Author Archives:

Garden designs that give back

Leave a reply

Good landscapes aren’t just sustainable, Mary Palmer Dargan insists; they also sustain us. Gardens grow our food, give us shade, calm frazzled nerves and nudge us toward the deep solace that a quiet connection with the natural world can provide. They provide play sites and recreational opportunities for children and families, social venues for adults, and the occasional retreat for those seeking solitude. Properly designed and maintained, they age gracefully and allow us to do the same.

Dargan, a landscape architect who with her similarly credentialed husband co-wrote an earlier book focused on the aesthetics and strategy of landscape design, takes a slightly more abstract tone in her new book, Lifelong Landscape Design. While the former effort discussed mostly design principles, this book casts a broader, more philosophical net. Dargan still argues the merits of beauty and good design, but here turns toward their more far-reaching virtues and influence.

The underlying structural patterns of good garden design can number in the hundreds, Dargan says, and are site-specific. The essential components are far fewer, and that’s where the book aims. The first among them, in the author’s list, is connection with the web of life. That is, the proper context for landscape design isn’t merely the incidental topography of the site or the architectural style of the home. Those things matter, but so do the surrounding community or neighborhood and the biological ecosystem that supports them. We must both rely on the resilience of nature and respect its limitations for self- healing, and that means treading as lightly on the land as possible:

• Leave natural elements alone when possible: Compaction from vehicles or construction equipment can damage soils, feeder roots of trees and most small plants.

• Restore balance to the site: Soil erosion is typically one of the first consequences of site disturbance, so try to prevent/correct washouts, stream silting, and other problems by grading and planting the area for stability.

• Use sustainable building materials: Locally obtained natural materials often cost more than manufactured alternatives, but over the long term they typically involve a much lower demand for resources and energy. Recycled or easily recyclable manufactured materials can also offer this benefit.

• Harvest and conserve water: With more than half of the country experiencing drought conditions in 2012, there could hardly be a timelier message than this. It isn’t enough to manage the flow of water to prevent soil erosion; being able to capture, store and use rainwater is an essential feature of a sustainable landscape.

• Let nature rest: We don’t sleep with the lights on, so why should birds and other creatures in our midst have to do that? Landscape lighting fixtures should be low and small, to enhance aesthetics and safety while not disturbing the surroundings.

• Keep up the good work: Occasional maintenance is a requirement for a healthy garden or landscape. Compost leaves, clippings and other organic materials to enrich the soil, and pay attention to plant health throughout the year.

Dargan offers similar guidelines for what she considers other essential components of good landscape design: encouraging social interaction and recreation, creating “passive” spaces where one can retreat briefly from worldly cares, promoting stress reduction and healthful physical activity, and other priorities.

Most of the recommendations stay centered around the four parts of master planning that her earlier book offered for landscape design: the approach/arrival features, which serve as a welcome mat to visitors approaching the home; the house itself, which serves as the hub for the surrounding landscape; perimeter spaces such as patios, decks, planting beds and other elements adjacent to the home’s exterior; and destinations with linkages, purpose-built spaces or features placed in the landscape and connected with pathways.

Readers looking for the nuts-and-bolts techniques of landscaping how-to or specific recommendations for plants and materials aren’t the intended audience here. There’s no shortage of those gardening guides, and the more regional the sources the better. Dargan has set her sights on less tangible aspects of fashioning a landscape, on the atmosphere that design choices ultimately create. This won’t be the guidebook you keep on hand while installing flagstone pavers or grading a slope into graceful terraces, but it could help you imagine the many potential dimensions of your landscape.

Ex-Rollergirl volunteers with children, arts council

Leave a reply

Shannon Eaton, 30, of Houma, retired from roller derby in May, a league she co-founded.

But leaving the sport cleared up lots of time on her calendar, she said — time she spends volunteering for the Houma Regional Arts Council.

“We worked very hard,” Eaton said. “We had practice three nights a week, not including nights spent planning for charity events, fundraisers, etc. So, after coming out of that, to make the free time to give back was no trouble at all.”

Working with children comes naturally to Eaton, an eighth-grade English teacher at Montegut Middle School. She describes her evening and weekend transition to the younger learners as “a breeze.”

Her devotion to the Houma Regional Arts Council is important, she said, as the agency plays a vital role in keeping art at the forefront of the local community and culture.

