morning journal - spring lawn & garden 2012

2 • MORNING JOURNAL SPRING LAWN & GARDEN 2012 • THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

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(NewsUSA) - Whether you're considering the resale value of your home or are sim-ply resigned to doing maintenance projects to keep your house in good condition, yourlawn and garden could certainly benefit from some TLC of the home- and lawn-improve-ment variety this spring.

The exterior of your house commands most first impressions, and even mild wintersinflict seasonal damage. If you don't know where to start, a home-improvement projectchecklist may help. Consider the following lawn- and garden-maintenance tips fromhome and garden experts at HGTV and MarthaStewart.com:

* Remove piles of dead leaves from the lawn. Not only will your grass grow greener, aclean lawn helps maximize fertilizers and pesticides. Don't make the mistake of fertiliz-ing your grass too early though. April is the general benchmark; any sooner might resultin yellow spots and dried-out patches of grass.

* Check gutters for leaks and debris. Loose gutters cause improper drainage, sowater can collect in basements and crawl spaces. Downspouts should point away fromthe foundation of the house and must be clear of all debris.

* Start a roof fund. It's a good rule of thumb to check your roof for rotted, buckled,loose or missing shingles after winter because summer sun will only worsen the dam-age. Since roof maintenance is so expensive, it's also smart to start a fund before youneed it.

* Remove piles of wood or debris stacked near the home. Firewood should be keptfar away from the foundation, and stacked 18 inches off the ground. These preventativemeasures help keep insect pests from exploring your home.

* Don't strain yourself, and stay hydrated. This might be the first time you've doneany heavy lifting or spent hours in the sun for months. Remember to drink plenty of flu-ids, take breaks and stretch your muscles. If you suffer from backaches and musclestrains, keep some relief like Absorbine Jr. on hand. Its herbal ingredients and uncannyability to ease muscle and back pain make it a must-have for yard work.

* Call a professional to clean your AC unit. Heating and cooling experts recommendan annual servicing since clean coils work more efficiently. When the summer's blazingheat drives you indoors, your family will appreciate having an AC operating at peak lev-els.

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MORNING JOURNAL SPRING LAWN & GARDEN 2012 • THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 • 3

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• Those darn rose thorns: Sometimes gloves don't do the trick when trying to pre-vent being poked by rose thorns. Try using a spring-action clothespin to hold the rosestem. Simply grasp the rose stem with the clothespin and make the cut at the desiredlength.

• Bananas in the Garden? Yes! Banana peels around roses add potassium to thesoil, and roses love potassium! Place a few peels just under the soil around your roses;they will eventually break-down.

• When should my bulbs be planted? As a general rule, spring flowering bulbs (daf-fodils and tulips) should be planted in fall and late Summer / Fall flowering bulbs (Lia-tris) should be planted in the Spring. Planting times will vary, depending on your cli-mate zone, but remember that the earlier bulbs are planted in their required timeframe, the better off they will be.

• Does a bigger bulb mean a better flower? While a bigger bulb will most likely pro-duce a bigger flower, it does not necessarily mean a better flower. The bulb of a smallerspecies will produce a smaller plant, but the quality may be equal, if not better than abulb of a larger species.

• Should I pant tulips in sun or shade? Tulips will do well in either sun or shade.What does deadheading mean? Deadheading is the act of removing spent and fad-

ing flowers. Removing the spent flower encourages new flower buds and prevents theplant from spending energy on developing seeds.

Tips for flower gardening

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(Family Features) Think ahead with a good yard-care routine this year so you’ll havea backyard oasis through the year for entertaining or simply relaxing and enjoying thehazy, lazy days of summer with family and friends. There’s simply nothing that com-pares to running barefoot through the lush green grass, here are some tips to get start-ed:

1) Begin with a good spring clean up, which includes raking leaves and removingdebris, tree guards and burlap. Just be careful not to remove mulch from perennials orshrubs too early, or to rake your flower garden too vigorously. Doing so could damagethe soil, tendering new bulbs and emerging plants.

2) Clean, repair, sharpen, lubricate and tune all of your garden tools, mowers andtrimmers, so they are ready to go when you are.

