One of the Biggest Scams on Lawns: Aerating

 

I always thought - and proofed it after I watched them for years - that these so-called ¨lawn-caring¨ lawnmower companies are overcharging.  But there is a subspecies that is even worse: Aerators - men who are offering to aerate your lawn for only $60 - $90.  Sounds not much, doesn’t it?  Well, it is a job mostly done in 15 minutes, which means an hourly fee of $240.  

Even subtracting the tools or the machine costs they use (often less than $100, usable at least 50 or 100 times) it is totally over-priced work. And everyone can do it, it doesn’t need any education - contrary to horticulturists, arborists, or garden designers. 

If garden owners think they ¨need¨ a lawn (aka dead land, or a moles and skunks heaven) and if they start it professionally, they use valuable lawn soil (NOT top soil) before they even sow grass seeds or roll their sod.  This humus-rich soil keeps the lawn healthy and might not get easily compacted. 

Weed-Picking Instead of Aerating

If weeds, especially dandelions, appear in the future, they can easily picked out - including their roots - with a special tool that lets you do it while standing.  The benefit:  your lawn will be automatically aerated through the little holes where the weed was before.  Don’t worry, these holes close after one or two weeks, especially when it rains. 

What Your Lawn Really Needs

In one word: Water.  Water your lawn twice a week for half an hour during hot summer weeks.

Start in early spring to clean up your lawn: Free it from split and other winter debris. Remove all the acorns, fir cones, and pine needles on the ground if you have oak trees or pines next to the lawn. Rake your lawn thoroughly to remove all dead grass pieces, twigs, and moss.

Over time, the grass gets old and needs to be replaced. Worn-out lawns invite weeds. Overseeding is a fast, inexpensive way to help bring your lawn back to its lush, green self.  Make a soil test (kits are available at nurseries or professional garden centers) and if the soil test indicates a low pH level fertilize first.  Starter fertilizers usually contain higher amounts of phosphorous.  Phosphorous helps with root growth whereas nitrogen will help with greening and top growth.

The best time to over-seed your lawn is in early fall when the soil is still warm but the air is cooler, and there are fewer weeds for new grass to compete against.  Also, diseases that attack seedlings are less active.  If you cannot over-seed in the fall, your next best time is the spring.  

Mow the lawn low.  Before over-seeding, you'll want to cut your grass shorter than normal. Don’t leave the clippings on the ground, rather bag them.  Carefully dig out all the weeds.  Never use any pesticides.  They are making dogs and cats sick, even worse for your children.  After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it roots more easily after germinating. 

Rake in a thin layer of enriched soil over your lawn to help the seed settle in. Before you start your seeding or re-seeding project fertilize it.  Which type of grass seed you choose depends on your existing grass type. 

Fill up your spreader, adjust the setting according to the label directions, and apply.  The best time is short after a rain.  But still water the lawn thoroughly regularly, to keep the ground always moist for the first 2-3 weeks.  Later you can spread an iron product over your grass.  Without a reasonable amount of iron in the soil, your lawn becomes more basic in its pH, making it difficult for grass to take root. A lawn without the proper amount of iron can start to turn yellow and die off.  Iron helps also to keep weeds out of your lawn.

Depending on the soil test - or when moss is growing - lime your lawn in early or late winter when the grass is not growing.  Lime can also cleanse the soil, removing toxicities and infusing the ground with essential nutrients.  This often clears up common grass and turf issues, leading to a healthier and better-looking yard.  Made of limestone or chalk, lime's main component is calcium carbonate.

As you can see, all these lawn chores can be easily done DIY.  Sure, you can hire a lawn mower company, but they are just rushing through your yard.  Don´t expect that they are raking the lawn, or that they are digging out dandelions.  

I would change the lawn into beautiful blooming flower beds, or shrink its size at least.  This way you have less work, more pleasure, and save lots of money!  I have never met anyone happy with their green turf - but why then have a lawn in the first place?

Read also:

https://www.cbc.ca/life/home/the-case-for-leaving-the-perfectly-manicured-lawn-behind-1.6449477

.

<><><><><>

.

More Stunning Flowers With Phosphorus Fertilizer

 

Did you ever enjoy a beautiful planter arrangement or a hanging basket that you bought and after a month or so the lush flowering vanished?  Despite dutifully watering new flowers were scarce.  Then you fertilized, and maybe new leaves came up but not many flowers. 

