Susan’s Gardening Tips

Grasshopper chomping on grass

Quick… what pest controls should you use?  Wait! Not all bugs are bad… some actually contribute to lawn health. Only a few will actually damage your grassy corner of the world. 

Accept the fact that not all bugs are bad guys. Sure, we probably swat at them all. In reality, some insects are known as “biological insects”… they can act as exterminators against others. Some can even help control your lawn’s thatch level, and save you lots of time and energy… and money. Heck, a lot of them are gourmet meals to a lot of insect-eating birds.

If you see dead, brown patches in your lawn, then you probably have “bad” bugs. The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly what you are up against.  Read the rest of this entry

 Before mowing your lawn this year, watch this video for some excellent safety tips. Lawn care novices should definitely watch it… actually, everyone should. 

 This goes triple for kids! 

(click here if the video isn’t visible)

Happy gardening… Susan Nelson Hopkins 

 Here’s what Organic Lawn Care Techniques has to say… 

Adding an organic compost to soil achieves the optimum soil texture, because it adds nutrients in a natural, easy-to-absorb state… with several bonuses:

• Increases the soil’s organic content, hence it’s water-holding capacity;
• Improves the soil’s physical structure, allowing more air to get to the roots;
• Increases bacterial and beneficial fungal activity, making nutrients more available to grass roots;
• Organically derived plant nutrients are less likely to contribute to water pollution because they are very slow to leach from the soil. 

But here’s the “super” bonus… the response to this enriched soil is a deeper, stronger root structure that withstands drought and disease!

Happy gardening… Susan Nelson Hopkins
Check out all the lawn articles and videos at
Susan’s Lawn Gardens,
and the garden articles at all of
Susan’s Gardens

So, you want a green lawn… without being its slave?

Well, you absolutely can, just by using four K.I.S.S.S. lawn care tips. First, you need to answer one question… 

Do you need to revive, replace, or plant your lawn? 

Let’s profile your lawn: 

Revive… If your lawn has only a few brown or dead patches, and the color is fairly Ok, then count yourself very fortunate. Reviving lawns can be much less expensive then the alternatives. Results aren’t immediate, but they’re a sure thing. 

Replace… If your lawn is more here and there than everywhere, replacing it may be the way to go. This involves quite a bit of physical labor, so consider researching local labor sources.

Plant… If your yard is dirt and more dirt, it can be a very good thing. You’re starting with a clean (well, a dirty) slate. 

 Regardless of which of the above profiles matches your lawn, there’s still the consideration of HOW you will revive, replace, or plant your lawn. Here are the two common choices:   Read the rest of this entry

 Correct some typical lawn maintenance habits.

There’s nothing like saving money WHILE being “green”! What a great “win-win” goal. Start this year, and see just how easy it is… 

• Water your lawn correctly… Watering early in the morning provides grass roots plenty of time to breathe, plus it discourages fungal growth caused by dampness. Here’s the good part: Lawns that receive just 1″ of accumulated water per week will develop deep, strong roots… enabling them to survive most diseases and droughts. (here’s how to measure)

• Mow your lawn correctly… Setting the mowing height to 2.5″ to 3.5″ will actually help your lawn discourage weed growth and develop a healthy root system. And, longer grass is actually cooler underfoot… always nice for your bare feet. 

Those of you enduring a lingering winter in the North (and our Southern Hemisphere “cousins”)… take heart. It can’t last forever! Those of us fortunate enough to be enjoying balmy weather offer you our sympathies and wishes for a welcoming Spring… soon.

Happy gardening… Susan Nelson Hopkins
Check out all the lawn articles and videos at
Susan’s Lawn Gardens,
and the garden articles at all of
Susan’s Gardens

Weed your lawn as soon as you can this Spring.

Attack now… would you rather pull up to 10,000 weeds for each one you see now? That’s how many seeds just one weed plant can produce! 

• Weed by hand… The best time is right after a good rain, or after you water the lawn. You’ll find most weeds come right up. Pace yourself, but be thorough.
• Use specialized tools… These can be especially helpful for deep rooted weeds, like dandelions.
• Pest control… It’s up to you whether to use chemical pesticides or insecticides. All the focus on “green” gardening these days has fostered many organic alternatives. The idea is… a naturally healthy lawn and garden helps your family’s health. 

Now, let’s get busy!

Happy gardening… Susan Nelson Hopkins
Check out all the lawn articles and videos at
Susan’s Lawn Gardens,
and the garden articles at all of
Susan’s Gardens

Happy Spring! (For Southern Hemisphere-ers… hang in there!)

February through April are the perfect months to give your lawn a physical checkup. Start as early as you can… 

• Remove a 6″ square of lawn… Look for crane fly larvae. Your lawn should be able to tolerate no more than 18 (or 35 per square foot), so count carefully. If you don’t know what to look for, take your lawn sample to a garden center and ask one of their experts. When you’re finished with the sample, just press it back into place.
• Treat the soil and fertilize… Check your lawn’s soil pH, and apply lime or sulfur, if needed. Give your lawn its first application of fertilizer. 
• Re-seed or re-sod… Reseed winter damaged areas. If the damage is extensive, consider re-sodding. 
   It may be Winter outside, but Spring will come before you know it. Start planning now.
   

Happy gardening… Susan Nelson Hopkins
Check out all the lawn articles and videos at
Susan’s Lawn Gardens,
and the garden articles at all of
Susan’s Gardens