeners and plants alike. Secondly, the soil is still warm so plant roots can continue to grow until the ground freezes. In spring, plants can’t start growing until the soil warms up considerably.

If you’re still in need of a reason to plant in fall, consider the number of good weather planting days compared to spring. Rain and other unpredictable weather can delay planting in spring, whereas fall is full of beautifully sunny, cool days and plentiful gentle showers that water plants and fall flowers deeply without flooding.

Another reason, fall is a great time to buy plants. Most gardening centers are trying to get rid of their inventory before winter. Disease and pests also decline during fall’s cooler temperatures. Prime fall planting typically ends about six weeks before the first hard frost.

So, since fall is such a great time to plant, which plants are the best to grow in October? The following list is sure to give you some inspiration.

The Best Plants to Grow in October

Grow in October: Spring-flowering bulbs

Spring-flowering bulbs needs to rest during the winter months in order to bloom properly in the spring. Plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall for the best display of color when the weather begins to warm.

Grow in October: Pansies

Pansies love the cool weather and warm soil of fall. Plant pansies in the fall and they will continue to grow until the ground freezes. Once it does, cover the plants in a thick layer of mulch to protect them from freeze and thaw cycles. You’ll likely get two growing seasons out of these plants.

Grow in October: Cool Season Vegetables

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, kale, lettuce, kohlrabi, radishes, spinach, rutabaga and Swiss chard all grow well in the fall. Most of these veggies are planted in August to give them enough time to mature, but some such as spinach, lettuce and other greens can be planted later in the season because they mature quickly. Growing season for these vegetables can be extended by using cold frames to protect plants from frost.

Grow in October: Trees and Shrubs

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs because the warm soil gives their roots enough time to get established before they go into full dormancy. Keep newly planted trees and shrubs watered well until the ground freezes.

As you can see, fall is the perfect time to get many of the plants you love in the ground before winter hits. For many of these plants, the dormant winter months are vital for proper growth and flowering in the spring.

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The days are now shorter and cooler, and many people believe that there isn’t much more to do in their gardens until the spring. No need to neglect your garden in autumn months. There is still plenty you can do to extend your passion for being in your garden in autumn. You can be both productive as well as enjoy the crisp gorgeous weather the autumn months offer.

Tips for Your Garden in Autumn:

Keep Watering

If you have tomato plants or other vegetables still producing, you need to make sure they are still receiving adequate water. If you recently planted perennials, you will need to water those well too to make certain they are well rooted and will be able to cope with the upcoming freeze-thaw cycle in winter.

Harvest Remaining Vegetables and Herbs

You may not have been in your garden these past few weeks, and therefore may not have noticed you might have some plants still growing and producing. Get out there and take a good look. If you see tomatoes, oregano and sage still growing, harvest them now. If you have more than you can use, you can freeze them to use later in the winter, or give some away to friends or a food bank.

Continue Weeding

It’s important to keep weeding your garden through these next few months. A lot of grasses and other annual weeds are going to seed this time of year, so if you can pull up those pesky weeds before these seeds drop and multiply, your garden will be in much better shape for the next planting season. Trees, such as maples, often sprout in places you may not want them. If you discover these sprouts early, they are very easy to yank out. If they have already grown too large to easily tug out, use a shovel and dig them up. If they become too big, they have the potential to damage a fence or other structure in your yard. Weeding is much more bearable in these cooler months, and it gives you an excuse to hang out in your garden if you are missing your favorite hobby.

Plant New Things

There are still some plants and vegetables that thrive in the autumn months. Although the cooler weather causes the seeds to germinate a little longer, they will still produce wonderful items for a fall salad. Some good choices for autumn planting are peas, lettuce, carrots, turnips, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Remember, there are also many popular fall flowers you can add to your garden.

Share Your Tips on Having a Garden in Autumn

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Designing a beautiful garden takes quite an effort. There are so many things to consider when showcasing your garden. Will the neighbors like it? Will it offend anyone? How much will this all cost? What will make my garden more inviting? Adding garden pavers can bring out the natural beauty to any garden. Garden pavers are simple stone work that can be used in a multiple of ways that can improve the flow and functionality of your garden. May it be walkways, patios, or garden beds, garden pavers can do wonders for your home and garden.

What is right for you?

Pavers can be made of rubber, concrete, natural stones, bricks, plastic, and a host of other materials. How to choose the right garden pavers all depends on what you will be using it for. Will you be creating an area that will be used for entertaining and relaxation? If that is the case, then you will need a sturdier garden paver made of concrete or stone. Will this project be for creating garden beds and walkways?  This may call for rubber pavers or brick. Once you decide how you would like your garden to function for you, then the appropriate garden paver must be chosen. You may just want to edge up your garden for outdoor decoration and you can use something that is lighter and decretive. There are round pavers and some cut in a special way that will make your yard sparkle.

Where do I get them?

