The shorter days and more moderate temperatures make this fall a great time for gardening projects. The Cass County Master Gardeners invite the public to their annual Fall Plant Sale, set for Saturday morning, September 19, at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W 10th Street, on the fairgrounds in Atlantic. The sale will be open to the public to purchase divided perennials suitable for fall planting. A variety of plants are expected to be on the sale and there will also be a collection of gently used garden decor, pots, books, and tools for shoppers to explore.
The sale begins at 8:00 AM and will be held in the front parking lot of the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds in Atlantic. Plants confirmed on the sale so far include many varieties of hosta, daylilies, and iris, in addition to lambs’ ear, columbine, coneflowers, perennial geranium, and sedum. Collected seeds from member gardens will also be given away. Interested gardeners are encouraged to arrive early for best plant selection, as high-demand plants often sell out before 10:00 AM.
The Master Gardeners will bring perennials dug and divided from their own gardens to the fall plant sale. Community residents are also welcome to donate plants, and members may even help you dig! Please call in advance and make arrangements to drop off donated plants before the date of the plant sale. All funds raised from the sale support local Master Gardener projects such as community garden spaces, grants and educational activities across Cass County.
Many perennials work well for fall dividing and transplanting, including daylilies, peonies, garden phlox, bleeding heart, coneflowers, speedwell, and more. Iris and hosta can also be transplanted successfully in early fall. By dividing the plant when it is not flowering, all the energy it produces can be directed to root and foliage growth, so plants overwinter in place and come back strong in the spring. Additionally, the cooler weather is easier on the plants (and the gardener!), and plants generally use less water than those planted in spring and summer. Plants should be placed in the ground as early in fall as possible, but most can be successfully planted up until the ground freezes. Plants should also be adequately watered until the ground freezes and may benefit from a layer of mulch to help control moisture loss and help with root establishment. If you have questions about dividing and caring for plants, stop by the Extension Office or visit the ISU Extension Yard and Garden website for free resources on dividing and caring for perennial plants in the garden! Gardening information will also be available for pickup at the plant sale.
To donate items, or for more information about these events and other Master Gardener activities in Cass County, please call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, stop by the office at 805 West 10th street in Atlantic, email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. You are also invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG to keep up with local events and tips for gardening!