3) Testing your soil is the starting point of any lawn fertilization program. Considertesting your soil each time you plant new seed. State Extension services and private labsoffer kits that let you mail in soil samples for analysis. The reports will give you an accu-rate reading of what your lawn needs and how much of it should be applied. While testsdon’t have to be done every year, they are a good idea every three or four years.

4) Control crabgrass, dandelions and clover, three of the most common weeds you’relikely to see trying to take hold in your lawn. Crabgrass is best tackled before it emergesfrom the ground and begins to grow leaves. Conversely, members of the broadleaf weedfamily - like dandelions, clover, plantain, chickweed, and spurge - require a treatmentthat comes into direct contact with the plant’s leaves, so they must be dealt with, oncethey’ve made their appearance known.

Be sure to choose a product that is best suited for your region, especially if living inthe south.

For a simple spring lawn care routine, try GreenView with GreenSmart CrabgrassControl plus Lawn Food, and Broadleaf Weed Control plus Lawn Food in a zero-phos-phate formulation. In addition to handling tough weeds, they also fertilize in one easyapplication. The broadleaf control kills over 250 of the toughest weeds, as listed on thepackage label.

Look for lawn fertilizers with a slow-release nitrogen ingredient for strong roots andlong lasting results. Once you get it on the lawn - you’ll be done for the season becausethe slow-release nitrogen provides your lawn with controlled, steady nutrition - resultingin thicker, healthier grass. That means no excess growth, and less mowing.

5) Set your mowing height at 2 1/2 to 3 inches and mow at the same height all grow-ing season. Try not to remove more than 3/4 inch of grass at any single mowing. When-ever possible, mow during the cooler morning or evening hours to avoid damage to theturf.

For additional lawn care tips and more information about the complete GreenViewwith GreenSmart product line, visit www.greenviewfertilizer.com or call 1-800-233-1067.

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The sooner plants are planted, the more time they haveto become established in the garden. Plants purchased incontainers may be left in their containers for a few days,however, to avoid the plant drying out, they should beplanted as soon as possible.

Bare root plants should be planted according to theinstructions provided by the nursery.

Spring is the best time to plant perennials as they willhave plenty of time to get well established prior to the sum-mer heat. Spring is also a good time to transplant and/ordivide perennials.

Perennials may also be planted during the summer,however, the plants are more susceptible to drying out. Ifplanted in the summer, it is important to water daily for atleast one week.

Fall is also a good time to plant perennials as the heat ofsummer has passed and the plants will still have time tobecome established prior to the harshness of winter. Fol-lowing are a few planting tips:

• Over-raking the soil will create very "thin" soil that

will turn to mud when it rains. When the soil dries, a hardcrust will form and plants may not be able to penetrate thecrust.

• Remove all weeds from the garden area.

• Plant when the soil, not just the air, is warm.

• To make the soil more workable, lightly water the gar-den area. This should be done approximately one hour pri-or to planting. Avoid over-watering the area.

• To avoid stressing the plants, planting is best doneduring a light rain, after a rain, in late afternoon, or on acloudy day.

• Mulching around the plants will keep weeds to a mini-mum, help retain moisture, and keep roots cool.

• Make certain the garden area drains well as the plantroots may rot or become disease or insect ridden.

• Set plants in the ground at the same depth as theywere in the container.

Tips for planting this year


Maximize spring cleaning, minimize the mess

(Family Features) It can be a challenge to keep the houseclean, especially for busy families. When the kids are home fromschool, it means more dirt, mud and sand get tracked in,whether it’s from sports practice or backyard fun.

Pets add to the mess, too. In fact, a recent study conductedby the NPD Group revealed more than half of pet owners (51percent) reported that managing and cleaning up pet hair istheir number one cleaning chore.

Pierra Jolly, founder and editor of JollyMom.com, a websitedevoted to her daily trials and tribulations of raising a three yearold and Labrador retriever in Atlanta, can relate. “Certain timesof the year I typically double my cleaning efforts, making surethat everything is under control just in case we are babysitting,dog sitting or hosting an unexpected cookout or sleepover,” saysJolly. “Unless I stick to my established cleaning schedule, I fallbehind.”

