When in Doubt Compost

June 29, 2010

Soil is the backbone of your garden and lawn. Nothing else really matters. If your soil is enriched with decomposed organic matter, your plants will be naturally fed by nutrients released by soil microbes working underground. One of the best ways to add organic matter to your soil is with compost.

Compost improves your soil texture and structure, supplies and helps retain nutrients, provides moisture and aeration, helps control weeds, and reduces the need to buy fertilizers. Compost will improve any type of soil.

-If you add organic matter to sandy soils, you won’t have to water as frequently.

-If you add organic matter to silty soil, the soil will be less slippery and allow more air to the roots.

-If you add organic matter to clay soils, your soil will become easier to work and will allow root systems to develop and water to soak in more readily.

In the Garden

Instead of digging in fresh compost, just add a layer to the top of your soil  and walk away. Do this at least twice a year-in the fall and in early spring-and add a fresh layer of mulch on top.

In the Lawn

Just spread compost on top of the lawn by dumping small piles and spreading the compost with a rake to a depth of a 1/2 inch. You can also use a spreader and simply spread the compost on top of the lawn.

If you can commit to top dressing your soil with compost  twice a year your lawn and garden will thrive.

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Stay away from “Weed and Feed” Products

June 17, 2010

“Weed and feed” products are synthetic fertilizers mixed with herbicides. They are used by almost everyone and the general public does not know of the harm they are doing to their pets, children, water ways, and soil. “Weed and Feed” products kill the microrganisms living in the soil that break down organic matter, provide nutrients to plants, and hunt and destroy harmful insects like grubs. I just finished reading “Joy in your Garden A Seasonal Guide to Gardening” by Joy Bossi and Karen Bastow and she stated her feelings about “weed and feed” products.

“Stay away from the “weed and feed” type products. Getting the “weed” part to actually hit the leaves of the weeds and stay there is iffy at best. Much more effective is the attack-one-weed-at-a-time approach. At least, that way you are less likely to be exposing every blade of grass, every passing kitty, and every child’s foot to chemical poison.”

Joy Bossi is a Utah native and a gardening expert. She is well known in Utah for her radio program “Joy in the Garden”.

I completely agree with Joy. Typically about 98% of the herbicides in “weed and feed” do not hit their target pest, weeds. Herbicides are designed to kill and more and more research is shedding light on the dangers of herbicides. Stay away from these products and ask your “lawn care” company if they are mixing herbicides in with their fertilizers. If the answer is yes stay clear. Kids should be able to play in the lawn without being exposed to harmful chemicals. It is not worth the risk!

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How to Prepare Your Lawn for Winter

November 18, 2009

Winter is coming upon us quickly here in Utah and if you haven’t prepared your lawn for winter, here are a few tips on how best to do that so the lawn stays healthy over the winter and greens up nicely in the spring.

Rake your leaves – Your grass roots are still alive throughout the winter and too many leaves piled on top may suffocate and kill your lawn. Also, too many leaves may keep moisture from reaching the roots or may trap too much moisture causing the roots to rot and possibly die.

Fertilize – We are now a little late for this here in Utah, but it is really important for healthy roots in the winter. Late Fall about 1 month before it freezes is a good time to do this. The grass has been using the ground’s nutrients all summer and is now hungry for more. Fertilizing in the fall will encourage lush growth in the spring.

Cut your grass a little shorter – It is important to continue mowing your lawn as long as there is visible growth. Grass should be cut no shorter than 2 inches and no longer than 3 inches. This should be lowered gradually if possible over several weeks lowering the mower blade 1 notch at a time so you do not cause too much stress to the lawn. 2 inches of grass protects the crown and roots of the grass from the sun and elements. If grass is too long it will lay over on itself and retain too much moisture. This can cause fungus and mold.

I hope this helps! I am gearing up for raking my lawn tomorrow, Saturday. It is not my favorite chore. A little work right now will ensure a healthy lawn next spring.

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