Here's what's out in my garden . . .

You've probably heard Mike mention that I bring various clippings from my garden into the studio to show off or to be a reminder. Well, I thought everyone would like to see what we are talking about.

Turn left before you get to . . .

Have you ever gotten that advice? By the time you get to the tree (or gas station or Safeway), you've missed the turn!

Well, we do that in the garden, too. OSU Extension Plant Pathologist, Jay Pscheidt, says, "The phrase is 'spray before the fall rains'. Folks always ask when that occurs. The time would be now!"

As we get these last days before the rain starts in earnest, use a copper spray (Lilly Miller Microcop or Kop-R-Spray) for shothole fungus and brown rot on apricots and for apple anthracnose (sunken dead spots on branches and bulls-eye spots on fruit).

There are some other clean-up tasks to do before fall rains make gardening a soggy affair. Don't leave diseased fruit or leaves on the ground. This just allows the disease spores to blow or splash around the garden all winter. Get them out of the garden now!

Two Garden Doctors!!

This week is Apple Tasting at Portland Nursery and both your Garden Doctors will be on hand. Dave will be doing the show and I will stop by for a visit. Here's your chance to see us and attend a fun event.

This is the 23rd year Portlanders have had the opportunity to try out a bushel-ful of apples and pick their favorites. Once you've decided what you like, you can take home a bag for pies or table. Gardeners can even buy a tree to grow their own.

There'll be music, cooking demonstrations, cider pressing, and a scavenger hunt for the kids. Oh, yes. There will be also be lots of plants, too. Check out the sales for your October garden projects.

So, come by to see your Garden Doctors, ask that fall gardening question, and have a glass of cider!