“I didn’t realize this when I was younger, but I’ve come to notice we are surrounded by creative people in our community,” she said. “There is beauty seen and unseen. That’s part of our local ecology. We come into contact with people who are going to do beautiful things — landscaping, painting, acting and, of course music — and all of it needs to be seen. Beauty shouldn’t be hidden away from the world. And the Arts Council facilitates that and protects artists — even those who don’t know their art is beautiful — instead of exploiting them. That’s a great thing to be part of.”

Eaton has volunteered for the Arts Council for about five years.

The nonprofit’s executive director, Glenda Toups, refers to Eaton as one of the agency’s most “passionate volunteers.”

“She assisted with our Green Tunes children’s section for Houmapalooza and led the hourly kids parade during Houmapalooza,” Toups said.

The Green Tunes section operates by the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Eaton said, as the booth is set up for kids to create musical instruments from garbage.

“The adults are just there to make sure everything is safe and sanitary,” Eaton said, humbly, “but the kids are the real creators. The grown-ups are just the duct tape cutters so the kids don’t make any painful mistakes.”

The parade took place every hour for the children to show off the instruments they created. Eaton said she used the time to attract more Houmapalooza attendees to the booth.

Toups said Eaton’s next venture with the Arts Council is her role on the newly formed Creative Communities Initiative Team.

The group’s focus is Houma’s historic district downtown.

“When I was asked to join, they told me it was called ‘Creative Place-Making.’ It basically is what it sounds like. We make a place already there a little more creative than what it was before,” Eaton said. “Expect creative ideas and visually inspiring ideas within the historic district of Houma around the Main Street area. It’s a great form of community outreach.”

Eaton doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon, she said, because she’s “always been a fan of the arts.”

“It’s therapeutic to be creative,” she said.

Staff Writer Kris Johnson can be reached at 857-2207 or kris.johnson@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @krisLjo.

A beautiful garden begins at home

Leave a reply

THE garden is a very special part of your home.

A great looking garden requires regular maintenance but if you do it with imagination you will see that taking care of a garden can even be fun, it’s a great place for gatherings with family and friends.

  1. ​

Most people enjoy the environment and feel more relaxed outside than inside. Social events outside can be totally different and more fun because people are in a more relaxed and natural space.

Inter-line who were awarded National Independent Builders Merchant of the Year 2012 offer a wide range of garden and driveway products to help you create the stunning garden or front entrance you’ve always dreamed of and will make you the envy of your friends.


Main image for myprint-247

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery VAT included. Choose from 1000’s of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms:
Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters much more. All items are free next day delivery.

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Tuesday, April 30 2013

Inter-Line are sole stockists within South Devon and Exeter of a fantastic range of Tobermore Paving and Walling.

The stunning garden in the picture here was designed and built by Jacksons Landscape Design, Newton Abbot, a Tobermore registered installer, you can view more of Kerry Jacksons designs at www.jacksonslandscapedesign.com

Inter-line also stock pre-packed decking kits in five different sizes complete with fixings and assembly instructions, ideal for any DIY project and have just opened an inspirational Landscaping Display Centre at their Torquay branch where you will find products and ideas to fuel your imagination and help you turn those garden design ideas into reality.

They offer helpful advice and ideas on landscaping your driveway or garden and can provide you with an outside area that will help make your house a home.

More than ever over the past 10 years, the outdoors has become an extension to our homes and with Inter-line’s decking and balustrade, garden areas become warm and inviting places to relax with family and friends with safe enclosed play areas for children, all year round.

Their traditional, classic and contemporary decking products, give you more possibilities than you can imagine – even on the tightest of budgets.

All sorts of things can be achieved, depending on how you want to use your space. Just be aware that if you are creating an outdoor structure, it may need planning permission and be subject to certain Building Regulations.

You can be sure all Inter-Line decking products meet every relevant regulation – and if you have any questions, just ask – they will do their best to help you make it happen.

What’s more, Inter-line have their online Trade Directory which will put you in touch with local tradesmen to complete your project.

All landscaping products are available to purchase online at www.inter-line.co.uk or contact their friendly sales team.

New Site Offers Calgarians Savings and Practical Ideas on Landscaping …

Leave a reply

Splash Press Release April 18 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEW WEBSITE OFFERS HOMEOWNERS IN CALGARY HUGE SAVINGS AND PRACTICAL IDEAS ON LANDSCAPING CALGARY PROPERTIES AND MORE
Homeowners in Calgary can now get landscape ideas and huge savings on landscaping Calgary properties.