Keep your sanity with these Jolly Mom tips for minimizingmesses.

* Clean One Room a Day to Keeps Messes Away - Develop acleaning schedule where each day is devoted to one room inyour home (for example, kitchen on Tuesday, bedrooms onWednesday). Save the rooms that are considered high-trafficareas for later in the week in case of unexpected company.

* Avoid Pet Hair Emergencies - The guests are about toarrive and suddenly you realize that your pet has picked an in-

opportune time to hop on the couch. Tidy up with the Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet. Made with pet lovers in mind, it comeswith an Air-Powered Pet Hair Hand Tool. Rubber blades collecthair and powerful suction carries it away. A rinsable filter andhigh-quality HEPA filter helps absorb odors from your furryfriends, all for less than $100. Additionally, consider groomingmore frequently to help control shedding.

* Start at the Top - When you are cleaning a room, start atthe ceiling with the corners and light fixtures, and work yourway to the floor. Finish by vacuuming to pick up all the dust anddirt from your efforts.

* Leave the mess outside - Make sure the dirt from the out-doors stays where it came from. Avoid tracking in grass, mudand sand by establishing a mud room, a place for the kids tostore toys, shoes, towels and sports equipment.

* Let the Air In - After giving the carpets a deep cleaning,open the windows. Fresh air will speed up the process of dryingcarpets, allowing your family to enjoy the cleaned rooms withoutspoiling the hard work. Plus, instead of investing in an expensivecarpet cleaning service, try the Hoover MaxExtract77. Not onlydoes it work wonders on dirty carpets, it pulls up a lot of dirtywater so your floors dry fast and you’ll be back to living on thosedeep-cleaned floors quickly.

For more information, cleaning tips and discounts on Hooverproducts, visit: www.Hoover.com.


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(NAPS)—If your lawn mower is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider areplacement. In the past decade, engineering ad vances have produced gas-poweredlawn mowers that run cleaner, start easier and are more fuel efficient than ever before,while providing a variety of options that make yard care easier.

Gas-powered mowers remain the No. 1 choice among homeowners, accounting forfour out of every five mowers sold in the United States, according to The StevensonCompany, a leading consumer research organization. Lawn care experts say they aren’tsurprised because gas mowers give consumers so many choices when it comes to pow-er, price and options—something they don’t get with electric and battery-powered mow-ers, which are mainly an option for homeowners with small yards.

“Gas mowers provide a range of power to reliably mow any size yard and even tall,thick grass,” explains Rick Zeckmeister, a vice president at Briggs & Stratton Corpora-tion, which engineers and manufactures gas engines for outdoor power equipment.

Today’s gas-powered lawn mowers, he points out, are also in tune with today’s envi-ronmentally conscious lifestyles. Since 1995, Briggs & Stratton has reduced carbonemissions produced by its gas engines by 75 percent. According to EPA statistics, allgas-powered outdoor power equipment combined accounts for less than half a percentof all carbon emissions in the U.S. (Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the U.S. Trans-portation Sector 1990–2003,

Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA 420 R06 003, March 2006). Based onEPA statistics, if a family replaced a single 75-watt incandescent lightbulb with an equiva-

lent compact fluorescent bulb in their home, it would more than offset the carbon emis-sions from using a gas walk-behind mower for an entire mowing season.

“Gas mowers have improved dramatically over the years in every way,” says Zeck-meister. “It would be like comparing a television from the 1990s to a new flat- screenLCD TV you would buy today.”

Other innovations and benefits of the newest gas mowers include:• Easy starting, with a single pull of the starter rope or the push of a button, like in

the newest cars;• Improved fuel efficiency and advanced muffler systems that produce a more pleas-

ant sound quality and less vibration; • Ample engine power to mulch grass clippings while mowing, turning them into a

natural fertilizer for the lawn;• A variety of options to make mowing easier, from mowers that automatically adjust

to the walking pace of the person mowing to digital dashboards that show the time, fuellevel, maintenance reminders and other information.

Briggs & Stratton provides an online tutorial on how to select a lawn mower atwww.yardsmarts.com.

