September SKI Tips

1. The plugs from aerating your lawn should be left on the grass. They will crumble and return nutrients back into the soil.
2. Seed lawns before mid-September to allow grass time to mature to control the broadleaf weeds of October.
3. Watch for the shape of birds to change in the winter. Birds fluff their feathers to increase insulation quality which helps to keep them warm.
4. Finding leaf color in Indiana: Beeches and maples grow well on slopes; water-loving trees such as Sycamores do well in valleys; Sugar maples are the most dramatic in color, and are found throughout the state; high, dry ridges are likely spots for oaks, hickory and other forest trees.
5. Always stack your firewood away from the house and off the ground. Firewood can contain termites and other unwanted pests.
6. Ginkgo trees (Gingko biloba) are referred to as a “guns and bullet tree” because they seem to thrive in the compact soils of urban landscape with little extra care like watering or fertilizing.
7. Cayenne pepper is a hot, pungent powder made from dried cayenne chilies. It contains high levels of capsaicin which is used in medical ointments for pain relief. Cayenne also works as a digestive aid.
8. Give your trees and shrubs a good soaking after the leaves fall and before the ground is frozen. Winter damage often occurs when the earth is frozen and trees cannot absorb water.
9. Acorns appear only on adult oak trees.
10. The word football applies to whichever form of football is most popular in the regional context in which the word appears, including American football, Australian rules football, Canadian football, Gaelic football, rugby league, rugby union and other related games.