We know it's a bit early to think about Halloween parties. But if you want some Halloween pumpkins, you need to plant NOW. The giant, prize-winning 500 pound monsters are usually started in late May, as they take 130-160 days to grow. But there are lots of pumpkin varieties that grow faster--and it's not yet too late to plant those.

You might want to consider those that are particularly tasty for pies or edible seeds. And keep in mind that the petite ones are great for decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

With all varieties, it is best to plant 3 to 5 seeds in a mound with Bumpercrop Soil Amendment. Space the mounds 2' to 3' apart. The small-fruited varieties will grow well on a fence or trellis. The larger varieties need ground space or individual support for each pumpkin.

Keep the soil evenly moist and feed every 2 weeks. If you are growing them on the ground, place straw or cardboard under the fruit as the pumpkin matures, to help prevent rot and insect damage. Pick them when the stems start to dry. Be sure to leave a 3" or longer stem for that perfect jack-o'-lantern top!

Gardening can be a tremendously enjoyable and rewarding activity. But it can also be the source of accidents, many of which can be preventable. Most accidents happen when gardeners take shortcuts, lack the skill or training to do a job properly, ignore potential risks, don't plan well or just have plain old bad luck.

While lawnmower accidents top the list of reported incidents, flowerpots (surprisingly) are the second highest cause of incidents: falling on people, cutting them or being the source of lifting injuries. Most accidents can be avoided just by using a little common sense, and while the ideas below may seem obvious to some, it's amazing how easy it is to forget them when we are wrapped up in a project.

Start by making your garden a safer place to enjoy. Design a garden that reduces the need for high maintenance. Double check for potential tripping hazards such as hoses, sprinklers, irrigation pipes and lose slabs of paving. When designing walkways or patios, incorporate surfaces that provide a good grip and aren't slippery when wet.

Avoid the garden when conditions are slippery. Don't leave sharp tools lying around--and if you are swapping tools, be sure to put the ones not in use with the sharp side (or tines) down. I'm sure we've all seen the cartoons of people stepping on a rake and knocking themselves in the face...but that's only funny in a cartoon.

Don't use electrical tools in wet weather, and make sure to wear safety equipment such as safety goggles, ear plugs and gloves when operating them. Also tuck in loose items of clothing or wear clothing that is more snug.

Don't plant poisonous plants--or make sure that children and pets can be kept away from them. Lock away chemicals like pesticides and weed killers, or at least store them out of reach of children and pets. Better yet, use organic or environmentally friendly cures. Never leave a barbeque unattended while cooking and make sure flames are extinguished before you go inside.

Empty wading pools after your children have finished playing in them. Avoid building a pond until a child is at least five years old and position it where it can be seen from the house. Grow plants around the deeper sides of a pond to help prevent children getting near the edge, or build a fence around it to keep them out.

Make sure ladders are put away or hung up when not in use. Ensure that the ladder is in working condition and the steps are structurally sound before using it. Never leave tools on the platform at the top of the ladder where they can cause injury if the ladder is accidentally bumped. Don't leave clippings on the rungs of the ladder where they might cause you to slip or trip.

When using a ladder, make sure it is tall enough to do the job. Be aware of the safety marks for standing on your ladder, and make sure it has rubber feet for solid footing. Always place your ladder on level, solid, non-slippery ground. Face your work and never lean sideways, overstretch or stand too high on the ladder. Last, keep one hand firmly on the ladder at all times.

Gardening should be fun and shouldn't be dangerous. Taking a few minutes to exercise caution will make gardening a much more enjoyable experience.

White grubs are damaging pests that begin invading lawns in early spring and again in summer. Grubs do their damage below ground, so the problem often goes undetected until too late. Beetle grubs can turn a fine looking lawn into a patchwork quilt of yellow spots. In addition, birds and other animals will often start digging up your lawn looking for the tasty grubs to feed on.

The grubs are actually larvae of beetles and other insects; most are C-shaped and off-white with a dark head.

There are several types of grubs that are capable of damaging lawns, with two life cycles in a year. When you have grubs, the damaged areas of grass can be easily lifted and many times the grubs can be seen feeding on the edge of the healthy grass in the damaged area.

Natural controls include beneficial nematodes or milky spore (a disease that specifically attacks Japanese beetle grubs), although it takes a number of applications for milky spore to become established in lawns. It's an excellent long-term solution, but doesn't help much right now.

There are chemical products that are very effective for a grub problem, but only at certain times of year. We recommend Bayer Season Long Grub Control for this time of year.

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Is there a way to make my compacted soil better for growing plants?

Answer:

The most important thing you can ever do before installing plants is to amend the soil from the holes with a 50/50 mix of native soil and an organic soil amendment like Gardner & Bloome Organic Soil Compost.

Organic amendments help to attract earthworms, which will help ease compaction. This helps to allow more oxygen and nutrients into the root zone.

Over time, poor soil can be compacted again if precautions aren't taken. This can lead to crusting and the soil drying out faster. We recommend applying a pelletized gypsum product to the soil twice a year, such as Soil Buster. It helps to bind smaller soil particles into larger ones, which helps to open up the soil, making it more porous.

Your plants and soil will also benefit from a 2-3" layer of mulch. It will keep the moisture in the soil longer, cut down on weeds, and keep those earthworms happy!

Steve was born in Bakersfield, raised in Los Gatos. In 2nd grade he broke his Catholic school's strict dress code by not wearing a belt, and was promptly banished to playing hopscotch with the girls. When he moved in 3rd grade, the same nun moved to his new school also to keep an eye on him. Ever the one with women, he eventually transformed the ruthless nun into liking him and he became her teacher's pet.

His closest brush with fame was having his picture taken with Willie Mays in Pony League. Not one to shy away from an adventure, Steve and his high school buddies snuck into the high school Ag-science department at night to ride the giant pig and were promptly thrown into the fence.

Steve has been in the nursery and landscape industry for the past 18 years, having previously managed another garden center in San Jose. He has been a part of our family for the past 9 years.

Steve loves to play golf and go fishing and camping. He once got a hole in one while playing golf, which he followed up by landing the "big one" on the banks of the Klamath River. (Neither episode has ever been documented). Steve lives in Redwood City with his best friend Jeanne.