For information on en vironmental and product per formance considerations whenchoosing a new lawn mower, visit www.briggsandstratton.com.

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FAMILY FEATURES

Home fires may seem like the kindof event that happens to someoneelse, but the reality is, it could

easily happen to you. Approximately every three hours a home

fire death occurs somewhere in the nation,according to the International Associationof Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Take action now tomake sure your home is safer, and thatyour family knows what to do in case a firedoes break out. And don’t stop there —share some positivity in your communityby reminding family and friends to changethe batteries in their smoke alarms whenthey change their clocks this fall.

Make a PlanWhen a home fire occurs, you have verylittle time to get out. Having an escape plan that every-one is familiar with is a critical part of sav-ing lives. Yet only 23 percent of U.S. fami-lies have developed and practiced a homefire escape plan to ensure they could escapequickly and safely.

� Draw a floor plan of your home and findtwo ways out of every room. Sketch the exit routesclearly on the floor plan.

� If an upstairs window is one of theescape options, make sure you have a fire escape ladderlong enough to reachthe ground. Make sureevery adult knowshow to use it. Adultsshould be responsiblefor helping youngerchildren.

� Assign an outsidemeeting place, so that if the familyescapes from differentroutes, you can quick-ly locate each other.

Room byRoom

BedroomsThe peak time for homefire fatalities is between10 p.m. and 6 a.m.,when most families areasleep.

� Do not trap electrical

cords against walls. Heat can build up,posing a fire hazard.

� Use only lab-approved electricblankets and warmers. Makesure cords are not worn or com-ing apart. Do not leave electricblankets switched on all night unless they aremarked “suitable for all nightuse.”

� Keep bedding, curtains andother combust ible items at leastthree feet away from space heaters.

� Never smoke in bed.

� Replace mattresses made beforethe 2007 Federal MattressFlammability Standard. By law,mattresses made since then arerequired to be safer.

� Have a working smoke alarm inevery bedroom and outsideeach sleeping area.

Living Room � Do not overload electrical out-lets.

� Never run electrical cordsunder carpets.

� Check all electrical cords forfraying or other signs of dam-age.

� Only light decorative candleswhen adults are in the room.Use stable candle holders thatwill not catch fire. Blow can-dles out when you leave.

� During a power failure, do notuse candles or oil lamps for light. Keep bat-tery operated flashlights andlanterns in easily accessibleplaces. Candles used for light inthe absence of electrical powercause one-third of fatal homecandle fires.

� Make sure you have a workingsmoke alarm in each room,including the living room.

KitchenCooking equipment is the leadingcause of reported home fires andhome fire injuries in the UnitedStates, according to the U.S. FireAdministration.

� Never use extension cords toplug in cooking appliances.They can overload the circuitand start a fire.

� Stay in the kitchen when youare frying, grilling, or broilingfood. If you leave the kitchenfor even a short period of time,turn off the stove.

� Keep anything that can catch

fire away from the cooktop. This includespotholders, oven mitts, woodenutensils, paper or plastic bags,food packaging, towels and cur-tains.

� Keep the cooktop, burners and ovenclean.

� Loose clothing can dangle onto stoveburners and catch fire. Wear short, close-fittingclothing or tightly rolled sleeves whencooking.

Garage � Store all combustible materials awayfrom regular sources of heat, such aswater heaters, space heaters, boilers andfurnaces.

� Keep wood finishes, spray paint, paintthinners and other flammable products ina dedicated storage container with aclosed door.

� Store all combustible materials in theirproper containers and be sure they areclearly marked.

� Keeping the garage tidy can also helpkeep it safe. Get rid of stacked boxes,newspapers, recycling and trash. Theycan be instant fuel for a fire.

For more tips, visit www.Energizer.com.

Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery®

2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the Change Your ClockChange Your Battery® program, created by Energizer and theInternational Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). This programreminds people to check and change the batteries in theirsmoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors during the falltime change. Installing smoke alarms on every level of the home can give

your family precious minutes to get out and get to safety.

� Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what todo when they hear one.

� Once a month, check whether each alarm in the home isworking properly by pushing the test button.

� Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year.Immediately install a new battery if an alarm chirps, warn-ing the battery is low.

� Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Neverdisable smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.

� Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smokealarms. Know the difference between the sound of smokealarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

Make your home safe from fire, room-by-room


Illustration courtesy of Getty Images


(NewsUSA) - While you're trying to find every available reason to be outside thisspring, termites are doing the exact opposite -- trying to worm their way indoors anddevour your walls and floors. And they certainly aren't feasting for free.

"Termites have an insatiable appetite for cellulose found in wood, eating 24-hours aday, seven days a week. They cause serious and costly damage and can compromise thestructural stability of a home," said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs forthe National Pest Management Association (NPMA). "NPMA advises homeowners tohave their homes inspected annually, especially if they've noticed swarmers."

Swarmers are winged termites that arrive in early spring, eagerly looking to set up anew colony. Although they appear similar to flying ants, it's important that homeownersdo not mistake the two species, since termite infestations that are left untreated canquickly damage the structural integrity homes. To make matters worse, damagescaused by wood-destroying insects, such as termites, are typically not covered by home-owners' insurance policies -- leaving you to foot the bill.

The "silent destroyers" and their saw-toothed jaws can significantly reduce the long-term property value and financial investment of a house. The NPMA estimates that ter-mites cause at least $5 billion in property losses each year in the U.S.

Termite season usually begins in early March and lasts through June. The NPMArecommends these tips to prevent termite infestations:

* Inspect the perimeter of a home for rotting wood, mud tubes or a visible termitepresence. Pay particular attention to doors and windowsills, looking for shed wings.

* Avoid water accumulation near a home's foundation by diverting water away withdownspouts and gutters.

* Never bury wood scraps in the yard. If your home is newly built, remove anyremaining grade stakes or tree stumps on your property.

* Maintain a one-inch gap between soil and wood portions of a building.

* Keep mulch at least 15 inches from the foundation.

* Do not stack firewood or lumber near home, and inspect it carefully before bringingindoors.

* If you suspect you have an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional. Termitescannot be controlled on your own. Learn more about choosing a qualified pest profes-sional at www.pestworld.org.

Tips to halt springtermite infestations

• I have a ton of earthworms in my garden, is this good or bad? Earthworms arevery beneficial to the garden. They aerate the soil as well as feed on decaying matter inthe soil. Keep in mind that chemicals are toxic to earthworms, so use them sparingly.

• Protect your tender young plants from cutworms with a collar: Cutworms look likehairless caterpillars that take a bite or two from the stem of young plants - usually rightnear ground level. The damage will look like the stem was actually bitten. The plant maybe fortunate enough to survive the attack if it is able to develop new growth from theroot, however, many plants may die due to the cutworm nibbles.

To make a collar, try using a washed-out yogurt container with the bottom cut off.Place the container over your young plant and press into the soil about one inch. Thereshould be two inches of the container above the soil. Doing this will prevent cutwormsfrom climbing over or sneaking under the collar to bite the plant's stem.

• Mosquito plant vs. those pesky mosquitoes: The mosquito plant, also known as thecitronella plant, is not all it's cracked-up to be. Simply having one will not repel mosqui-toes. The mosquito plant is a scented geranium and is a relative of the common gardengeranium. This plant contains citronella oil, which is only released when the leaves arecrushed. The oil is the ingredient necessary for repelling mosquitoes. I like to break afew leaves off the plant and rub them onto my skin. Beats using those nasty chemicalsprays!

• Mothballs to the Rescue! To ward off rabbits and rodents, try using mothballs.

Place them around the plants that they like to nibble on - you will soon notice less nib-bling.

• Coffee Grounds to repel some insects: Some people like to use used coffeegrounds to deter insects and some animals. Sprinkled around plants, the insects and ani-mals do not like the smell.

• Got Cabbage Worms? Put a few handfulls of plain white flour in a paper sack, prickseveral small holes in the bottom of the sack, and sprinkle the flour over your cabbageplants. The worms ingest the flour and nothing else.


