Landscape Repair and Restoration

After the dog days of summer we are all scorched from the heat and lack of rain.  Most lawns are in dire need of help.  Topdressing can help by adding slow release nitrogen thru the organic compost and the sand will improve soil structure while helping the poor drainage qualities of the regions heavy clay soil.  If your lawn has been overtaken with weeds now is the time to kill them out.  Aerate and over seed once the daytime air temps level off around 70 degrees. Don't forget to fall feed the grass with a good fertilizer, something with a ratio of 4-1-2 with up to 50% in a slow release form of nitrogen. For central Virginia the best time to fertilize for the fall is from mid August thru November using 1 to 2 pounds per 1000 square feet. Fall is also the time to mulch around your trees and shrubs to protect the roots from winter freezing damage.  Enjoy the cooler temps and all the fun things that go with fall.

Crazy Weather, Happy Daze

While spring seems to have finally sprung, Mother Nature did throw us a curve or two!  For our area Mothers Day is usually the mark of "no more frost" but that did not hold true this year.  Many tender plants felt the cold kiss and have suffered setbacks if not death.  One gardener told me "Only tomatoes and cucumbers from now on!".   The frustration is real and patience is a true virtue of the gardener.

The ground dried up and cracked open.  The heavy clay soil in this area is mostly void of organic matter which hold the moisture and keeps the clay from turning to brick.  The addition of compost and sand builds essential soil structure  needed for veggies.  While most flowers can grow in poorer soils,  they will thrive in soil with even modest amendment.  The incorporation of any raw materials should be done in the fall but finished compost can be added at anytime.  Finished compost works great for side dressing your growing crops.  Straw and pine needles work great for weed control between rows and can be tilled into the soil at season's end for the addition of organics to prepare for the following season.

Don't let the heat beat you!  The temps are rising and the rain seems to be getting scarce.  Remember the sun screen!

Plant and Watch Em' Grow

Now is the time!  If you haven't started you seed now is the time.  While the little plants start to grow prep your ground and get ready  to watch em' grow.  I can almost taste those fresh tomatoes already!  Sweet Corn!  Ahhh
 my tummy is growling.  If you are saying I don't have anywhere to plant anything, don't distress.  Make a raised bed with boards, timbers, fallen trees or cross-ties and fill with Garden Blend Soil Mix and you are ready to plant.  Spread a little mulch or straw for weed control and to maximize water retention.  Soon you will be tending your crops with pride and joy.  Happy Gardening!

Spring Supplies and Landscaping materials

Spring is really exciting already, but beware of the sneaky freeze.  For this area we are not truly past the danger zone until about mid May.   This unseasonable heat wave can tease and tempt us to plant when we should wait a little longer.  All the beautiful flowers at the garden centers lure us in and send us into a mad frenzy.  Especially after the home bound winter we have had.  Keep the frost blanket handy!  Some old curtains work great for this too.  JMJ, The Landscape Supply Center has the Garden Blend Soil Mix for all your beds and raised garden plots.  This spring brings an abundance of new products as well.  New items include grass seed, sod, fertilizer, straw blanket and pine needle mulch.  Be sure to stop in and check them out.  Get your hands in the dirt and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Lets get to work landscaping!

Wow! Where has the time gone.  Busy, Busy, Busy.  This is a great thing.  The sun is shining and the snow is finally gone.  Not to say that we might not get a little more yet!  The wonderful thing about that is that it won't last long.  Now is the time to fertilize and apply pre-emergent to stop those uninvited invaders.  Also, don't forget your trees and shrubs.  They need a boost to get started too!  Make holes around the drip line of the tree with a stake or rod about 1 foot deep and about 6 feet apart all the way around and fill the hole with fertilizer to about 4 inches from the top.  Step on top of the hole to push soil in and the grass will do the rest.  Good fertalizers for the trees should be high in nitrogen with rates like 18-5-9, 27-3-3 or 16-4-8 and if you want an organic type then bone meal or dried chicken litter are good options.  While the sun is beginning to warm up the soil get ready to start your seeds.  It is only weeks now until you can plant outdoors and starting your plants from seed is a very effective way to keep gardening cost down.  Here's a bonus tip!  JMJ, The Landscape Supply Center now offers a Garden Soil blend for your raised beds.  That's it for now, enjoy the Great Outdoors. 