Five Star Landscaping is pleased to announce the launch of www.fivestarlandscaping.ca, a website devoted to the latest ideas around landscaping in Calgary, landscape ideas and how to get substantial savings for those looking to embark on new projects this year.

“Not only will homeowners and commercial property owners get inspiring ideas”, said Troy Ryz, owner of Five Star landscaping, “but they will be able to register for automatic updates detailing the latest deals and inspirations directly from landscapers in Calgary.”

If you would like to meet Troy and his team and learn more about Five Star Landscaping, you can visit with them at the upcoming Calgary Garden Show, April 13th and 14th, at Spruce Meadows.  Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.calhort.org/garden-show/purchase-tickets.aspx

Five Star Landscaping has been serving Calgary home and commercial property needs since 1997. We design, build and maintain. We also maintain properties year-round, with lawn maintenance, snow removal and property clean ups.

For more information, please visit https://www.fivestarlandscaping.ca

Five Star Landscaping Troy and Lori Ryz (403)203-4058 Owners info@fivestarlandscaping.ca

Bookmark It













Hide Sites

Bay Area’s spring home and garden tours

Leave a reply

Here are Bay Area home and garden tours that will kick off the springtime tour season. Please check back regularly for later additions.

April 20

Oakland Heritage Alliance’s ‘Great Estates’

(Claremont-Rockridge)

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

Who benefits: Supports public education and preservation advocacy.

What you’ll see: This self-guided walking tour offers a rare opportunity to see examples of Tudor and Mediterranean revival style homes, including residences designed by Oakland architects William Schirmer and Geoffrey Bangs.

Extras: Light refreshments.

Details: Tickets are $35 if purchased in advance or $40 at the door; $30/$35 OHA members. On-site purchases and advance purchase check-in begins at 12:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Angelican Church, 6013 Lawton Ave., Oakland. http://oha-greatestates.eventbrite.com.

April 26-27

Gamble Garden

Spring Tour (Palo Alto)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 26-27

Who benefits: The Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, a nonprofit community horticultural foundation

What you’ll see: Six private Palo Alto gardens ranging from large estates to corner properties to narrower plots, each showcasing beautiful and innovative landscaping designs.

Extras: Marketplace and plant sale, horticultural resources, live music, box lunch prepared by Cafe Primavera.

Details: Tickets are $35; $30 members; $40 day of tour. Lunch is $15, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch must be ordered by April 22. 650-329-1356, www.gamblegarden.org.

CSL Heart of the Home Tour

(Piedmont and Crocker Highlands)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 26-27

Who benefits: Nonprofit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties

that serve at-risk children.

What you’ll see: CSL’s Silver Anniversary Home Tour in Piedmont and Crocker Highlands features five architectural gems including a Tudor mansion by Hearst Castle Architect Julia Morgan; an Albert Farr Georgian Colonial with a two-plus story designer showcase; a William Schirmer French Normandy with Hollywood ties and allure; a Newsom Newsom Traditional with designer decor and art; and an award-winning, Platinum LEED Mid-Century Modern.

Extras: Lunch at Piedmont Community Center, boutique, food trucks. VIP Tour Packages available.

Details: Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 on tour days: $55 with lunch. $5 off each ticket for groups of 10 or more. http://wehelpkids.org/.

April 27

Naglee Park Vintage Home Tour

(San Jose)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Who benefits: Preservation of the San Jose Woman’s Club building.

What you’ll see: Four homes in a five-block area of Naglee Park, including a landmark once owned by former San Jose Mayor Ernie Fenzel and architectural styles that include ranch, craftsman, Tudor and Spanish Colonial Revival.

Extras: Boutique, talk by historian April Halberstadt, Tea on the Terrace.

Details: Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 day of tour; $25 for SJWC members; $25 for groups of five or more. Tickets for Tea on the Terrace, which must be ordered by April 22, are $30. Tour and Tea cost $55. 408-294-6919, www.sjwomansclub.org.

April 28

Bay-Friendly Garden Tours

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 28

Who benefits: The Bay-Friendly Landscaping Gardening Coalition’s program to promote sustainable landscaping and gardening practices throughout the Bay Area.

What you’ll see: Diverse home gardens in Oakland, Castro Valley, San Leandro, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore, showcasing natural gardening techniques.

