Landscape - Common Practices that Cost Us

Landscapes - Are We Making This Too Difficult?


God and Grass

I received this email a while back.  I do not know the author to give credit.  But I could not say it any better. (I've added the pictures.)

GOD:

Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago?

I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds.

 I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS:

It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD:

Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms.

Grubs

Billbug

 It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS:

Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD:

The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS:

Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD:

They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS:

Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD:

They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS:

No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD:

Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS:

Yes, Sir.

GOD:

These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS:

You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it,

 so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD:

What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.

 The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS:

You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD:

No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS:

After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD:

And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS:

They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD:

Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE:

'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....

GOD:

Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.*


I hope my story has humored us into rethinking how we garden.  Are we 'mimicing' nature?  Can we garden like nature?  You betcha!  Hope this gives us something to strive for - and take care of our environment. Thanks for stopping by.  Claudia

Weeds – Identify and Manage

Know the Enemy 

The weeds are numerous.  The weeds grow most everywhere.  The weeds are like unwelcome houseguests that don’t know they stayed too long!


Weeds find weaknesses in the landscape – poor soil is an open invitation. Poor soil is hungry for nutrients.  Weeds don’t care.  Poor soil is dry and rocky.  Weeds don’t care.  Poor soil is in need of vegetation.  Weeds don’t care if they have good neighbors. They are quite able to adapt to less than perfect conditions. 



Weeds are classified into three groups – annuals, perennials, and biennials.
Annual weeds include crabgrass and foxtail.  These grow from seed in the spring, mature, produce seed, and die at the first frost in autumn. 

Lawns and gardens that are in need of good management are just asking for these intruders.

 
Biennial weeds include Musk Thistle and Burdock. This is the rosette of year one.

Biennials need two years to mature.  The first year they grow these rosettes above and store energy.  The second year they use that energy and flower and produce seeds.  At frost, they die.

This is the flower of Musk thistle, and Burdock. 


Perennial weeds include many familiar varieties.  Dandelion, Bindweed and Canada thistle are just some of them.
 
Bindweed and thistle spread by horizontal roots and are difficult to control.  If the plant is pulled, some of the root may remain.  This root will continue to grow and will grow a plant from each end, thus doubling your weed problem.


Using an herbicide is the best remedy for control.  The organic option of horticultural vinegar (20%), Acetic acid, clove oil or soap based herbicides will all weaken the plant and eventually cause the plants death if used repeatedly before the plant forms seed heads.

Lawn weeds are classified as broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds.  Some of the broadleaf weeds include plantains, white clover, and dandelions.


Clover indicates poor nitrogen in the soil.  Fertilize the lawn with Nitrogen, (the first element of the N-P-K) on the fertilizer label.

Plantains thrive in over-watered areas with compacted soil.  Reduced watering and core-aeration will improve the conditions and reduce plantain.

Core aeration

A good management of lawns is always to fertilize, water deeply, and mow high.

Grassy weeds are particularly difficult.  Annual grasses like crabgrass and goosegrass  can be controlled by using preemergents.  By applying preemergents before seeds germinate in the spring, seeds will not take hold and stop the cycle for annual grasses. 
 

Nimblewill is a warm season grassy weed that I have.  The control is difficult because there are few specific herbicides for these type of grasses.  A non-selective herbicide will kill anything that the herbicide is used on.
 

Quack grass is a cool season grass and spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes. 

Again, spot treating with an organic herbicide is recommended.  When the grassy weeds die from the herbicide application, a bare spot will be apparent.  And unless these bare spots are planted with a desirable grass seed, weeds will eagerly jump in to fill in the spot. 
Chickweed
Chickweed is an annual weed that spreads quickly.  Hand pull or scrape away with a spade.  Aerate and fertilize lawns to discourage its growth.

Nutgrass

Nutgrass is not a grass per se, but a sedge.  Specific herbicides for nut sedge will control this weed in the lawn.  Horticultural molasses, an organic product, also has good results. 
Buckhorn plantain
As a perennial weed, plantain can easily be removed by loosening the soil down the tap root with a dandelion weeder or flat head screwdriver.

Carpetweed
The annual weed, Carpetweed  can be controlled with a pre-emergent.  Carpetweed is commonly found in newly seeded lawns or in thin turf. A broadleaf weed herbicide can be used as a post emergent. I would use the organic herbicide with a clove or soap base.

Purslane
Control Purslane by hand weeding.  Cover vacated area with mulch.

Prostrate spurge
Prostate spurge, also known as spotted spurge, likes hot, sunny, dry areas.  Since this weed has a tap root (one long root downward) hand pulling can be ineffectual. Preemergents in spring can reduce seeds from germinating.  Weak lawns allow this spurge to take hold.  Fertilize and water to maintain a healthy, full turf.

Horticultural vinegar works well on this weed too.
 
Weeds are going to appear in any landscape. Taking a less than panicked attitude to weeds may reduce our knee-jerk approach to grabbing the strong, chemical herbicides. Acceptance of a ‘few’ weeds will go a long way to reduce harmful chemicals in the landscape.

Mulch 2 – 3” thick on flower beds will keep light from weed seeds, and reduce the number of seeds that germinate. Mulches can be pine, cedar, hardwood chips, grass clippings, leaves or straw. Even thick layers of newspaper can serve as a mulch. 
 

Weeds in the lawn may be more difficult to control, but a good maintenance program will limit their infestation. Mow grass high, don’t scalp the blades and don’t remove more than 1/3 of the blade at any cutting.  The high turf will shade weed seeds and keep soil moist.  Regular organic fertilizer applications can keep the lawn thick and healthy.

  
 
May the road rise up to greet you, and the weeds stay far away.  Enjoy your lawn and garden, relax……and have a great day!