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1) Although many seasoned gardeners suggestdrawing a detailed plan of your desired garden (shapeand plants to be planted), we feel this is not necessaryuntil you have selected your garden location and learnedmore about plants that may do well in this location. A gar-den plan will be necessary later on (step 5).

To begin, select a spot in the yard for your garden.This can be along a wall or fence, around a tree (or groupof trees), or in the middle of the yard. Use a garden hoseto make the outline of the garden. This will allow you todetermine the actual size and shape of your new garden.Keep in mind: plants growing near a tree will compete forwater with the tree, therefore, plants suited for dry areasare perfect for around trees.

2) The area selected for your garden dictates theamount of light and/or shade. Before digging-up the dirtand/or weeds, determine the amount of sunlight theselected garden spot will receive verses the type of gar-den you want...Do you want a full sun garden? A shadegarden? Will your selected location receive sun all day?About 6 hours of morning sun? About 4 hours of after-noon sun?... Many plants require a certain amount of sunin order to grow well.

If there are specific plants you strongly want in yournew garden, do a little research regarding its lightrequirements before settling on a garden location. Keepin mind: the sun is positioned higher in the sky during thesummer than in the fall, winter, and spring. Leaves ontrees will create shade that may not be present during the

winter and spring months. A garden can have differentamounts of sunlight. For example, if your new garden isalong a wall on the east side of a building, the plants clos-est to the wall will be shaded by the building before thoseplants farther away from the building.

3) Your new garden spot can now be “worked”.Basically, this means you can now remove the grassand/or weeds, add soil amendments, and begin planting.This step covers the removal of grass and weeds. Toremove grass and weeds, the best bet is to actually dig-upthe grass and weeds with a shovel or spade - following thehose layout (step 1). You may roto-till the garden areawithout removing the grass and weeds, but chances aregreat they will come back.

An alternative to digging-up the grass and weeds is touse an herbicide (such as Round-Up) and spray the grassand weeds, following the package directions. Once thegrass and weeds show obvious signs of death, you canroto-till the garden area. Keep in mind: if starting a gar-den near or around trees, tree roots may interfere withthe tiller’s tines. A shovel may be inevitable.

4) Once the garden area is clean of grass, weedsand debris, you need to amend the soil. Many plants aresensitive to the wrong type of soil (acid or alkaline levelsmay be too high or low or the soil lacks nutrients). Youmay simply add compost, aged manure, peat, or sand toyour soil to give it fresh nutrients as well as proper consis-tency (all of which may be purchased at your local gardencenter). If you can visibly see that your soil has a high

concentration of clay, you will need to add sand, peat andcompost which will give substance to your soil. If your soilis visibly sandy, you will need to add compost to give yoursoil bulk and valuable nutrients. Amending your soil willalso neutralize the acid level - making it suitable for a larg-er range of flowers.

To add these items to your soil, empty the bags direct-ly on top of the existing soil, spread it around, and roto-tillit in. If you do not have a roto-tiller, use a shovel to "digand flip" it into the existing soil (insert the shovel into theground, pull out a shovel-full of dirt, flip the shovel overdumping the dirt on top of the compost and repeat thesesteps throughout the garden area.)

5) Determine the plants you want to plant. To assistin the selection of plants, click here to view our plantlibrary. Remember to consider the height, flower colorand light requirements of each plant. When purchasingplants, there should be a tag or label that describes theplant as well as its preferences to light.

It is a good idea to draw your garden on a sheet ofpaper before planting and decide the location of eachplant within the garden. A few points to consider: Tallerplants block the view of shorter plants, so plan your gar-den accordingly (taller plants to the back of the garden ifyour garden is along a wall or fence, or in the center ofthe garden if planting a circular or oval garden).

Bright colored plants (orange and yellow shades offlowers) tend to make a garden look hot in a full sun gar-

Growing a better garden

den. They do, however, brighten up shady gardens. Darkcolored plants (red and blue shades of flowers) tend tomake a garden look cool in a full sun garden. In a shadegarden, dark colored flowers may appear to be lost in theshade.