Extras: The guidebook includes coupons, including up to 20 percent off at several local nurseries.

Details: Visit www.bayfriendlygardentour.org to purchase a guidebook with garden descriptions, directions and entrance tickets. Cost is $5 for digital guidebooks or $10 for a hard copy. Purchase hard copies by April 19.

May 4-5

Willow Glen Lifestyles Home Tour

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5.

Who benefits: San Jose Day Nursery scholarships for low-income families.

What you’ll see: Six homes and one spectacular garden, including a new resort-inspired home with state-of-the-art amenities, a recently renovated family ranch-style home. A garden home, open for touring inside and out, will be the setting for box lunches, refreshments, wine tasting, artists and boutiques.

Extras: Boutique, raffle.

Details: Advance tickets are $35 for the tour and $15 for lunch. Available online at www.sjdn.org and Able Printing, Grace on the Avenue and Willow Glen home and Garden. Tickets can be purchased day of tour for $40 (lunch $17) at 1448 Newport Ave., on the tour route. www.sjdn.org/homeTour.

May 5

The Ups and Downs of Hillside Gardening

(Oakland)

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 5

Who benefits: Proceeds help fund scholarships and grants and ongoing efforts to tend public gardens.

What you’ll see: A range of eight Oakland gardens, from a small, native-planted front yard to a meticulously designed serenity garden, each with unique features such as mosaic art and sculpture, clay chickens, a country cabin, decorative metalwork and more.

Extras: A garden-theme boutique offering art, plants and gardening tips.

Details: Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 day of the tour. 510-898-6872, www.hillsidegardeners.com. You may also mail a check, made out to Hillside Gardeners of Montclair, to 3811 Monterey Blvd., Oakland, CA 94619. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Bay-Friendly Garden Tours

(Napa County)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 5

What you’ll see: Diverse home gardens in Napa County showcasing natural gardening techniques.

Extras: The guidebook includes coupons, including up to 20 percent off at several local nurseries.

Details: Visit www.bayfriendlygardentour.org to purchase a guidebook with garden descriptions, directions and tickets. Cost is $5 for digital guidebooks, or $10 for a hard copy. Purchase hard copies by April 26.

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour

(Alameda and Contra Costa counties)

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday May 5

What you’ll see: A delightful collection of 50 Alameda County and Contra Costa County gardens ranging from a 30-year-old wildlife oasis to brand new installations, five-acre lots to small front yard gardens, local native plants to natives from throughout California, gardens designed and installed by owners to those designed and installed by professionals.

Extras: Garden talks throughout the day. Companion event: Native Plant Sale Extravaganza, Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5.

Details: Free. Register at www.bringingbackthenatives.net.

May 10-11

AAUW Garden Tour

(Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.

Who benefits: AAUW Funds supporting aspiring female scholars.

What you’ll see: Five superb gardens in Alamo and Danville.

Details: Tickets are $30 if purchased before April 30, or $35 at the door; $25/$30 for ages 65 and older. 925-743-1838, http://daw-ca.aauw.net.

May 11-12 Gilroy Impressions Home and Garden Tour

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12.

Who benefits: Youth programs of the Gilroy Assistance League.

What you’ll see: Four showcase homes in the South Valley with designer touches and extensive gardens or landscaping: a Mediterranean style residence, a Spanish Colonial Revival, a traditional home design and one that blends traditional and contemporary.

Extras: Boutique, appetizers, no-host wine at the tour’s conclusion.

Details: Tickets are $25 if purchased before May 8, or $30 at the door. Presale tickets will be held at check-in at 1975 Mantelli Drive, Gilroy. 408-706-6235; www.gilroyassistanceleague.org.

Vintage Home and Garden Tour

(Benicia)

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11.

Who benefits: Benicia Historical Society programs.

What you’ll see: Six vintage homes representing an array of architectural styles, and one charming garden, within walking distance of downtown Benicia.

Details: Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 the day of the tour available at Benicia Main Street, Bookshop Benicia, Camellia Team Room and Steve’s Hallmark. 707-315-6434, 707-746-6689; www.beniciahistoricalsociety.org.

May 18

Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

Who benefits: Five local nonprofit organizations: Day for Children, Coach Art, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Lafayette Library and Learning Center and We Care.

What you’ll see: Six unique Lafayette kitchens in homes ranging in style from farmhouse rustic to Mediterranean.

Extras: Kitchen tour program detailing special design elements and information on the architects, designers and contractors who created the kitchens.

