Summer Landscape Tips
Well here we are in summer already. Boy it sure did get hot quick. There are a few things you need to know for your summer landscape. When it's hot cut your grass at 3" to help it hold moisture and will help you hold that nice green color. And water as needed or as you can. Some grasses will start to go dormant if they don't get the water they need. When this happens, don't try and water it, to get it to come back, It Ain't Gonna Happen. Once grass starts to go dormant it won't come back till fall rains. If you want to keep it green, you have to keep up with the watering before, to stop it from going dormant.
Thatch: Thatch build up in a lawn is from the root system, not grass clippings. Grass clippings are 80% water and break down quickly. If you need to de-thatch there are two ways to do it.
Aeration: This is a process you see on golf courses and is an excellent process for your lawn. You will have to rent a machine for this or hire it out. What it is, is a large machine that pulls soil plugs out of the ground and drops them back on top. This helps air and fertilizer to get to the root system. It also helps the soil to move and loosen. This is really good for hard or compacted soils. The plugs once dropped on top should be mowed to break them up. This deposits soil on top of the thatch layer, helping it to break down and become compost. This is a great process and helps improve difficult soils and lawns.
Power Dethatching is never good for your lawn. It may feel good to run a 5HP monster power rake through your lawn and see it throw out huge piles of thatch. But if you've set the machine low enough to reach the thatch layer, you're really tearing up healthy grass and stressing the remaining grass. Thatch build-up is the symptom of a serious problem, not the cause of it (the cause is over fertilization, too much water and shallow roots). Instead of dethatching, I recommend solving the underlying problem by cutting way back on nitrogen fertilizer. Next, rent a core aerator as I said above and run it across the lawn. Then apply a product such as Natural Guard Soil Activator. Buy it at any garden center, or have them order it for you. Check with a local Ewing Distributor, or a John Deere Nursery near you, you will have better success with them having or getting the product for you. A 20lb. Bag costs about $14.00 and treats 2,000 sq. ft. The soil activator literally composts the existing thatch and turns it into useful nutrients for your lawn. And you should know by now how much I like composting. By aerating your lawn and applying a soil activator, you help the grass establish a deep root structure - the key to a healthy and thatch free lawn. Also you will find having a lawn with a good deep root system will help your lawn hold its green during the hot and dry parts of the summer. But it still needs water.
Shrub Trimming: Evergreens can be done anytime. If the plant flowers, wait after the plant is done flowering. If you have Spiraea's, trimming them lightly right after they are done flowering this will sometimes cause them to flower again and if you fertilized them earlier, you'll have a better chance. With larger plants wait until the end of summer. Never-Ever Butcher Your Plants. Keep in mind the shape and size you want the plant to be. If you cut them back too far, you will kill them slowly. If you want the plant to get larger, just let them go for a few years, just trimming the lackey growers. If you're trying to create a hedge or a special shape, just trim off the long single stems or branches. Any more questions, ask me on the chat section here.
Hey everyone - check this out . . . I just found a rechargeable lawn mower. When I was a kid we had a neighbor who had an electric mower. She was an older single woman. She would pull this long extension cord around the yard with her as she mowed. One day while she was mowing I saw her do a little shake and a dance. The mower had stopped and she had cut the cord. "Oops" its was kind of funny.
But this new one is high-tech. This thing is great. If you use a regular walk behind mower you need one of these. No more carburetors to mess with, no gas or oil or spark plugs, no exhaust fumes or noise. It only costs .10 cents to recharge. You don't have to keep smelly gas in the shed or garage anymore, its lighter. This thing has so many benefits over your old mower its crazy. Sell your old one at a garage sale and get one of these. Go to www.neutonmower.com This is a great way to do your part for the environment.
Next tips will be in September. If you need any questions answered add them to the chat section here and I'll answer them for you. Garry G.
posted by Garry Ballard - Earth Trustee @ 9:20 AM
0 Comments
