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Quotation of the Week: ""Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge." — Benjamin Franklin

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Fall Back: It's That Time of Year Again!

We will be returning to Standard Time on October 30th. Remember to set your clocks back one hour Sunday the 30th, at 2am. Or set them early and enjoy that extra hour of sleep!   Smoke detector batteries should be changed yearly; the change to Standard Time is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Properly functioning smoke detectors save thousands of lives every year.

Fall Color

October is a good time to notice those plants that provide fall color year after year and perhaps add one to your garden. By purchasing now you can find the color that pleases you most. All of these plants can be put in now along the coast, and several can also be planted inland. (If you live inland, don't plant tropicals this late in the season.) For autumn leaves, choose liquidambar for its colorful pink, red, yellow, or orange foliage. Or try maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), which has golden leaves in the fall. (In order to avoid the sticky fruit of mature female trees, plant only named male varieties, such as Fairmont or Autumn Gold.) The Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana) has striking flowers ranging from cranberry to pink. Floss silk tree (Chorisia speciosa) blooms in burgundy, bright orchid to bright pink, or white all over the top of the tree. Markhamia tree (markhamia hildebrandtii) bears golden trumpet flowers from August through October; it does best in coastal areas. Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria henryi or K. bipinnata) is named for its salmon-colored seed pods, which follow its less significant yellow flowers. Vines include cup-of-gold (Solandra  maxima), which grows well even on the oceanfront, and flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta). Mexican flame vine (Senecio confusus or S. angulatus) is a yellow-to-orange vine for coastal locations; it dies down in frost. It may be hard to find but can be grown from seed or cuttings. Cut it back hard after bloom.

Fall In Your Garden

It's not too late for rose pruning; trimming your roses back by about one-third will take stress off the root system (the water they draw up won't have to go so far). Remove any yellow/diseased leaves. Air circulation is very important so you may want to thin out the center foliage a little. When planting roses, trim back as directed above and give lots of water. Be sure to space no closer than three feet apart on center. It is important to continue your scheduled feeding (read directions for your particular brand) but be very sure to water roses thoroughly before and continue after to prevent burning. I prefer the more gentle organic foods. You should get continual blooms until the holiday season. Wait for dormant pruning until after that so you can enjoy them. Mulch everything if you haven't. Watch for changes in color. If your lawn turns from bright green to grayish blue, water immediately. Find a shady spot and relax - enjoy your garden! Fall is the time to trim back overgrown plants. Add mulch or compost before planting bulbs. Wear sunscreen, hat and insect spray containing DEET.  As the weather cools down we will have fewer insects to contend with, including mosquitoes! But watch out for snails and slugs! A note on roses: One type that doesn't get much attention is the Rugosa rose. This rose resembles a wild rose, and many have beautiful hips in the fall. They don't need pruning. They don't want or need chemicals. Most will tolerate some shade and are fragrant. They are looking clean and healthy now while a lot of the older hybrid teas are suffering. Since they grow on their own root system, don't trim new shoots; they're not suckers but new growth. For a beautiful low-maintenance addition to your garden, try Rugosa roses!

How To Aerate a Compacted Lawn

When the soil under a lawn becomes compacted from foot traffic or heavy equipment, it loses its springy texture and becomes hard as a rock. Water puddles or runs off, and lack of air to the roots causes the turf to deteriorate in appearance and vigor; the lawn often develops thin or bare patches. To correct this condition take these steps: Mow the lawn, then make holes in the sod by running a rented aeration machine over it. Or do the job by hand with a tool made for the purpose. Rake up the plugs. Spread 40 pounds of gypsum and 15 cubic feet of organic soil amendment (such as finely ground bark) over each 1,000 square feet of lawn. Apply a complete lawn fertilizer according to package directions. When the soil or thatch is hydrophobic (so dry it sheds water), also spread on a pelletized penetrant according to package directions. Rake these materials into the holes. Follow up by watering deeply.

What You'll Need: 2 lbs. cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 2 cups chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp. ground cumin 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. ground coriander 2 cans (4-1/2 ounces) chopped green chiles, undrained 1 cup water 2 cans (15-1/2 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (14 ounces) chicken broth 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese 1/2 cup fresh cilantro 1/2 cup chopped green onions Step by Step: Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in cumin, dried oregano and coriander; sauté for 1 minute. Stir in chiles; reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes partially covered. Add the chicken, water, cannellini beans, and broth; bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Ladle into serving bowls and sprinkle with cheese, cilantro and green onions. Yield: 8 servings