Green Earth OrganicsNatural Fertilizers

Vegetable Gardening #1: Organic Fertilizer

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Okay to fertilize in between Scott’s 4 step’s?

I recently started scott’s 4 step lawn fertilization program, (about 2.5 weeks ago) and I was wondering if anyone knows if its okay to do a regular fertilization in between every step? If so, what type of Scott’s fertilizer would I use in between? Do I run the risk of burning my grass? and are there types of Scott’s fertilizers that don’t burn grass? Please let me know! Thanks!

It is OK to do that but you do not need to do that. That is why they have their step system. If you want to fertilize between their recommended times then you are best off using a water soluble fertilizer like miracle-grow for lawns.

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How To Fertilize Bermuda Grass Lawns

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Zoysia Grass Seed Is The Best All Round Grass Seed

Planting grass in your yard is one of the best things you can do to raise the value on your home. It changes the appearance of your house, and gives your yard a neat, well groomed look. Buy grass seed according to the area that you live in. For a grass that is thick and strong enough to support the wear and tear of children playing on it, choose zoysia grass seed.

The home of zoysia grass is China and Japan. Because it is a slow growing grass, you don’t have to mow it as much as other types of grass. One nice thing is that it is a perennial grass, meaning that once you sow it, it will re-seed itself, and you will never have to plant it again. It does have two disadvantages. It will continue spreading into flower gardens or the neighbor’s lawn, and some people don’t like its brown winter color.

This type of grass can be planted from seeds or from plugs. The seeds can be planted in late spring or early summer after all possibility of frost is gone. It grows best in temperatures between 80 and 100 degrees. Because it prefers the heat, never plant it in the fall when the weather begins to cool. Zoysia grass is a slow growing grass, so you want to make sure that you plant it early enough to give it a good start before the fall weather sets in.

Did you know that Zoysia grass needs 80% less water than other grasses? You only have to water it when there has been little or no rainfall, and the ground is dry and begins to crack. It grows in virtually any soil type, but adding a quality fertilizer will give it a jump start, and make it appear even greener.

Zoysia grass turns yellow when the weather becomes cooler in the fall. It will, also, be the first grass to turn green when the weather begins to warm up in the spring.

It is a sturdy enough grass that it can be used for lawns, golf courses, parks and baseball and softball fields. It is not a good grass for soccer or football fields. It grows extremely well in the moist, salt air of the coast.

Zoysia grass is a great all around grass. It is easy to care for and makes a beautiful lawn. If you live in a warm temperature area, choose zoysia grass seed when you decide to plant grass.

About the Author

For free tips and information on planting grass seed visit Grass Seed Blog.

How to Grow Grass : When Is the Best Time to Fertilize Grass?

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how to use Turf Builder and Lawn Fertilizer?

I just bought a first single house and the lawn is drying out. Previous seller left us with Scott Fertilizer and Turf Builder. How should I use either one of those to help reviving the lawn?? I tried to read the back of those product but still doesn’t find clear direction.

Scott’s Turf Builder makes your grass green while it also strengthens the roots from below. It does not kill weeds in your lawn.
1st – If you have weeds in your lawn, use Scott’s Bonus S. You can also use the Turf Builder and mix the 2 together. If you do not have weeds and you just want to get your grass back in shape. Here’s the solution:
When your grass is dry, depending on how big your yard is, you can use a spreader or not. Start by walking the spreader in one direction from east to west and then going north to south or vice verse. Just as long as you cover the whole area. Your are trying to get an even coverage on your lawn. Once this is done, then water it in for 30 minutes. You will notice a difference in 2 weeks. After the 6 weeks, re-apply. What this does: It makes the grass greener and healthier, roots stronger. After applying the 2nd time, if you still want to keep the grass green and healthy, you can also use Milorganite which is 1/3 off the cost and does the same thing. There is a number on the back of these bags by law, you can call them up, the first question they will ask is for your zip code and then you explain what you are trying to accomplish. Good Luck and Have a New Healthy Lawn!

Nathan Applies Scott’s Fertilizer

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First Steps To Creating Your Own Incredible Lawn

When I was a child, I loved to pick Dandelions. The pretty yellow flowers were small, colorful, and looked nice tucked behind my ear! However, if one had popped up in the front yard, my hair accessory would have been considered an atrocity!

I often feel sorry for weeds. They are plants too. In fact, if you flipped through a botany field guide, you may be surprised at the plants you find classified as weeds! But simply put, a weed is really defined as a plant out of place. Clover in one persons flowing lawn may be considered fashionable, whereas on another, not so. Golf greens are often covered with bentgrass, but if it crept up in some yards, it would be considered a weed.

