Fresh Tips for Fall Gardening from STIHL and P. Allen Smith

Release Date: June 2008

Press Contacts:
Anita Gambill
(757) 486-9151

All other inquiries:
STIHL Incorporated
(757) 486-9100

(Virginia Beach, VA)— Fall is the ideal season to evaluate your garden and plan ahead for the next year. STIHL Inc. and garden expert P. Allen Smith offer the following tips to help prepare your garden to withstand winter and beautifully bloom in spring.

More tips and information on the best products for each job can be found at www.pallensmith.com and www.stihlusa.com.

QUICK & QUIET YARD CLEAN UP
For quick and easy yard clean up, use an environmentally responsible leaf blower to gather leaves and other yard debris into manageable piles. The STIHL BR 500 is four times cleaner than the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) most stringent standard for new blowers, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and based on information from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, is 50 percent quieter than a common leaf blower— something your neighbors will thank you for. Add the fallen leaves to a compost bin. Once they decompose, the compost is perfect for fertilizing flowerbeds.

PLANT TREES AND SHRUBS NOW
Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Plants begin to go into dormancy, and the soil temperature is still warm compared to the air creating an ideal environment for root development. And you'll find some good buys. Nurseries often drastically reduce prices on trees and shrubs. Northern gardeners that experience long dormant seasons should plant balled and burlapped material or transplant trees and shrubs in late summer or early fall as temperatures cool and rains become more frequent. Warm climate gardeners should wait until the heat breaks in the fall before planting.

• Begin by using an auger to dig a generous hole, roughly twice the size of the root ball. STIHL makes a variety of augers for various needs, from smaller planting augers good for small shrubbery and plants to larger ones perfect for drilling planting holes for larger tree varieties.
• If planting containerized trees and shrubs, when the plant is out of the container, gently tear the roots to encourage them to grow out.
• Place the plant in the hole, slightly above ground level to allow for settling.
• Fill around the plant with half compost and half existing soil and water it in with a vitamin supplement to encourage root growth.
• Once the hole is filled and the soil watered, add about 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the plant, being careful not to get any too close to the stem or trunk because this promotes disease and encourages pests.
• If it doesn't rain at least one inch each week, keep plantings well watered until the ground freezes.

BEGIN PLANTING SPRING FLOWERING BULBS
Spring flowering bulbs can be planted anytime in the fall before the ground freezes. They must be planted in the fall rather than in the spring because they require a long period of cool temperatures to spark their growth process that causes them to flower. In cold climates, this can be done as early as late August or September, while in more temperate areas, planting should be done between September and November.

For best results, plant bulbs as soon as possible after you purchase them. Your bulbs need to establish strong root systems, before the frosts of winter set in and the bulbs enter a new cycle in preparation for spring blooming. In general, plant the bulbs to a depth three times their height. Prepare the soil with a cultivator, such as the MM 55 STIHL YARD BOSS®, a multi-task tool which won this year's Organic Gardening Editor's Award, or with a STIHL KombiSystem with cultivator attachment.

PROTECT YOUR TOOLS
Fall is the time to prepare your tools for a harsh winter when they may go unused for long stretches of time. Here are some tips to store small and large tools:

• Fill a bucket with dry sand and then pour about a half a gallon of mineral oil (vegetable oil can go rancid) evenly over the top. Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from contact.
• Let the oil sift through and then push your hand tools in. The sand keeps debris off of the tools and the oil keeps water from damaging the metal.
• Once you are done with the mixture in the spring, contact your local recycling center to discuss disposal.
• For larger tools, spray canned oil directly onto the tool.
• Before stowing outdoor power equipment, drain gasoline and take care of any necessary repairs.
• Drain outside water lines, turn off faucets and bring in hoses.
• Clean and store terra cotta containers. Sterilize small pots by soaking them in a solution of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water.

About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.

STIHL is the official outdoor power equipment sponsor of both P. Allen Smith Gardens and P. Allen Smith's Garden Home.

About P. Allen Smith
Smith is the author of the best-selling Garden Home book series and is considered one of the foremost gardening and outdoor living experts in the country. In addition to his own nationally-syndicated television series on commercial networks, P. Allen Smith Gardens, he also hosts P. Allen Smith's Garden Home on public television and is a frequent guest on the TODAY Show and The Weather Channel.

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