PAGE 8A Daily Journal ONLINE AT WWW.DAILYJOURNALONLINE.COM
Friday, April 24, 2015
Spring Service & Maintenance Guide
Put grass clippings to use The benefits of
aerating your lawn
Yard Waste Can Make Good Mulch for Roses Mulching roses provides many benefits for the plant. Using organic mulch not only offers protection for roots and keeps the soil moist, but also releases nutrients into the soil. Lawn clippings look nice scattered under rose bushes and are readily available with each mowing. Grass clippings make a beneficial type of mulch when used correctly. Other organic mulches may be used for roses, too, as each has its own benefits.
BENEFITS
Organic mulches, like leaves and grass clippings, provide nutrients to the rose soil. Mulching also helps soil retain moisture, control weeds and protects roots from hot summer temperatures and early freezes or frosts in the fall. Roses are often susceptible to disease, and mulching can help reduce the risk of disease and prevent black spot spores that are splashed up onto roses when it rains. Good mulch offers all these benefits, plus reduces the need to water plants, because mulch helps to keep the soil uniformly moist. Grass clippings also make excellent mulch for garden vegetables and other plants as well. Because they are readily available, grass clippings are a cost-effective way to help plants retain moisture and reduce weed growth.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS
Lawn clippings make good short-lived mulch, but they should not be used if the lawn has been treated with a high nitrogen fertilizer or any type herbicide product, as they can release residue into the soil that can be harmful to other plants.
To use grass clippings as mulch, allow them to dry after mowing and spread loosely around the rose bushes.
Everyone loves a lush, healthy lawn. A beautiful, green yard does everything from provide the kids a soft, safe place to run around barefoot on warm summer days to give your guests a friendly welcome as they arrive at your home. But as the months pass by, even a well-watered and well-fertilized lawn can lose its luster. There's no need to stress about it. The answer may be as easy as aerating your lawn.
A QUICK CHECK
CARING FOR IT
Lawn clipping mulch decomposes rapidly, so it needs to be replenished often. Grass clippings may contain weeds, and because of the clippings' light weight, they are more likely to be blown or washed away. Lawn clippings can also become a fire hazard. When lawn clipping mulch is wet, it doesn't breathe like other types of mulches and needs periodic "fluffing" to keep it from matting and to allow for better air flow and water penetration. You should use a thin layer of grass clipping applied after each mowing. When you use grass clippings for mulch, it is important to allow the clippings to dry out before use, because drying the clippings helps prevent matting. The use of fresh clippings can also lead to foul odors, a reduction in air and water infiltration and may even prevent soil from absorbing water, so letting the clippings dry out is critical.
You can very quickly and easily determine if your lawn needs to be aerated. Dig up a small section of your yard, deep enough to determine the depth of the root system. If you find that the roots of your grass are sitting just an inch or two below the ground, it's time to aerate.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Through the normal wear and tear on your lawn, with everything from extreme dry conditions to heavy downpours, as well as normal foot traffic, your ground has become compacted. As the ground becomes more and more compacted over time, elements that are important to the grass are unable to fully penetrate the soil and reach the roots. This means your grass may not be receiving the appropriate amount of oxygen, nutrients and even water that it needs to thrive. In addition, even beneficial organisms such as earthworms, whose daily efforts provides easy routes for root systems to grow, won't thrive in your yard either.
See AERATING / Page 9A
Solar Features for the Garden The benefits of rainwater harvesting As more people recognize the benefits of sustainable landscaping, rainwater harvesting — one of the underlying principles of sustainable landscape design — is coming into its own. Rain is a free resource, and collecting and storing it in rain barrels and holding tanks for future use in the home and landscape makes perfect sense. How can you benefit from rainwater harvesting?
BETTER FOR PLANTS
The stormwater runoff from your roof is usually slightly acidic, with a pH of about 5.7, and free from chemicals like fluorine and chlorine. Most plants thrive in soils with a pH of from 5.5 to 7.0, so the natural acidity inherent in rainfall makes for happier plants. Also, rainfall is generally warmer than municipal water, so it is less apt to stress young plants.
USING A RESOURCE
Rain barrels, cisterns and holding tanks are the first link in the stormwater chain. Storing the water that comes from your roof converts a certain volume into a valuable resource. Without harvesting, excess runoff will flow overland, carrying pollutants and contributing to erosion and flooding problems downstream. Collecting excess rainwater can create a great use for something that would otherwise go to waste.
SAVE MONEY
Homeowners who harvest their rainwater and use it to water their gardens and wash their cars report a savings on their water bills of 30 to 40 percent. And as water rates continue to climb in many municipalities, the savings will become even more important to many people's budgets.
FEWER RESTRICTIONS
Nationwide droughts have forced many states to implement water use restrictions during the months your landscape needs water the most. Harvesting and storing your rainwater gives you an alternative supply independent of public sources, letting you keep your landscape healthy and green even in the driest months. A well-designed water harvesting system can save you money on utility bills, limit your impact and your dependency on public water sources and contribute to a healthy, water-wise landscape.
The technology driving solar-powered devices is continuing to expand with products that range from lighting to water features. The garden, patio, and even the porch can benefit from this free energy source with features that are as functional as they are decorative.
THE WELL-LIT GARDEN
There is a wide variety of solar products that make excellent lighting features for the garden and patio. While solar stake lighting has been serving garden pathways for many years now, there are currently many designs and style options that can be adapted to any garden décor scheme. New products like garden lanterns also demonstrate great versatility in terms of style. From beautiful Asian style fixtures or more traditional solar lamp posts or solar table-top lamps for the deck, these solar powered lighting options fuel up on sunshine all day and provide the landscape with light during twilight and evening hours. For gardens that require more substantial lighting systems, there are also solar spotlight systems and even solar security lights that provide substantial lighting and reliability. Motion activated security lights are designed to be weather resistant and may even boast adjustable settings for customizable light. Without wiring, these devices are innovative solutions for sustainable lighting outdoors. Many homeowners simply enjoy the decorative elements that solar-powered lighting fixtures embody. From glowing mushroom lights to strings of butterfly lights, there are lots of designs to consider. Gnomes, elves, fairies, woodland animals — there are many garden statues that include a solar lighting feature in their design. Strands of fairy or tea lights add a decorative aspect to porches, gardens, or even special garden nooks. If these elements are too kitschy, there are plenty of nondescript styles that add light without infringing upon the natural beauty of the garden.
WATER FEATURES
Solar powered birdbaths and fountains are ideal for large gardens where a power source is unavailable. These products allow gardeners to add a fountain anywhere on the landscape. You could add a single or double-tiered bird-
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bath at the back of the yard or employ a decorative solar fountain as a central garden feature. There are many styles from rustic water features to classic-looking models. A solar cascade can add a pleasing appearance and soothing sounds to a patio or porch without any need for electricity. The solar technology behind these products has made them attractive to eco-friendly households and their reliability is proving better than ever. Moreover, gardeners can find solar-powered fountains and water features in styles to suit cottage, Asian, classic and even Southwestern gardens. In addition to powering the water movement itself, solar water features are also designed to bring light or colored light to water features. Want to add a colorful show to a garden pond? There are solar water features that can be used in garden ponds both large and small.
STORM DAMAGE?
HAIL DAMAGE? HOME REPAIR? WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
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