While perhaps pretty on their own, weeds stick out like a sore thumb in yards because they may be of a different color, size or texture. This is distracting from the beauty of the otherwise sprawling green turf. Aside from aesthetic values, weeds can also drain nutrients from grass and other plants, and this competition of resources can thin what should be lush. And what’s worse is that weeds are fighters. They can withstand conditions that your wanted greens cannot, so they are almost inevitable!

Treating weeds begins with correct identification. There are two classifications of weeds: Grassy and Broadleaf. These are further broken down into groups like perennial, biennial, and winter and summer annuals. These, as you may have guessed, depict their growing patterns. Grassy weeds are, as they sound, like grass. However, they are unwanted grass, or grass that is growing in a different type of lawn. Some examples are annual bluegrass, barnyard grass, crabgrass, creeping bentgrass and foxtail.

Broadleaf weeds may appear more to be what most people picture weed-like growth to be. Since they are broad, they are more easily distinguished. Some examples are yarrow, knotweed, chickweed, clover, ground ivy, thistle and my favorite, the dandelion.
Once you understand what is growing in your lawn and decide that it is unwanted, you can treat it and/or control it. Weeds can actually be controlled by your lawn care maintenance. If you maintain a dense and vigorously growing lawn, you are already combating the problem.

Weeds can be a sign of underlying problems in the environment beneath. So by just killing them, you are simply putting on a band-aid, not solving the problem. For example, some weeds grow in situations of compacted soil, such as knotweed. You can also control the growth by taking better care of the grass, rather than focus on the weeds. You can raise or lower the mowing height, change the frequency of mowing and changing the amount of time between irrigating.

Also, you can increase or decrease application of fertilizer and aerify the soil. This will maintain better grass, thus keeping the growth dense and vigorous, which as discussed above, does not attract weeds.
In addition to culture practices, sometimes the assistance of chemicals is needed to control weed growth. In that case, there are several types of herbicides that can be used.

Preemergence herbicides will affect seeds that are germinating. Since they are best used two to three weeks before the seeds start to grow, these work best to combat annual weeds.

Postmergence herbicides are used, as their prefix implies, after the weeds have sprouted. Since they must be absorbed through the leaves, this types of herbicide works best with a spray. These can be used at any time, but are most effective when the weed is still young and growing.

Selective postmergence herbicides are usually used to control annual, biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds, as they will not damage grass. But, they can kill trees, shrubs and flowers. These have to be used in proper conditions as well, with no rain in the forecast for two days to follow, air 60-80 degrees and no winds.

Finally, non-selective postmergence herbicides kill all types of weeds, and are best used to spot treat grassy weeds that are not affected by the selective herbicides.
So next time you see a Dandelion plant growing, don’t make a wish and blow the seeds towards the direction of a lawn fanatic- they may not get the perfectly manicured lawn they wished for!

About the Author

John Savage is a keen gardener and thoroughly enjoys spending time in his yard.

For details of how you can create your own incredible lawn in 4 days or less
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The Best Weed Killer Methods – Make your Garden Beautiful and Weed Free

Weeding is part of gardening and there is just no way to avoid it. Even if you employdefensive plans, you will still get them. There are already weed seeds, roots and crowns that are in the garden. Wind, birds and your own pet can carry in weeds from the outside. On the other hand, there are a variety of techniques that you can do to minimize your weeding chore. Your activity can be as effortless as 5-10 minutes a day and you will be able to prevent them from germinating and growing. Here are Best Weed Killer methods.

Putting mulch in your garden is one effective system to diminish your weeding tasks. The weeds are easier to pull out for the reason that the soil remains soft and wet below the mulch. It prevents weeds from developing and spreading.

The first time you do it, produce sure to pluck out the whole weed.. Most weeds can expand from a small part of root or stem left in the garden. Some taprooted weeds like dandelions multiply if the whole root is not removed.

Stop the weeds from establishing seeds.. Make sure you take out the flower heads before the seed ripens and drops.. Several perennials like coneflowers, alliums and ornamental grasses can self-sow enthusiastically.

Be wary of the things that can potentially take weed problem in your garden. Examples are uncomposted manure which can transmit weed seeds and seed-rich hay. Make sure that they are weed-free if you plan on using them.

Avoid composting mature weed seed heads.. Even if a hot compost can get rid of weed seeds, it will not ensure that it will be hot enough. The better alternative for you is to toss them out rather than germinating them along with your compost.

