Organic Lawns Start with the Right Seed

Nature has a way of giving us help as we try to reduce use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides in the home landscape.  All we have to do is pay attention.  The past two seasons my hubby and I have made a point to seed in several areas for additional lawn.

As we shopped for seed, we came across a term that was new to me, Endophyte-enhanced turf grass. This is what I'm talking about.

Endophytes are a  fungi that naturally infect the blades of grass.  Not a harmful fungi, a beneficial fungi that makes the grass resistant to insects and diseases. Studies have shown that  Endophyte infected grasses are less likely to be damaged by insects such as billbugs, cinchbugs, and sod webworms.  The chemical that lives withing the plant does not harm the grass plant, but the insects don't fair as well.  Some bugs are repelled by the plant, where other bugs eat the blades and are poisoned.  The natural compound in the plant works on surface feeding insect. 

Billbug

Cut worm

Sod web worm

Endophyte-enhanced grass also has been shown to resist stresses of heat and drought, and recovers better in the fall.

Excessive usage of Water on Lawns

 Endophyte-enhanced seed blends have also shown resistance to diseases like dollar spot, and red thread. 

Dollar Spot

Red Thread

Why does this fungi seem so important?  In our efforts to reduce chemicals in the landscape, Endophyte-enhanced grass is environmentally friendly and are not genetically modified (GMO).  The time saved and money spent on chemical treatments is a great eco-friendly choice in the landscape.

The seed producers have gone to great lengths to show the benefits in their products.  Many Fescue, Ryegrass, and Bluegrass blends are available.  Local seed formulated in your area are probably best to deal with insects, diseases, and the climate. Landscapes that are sunny, shady, dry, or high traffic areas have specific blends. Local garden centers that sell seed can usually advise you on what seed will meed your requirements. A list of grass varieties can be accessed at The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program at www.ntep.org/.



Endophyte-enhanced grasses are not to be used in pastures where grazing animals feed.  Cattle and horses get very sick and have died eating Endophyte-enhanced pastures.  But what if you have a cat or dog that munches on grass occasionally.  An Assistant Professor from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine, Sandra Yi, states that there is no danger for our domestic pets. There has never been a toxic reaction that has been reported for these animals.

 Over seeding the lawn with these Endophyte-enhanced seed can go a long way to get your grass more organic.  I wrote a post earlier this week about dormant seeding the lawn during winter. So, getting more and more Endophyte-enriched seed integrated into the lawn will reduce the need for pesticides, minimal fertilizers, and water.

Over seeding in the fall will also benefit the lawn.  Just make sure that the seed is Endophyte-enhanced, makes contact with the soil, and is kept moist until it germinates. Annual over seeding will enhance weak, thin grass, and will fill in bare spots.

Garden Journal–Take Note

Gardening and farming are dependent on insects to pollinate plants.  Plants need moisture.  And sunlight affects the plants growth. This symbiotic relationship between plants, nature, and pollinators is critical to the ecosystems that exist. But, according to the BBC news, “the past 100 years or so, many plants that have just used day-length have become locally extinct. Yet plants that have used temperature to control when they flower have increased their range considerably and now seem much more common.  That makes a lot of sense because those plants will be able to out-compete other species in a climate change scenario”

So, with climate change, no matter how subtle, observations in the garden are more important than ever.  Phenology, the study of recurring biological phenomena and their relationship to the weather.  If day length is a trigger for a plant to bloom, or if temperature is the trigger, these distinctions may help us plant more on the plant’s schedule than by the calendar. 

I am going to keep a Journal.  Garden journals document when a bug first appeared or when the fruit tree blossoms erupted.  The date, temperature, and rain accumulations for the year will be noted. 

 
Keeping track of the garden will be easy with pictures, and notes.  Plant tags for new plantings, and dates that fertilizers were added will be documented.


Before and after photos will remind me of past projects, and the continued care for that area.  Is it sunny, shady, wet, dry, and what changes have occurred in this area.
One method I have for keeping track of my garden is this plot map.  This has my property dimensions, and by using tracing paper, I can draw garden beds in.

I then indicated on the site map , dots and circles to indicated plants and shrubs, and trees.  Fences that border some of these areas is also marked.

As I have been a blogger for several years now, I noticed in my writing that on ‘such a date’, I mentioned Japanese Beetles. And I commented that this date was pretty early in the season.  Well, imagine my surprise, when the previous year’s blog was referenced, the Japanese Beetles were actually mentioned almost 2 weeks earlier.  So my observations from here on, need to be accurate. The Journal is going to be my date by date observations.  Temperature by highs and lows for the day, and daylight amounts with sunrise and sunset will be recorded.   
My erroneous reporting , while an embarrassment, is not the incentive to keeping a journal.  Noting insects dates will help prepare for an early intervention.  For example,  Japanese beetles send in a few guys to set up occupancy of the garden.  By knowing the date they arrived last year, I can be on the lookout, pick off the few, and the ‘pheromones’ will not be luring in the rest of the ‘clan’.


The same observations of powdery mildew can give a heads-up to applying a preventative spray. 

Insects emerge when certain plants bloom.  This relationship can greatly assist the gardener and farmer to be aware of the cycles, and take appropriate actions. The plants and insects emerge in the same order each year, and is not connected to the weather that occurred in the winter or spring.  So the blooms of plants can accurately predict the insects that will be on the scene.  Imagine if the plant, say a fruit tree bloomed, but the bees and other pollinators were not around?  Nature takes these relationships very seriously, and isn't it wonderful she does?