6) Watering is very important ! The tags and labelsthat came with the plant upon purchase will indicate thewater requirements of each plant. It is a good idea to plantthose plants with similar water requirements together.There can be a few water requirement groups of plants

within one garden (for example, several different plantsthat require little water in one area of the garden and sev-eral different plants that require more water in other areaof the garden). As a general rule, your plants should bewatered every day for the first week, about every twodays for the second week, and at least once a week there-after. This will enable your plants to establish strongroots.

7) Mulching your gar-den will prove very benefi-

cial in conserving water for the plants as well as control-ling weeds. For more information on mulching, clickhere.


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It appears that gardening is now going through some rather significant changes. Asthe "baby boomers" like myself get older, we are less inclined towards heavy outdooractivities on a regular basis. Coincidentally many of our home gardens and landscapesare pretty much completed as desired and we are doing mostly minor improvementsand upkeep.

The increasing cost of land has resulted in most average new home sites being small-er than was the case during the heyday of suburban development. The exception arethose few homes at the very high end of the housing market which have landscapesrunning into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The current economic situation notwithstanding, has also curtailed the size and scope of home gardens and landscapes.This translates into generally less space which in turn reduces the quantity (and variety)of trees, shrubs etc., that one might have used in the past. However that does not meanthat we also must lessen the quality of what we employ in developing our home land-scapes. The opposite is actually true. Smaller spaces are often easier to develop as thescope of the project can be more precisely defined to fit the lifestyle and desires of theproperty owner. When we as professional landscape designers develop out door areas,we are in essence creating defined spaces or outdoor rooms in which to carry on variousoutdoor activities. Smaller spaces tend to suggest more intimacy and it forces our handto more creatively explore our options, all to our clients advantage and enjoyment. Ineffect less is more!

With a wide array of hardscape material possibilities that now are available, one nolonger needs to content with a boring 12 ft. by 12 bare concrete pad and a cheap basketweave or board fence as the primary elements of our outdoor living area. There arenumerous colors, styles and textures of manufactured stone pavers and wall stones onthe market. A little imagination can lead to some truly creative types of privacy screens,some which may incorporate plant materials. Low voltage lighting systems which arequite energy efficient and easy to maintain, allow us to considerably extend the hours ofuse of outdoor spaces while in turn providing safety, security and ambience all whichresults in greater enjoyment of our outdoor spaces.

We also have a much enhanced selection of slower growing, or as some erroneouslycall "dwarf" plants. Do not confuse "dwarf" plants to mean that they will stop growing ata certain size without extensive pruning. Nearly all "dwarf" plants will eventually grow aslarge as the standard of the species, it is just that they take a whole lot longer to do it.Nonetheless, by using the "dwarf" plants, it allows us to include more of what we mightlike in developing a garden or landscape with an understanding that in time some prun-ing or removal is required.

Our changing gardens now often include a wide array of herbaceous perennials, per-haps some small fruits and even colorful vegetables providing us food crops. There are

many options available to us to provide for both ourselves and natures critters by utiliz-ing plants that are food sources in addition to being structural elements of a landscapesuch as a hedge or a canopy tree. While I am not by design into feeding the deer, I dolike to provide for the birds and squirrels, and do attempt to provide them with sourcesof good as I develop the garden.

The change in thoughts towards gardens can have other benefits. A recent article inthe February/March 2012 issue of National Wildlife, A National Wildlife Federationpublication, features a homeowner in Hartford, Conn., that took a very small urban yardspace that was bare, bleak and foreboding and turned it into a colorful and bodaciousgarden of beauty. Not only did she create an improvement and a project of joy with herown property, but the ripple effect was a wave of transformation throughout her entireneighborhood. Consequently most of her neighbors also removed their "security" andoften locked chain link fences and developed similar garden spaces. Interestingly, theincidence of crime rate in her area dropped dramatically. People now spend time out-doors tending and enjoying their gardens as the entire area reaps the benefits of an over-all improvement in property appearances and values. They also enjoy a lower incidenceof crime and have a enhanced feeling of community. This has also lead to folks staying inthe neighborhood and improving their properties rather than moving out and "up".

