March
•Rake up debris and leaves from winter.
April
•Growing season starts. Mow grass 3 inches high. Leave clippings on lawn.
•Apply first dose of fertilizer.
•Treat for crabgrass with pre-emergent herbicide or eco-friendly corn gluten.
May
•Pull or spot-treat dandelions or treat whole lawn with post-emergent weed control or lime.
•Fertilize six to eight weeks after first dose.
June–July
•Water if rainfall is below 1 inch a week.
•Treat for grubs using beneficial nematodes.
Late August–September
•Dethatch and aerate with core aerator when rains resume and ground softens.
•Fertilize and seed.
•Spread weed-and-feed over entire lawn or spot-spray with lime juice and vinegar.
October–November
•Rake leaves.
•Fertilize six to eight weeks after last feeding.
•At final cut, after a few frosts, mow 2 inches high.
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Healthy Lawns – Spring Lawn Fertilizer
Spring lawn fertilizer is crucial for a lush lawn year-round.
The start of spring brings a sense of renewal. Light jackets replace heavy coats; people enjoy outdoor activities; and flowers begin to bloom. Just as homeowners embark on spring cleaning within their home, it's just as important to nurture their lawn. Spring lawn fertilizer is a vital part of spring cleaning your lawn, but you must pay careful attention to the type of fertilizer you use and how much you apply. The primary reason spring lawn care is important is to prepare the lawn for the dehydrating months of summer. Many grass types need to establish a strong and sturdy root system in the spring to endure the harsh conditions of summer; therefore, a lawn needs tender loving care as the spring approaches. Spring lawn fertilizer is highly beneficial if the right amount is applied to the lawn. One mistake many homeowners make is thinking that lawn care and maintenance begins in the spring. Achieving a healthy lawn requires ongoing maintenance. Think of it like this: A person who exercises frequently and regularly is likely to be healthier than someone who only works out vigorously during particular periods of the year. The same is true for lawn care. While spring lawn fertilizer and maintenance is an important step in obtaining a beautiful lawn, a lawn must be nurtured throughout the year.
Too Much Spring Lawn Fertilizer Is Not a Good Thing
Oftentimes, people get 'fertilizer happy' when it comes to feeding their lawn. While they have good intentions-to obtain an incredibly green lawn-too much fertilizer isn't always a good thing, especially in the spring. An excessive amount of spring lawn fertilizer can cause weed growth and disease. In addition to limiting the amount of spring lawn fertilizer you apply to your lawn, it's also important that you do not apply the fertilizer at the very start of spring. Many homeowners are eager to get outside and begin yard work immediately, but early spring fertilization can actually defeat the purpose of feeding your lawn. Although your lawn will develop into a beautiful green color after application, fertilizing it too early in the spring encourages top growth and thus, damages the root system. If the roots of a lawn are fragile and weak, they're less likely to withstand the dry and hot conditions of summer. What's more, the spring lawn fertilizer you choose should include less nitrogen and more phosphorous to promote strong and healthy roots. See older post on Fertilizing.
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Enhance The Flavor Of Food & Enjoy A Culinary Herb Garden
If you're a chef extraordinaire, or if you just enjoy cooking, it's likely you've considered growing a culinary herb garden in your backyard. Offering fresh flavor and natural enrichment to food, herbs not only enhance meals but also provide pleasant aromas. Aside from the health benefits involved, growing an herb garden can actually prove to be an enjoyable pastime.
Tip 1:
Determine the Size of Your Herb GardenYou'd be surprised just how many herbs exist in the world. While an herb garden can be a fun (and flavorsome) project, a little planning goes a long way. Do you desire a small herb garden that consists of popular culinary herbs, or would you like to grow an extensive herb garden that includes both culinary and aromatic herbs?
