I don’t know about you, but this past summer was difficult in many ways. One of the most noticeable ways was in the garden. Between multiple 100-degree days and a couple of intense hailstorms, many of the more delicate plants looked pitiful with curled, burnt edges, dead buds and shredded foliage. It felt like all the regular, stand-by garden tricks were just not enough to keep up with our unprecedented weather. The City’s upcoming fall garden series will address this noticeable shift. We’ll discuss how to garden in our everchanging climate. We’ll examine how plants are trying to adapt and some of the ways you can help. Hope to see you there.

photo credit: Emily Bishton

Mulch: more than meets the eye

In the warmer months, mulch is a popular commodity: it acts as a buffer from the scorching sun and prevents moisture from being sapped from thirsty roots. It adds important nutrients and organic material to soil, discourages pesky weeds and adds appeal to landscaping. During our cooler months mulch has even more to offer.

Bare soil is vulnerable soil. Bare soil pelted by rain can end up compacted, eroded away, and lose valuable nutrients and minerals to runoff. Mulch can act as a barrier, absorbing the impact of the various elements, keeping the soil and its structure safe and sound for seasons to come. This also helps to protect our streams, rivers and the other forms our water sources take; the runoff accumulated from bare soils (including excess minerals and lingering fertilizers) gets absorbed and filtered by mulch, rather than ending up downstream.

Protection for your plants. As temperatures plummet, think of mulch as a blanket not only for the soil, but also for your plants. Upper root systems, especially shallow, close-to-the-surface ones, are susceptible to fluctuating temperatures. Brief warm spells lead to prematurely warmed soil, tricking plants into breaking out of dormancy. This results in ill-timed new growth, which is promptly killed off when the temperature drops once more. Either can result in lasting damage to even the hardiest of plants. A layer of mulch can prevent this by insulating the soil and protecting roots.

What can be used as mulch? Shredded leaves and straw are two versatile and readily available materials. They’re lightweight and best suited for vegetable plots where they offer protection, but also break down to condition tired soil after a long harvest season. Another more long-term option is wood chips, which are more suited for flower beds and other landscaping needs. Wood chips take much longer to break down than other mulches and require less maintenance. Mulch can also be paired with compost for an added nutritional boost; just layer compost first, then your preferred mulch on top.

Things to remember. When mulching, leave the area immediately surrounding the trunk or stem mulch-free. If flush against the base, decomposing mulch can be damaging. A layer of mulch applied too thick deprives roots of much-needed oxygen and decomposes at a much slower rate than what is optimal; likewise, a too-thin mulch layer will not reap many benefits. In general, apply mulch in an even layer of several inches.
No matter the season, mulch is a beneficial resource and can lend to a plethora of bountiful pros.

Article by Jill Oberg, Snohomish County Master Gardener

Is my cedar dying?

Cedar flagging is a natural process that makes people think that their cedars are dying.

Evergreen plants like Wester redcedars shed old foliage each year. Stress factors, such as lack of sufficient water, hot winds, construction damage or other root disturbance, poor planting or recent planting can promote flagging. Brown foliage develops on the tree or shrub in mid to late summer and is obvious by early fall, though it seemingly happens over night!

The affected foliage consists of older growth formed in previous years. New foliage developed at the branch tips remains green. These brown/orange branchlets are called flags and are generally spread uniformly throughout the canopy. Affected foliage may begin to drop during hot, dry weather. Most of the dead foliage is blown out of the plant by the wind in fall and winter, and the plant typically resumes its healthy appearance. You could see it as an evergreen’s way of adding to the local fall color.

Article by Michael Crawford, Snohomish County Master Gardener

Responsible lawn care

As our thoughts turn to fall and the coming rain, remember that fertilizers and weed killers, if applied incorrectly to your lawn or garden, can end up being washed down storm drains, polluting local waterways and the Puget Sound.

Fall is a great time to give our lawns a bit of TLC, but as you do, keep these tips in mind:

Consider top-dressing your lawn and gardens with a layer of compost instead of a chemical fertilizer. This can add much-needed nutrients, but in a more natural way.
If you do use fertilizers, choose an organic, slow-release fertilizer, which slows the release of nutrients and helps keep them from being washed away.
When using any chemicals on your lawn or garden, always read and carefully follow the instructions. Do not over-apply and only apply when rain is not expected for the next 2-3 days.
Consider removing weeds by hand instead of spraying, or make the decision to live with them.