Just like flowers, there are also different kinds of weeds. They are called annual, biennial and perennial weeds. Each group poses its own kind so if you know what group they fall into, you can better manage them. Annual weeds survive only for a season. Examples are wild mustard, purslane, crabrgrass and pigweed.. However, they produce a number of of seeds which can ensure the victory of them germinating. Biennial weeds like mullein form a rosette of leaves during their first season. The following year, they flower, set seed and die. Perennial weeds live for years and have deep and persistent roots. Examples are dandelion, bindweed, dock, wild garlic, ground ivy and plaintain.

The solution to effective weeding is persistence and perseverance. It is more helpful to start weeding as soon as you see the problem and then persist to observe for new seeds. Control is much more tough if the weeds take over the garden. An all year round weeding program that might consist of just simple 5-10 minutes activity everyday can save you time and labor in the long run. This will ensure that you will have a exquisite and nice looking garden.

About the Author

For more tips and information, visit Weed Killer for Lawns to find out more on how to control weeds in your lawn or check out Best Weed Killer to see which method best suit your garden.

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How best To Top Dress A Lawn

Top Dressing is the task of applying a mixture of sand and topsoil to the surface of a lawn. The renovation process is based on enhancing the integrity of the existing grass, so as to cause as little damage as possible to what is already there.

You will need to spread the topsoil in an even layer over the surface of the lawn. If need be you can fill in any depressions in the surface and mix in some extra seed.

Using a tru-lute or any flat surface, brush the soil into the existing turf. When you have finished it should be possible to see grass blades protruding above the top dressing soil. This is essential as buried grass will die owing to a lack of light, leaving large bare areas. Once you are satisfied this has been completed, rake the area to remove any large lumps.

The best material to use is rootzone (a mix of sand and soil screened down to 2mm with whatever % of sand/soil you require; 70% sand 30% soil is good ratio to work with).

This can be thrown on by shovel or you can hire a spreader. A good idea if you have to top-dress a large area. Before you top-dress a lawn you can spike or hollow tine (core) the existing turf so that the dressing can be brushed into the hole. This will aid drainage and air movement in the turf itself.

Top dressing can be carried out at any time of year but the autumn and spring are the best times.

A dry top dressing is more expensive (as it has gone through a kiln) but it will fill up the holes more easily and will work its way in with less work from you.

Seed

Renovation only requires half the seed recommended for a new lawn. Otherwise, the same techniques apply. Divide the seed in half and sow half in one direction, half the other then rake and water thoroughly.

After care

After care is the same as for a new lawn. Make sure your client understands how important this is. Let the lawn grow 75 -100 mm before the first cut. Reduce the height at each subsequent cut until you achieve the best height for the particular species of grass.

Before long you should have a healthy vigorous new lawn with a minimum of fuss and disruption to your client and in very little time.

About the Author

Richard Harrison is a Director with Jim’s Mowing. He is happy to speak with anyone who lives in the East of England who is interested in operating their own gardening business. He can be contacted on 0845 555 60 60 or click
http://www.jimsfranchise.co.uk

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How To Take Care Of Your Lawn With Fertilizers

Your lawn consists of thousands and thousands of tiny little plants that group together closely to form patches of grass. Plants need fertilizer to grow healthy. We know we need to fertilize our garden and house plants, but often, the lawn is overlooked. A green lawn needs food to grow and thrive.

Fertilizer is any material supplying one or more essential plant nutrients. Most common turf grass fertilizers include nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, but they may also include other essential mineral elements for turf grass growth.

Fertilizers do more than make your lawn green. They help the grass grow too, but there’s a little more involved. Fertilizer will help grass seed germinate quicker and get started out of the ground. After the plants have established, fertilizer will make the grass thicker and healthier.

The most common questions asked by homeowners regarding fertilizers is how much and when. Generally speaking, most lawns will need four applications of fertilizer per year.

Spread fertilizing out 60 days apart starting in early spring approximately 30 days before the growing season starts in your area. Continue fertilization through the growing season until fall. Spring fertilizing gets the grass off to a fast start giving you that rich green color everyone wants.

As in watering, you should avoid using too much fertilizer. General guidelines should be included on the bag. Too much fertilizer will cause excess growth, lead to fungus growth and weaken the grass.

What type of fertilizer should you use? Well, the answer depends on your and your needs. However, there are two basic types: complete and balanced. Complete fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, but they may also include other essential minerals elements for turf grass growth.

Complete fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in the same product. If a fertilizer contains less than all three elements it is referred to as an incomplete fertilizer. If urea, a 46-0-0 incomplete fertilizer, is used for every application through the season, lower turf quality may result if other essential elements are not being supplied by the soil.