There are three types of herbs:
Annuals
Biennials
Perennials
Although you can combine herbs in an herb garden, some herbs grow better if separated. For instance, herbs that are overbearing should not be planted next to delicate herbs. When herb gardening, some herbs require certain soil conditions, water requirements and amounts of sun/shade exposure. As a result, you will want your herbs to grow well in a similar environment. In addition to planning how big your garden will be and which herbs you plan to grow, it's important to plan the location of your herb garden. If most of your herbs require a lot of sunlight, then find an area in your yard that receives a great deal of sun.
Herb Garden Tip 2:
Ensure a Good Drainage System
- The most desired type of garden, a perennial herb garden blooms every season once established. Examples include English thyme, Greek oregano, French tarragon, garlic chives, lavender, garden sage and lemon balm. - An herb garden with biennial herbs develops leaves in the first growing season, flowers and seed in the second season, and then dies. Examples include parsley and caraway. - An herb garden with annual herbs lives for only one growing season and then dies. Examples include cilantro, basil, dill and coriander. Herbs do not grow well in wet soil. An herb garden requires an adequate drainage system and somewhat fertile soil to flourish. In order to optimize drainage in an herb garden, insert a 3-inch layer of compressed stone into the soil (about 15-18 inches deep). Then return the soil on top of the layer, blending it with compost and sand, and fill this top soil higher than its original level to allow for some settling. Soil that is excessively fertile produces extreme amounts of poor plant growth; however, you do not need to add too much fertilizer to the soil either. As long as the soil is moderately fertile, your herb garden will thrive.
Herb Garden Tip 3:
Regular Care & Maintenance
Just like any other garden, herb gardening requires frequent care. Once your herbs have been planted, apply compost or fertilizer to them whenever necessary. Mulch also helps the soil to preserve moisture and prevent weed growth. What's more, proper hydration is essential to a successful herb garden. After your culinary herb garden is established, you can begin implementing them into your cooking. When you notice a big difference in the taste of food, you'll soon be hooked on herbs. With health benefits, flavor enhancement characteristics and aromatic qualities, an herb garden is well worth the work.
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Lawn Fertilizer
Potassium Fertilizer for the Lawn
Plants need balanced nutrition to thrive, just like people. One of the important nutrients for plant growth and development is Potassium (K), which is a component of most standard lawn fertilizers. To use Potassium fertilizers correctly, it is important to understand how Potassium functions in plants, and how to recognize the signs of Potassium deficiency.
Potassium in Fertilizer
Potassium is one of the "big three" nutrients found in most lawn fertilizers. Most fertilizer analysis gives the N-P-K number, which indicates what percentage of each nutrient is in the fertilizer. The percentage of Potassium is indicated by the last number in the N-P-K analysis.
Potassium Function in Plants
Potassium is integral to many growth processes in plants, including:
Photosynthesis
Starch and protein production
Enzyme reactions
Water movement
Protein synthesis
Cell wall components
Fruit development
Recognizing Potassium Deficiencies
Potassium deficiency is a serious problem for all plants, because it is involved in so many different plant processes. Plants experiencing potassium deficiencies will show the following symptoms:
Yellowing and curling of edges of lower (older) leaves
Sometimes leaves will turn purple
More likely to occur in times of drought stress
Leaf edges looked burned
There are a number of things that can cause potassium deficiency. Sandy soils tend to be more deficient in potassium, because it is leached easily from soils that do not have a high CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity). Adding organic matter to the soil can help in potassium retention. Soils with a low pH (acidic soils) sometimes have enough Potassium, but it is not available to plants. It is important to test the soil pH to see if the potassium is there, but not available.
Correct Application of Fertilizers
Many soils are deficient in Potassium, but it is always a good idea to look at the soil test before adding any fertilizer. Flowers, fruits and vegetables need more potassium fertilizers during flowering and fruiting. General lawn fertilizers will usually have a balanced analysis, and will have enough Potassium for the average lawn, unless the soil is severely depleted or the pH is off. Apply potassium fertilizers that are balanced with Nitrogen and Phosphorous, and your soil will receive its necessary requirements to support plant growth.