And if lawn care is not your thing, consider replacing part of your lawn with native or water-wise plants. Native plants tend to grow deeper roots, which can hold rainwater better than lawns. They also require less water and fertilizer. Plants or grasses, other than turf, tend to allow more rainwater to be absorbed into the ground and require less care, contributing to less pollution in rainwater runoff.

Remember: Any chemicals you apply to your lawn and garden has the potential to be washed away and end up in a nearby storm drain or waterway. Ask yourself if it is really needed, and if so, apply it correctly and at the right time. These considerations can have a big impact on the health of our waterways!

Article by Sherry Lawrence, Snohomish County Master Gardener

Did you start gardening during the pandemic?

If you did, you are not alone. Just like some other in-home hobbies like baking bread and knitting, gardening has seen an increase in popularity over the last year. One Freedonia Group consumers survey found that a quarter of respondents started gardening because of the pandemic. And according to another survey, one reason for many was to increase their food supply security, especially at the beginning of the pandemic when grocery store shelves were empty. While even more respondents said they began gardening to give them a reason to go outside and relieve stress.¹

“There are certain very stabilizing forces in gardening that can ground us when we are feeling shaky, uncertain and terrified. It’s these predictable outcomes and predictable rhythms of the garden that are very comforting right now,” Joel Flagler, a professor of plant biology at Rutgers University.¹

Gardening is an example of what people in the field of psychology call a flow activity — an activity where people lose track of time and their sense of self and become one with what they’re doing. Because people become so invested in flow activities, it helps to keep them from worrying or ruminating. There’s already some evidence that flow activities make people feel better in times of duress. Kate Sweeny, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, agreed, saying “Go figure, passing the time pleasantly is a good thing when you’re stuck at home.”²

This year also saw the business of seeds booming to the point where many seed stores had to shut down their website since they are unable to keep up with demand. This has prompted many gardeners to save their seeds from this year's harvest to avoid the potential squeeze next year.³

With the pandemic continuing to linger, it will be important to for all of us to find those flow activities that help us not worry and get lost.

¹The Guardian “Gardening trend that bloomed during the pandemic is here to stay.”
²Orange County Register, “Why are we gardening more during the pandemic? The answer may be in psychology.”
³NPR, “Suppliers field growing demand for seeds from pandemic gardeners.”

Yard care in a changing climate

Tues., Sept. 28 • 6 – 7:30 p.m. Online

Join us as we discuss ways to live with our ever-changing climate. Learn practical steps to protect your yard and minimize the effects of extreme dry and wet weather cycles. Explore how plants try to adapt and some best plant choices and practices for our changing landscapes and climate.

Register at everett.eventbrite.com

Warm up to winter gardening

Tues., Oct. 5 • 6 – 7:30 p.m. Online

Did you recently start gardening or make changes in your yard? Discover what improvements you can continue to do over the next couple of months. Learn about fall and winter crops that will keep your garden in good shape through the wet and cold season. Leave with a checklist of good indoor activities to get you ready for spring.

Register at everett.eventbrite.com

Self-guided rain garden tour

Make a date this fall to tour north Everett rain gardens. These gardens do the work in your yard by collecting, absorbing and filtering the rain that runs off your roof. Be inspired while exploring a great alternative to lawn. Once registered, you’ll receive a map of local rain gardens to visit at your convenience. If you like what you see, sign up to receive further information about the upcoming 2022 rain garden rebate program.

Register at everett.eventbrite.com or visit everettwa.gov/raingardens to learn more about program.

Rain barrel sale

Sat., Oct. 9 • 9 a.m. – noon
Everett Public Works, 3200 Cedar St.

You do not need to register; just show up on day of sale. Masks are required to be worn at the sale.

COST: $55 per barrel (payable by cash or check)

Rain barrel workshop

Tues., Oct. 12 • 6 p.m.
Everett Public Works

Make your own rain barrel at this hands-on workshop. You must be registered to attend. Masks will be required to be worn through the entire workshop.

Register at everettpw@everettwa.gov or 425-257-8992

COST: $40 for barrel and parts (payable by cash or check)