Garden pavers can be found at your local Home Depot, Wal-Mart, or most garden stores. There are such a variety and colors to choose from, so prepare to have plenty of options of design to flow through your head. If you have large rocks lying around your yard, you can collect those and use those as pavers to save money. There is also the option of making your own pavers. This will give you the control of designing each paver to look however you want it to look. Make the mold, mix some concrete and add the concrete into the mold. Before it completely dries you can draw on it, or add other materials like marbles and pennies to make it as unique as you like. Some people make foot prints or hand prints in them to leave a familiar mark. Have your children to put their hand prints in them and years later it will be there for them to reminisce about the fun that they had in the garden. This project can produce fun family memories that will last a lifetime. Try it and see for yourself what a special gift making garden pavers can be for you and your family. Researching online for the easy way to make your own garden pavers is worth the time.

Photo Credit:  istockphoto.com

What kind of garden pavers do you have?

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Enjoying the view of your lovely garden during the day is pretty great, but wouldn’t it be great to be able to bask in it at night as well? Having nice lighting on your property is great for entertaining as well as being a plus for security. There is much to consider when choosing the type of lighting for outdoor purposes. What type of lights work well in the outdoors? Landscape lighting-LED vs incandescent, which one is best? Would adding lighting outside blow up the electric bill? How often will the bulbs need to be replaced? These are all valid questions that need to be seriously investigated so you will make the correct choice that fits your needs.

LED=light-emitting diode

This type of light source emitted low intensity infrared light in its earlier days, and was used in digital clocks and indicator lamps. Today they have advanced to being used in outdoor lighting such as automotive headlamps, traffic signals, and advertising displays. LED lights have a very high brightness that seems to illuminate much better than most light bulbs. There are other great things about LED lights that may be the answer to your lighting dilemma. They have a longer life span than an incandescent bulb and they use less energy. Those facts just might be worth the high price you will pay to purchase these compact morsels, but take the time to investigate for other alternatives if keeping a budget is a factor.

Incandescent light source

A good old fashion light bulb like your mother grew up using is the more familiar light source that we all are more acquainted with. Not only does it give off light but it also gives off heat, which was highly utilized in our Easy Bake Ovens.  These bulbs come in a variety of sizes, voltage, and light outputs. With that in mind, they can be used in porch lights, flashlights, and advertising signs. They are less efficient and are gradually becoming obsolete in today’s lighting market. Because of their low cost, they are still high in demand to consumers who cannot yet afford the extra cost of the more efficient lighting choices.

These are only two examples of light sources that can be used outdoors. Keep in mind that there are other choices that can save you money and be just as flattering to your landscape. I personally like the solar powered lighting that is very efficient and come in pretty cute designs. Whatever you choose for your garden let it be something that you can be happy with and it will not cause you more stress down the road. When you are enjoying your garden and the new lighting, peace and tranquility should be the main feelings that are evoked, not worrying about the electric bill and high maintenance.

Photo Credit:  istockphoto.com

Which kind of landscape lighting do you prefer?

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AAAAHHHH! The sweet smell of fresh cut grass sends me into a state of peaceful bliss. I think of picnics, touch football, and tag, all things that I use to do in the grass when I was a child. I never thought about maintaining the grass until it was time to cut it. After enjoying the grass all summer long, early fall is the best time to start winterizing the lawn.

Take in consideration that depending on where you live, all grass is not considered equal. There are cool season grasses that grow in the northern parts of the United States, which consist of fescues, bluegrass, ryegrass, bent grass, timothy, brome, and orchard grass. The warm season grasses that grow in the southern parts of United States consist of Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass, centipede grass, zoysia grass, and the list goes on. It is not recommended to winterize warm season grasses in the same way that cool season grass is done, because it goes dormant in the winter.

*How to winterize the lawn*

This process is only for cool season grasses.

• *Step 1 Fertilize*
  Cool season grasses need two applications of nitrogen. The first application should be done in late summer or beginning of fall, and the second application in the late fall when the leaves on the trees are in full fall colors or after they have fallen to the grown.
• *Step 2 Aerate*
  Roots need room to grow, so the best thing to accomplish that is to take out spikes of dirt all over the lawn creating holes for new seeds. You can rent a motorized aerator or use a stick to do it manually.
• *Add Seeds*
  Make sure that you buy cool season grass seeds. Check the package and it may even say cool weather seeds. These are the seeds that will work best for your particular lawn. Spread them evenly all over the lawn.
• *Step 4 Rake and add water*
  After spreading the seeds, they must be covered with dirt, so use a rake to drag over the lawn. Some people enjoy this step and make nice lines in the lawn and capture debris that doesn’t belong. After the lawn is looking all neat and fresh, gently spray it with water. Don’t over water the lawn but periodically spray it to keep it from drying out.

*Tips for warm season grass*

If you feel like doing something for your warm season grass, I would suggest fertilizing it with potassium. Please do a soil test to see if it is low in potassium first before adding anything. It may say Potash on the bag, or K2O. Check the ingredients for Oxide of Potassium. Never add Nitrogen to the warm season grass because it can cause spring dead spot disease, which will create big ugly brown patches in the lawn.

Photo Credit:  istockphoto.com

Winterize Lawn: When will you start?

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