Details: Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible), with a box lunch available for $12. Tickets can be purchased from Douglah Designs, and Premier Kitchens, Lafayette; www.lafayettejuniors.org.

May 18-19

Clayton Gardens Tour

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19.

Who benefits: Clayton Historical Museum.

What you’ll see: Six gardens representing various landscape styles: Creative pathways, secret gardens, outdoor rooms and kitchens, country-style chicken coup, compost areas and container vegetable gardens.

Details: Tickets are $25 in advance. Purchase online, at RM Pool, Patio and Gardens, or send checks, payable to Clayton Gardens Tour, to Clayton Gardens Tour, P.O. Box 94, Clayton, CA, 94517. Tickets sold day of tour, $30, must be purchased at the Clayton Museum. 925-672-0240, www.claytonhistory.org.

May 19

Berkeley Heritage Spring House Tour

When: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

Who benefits: Historical preservation in Berkeley.

What you’ll see: Ten spacious historic homes and their parklike gardens above the Claremont Hotel. The houses were constructed between 1909 and 1941, and are all survivors of the 1991 Oakland Hills fire.

Extras: Garden reception.

Details: Tickets are $40; $30 for BAHA members. 510-841-2242, http://berkeleyheritage.com.

Tips for spring gardening in winter weather

Leave a reply

By: Jenn Schanz
jschanz@klkntv.com

It’s almost may, but dismal winter weather has many shying away from grabbing their gardening gloves.

Andy Campbell of Campbell’s nursery urges reluctant gardeners to prep their gardens by trimming and mulching while we wait for spring to arrive.

“It’s a great time to prep for spring, get everything set,” he says. “Tilling up those gardens, compost and peat moss into those areas, plenty of perfect time to do that, and plenty of time to do it before…before spring really actually shows up on things.”

Campbell says planting cool season crops, pansies, trees or shrubs is a safe bet even in this weather. By mother’s day, the ground should be safe for all seeds, including perennials.

“I keep telling people that mother nature will arrive, she will bring spring to us, she just hasn’t done it quite yet,” he says.

If you’ve already put some grass seed down on your lawn, Campbell says be patient.

Until it gets warmer, that seed isn’t going to do much.  

 

Gardening and Living in Grand Style April gardening tips…

Leave a reply

Over the last couple of weeks, people have talked with me about the cool-season vegetables they have been planting, many of which can still be planted. This is especially true if those crops don’t take long to mature.

Cool- and warm-season plants

Should hot weather arrive too quickly, many cool-season crops that are planted too late won’t mature well. Also, there are always those people who “roll the dice” and plant warm-season crops such as tomatoes as soon as the air temperatures warm up. Hopefully, they covered all those warm-season plants last week when we experienced those freezing temperatures.

Generally, our last average temperature of 32 degrees Farenheit occurs around April 15, but that changes a day or two back and forth since it’s a 30-year average. As such, with warm-season vegetables, I rarely would consider planting them before the middle of April, and usually not for a week or two after since the soil temperatures are as important as the air temperatures for good growth. Warm-season plants are just that – they love the warm soil and air temperatures.

While I know people want to have that first ripe red tomato before their neighbors if you truly understand your plant’s needs as relates to soils and fertility, and you practice good watering habits, you can plant a tomato plant in the latter part of April through the very first of May, and often your plant’s growth, since you planted them at prime conditions, will catch up to those that were planted early. If you are someone who buys their plants from nurseries, I know the nurseries love those early planters since they will often be back buying new plants when those early plantings don’t survive.

Lawn care

This time of year I also always get questions about lawn grass – whether it’s putting in new grass or fertilizing. Now is a good time to fertilize, but as I have said before, always be careful with the amount of fertilizing you do for any plants. While many companies and salespeople will strongly suggest you use a specific system of fertilizing and/or say you need to fertilize often, it’s rarely truly necessary.

At most, for a spring fertilization use one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet this month or by early next month, then another one-pound application in September and another the last time you cut your grass in the fall. That is more than enough. You do need to determine what an actual pound of fertilizer is for the product you use. For example, one pound of actual nitrogen using a 21-0-0 fertilizer actually amounts to about five pounds of the product. Assuming you water correctly and your soil isn’t too compacted this fertilization schedule will result in good grass growth.

Also it’s important that we all understand that over-fertilizing is becoming a problem across our country. We want to be careful with our environment and resources.