Did you use the right fertilizer?  The middle number on the bag or bottle should be higher than the ones right and left of it.  It shows the amount of phosphorus by weight.
Not all fertilizers contain phosphorus.  Many are designed to target specific nutrient deficiencies, soil conditions, or growth requirements instead.  Printed on the front of the bag or bottle, the N-P-K tells us what percentage, by weight, of each element is present.  It’s the P value to watch if you’re hunting a high phosphorus fertilizer.  The middle number should be higher if you aim for more blooms.

Too much nitrogen can result in lush, green growth but also reduce flowering. 

Too little phosphorus can also be the cause of plants not flowering.

Why Use High Phosphorus Fertilizers?

Phosphorus is a key element in plant growth, and one that’s removed from the garden every time we mow, discard autumn leaves, or harvest our delicious crops.  In order to keep on growing, we need to replace what we take away.  Phosphorus makes up about 0.1% of the Earth's crust.  Fertilizers that contain phosphorus are often sourced directly from plant or animal waste.  Others are chemical, taken from mined rock phosphates.

Bone Meal: Bone meal is exactly what you’d imagine – ground-up bones.  The bones are sourced from slaughterhouses, heat treated to kill pathogens, then milled into a fine, usable powder.

Fish Emulsion:
A more complex product than fish meal, fish emulsion is a liquified and chemically stabilized by-product of the seafood industry.  Besides the excellent amount of phosphorus it provides, it contains a modest but balanced amount of nitrogen and potassium.  Ratios vary from product to product but typically hover around 2-4-1.  Fish emulsions also contain micro-nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, as well as protein to help encourage the growth of healthy micro-organisms in the soil.  While potted plants love fish emulsion, it’s often not a good choice for indoor plants because the smell tends to permeate the whole house or office!

Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Pottasium 
When purchasing a fertilizer consider the N-P-K ratio of the product.  Printed on the front of the bag or bottle, the NPK tells you what percentage, by weight, of each element is present. 

High Phosphorus Fertilizers

Fertilizer Type % Nitrogen (N) % Phosphorus (P) % Potassium (K)

Rate of release:

Ammonium Phosphate 12         20         None          Moderate to rapid

Rock Phosphate        None 17-30  None          Very slow

Bone Meal                 4         10          None           Moderate

Fish Emulsion                 2-5          2-4          1-2                   Rapid

Compost                       1.5-3.5    0.5-1  1-2                   Slow

Source: University of Colorado

For Flowering Annuals
It is a good idea to provide your flowering annuals with a bit of extra phosphorus as the growing season kicks off.- and also in the middle of the season.  It’s a lot of hard work to grow an entire plant in a single season, and then produce flowers on top of that!  Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Rhododendron, and Begonias also enjoy a bit of extra phosphorus as the summer sets in, to feed those luscious flowers.  Herbs and citrus trees also benefit from a supplementary dose too.

Bone meal increases phosphorus in soil for optimal spring gardening results.  Essential in the development of strong root systems, this element is released into the soil for up to four months.  Slow, steady delivery of nutrients helps you grow plenty of big, blooming flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

.

<><><><><>

.

One of the Best Things for Your Garden: Used Coffee Grounds

 

Used coffee grounds – leftover from using a coffee maker – contain a substantial amount of nitrogen, as well as potassium and phosphorus.  Coffee grounds are an ideal fertilizer in the garden and also improve depleted potting soil and compost. The all-rounder can also help against slugs.

At one point I drove every week to Starbucks with two pales to let them fill with coffee grounds,  My car smelled wonderfully for days and so did my garden.  I sprinkled thick layers over the soil and racked it in a bit.  Weeks later I enjoyed fantastic soil, no weeds, and beautiful flowers.

Coffee grounds can be used in the garden primarily as a fertilizer because it contains lots of valuable ingredients such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, tannic acid, and antioxidants.  These are nutrients that can also be found in commercial fertilizer products.

Allow drying before use.  The basic requirement for use is that it is always well cooled and dry, as moist coffee grounds mold easily.  To do this, place the coffee grounds in an open, wide container and allow them to air dry.

Fertilize with coffee grounds

Coffee grounds have a low pH value and are therefore particularly suitable for fertilizing plants that require acidic garden soil.  Ornamental plants include, for example, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and camellias.  Coffee grounds fertilizer is also suitable for crops such as cucumber, tomato, zucchini or blueberries, and strawberries.