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Even though most fertilizers contain only Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium, the micronutrients are just as important for healthy plant growth, and lawn grass will show the affects of an imbalance, or too little of any of these nutrients. Calcium: Plants without enough calcium have thick, woody stems and poor root development. Lack of calcium can give the grass a yellowish hue. The ratio of calcium to magnesium must be 7:1 for proper plant growth. Magnesium: Chlorophyll is partially made of magnesium, and needs this nutrient to function. Too much Potassium in the soil can prevent magnesium from being present in the soil in a form that is available to plants. Sulfur: proteins have sulfur components in them. Peppers, onions, cherries and plums need plenty of sulfur to bloom and produce good fruit set. Many lawn grass fertilizers have a sulfur component. Iron: Iron uptake is affected by the amount and form of manganese. Iron can bond tightly with soil particles. Addition of a light layer of compost raked into the grass can re-introduce iron into lawns where it is deficient. Manganese: Plants require manganese to oxidize enzymes. Acid soils (lower pH) tend to make more manganese available than alkaline (high pH) soils. Copper: Copper is a catalyst for specific enzymes within plants. Many plant growth processes rely on sufficient copper. Zinc: Protein and starch building processes require zinc. Too much Phosphorous in a lawn can bind up Zinc and make it unavailable to plants. Boron: Flowering, fruit and seed formation are affected by boron.
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A key component of lawn care is providing the lawn with the nutrients it needs to grow. Each nutrient is involved in different plant processes. Nutrients are loosely grouped into two categories: Macronutrients and micronutrients. The nutrients listed under Macronutrients are almost always in lawn fertilizers. Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur are sometimes categorized as macronutrients, and other times as micro-nutrients. Each has its specific function in plant growth and development.
Macronutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium
Micronutrients
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
Iron
Manganese
Copper
ZincBoron
Lawn Fertilizer Analysis
Most lawn fertilizers contain the macronutrients, or what you could call "the big three:" Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K). The fertilizer bags have their N-P-K analysis, or numbers that tell consumers how much of each nutrients is in the fertilizer, by percentage. This can also tell you how many pounds of active ingredient are in each type of fertilizer. For example, a 10-10-10 fertilizer has the same percentage of each ingredient. 100 lbs of the fertilizer would have 10 lbs of each active ingredient. Here's what each of the "big three" do for plants: Nitrogen: The basis of all protein and DNA. Used mostly for growth. Nitrogen application is said to "green up the grass" because it is incorporated into the leaf tissue. Phosphorous: This nutrient plays an integral part in photosynthesis, energy transfer and flower/fruit growth. Plants without enough phosphorous do not produce many fruits, and their seeds can be deformed or not fully formed. Potassium: Many processes within the plant use potassium. Sugar movement, cell division, root development and water retention all require potassium.
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Few things are more frustrating than a lawn mower that refuses to turn over, no matter how hard you pull on its cord or curse its ancestry. More likely than not, your balky engine is suffering from fuel troubles—either too much, too little, or too old. Before you haul it to a shop to be fixed, try troubleshooting the problem yourself.
• Make sure there's gas in the tank. If not, add some. (We won't tell.)
• Give it a rest. An engine that's getting gas and not starting probably has a flooded carburetor or cylinder soaked with gasoline. Often your nose can make the diagnosis: Flooded engines reek of unburned fuel. Park the mower on level ground, and wait about 15 minutes for the gas to evaporate. Then try starting it again, with the choke off.
• Freshen the fuel. If the engine starts and quickly stalls out, the gas may have gone bad from sitting around too long. Siphon out the tank, and add new gas. Take the old stuff to a hazardous waste recycler; dumping it anywhere else is illegal.
TOH Tip: To reduce the chance of gas going bad, store it in a 1- or 2-gallon container so you'll have to replenish it frequently.
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