Waukesha County Home

OCTOBER 2017 HOME 11 4820 W. Loomis Rd. 414.744.9400 Greenfield 2142 E. Moreland Blvd. 262.524.1455 Waukesha Lifetime Installation Warranty! FREE Financing w/approved credit. www.stusflooring.com 257302069 Stu's Flooring is Celebrating their Waukesha Store New Location with FREE Carpet Installation on all Order-out Carpet Purchases * Also Available at Greenfield Location See our Largest Selection of Laminate, Hardwood, Vinyl, Ceramic & Carpet *Minimum order 25 sq. yds., basic installation. Not valid with any other discount, sale or prior purchase. See store for details. Residential only. Expires Oct. 31, 2017 2 5 7 3 1 0 0 0 1 There are numerous things we can do in the garden this fall that can make the tran- sition into spring less hectic. We all know how busy we get once the weather warms and our gardens begin to grow, so why not try to lighten the load a little now? One of the best things we can do is get our soil healthy again. Soil, just like us, gets tired after a long growing season. Now is a great time to have a soil test done to see where your beds and gardens are sitting at the end of the year. What nutrients have been depleted? How much organic matter is available? How is the pH? All of these questions can be answered with a soil test. Bring the results into the garden center and we can help you find what you need. By finding out now and addressing the prob- lems this fall it takes a huge burden off of your spring chores. Soil supplements and organic matter added in the fall also have more time to incorporate with the existing soil. You can always do some in spring as well, but if you get the majority of it done now, you're one step ahead of the game. You may even be planting at this time of year and adding supplements anyway. This is when I plant my garlic so instead of just boosting the soil where it's being planted, the whole garden gets the treatment. Another task I try to get done in fall is tool and equipment maintenance. They're handy because you've been using them so before you put them away, you might as well spruce them up. Hand tools and pruners can be cleaned and sharpened so they are ready to go. Scrape the dirt off, wash with water and spray them with a 10 percent sanitizing bleach solution. Sharpen as needed. Power equipment can also be cleaned and tuned up. Again wash them up and spray with san- itizing solution. I also like to change any oil, filters, plugs, etc. at this time because spring always sneaks up on me. Also, don't forget about your containers, they should also be washed and sanitized for the upcoming season. Let's not forget about our plants. A lot of shrubs and trees, except those that bloom in spring, can be pruned now. Perennials that bloom in the spring can be transplanted and moved around as well. Perennials that have gone dormant can be cleaned up but those still looking good should be left alone. Now is also a great time to plant some spring flowering bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, if you're looking to add some early spring color. You might even be able to find some trees, shrubs and perennials on sale yet at your garden center to fill in any holes or to even start a new bed. By getting these projects done in fall, it frees you up for the important and fun task of planting. Trust me, it's nice to see, and have, every- thing ready to go when spring finally gets here. It gets you into the garden that much faster to smell the fresh soil and get your hands dirty — pure joy! (Michael Timm is a horticulturalist with Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) MICHAEL TIMM Think spring when thinking October to-do list Test your soil this fall so you can get it ready for spring sooner than later. From testing soil to equipment maintenance, you'll be glad you did

• Cover