The following Agriculture and Natural Resources article printed in the 2018 Fall edition of the Oldham County Extension Newsletter.

Farm & Garden Fall To-Do List

Divide/Plant spring blooming bulbs and perennials in September and October.

Rejuvenate annuals and perennials to get more blooms. Prune out/deadhead spent flowers and give plants a boost with water-soluble fertilizer.

Remove dead or diseased plants from gardens and landscapes. Diseased plant materials should be bagged and placed in the trash. These steps will help reduce disease problems next season.

Keep records of favorite varieties, yields, pest problems, and other garden and crop information to help with next season’s planning.

If disease affected certain crops this year, plan for use of resistant varieties plus crop rotation in fields and gardens next year.

Test soil for pH and nutrient levels.

Fertilize cool-season grass lawns like fescue and bluegrass in September – early December time window. Cool-season grass pastures can also be fertilized in this time window.

When were hay fields last fertilized? Nutrients are removed every time hay is harvested. A nice stand of forage can thin out and yield less over time without appropriate fertilizer.

Reseed grass pastures and lawns in September if stands are thinning.

Calculate hay supplies needed to get livestock through the winter and early spring and secure supplies.

Many pond weeds will begin dying in September and October, having completed this year’s life cycle. Chemical control is usually not necessary this time of year. Identify problem aquatic weeds present to plan for needed controls next year.

Written by Traci Missun, Oldham County And Natural Resources Agent. Edited by Lauren Fernandez, Oldham County Extension Staff Assistant.