The nitrogen contained in coffee grounds ensures strong leaf growth, and phosphorus stimulates flower formation and fruit ripening. Potassium is important for cell structure and plant stability. Only young seedlings do not tolerate caffeine well. To fertilize, simply work the coffee grounds into the soil, such as with a rake.

Use in irrigation water.

Coffee grounds neutralize calcareous irrigation water.  If the soil is very alkaline and the water contains lime, a spoonful or two of coffee grounds in the water can work wonders.  It neutralizes the pH and fertilizes the soil at the same time.  Coffee grounds, on the other hand, are not good for watering houseplants, as they can cause mold to form over time. 

However, mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio, cold coffee can be used once a week to water house and balcony plants.  Especially Cyclamen, Philodendron, Christmas Cacti, Azalea, and Orchids.

The benefit of using coffee grounds as a fertilizer is that it adds organic material to the soil, which improves drainage, water retention, and aeration in the soil. The used coffee grounds will also help microorganisms beneficial to plant growth thrive as well as attract earthworms.

Coffee grounds improve compost and potting soil.

Coffee grounds also find a good use on compost.  It accelerates decomposition, enriches the soil with nutrients, and provides food for earthworms.  To prevent mold from forming, sprinkle the coffee grounds on the surface, and put the filter in separately.

Depleted potting soil can also be improved with coffee grounds and then reused.  To do this, mix the old soil with compost in equal parts and fold in the coffee grounds in small amounts.  However, if there is too much coffee in the soil, mold can easily form.

Coffee grounds can protect against slugs

Snails do not like caffeine.  Coffee grounds are therefore suitable as a barrier layer that can simply be scattered around the vegetable patch.  However, this does not apply to all species.  Depending on which species of snail threatens the lettuce, it is definitely worth a try.

Many people feel that coffee grounds lower the pH (or raise the acid level) of soil, which is good for acid-loving plants.  This is only true for unwashed coffee grounds though.  Fresh coffee grounds are acidic. Used coffee grounds are neutral.  If you rinse your used coffee grounds, they will have a near-neutral pH of 6.5 and will not affect the acid levels of the soil.  To use coffee grounds as fertilizer, work the coffee grounds into the soil around your plants.  Leftover diluted coffee works well like this too.

Protection against pests and critters

Both coffee grounds and brew can be used against aphids.  Fortunately, coffee grounds and brews are suitable for almost all plants and plant species.  You can use it not only to combat aphids, but also other species or pests.  Potted plants and plants in flower beds are suitable. In addition to plants in the garden or on the terrace or balcony, indoor plants can also be treated with it.

It is a natural household remedy that does not release any harmful substances into the home!

Treatment is possible all year round for indoor plants and outdoors in dry weather.  You should always let the coffee grounds dry before using them on the soil.  If you add it to the plant soil when it is wet, this can cause the soil to become moldy.  You can spray the coffee grounds on the leaves, the shoots, and the leaf axils of the plant.  The plant may then be dripping wet, but not much of the brew should get onto the soil.

If you do not have coffee in the house, you can also use black tea.  This also contains caffeine.  You can make a brew from two bags of black tea and one liter of water.  You can also spread the contents of the tea bags on the soil of the plant.

Coffee grounds accumulate regularly but usually end up in the trash.  

What a pity!  Don't be one of these ignorant gardeners!

Read more:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/coffee-grounds-gardening.htm

https://www.homesandgardens.com/advice/are-coffee-grounds-good-for-plants

https://balconygardenweb.com/houseplants-that-love-coffee-grounds-for-plant-growth/

.

<><><><><>

.

Create Your Own Organic Fertilizer

The Key to a Good Garden is Good Soil. 

Most of the essential nutrients for plants are found in soil.  What flowers, vegetables, and trees need to thrive is Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and to a lesser extent Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulphur.  To provide these nutrients to your plants you don’t need to spend any money, save your time and gas to head to the garden center.  Organic fertilizers are way more efficient and helpful to your plants than the artificial ones you buy for top dollars!  Go no further than your pantry, backyard (or the beach) for materials to make your own organic fertilizer.  You can prepare your own bloom or fruit fertilizer year-round:

Fermented Fruits are Prolific Garden Helpers. 