All that being said, if your lawn is very old (say 15 to 20-plus years) your grass often won’t grow well by just fertilizing and watering. Or perhaps I should say without the overuse of resources, due to issues such as compaction. So if your lawn is older and nothing seems to work you really need to consider starting over by tilling or plowing and planting in the fall. Also be aware that rarely will just removing the old grass and laying sod improve the situation.

Thought for the day: “I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the garden.” —John Erskine

For more information about these topics, call the Utah State University Extension Grand County office at 259-7558, or email Mike Johnson at mike.johnson@usu.edu.

Five Tips for Weeding Your Garden

Leave a reply

Picking Weeks

Weeding a garden is more than just pulling weeds!

With the help of Columbus, Ohio area landscaping experts Jim and Mary fromOld World Garden Farms, we are bring you five tips for eliminating weeds in your garden. With consistent maintenance (only 10 minutes per day!) and some smarts, your garden can be weed free. You can enjoy higher produce yields and less back-stressing labor by following these tips for removing and preventing weeds in your garden.

1. Mulch, mulch, mulch: According to Jim and Mary from Old World Garden Farms, bare soil is an invitation for weeds to seed and take root. By covering the soil with mulch, you can prevent future weeds from growing. Jim and Mary use straw and shredded leaf mulch in their walking rows, and compost around the plants. Organic materials like straw and leaves are the best mulch for your vegetable garden. They decompose to enrich the soil with nitrogen. Be sure that you are getting straw and not hay. Hay contains grass seeds that can blow around and sprout all over your yard. Straw is just the hollow stems of wheat plants.

2. Aerate your soil by hoeing: Jim and Mary recommend that you hoe around the base of your plants once a week, to a depth of only three to five inches. If you loosen any weeds when hoeing, collect them in a bucket and let the sun cook them to death (if you have chickens, you can feed the weeds to the chickens, who love to eat them). Avoid over-hoeing your soil, as it can plant above-ground weeds into your soil. Tilling plants even more weeds than hoeing, so mulch and plant cover crops instead of tilling.

3. Spend 10 minutes a day weeding: Most home improvement experts will tell you that slow and steady wins the race. You won’t need to spend hours weeding on the weekends if you go out into the garden and weed for 10 minutes every day. Weeding every day prevents the roots of weeds from having time to grow big. When you are out in your garden, you can also weed as you go. It’s a good way to make the most of limited gardening time.

4. Keep walking-rows weed free: The weeds in those walking rows will transplant themselves into your garden beds, so it’s extra important to keep walking rows free of weeds. You can cover walking rows with black plastic, with stones or gravel, or with straw. Just make sure that your ten minutes of weeding time per day includes walking rows.

5. Plant cover crops: Jim and Mary say that planting cover crops in the fall prevents spring and summer weeds. Why? As I said, bare soil is an invitation for weeds to take root. Cover crops sharply reduce the amount of bare soil in your garden. They also form a buffer between the garden bed and any weed seeds that might fall on it. Cover crops do double duty as fertilizers for the garden, and also can act as an ecologically-friendly alternative to grass lawns.

What are your weeding secrets? Please share with the community in the comments.

Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.

View original post


jQuery(‘.nrelate_bty’).removeClass(‘nrelate_bty’);

Learn water-saving tips at June garden walk in Crete – The Times

Leave a reply

CRETE | The Crete Woman’s Club 23rd annual garden walk  “A Day in the Country” Water Wise Gardening to be held June 25, 26 and 27 will focus on water saving tips.

According to a recent issue of the University of Illinois Extension Gardener’s Corner, “As we approach spring not only is the deep soil moisture lacking, but any upper soil profile moisture available will be quickly used unless there is adequate rainfall.”

The article suggests that gardeners compost, select drought tolerant plants and water properly. It goes on to state that organic matter provided by composting or mulching holds water but the best advantage to plants is watering properly.

“Watering at the base of a plant or using drip hose rather than using a sprinkler prevents water loss into the air or off target areas. Allowing the water time to soak in deeply will encourage plants to send roots deeper into the soil, making them more drought-tolerant.”

Selecting native plants with deep roots is another U of I suggestion for conserving water.

These and many other water saving tips will be foremost in the Crete Woman’s garden walk  in June. Illinois master gardeners will be on hand with information on “Every Drop Counts.” For more information call (708) 672-4820 or visit cretewomansclub.org.