Balanced fertilizers provide nutrients in a predetermined ratio that best meets the plant’s requirements for those elements. Turf grasses require nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in the approximate ratio of 3-1-2, 4-1-2, or 8-1-3. Remember that the right balanced fertilizer ratio will differ with grass type, and is also influenced by soil levels of certain elements

You may want to get a slow-release fertilizer that lets their nutrients out slowly over a period of time. These fertilizers are commercially produced and available at most home stores.

Because these lawn fertilizers release their nutrients over time, rather than all at once, you’re essentially stretching out the feeding. As nutrients are released, the root system of your grass fills in any bare patches. This in itself promotes lawn weed control, depriving weed seeds of a place to germinate. Before buying these or any other lawn fertilizers, read the instructions on the bag carefully (or ask someone at the store for details). A particular product may not be suitable for your type of grass. Likewise, when applying lawn fertilizers, follow directions explicitly, concerning how much to apply, how often they should be applied, and under what conditions they should be applied. Lawn fertilizers are best applied with spreaders. Be advised not to fill the applicator with the spreader parked on the lawn. Doing so invites grass-burn, as you may accidentally discharge too much while loading. Instead, fill the applicator somewhere else, then wheel the spreader onto the lawn.

Many people are going green with their growing using chemical free fertilizers and weed control. However, they don’t necessarily provide you with an advantage when fertilizing your lawn and garden.

Plants absorb nutrients in the same way, whether the source be organic or a conventional fertilizer. Turf grass roots will only absorb dissolved nutrients found in the soil water. Organic fertilizers do not offer any advantages to the care of your lawn. The choice is strictly personal preference.

In addition, there are lawn fertilizers that promote lawn weed control at the same time. Effective lawn weed control should, after all, go hand-in-hand with the application of lawn fertilizers: if the weeds suck up some of the nutrients that you’re supplying, those are nutrients being wasted, as they are not going to your grass.

Fortunately, applying lawn fertilizers and practicing weed control can be integrated into the same chore – if you play your cards right!

About the Author

Visit the Lawn Tips website to learn about lawn fungus and lawn cutting.

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Pasture Management?

Howdy, We have 5 acres in No Cal that we just purchased. The previous owners did not take care of the pasture. They are a mix of weeds (no star thistle though), and natural grasses and wildflowers. I would like to keep it as natural as possible but just improve it. We bought a heavy duty harrow and I have started to drag the pastures. It is cleaning up the weeds and breaking up the areas with piles of old poop. We plan on getting a good manure spreader so we can spread the composted manure with some grass seed and fertilizer. What else? What is a good grass mix and where do I buy it? THANKS!!!

If you are going to have horses graze the pasture, I would break it up into 3 parts. One part, the smallest would be your sacrifice area. This would be where you would feed hay , water and have your barn or shelter. The other 2 areas would be your grazing area. You would rotate the horses back and forth between the 2 pastures. This will prevent your horses from over grazing. If both have been grazed down, you would keep them in the sacrifice pasture, and feed hay, until the grazing pastures recover. It would also be a good idea to mow the the pasture to a height of about 4 inches once you have moved the horses out.
I seed with brome grass seed, but there is also a pasture mix that has clover, alfalfa, timothy and other grasses in it. You should be able to find these at Tractor Supply or any other farm store.

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I’m 17 and i wont to start my own lawn care business and i need tips?

i know this isent the best time to start it im just plaining for it now but i wont afficially start it till next year but i already have a truck, a trailor, a zero turn lawn mower, blower, weedeater, and two years of experience but now i wont to stop working for someone else and start my own business sence i have the euipment but i dont know how to plain a business. also what do lawncare owners do in the winter or the drout season for money. THANKS FOR THE ADVISE

Since you’ve never been in business before, I would strongly recommend that you talk to a business counselor before you do anything especially spend money. You have to determine whether you’ll start a web based business or one with a store front. I’d call the local office of SCORE (go to http://www.score.org and input your zip code to find the chapter nearest you), the advice is FREE.

The counselor at SCORE will most likely advise you to write a business plan which is very good advice because it will force you to dig out all of the start up details and the costs of starting a lawn care business and force you to also understand all of the aspects of this business including the customers you’ll concentrate on (your market ) and how you’ll go after them.

You’ll need to register the business with your state controller’s office and make sure that you have any city and county licenses if any are needed where you live. All of this will come out in a business plan.

Try this link :
http://www.ychange.com/small-business-consulting-articles.html and read some of the articles especially the ones about a business plan and starting a business.
Good Luck

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