In the same article there is reference to recent research by Andrea Fabor Taylor andFrances Kuo at the University of Illinois has found that gardening is not only to be con-sidered a "hobby" like knitting, but it is an essential element in the development ofhealthy children. They found in their research that children who have at least equal timeat outdoor activities to "screen" time, are less likely to have mental, physical and socialdevelopment problems and disabilities. They refer to this as "nature deficit disorder"which results in increased incidence of childhood depression, asthma, vitamin D defi-ciency and type 2 diabetes.

Providing ample outdoor play time where there is interaction with nature is akin topreparing healthy and delicious meals from scratch verses opening a box and microwaving some pre prepared food. Children need to be outside engaging in exercise andactivities that include learning a respect and love of nature.

So you ask what can I do?

Well I say; "get off your butt and start gardening. Do it for food or for fun or both."Encourage your children and or grandchildren to do likewise. One of our clients, Mrs.Bernice Monter of Lisbon, a retired octogenarian teacher, is an avid gardener and tendsa sizable garden of mostly flowers. Despite her diminutive size, she is a powerhouse ofsharp wit, seemingly endless energy, and bountiful good humor. She attributes her goodhealth of body, mind and soul to her gardening activities, and reports she rarely hastrouble sleeping during the gardening months. We can all learn by her example.

So get up, get going, and get gardening!Skip McCullough, apld #156 CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE

DESIGNER at MEADOWBROOK NURSERY & LANDSCAPE.


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The changing nature of gardening

• Don't drown the seedlings: Starting seedlings indoors is a gratifying experience,however, watering of these youngsters can be damaging. Try planting seeds in a seed-starting tray that contains several individual cells - leaving one cell empty. To water theseedlings, pour water into the empty cell. The water will drain into the tray and besoaked up by the seedlings.

• Multiply your plants with seeds! Collect seeds from your perennials in the fall.Snip off the seed "pods" and gently remove the seeds that are hidden within. If neces-sary, remove the chaff (papery covering over the seed) from the actual seed. In the fall,the seeds can be dropped onto the soil in the desired location.

In northern climates, the winter snow cover will provide moisture and protection forthe seeds - they will germinate in the spring. In warmer climates, the seeds may need tobe lightly pressed into the soil in order to germinate.

• How long do seeds last? If seeds are kept in a cool, dry location they can last forseveral years. Place the seeds in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. Silicagel packets placed into the seed container will keep the humidity level down. Broccoli,cauliflower, cabbage, collards, kohlrabi, endive, cucumber, lettuce, pepper, radish, sun-flower, and tomato seeds can be stored for at least five years.

Beans, carrots, celery, parsley, peas, pumpkin and squash can be stored for at leastthree years. Corn, onion, parsnip and spinach seeds are not recommended for storagefor more than one season.

• Can seeds from this season's plants be saved for next season? It is first important to

determine which type of plant the seeds will come from. Knowing the type will deter-mine whether or not the seed is worth saving. There are two types of plants: Open-polli-nated and Hybrid. Open-pollinated plants are just that...plants that have been allowed tofreely pollinate. Seeds saved from open-pollinated plants will most likely produce plantssimilar in characteristics to their parents.

Hybrid plants are those which have been produced by crossing two open-pollinatedvarieties in order to achieve specific characteristics such as flower color or size. Seedsfrom hybrid plants will produce plants that are lacking in characteristics most desired bythe parent plant.


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Meadowbrook Nursery and The Landscape Co.

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George (Skip) McCullough B.A., A.P.L.D. #15

“Creators of Distinctive Landscape Solutions”

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE

330-424-3484 7273 STATE RTE. 164 LISBON, OHIO

Tips for planting seedlings


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L im ited qu a n tities of 2010 LTX 105 0 a n d S u p er LTX 105 4 M owers

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In Stock Com m ercial

In Stock Resid en tial RZT 42” ZERO TURN RTZ 50” ZERO TURN RTZ 5 4” ZERO TURN

Z FO RCE 48 W / FAB DECK Z FO RCE S48 (STEERIN G W HEEL) Z FO RCE S5 4 (STEERIN G W HEEL) Z FO RCE S60 (STEERIN G W HEEL)

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morning journal - spring lawn & garden 2012

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