Lawn And Garden Tips

Well the hot, hot, hot weather of summer is here and not going away anytime soon.  Along with the hot humid weather comes the potential of lots of problems with your lawn.  Dry spots, weeds, bugs and fungus...you name it.  Having a great lawn is not rocket science, but it does require some simple steps and commitment to see it through the next few weeks.

For many homeowners, the gratification felt in having an instant lawn is not to be competed with.  When one seeds a lawn it can take quite a while to grow, whereas laying sod is an excellent way to get an instant green and lush lawn.

Perennials reach maturity in as little as two seasons.  A well-chosen selection rapidly forms a fine display of textures and colors, with both foliage and flowers providing visual interest for months with little effort on the gardener's part.

Not only do lawns provide a soft green mat to walk on, play on, lie on, or just admire, they also provide an excellent breeding ground for unsightly weeds, insects, and grass-destroying diseases that when left untreated can become
an ongoing battle.

I have received many questions lately regarding winter damage on evergreen shrubs.  The hardest hit in our area seems to have been the smaller hollies such as Dwarf Yaupons, Soft Touch and Helleri.  The larger Ilex compacta hollies seem to have tolerated the winter a little better. 

After surviving record temps and snowfall accumulations this winter, we are finally moving towards spring "green-up".  And none too soon, according to most people in our area. 

Did you know?  A typical backyard bird barely weighs as much as two nickels!  Birds spend most of their waking hours in search of food...without the help of "hands and fingers".  They need to consume as much as 15% of their body weight during the day just to stay warm enough to survive the winter weather for one night.

As cold or wet as January can be, spring is right on its coat-tail, and there is much that can be done in the garden now.  So with the new year comes another chance to get your lawn and garden started out right. 

Poinsettias continue to be a widespread Christmas tradition for both gift-giving and holiday decorating.  Being one of the most easily recognizable plants, the Poinsettia brings an unmistakable cheer to the holiday season.

Borrowing a recent quote from a friend's Facebook post..."Noah? You there?  Float by and pick us up!"...well, it's not quite that bad yet, but we have all had more than enough rain the past few weeks.  At 27 inches above average rainfall for the year, we are ready for some drier weather conditions.