Likewise, insects use these patterns to mate and bear young based on what the young will need to eat to survive.  


My journaling is already behind a bit, since many bulbs have already broken ground, and I did not note the date.  But I will move ahead, and get my camera ready to capture events as they unfold in my garden.

A feature I am looking forward to is planning outdoor events in the garden.  By checking the dates of what was blooming last year, I can select a party date that will give more to the party decorations and I'll be able to show off the garden at optimal times throughout the season.

Do you keep a Garden Journal?  What information do you keep?  

Feed The Birds

Simple Suet Recipe

The temperatures are dropping to lows that we have not seen in years.  The ponds, puddles, and slow moving creeks will be frozen for many days.  So I replenished the feeders and the heated birdbath in anticipation of the severe temperatures. 




This may look like peanut butter fudge. The is a homemade suet I made for my bird visitors. 
The recipe is simple, use whatever is here.  By melting shortening in the microwave to a liquid, the other ingredients just stir in.


The one cup of shortening is heated in the microwave until liquid, then a cup of peanut butter is stirred into the liquid shortening.  Then the fun begins! 

Some very stale bread and a few biscuits were put into the food processor and made into bread crumbs.  Since I needed three cups of crumbs, I added some store bought crumbs to fill up to the three cups.   

I then added about 1/2 cup of oats, and a half cup of bird seed.  The left over stale trail mix was also put into the food processor for a course chop.  the nuts, raisins,  and cranberries should be attractive to the birds
.







As I was spreading this thick dough into a 8 x 8 pan, I saw hubbies left over popcorn from the night before.  So in went the unpopped  kernels as well.


After letting this mixture cool for about an hour, I divided this batch of suet into four, each portion just fits the feeder.  I love it when a plan comes together. 


The window above is my kitchen, and I spend some enjoyable moments watching the birds.  A large red-headed woodpecker was chowing down on the suet, so I’m pleased.  The camera didn't pick up well through the screen on the window, so I’ll try again later. 
Bringing birds to the landscape in winter is rewarding.  They seem to have a hierarchy among them. Some seem to want the feeder alone, while others crowd in and the more the merrier.  I am seeing juncos, cardinals, red and yellow finches, jays, mourning doves, and a smaller downy woodpecker , as well as the sparrows, wrens, and nuthatches.
 
The long term benefit of having birds in the winter is that they tend to stick around in the spring and summer.  Nesting in near-by shrubbery, the birds will help control the insect population in the garden as they seek food for their young. 
What feeding stations do you have in your yard?  Please share with us, and above all, enjoy your day.  

Companion Plants – Good Neighbors

Benefits of Pairing Plants 

Plants have unique growing habits – yet, many plants favor the same growing conditions. This characteristic is the basis for choosing companion plants.  Do the plants look good together?  Do they have the same growing requirements? Do they harm the health of its neighbors in the garden?  How can companion plants benefit its neighbors?
   Textures, forms, and colors are values we place on plant combinations when we layout our gardens.  Feathery leaves  of astilbe next to broad leaves of Hosta is a favorite of mine for a shady garden. 
Both appreciate moist soil and diffused light.  Another feathery leaved plant is cat mint.  It’s gray-blue color pairs well with pale pink roses.  

Herbs make great companion plants for roses, too.  Aromatic herbs such as  feverfew, scented geraniums or thyme may ward off pesky insects like the Japanese beetle or aphids.  The use of other plants to discourage pest is an alternative to chemical pesticides.    Many plants have this attribute, and are considered ‘ Insectary plants’. I have always seen family vegetable gardens surrounded by marigolds.  The African Marigold and the Mexican Marigold are reliable Insectary plants. Insectary plants provide nectar and pollen, food sources, and mating sites for beneficial insects.
  Sweet alyssum is another favorite of mine.  I find its aroma is always inviting to me and lots of beneficial insects, like the hoverfly.
Planting two or more plants together can derive some benefits.You can choose to focus on controlling pests, attracting beneficial insects, or increasing yields. 
Increasing yield in the vegetable garden may simply be to deter the ever-hungry rabbits.  Lavender and cat mint tend to have that affect. Good ‘ Insectary plants’ can be fast growing annuals, like the marigolds or cilantro, to hardy perennials like the cat mint, thyme, or Monarda – bee balm.
 
Companion plants can help their neighbors by providing shelter.  Tall sunflowers can shade the beans and peppers at it’s feet and ,at the same time, bring in bees and other pollinators. 
These cucumbers are going to provide shade from the hot afternoon sun on this lettuce.  Another good companion!
Aromatic plants that do not have a sweet smell can confuse incoming insects.  Some of these are: mints, scented geraniums, Artemisia, onions and rosemary. 
Another plant that has anti-insect attracting properties is the chrysanthemum. The pyrethrums are a natural repellent element of this family of plants and is commercially used in many insect repellents.  Mums are thought to repel, leaf hoppers, spider mites, ticks, and cabbage worms.
There are several good plant lists that will detail companion plants for you in more detail.  Gardens Ablaze is one I found to be informative.  
As the planting time gets closer, and seeds are being purchased, keep in mind the good neighbors you wish to help you have a great garden.
What companions do you have ?