Don’t throw away brown bananas, wilted salad leaves, rotten apples or moldy strawberries!  Not only do they contain valuable Phosphorus and Potassium, they also have the fruit growth enzymes and hormones that encourage the plant to utilize the resources it has to produce large blooms and delicious fruits.  
Add approximately 10% sugar or molasses and water to let the mixture ferment to a mash for a week or so.  Cover it well and place it in the garage or garden shed to avoid the smell in the kitchen. In winter let all your kitchen scraps freeze in a big container that is safely secured, such a garbage can with a well-secured lid.  Place a large stone on top and fasten the lid with a jumpy band to avoid critters’ rummaging.

Wellness Cure for Your Garden:

BANANAS or Banana PEELS  –  Use over-ripe Bananas from your kitchen or those that are offered at very low prices in the produce section of your grocery store.  Roses love potassium too.  Simply throw one or two peels in the hole before planting or bury peels under mulch so they can compost naturally. Get bigger and more blooms and a bomber crop of vegetables.

COFFEE GROUNDS  

Acid and nitrogen-loving plants such as tomatoes, blueberries, roses and azaleas like coffee grounds mixed into the soil. Visit your next Starbucks and bring two buckets with you to let it fill with used coffee grounds. Sprinkle it on top of the soil and fork it well in before watering. 

EGG SHELLS 

Crash the eggshells in very small pieces, and work them well into the soil near tomatoes and peppers. The calcium helps fend off blossom end rot. Eggshells are 93% calcium carbonate, the same ingredient as lime, a tried and true soil amendment! 

SEAWEED – Fresh seaweed needs to be washed before mixing it into the compost/soil to remove salt.  Another benefit of using seaweed fertilizer over time is that it slightly acidifies and adds iron to the soil, which is great news if you are growing acid and iron hungry plants, such as Azaleas, Gardenias, Camellias, and Rhododendrons.  Shred or chop up the seaweed into 1- or 2-inch-long pieces.  While chopped seaweed takes only a few weeks to decompose, seaweed that's left whole can take approximately six months to compost.

Spring Garden

Are you anxious to see bulbs sprouting, buds unfurling and colorful blooms throughout the garden? There is plenty you can do to gear up for the gardening season.

Trimming and Pruning
April is a great month for trimming and tidying. Now is when you should cut back your ornamental grasses 4-6 inches from the ground. Compost the old growth and look for new, green shoots to appear in a few weeks. Most roses appreciate a good pruning now, too.
Trees and shrubs can be pruned now if you haven't done it already. Fruit trees, evergreens, many deciduous trees, grapevines and roses can all be trimmed and shaped before new growth begins.

Improve the soil of your perennial beds
Good, healthy and rich soil is the most important element for a beautiful garden.
Don't skimp soil improvment!
Empty your compost and mix with good garden soil - or if you do not (yet) compost get at least composted manure, spread it 6-8 inch thick on your garden beds and work it into your last years soil. This is so much better for your plants than the synthetic fertizilers that are sold for top dollar at garden centers. One exemption is natural bone meal that should be added to the soil every time you plant something new in your garden and bone meal, a natural fertilizer to fix nitrogen defencies.

Edging and weeding garden beds
By digging and teasing out weeds now when they are small, you save yourself countless hours of weeding in the summer heat. Cutting in a neat edge on your garden beds also slows weeds' progress and gives your landscape a neat, professional appearance.
Weed not only the flower beds but also your lawn - now, when the weeds are still small.

Mulch all your garden beds
Mulch has lots of benefits:
- A thick layer of mulch (6-9 inches) helps to surpress weeds
- It keeps the soil longer moist - less watering
- Mulched beds look more attractive and tidier
- Mulch balances temperatures, important in our hot summers and cold winters

But use only the natural mulch, not the "dyed or colored" type which could be toxic. (studies in Florida have found levels of arsenic in colored mulches to exceed Federal safety limits in over 75% of the samples tested). The preservatives used in the colorant may also inhibit the growth of many beneficial soil microbes that prevent disease in plants. The dry wood waste and old pallets also have a very high Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C:N>200) hence if supplemental nitrogen is not added, it may cause a nitrogen tie-up in the soil. Healthy fertile soil has a C:N ratio of only 30:1 hence nitrogen is pulled from the soil as microbes try to break down and decompose the colored mulch. This often results in poor plant growth with increased disease and insect problems.
Also be aware about children and pets in your garden and purchase only natural mulch.