Lawn Aeration – Benefits Reduces Compaction – Over the course of the year the soil below all that green grass becomes compacted. All the ball games, mowing and backyard get togethers add to the compaction problem. Once the soil becomes compacted it’s really difficult for the plant’s roots to sink deeper into the ground where…
Well Autumn is upon us and for many fall ushers in welcome relief from this summer’s heat and humidity. It also provides a time where all our hard work in the garden hopefully brings the reward of a bountiful harvest. However, for many who grow fescue type lawns, fall all too often evidences the impact…
Fall is the time to get your turf caught up from the stress of summer and ready to thrive through the winter. Whether you’re growing warm or cool season grass in your lawn you can give your turf a boost, kill unwanted weeds and be ready to put the lawn “to bed” for the winter. …
Prepare seed/ground bed – remove old grass, weeds, rocks or any other material that might inhibit the sod roots from coming in full contact with the soil. Apply M-Root OR Endo-Root, a fertilizer and enzyme material designed to help with water and nutrient absorption. This material will help with root establishment. RATE: 10 lbs. per…
By Heather O’Bryan Columnist and Horticulturist Oh, spring, how I love all that you bring to us, from the first break of the crocus to the sunny daffodils brightening the leafless landscape. From the first break of buds on trees like Bradford pear and ornamental cherry to the showy blooms of the rhododendron and azalea,…
By Heather O’Bryan Columnist and Horticulturist Homeowners all over the country are facing various problems in their yards. Whether it is a soggy spot, a hill that is eroding or a place where grass won’t grow, the possibilities are endless. But fear not, most of these issues can be solved with a little ingenuity and…
By Heather O’Bryan Columnist and Horticulturist Every year, as Memorial day passes and America’s Independence Day approaches, my mind turns to the garden. Not only because it is prime veggie garden season, but also for the knockout roses that need pruning and the new plantings I have planned. That’s right, I am still planting in…
Earlier this week I was asked where someone could locate a weeping willow tree. Then, I came across the same subject in a Facebook forum I follow. The truth is, I rarely suggest planting a weeping willow unless you have a watering hole big enough to keep the tree’s thirst quenched so it doesn’t go…
(Adapted from Ohio State University: “Twenty Questions on Plant Diagnosis”) Kirsten Ann Conrad, Extension Agent Diagnosis of plant problems are complex questions to resolve. Many times that is no one simple answer about why a plant is not doing well and in almost every case the arrival at a decision about how and whether to…
Best Practices for Building and Maintaining Healthy Soil for Optimal Plant Growth By Kirsten Ann Conrad, Extension Agent Arlington County VA Lesson 1: What Kind of Soil do you Have and What Do Your Plants Need? Every gardener at some point in their lives and their practice of producing healthy lawn, vegetables, trees, fruit, flowers…