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

 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