Newsletter5

Spring is here in the Northeast finally. All the snow is melting or
melted, bulbs are flowering, birds are chirping and crickets are, well,
cricketing! Now is a great time to edge your gardens. Whether it be with
stones, concrete blocks or bricks, it is a good time before the grass
gets really growing too fast. (By the way, for you city dwellers, the
grass really IS greener over the septic tank!) It looks nice when the
stones are close in size and relatively flat, they can be pieced
together like a puzzle. To prevent grass from growing up between them,
put black plastic down in strips along your edges, then cover it with
little pebbles and top it with your stones. It�s the poor mans way of
looking like a manicured lawn.

Another useful thing to do is to use hard plastic liners that are sunk
into the grass right on the perimeter of your gardens. These can be
bought in rolls just about anywhere that sells garden supplies, and
they�re relatively cheap to for the amount you get. The advantage of
this is to give your lawnmower an edge to roll against, plus it keeps
your mulch inside your garden. You can choose to use wood too, but then
you can�t have graceful curves. If you have all right angles and would
like to use lumber, garden centers sell their own version of 6x6�s that
are rounded off and chemically treated so they don�t rot as quickly.
Don�t forget to ask for free delivery on something like this, they just
might surprise you! One thing to keep in mind, don�t install edging when
your ground is saturated though; when the ground dries out you may find
all your work has shifted!

This is also the perfect time to fix those bare patches of lawn. Of
course there will always be those high traffic areas that will never see
grass, but for the rest of the spots, you need to find the cause before
you can start the cure. If it�s not traffic, then it�s probably insects.
Contact your local county extension agency to find out which insects are
most likely the cause of bare spots in your area and ask them what they
recommend to treat it. Once the insects are gone, dig down a couple
inches and loosen the soil. Then add a little fertilizer, a light one is
best. Smooth out your surface, spread a good layer of seed (including
extra for the inevitable birds), press them softly into the soil with
your flat hand or a hoe, water gently but thoroughly, and cover with
straw. In a few days you should start seeing your first signs of new
grass. The biggest problem with starting new grass is watering. Too much
and it will cause damping-off just like any other seedling. Too little,
and you have to reseed. If you have to reseed, look on the bright side -
1. You�ve done your duty by feeding the birds and 2. Your ground is
already prepared.

WEEDS! They�re everywhere! Did you know ordinary table salt poured
directly on a weed like dandelions is supposed to kill it? Repeat
application again in a few days.

It�s time to cut back your roses and divide your rhizomes. I divided my
lupine two days ago and they already look healthier.

And finally, tips on tulips. The most common reasons for tulips not
coming up the first year are bulbs being planted to shallow, not enough
sun, and planting too early in the fall where it is warmer.

I�d love to hear from you! Still haven�t heard from anyone. Please
e-mail me at [email protected] and let me know what state you
live in and what your own best tips are! Happy Growing!

DBS