The full measure of Love

February is like the door to spring. We start to dream of the flowers soon to come, the warming days of Spring and freedom from the bondage of the cold winter. While the snow is still covering the ground it is a great time to do some pruning of trees and shrubs. One thing to remember...don't cut off your flowers and fruit. Azaleas and rhododendrons bloom on the previous years growth so prune only after flowering. Speaking of flowers! Valentines Day is our official day to recognize

"TRUE LOVE"

Now comes the question "What do I get my sweetheart and the ones I love?" Remember that gifts from the heart usually can't be bought with money and the greatest gift is one of your time. Instead of buying a card, make one. Instead of buying some candy, make some. I can't do that you might say! It's like we have so often heard "It's the thought that counts". Watch out for the excuse version of that line though, it can bite you pretty hard. "I really thought about you but..". Truth told, it doesn't mean anything except you were too lazy or that you really didn't even give it a thought. Saying nothing is better than making excuses. Consider "I'm sorry" or "Thank you for loving me". Don't say I'll do better...JUST DO IT! To keep yourself out of trouble check out this site for some great ideas on how to share the LOVE. http://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/

Will we have an early spring?

Our old friend "Punxsutawney Phil" let me down! I really was hoping for an early spring. Now, in the face of another huge snowstorm bearing down on central Virginia, I am wondering if I will be able to even get on the garden to prep it before summer! Oh well, that's enough whining. The water table in our area has been down for years and the snow actually creates pressure to force the water down. The up side is we do get a greater benefit from the snow than the heavy rain that just runs off and washes the topsoil away with it. This is good! For all of us outdoor lovers, cabin fever has us climbing the walls and shoveling snow just doesn't cut it.
If you've had the misfortune to be attacked by some of the winter bugs floating around try some of these homegrown helps. Many of you have a small windowsill herb garden and if you don't it is a simple problem to remedy. Many articles make it seem that natural cures are something new but it is simply a resurrection of something very old. You can grow these natural medicines right at home. Strong scented herb like Rosemary, Basil, Sage, Oregano and many others have antibiotic properties. That's why you see cinnamon toothpaste, it kills bacteria in your mouth! If you don't have fresh herbs you can use dried. Take a coffee filter add some herbs and tie it up with a piece of butchers twine. Brew up some herb tea or simmer in a small pot or on top of the wood stove and simply release the healing vapors into the room. It's a great air freshener too! Cloves and Ginger Root help clear sinuses. Stay healthy and breath easier so when you can get out you will be healthy and ready to dig.

Where to start with your spring garden planning!

Water, Water everywhere! A wonderful thing actually, even though it seems we are being washed away at present. The soil in our area is mostly a heavy clay that doesn't drain well and needs amending for a good garden. It's great for making brick! There are many choices for soil amendment and the reason behind each one varies. Most of us have heard about the benefits of compost. Compost is really just a decomposed organic material typically made from yard waste, leaves, bark and food scraps (never use any meat products). Compost adds nutrients, holds moisture and improves soil structure. Tilling in leaves in the fall is a great way to get rid of your leaves and improve your garden and the composting is done in the ground. Sand or small stone are added for drainage. A course sand is preferred and many of you may have heard of a lightweight aggregate which is made from an expanded shale. It not only greatly improves drainage but holds water. You get a double whammy! More bang for the buck...and nowadays we all need that! The very best way to find out what you need is to have the soil tested. You can do this through your local extension office. This link http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/ will take you to the contact listing to find you local office.

Happy New Year! Spring cleaning needs to start now!

The New Year is moving ahead at an amazing clip and before you know it gardening chores will not wait any longer. Winter is a bleak season as we await the renewal that spring brings. Start cleaning your beds and garden plots, here in central Virginia we are planting zone7. For most, the last killing frost will be mid April to early May. Seed can be started indoors about 6 weeks before that for most plants and flowers. Early preparation is essential for future success. Look for more information coming soon.