Dealing With The Cranberry Girdler

By Neoma Archer

What comes to your mind when somebody tells you to think of cranberries? A good number of people will think of a fruit that is delicious and juicy and is fresh. Now when you are told to think of a cranberry girdler, what comes to your mind this time? There are people who would believe that it is some kind of food that has to do with the cranberry. But it sure is not. This cranberry girdler is the actual opposite of the things that you would describe the cranberry.

What are cranberry girdlers you may ask? Well, the thing is, cranberry girdlers are actually insects. They look like worms though they are not really such. They are usually gray or dirty white in color and have a head that is brown-orange in color. It is just around 3/4 of an inch long and they bear no markings that are distinct to them. They may be small and look harmless but they can bring much chaos to your lawn or your garden. Now that is something that you do not want to happen after all the effort you had put into it.

You may not actually notice that your lawn or your garden already has cranberry girdlers in them. See, these insects actually work their way right in the important parts of the grass and they stay there. You will find them usually in the crown of the grass and even in the roots. With that, they stay away from sight but they really do much damage. They actually start taking in the nutrients from the plants so much so that the grass starts to have less of what it needs to be healthy. The grass then withers and browns up and when you try to pull it out, it can be easily done and it would be as if you were just pulling out a rug from your homes floor.

Aside from the sign that the grass is turning brown, you will also notice that when you pull out the brown parts of the grass, you will see what is beneath it. When you see larvae below, then you have a cranberry girdler infestation. Do not take that for granted because they easily work their way through the crown and roots of the plants and the next thing you know, there are no more green patches. Instead, all of what you see is brown. Now that would not be a good sight for your eyes.

Apply insecticide where the cranberry girdlers are - and that is on the brown areas. Check back weekly to see if it works. If the brown areas are still spreading, apply more insecticide. You have successfully stopped the insects when the brown areas remain as they are and there are already dead insects on the soil already. - 30234

About the Author:

Neoma Archer has been in the field of lawn care for a long time and maintains a website about caring for your lawn where you can get answers to the rest of your questions.

Grass Watering TipsThat Really Saves You Water

By Dewey 'Jeep' Capasso

Question: If I want lush green grass how much should I water it?

Good question. Sounds innocent enough too, doesn't it? But it's one with many nuances in the answer. Which is why someone who understands grass would answer "It all depends." Here's why.

Typically an inch a week is the off the top the head response to this query. But like many rules of thumb that start out as guidelines they all too soon become more rules to live by that you deviate from at your own peril.

But how often you need to water and how much depends on a variety of factors. So one can't simply mutter a rule of thumb and feel that covers it. Because it doesn't.

For instance how often to water depends on how often it rains. Obvious I know. But I had to say it.

A related point is it's best to water only when you have to. Is your grass looking rather limp? Stressed? Are your foot steps clearly seen> All suggest your grass isn't springing back like it should. If so it's not a stretch to say you should be watering.

How often to water also depends on the grass you've got. Some varieties require more others need less - water.

Then too what setting your mower is set to plays a role. The longer the grass the less often you'll likely need to water and still have a decent looking lawn. Then too leaving the clippings is a good way to recycle moisture back into your lawn.

What's the state of your lawns root system? Hopefully it's deep into the soil. If not, deep watering will encourage that. As opposed to just a light watering which encourages shallow root growth that is scorched off during a prolonged dry period. Yet over watering is no more beneficial. As water soaking beyond the root zone doesn't help your grass much if at all.

Grass Truth: The height of the blade affects how deep the roots are. You will find the longer the blades the farther down into the soil the roots will be found.

It's also wise to let the top of your root zone to dry out. Doing so helps keep diseases at bay, weed seeds from germinating, and causes shallow rooted weeds to die off.

Another factor is how much sun the grass gets. The more sun the faster is it likely to dry out.

Finally you don't want to put the water down at such a rate that it runs off. Kinda defeats the purpose don't you think.

See? There is more to watering your grass than the old inch a week rule of thumb alone. Those that realize that soon realize a lusher looking lawn as well. - 30234

About the Author:

Featured Author Dewey "Jeep" Capasso is a lawn care fanatic. He enjoys sharing what he knows about such things as the best riding lawn mowers to zero turn mower reviews. All to help you achieve the best looking lawn on the block.

The Year Of The Topnotch Garden And Greener Landscape Lawn

By Thomas Fryd

If you're a Northwesterner or a Northern Californian, put those dreaded memories of spring flood conditions behind you. Determine now to make this the year for a topnotch garden with bright flowers, finer shrubs and greener lawns.

Make this a year of changes. Dont be content with the same old flowers of yesteryear. Take a good look at the flower seed stands at your neighborhood seed store and select lots of those brightly colored packets.

One way to prevent your garden from looking just like every other garden in the block is to select some of the less familiar annuals.

The "big three" - petunias, marigolds and zinnias - may be planted heavily, but at the same time be adventurous and try plants such as the exotic bells of Ireland, linaria and nemesia (especially good for covering a bed where spring bulbs are planted), appealing dwarf dahlias, fast-growing cosmos for hedge effects, and mixed gourds for their wonderful harvest of curiously shaped fruits in the fall.

The cool weather annuals such as calendula, sweet alyssum, larkspur and nasturtium, can be sown in the open ground now. The seeds will germinate quickly if the ground is kept moist.

But theres more to March gardening than seed planting. Its the time to finish planting roses; begin to do the spring pruning; plan for summer bulbs; start spraying or dusting the garden for disease and insect control; and sow some backyard vegetable crops.

Timing of these jobs depends on the region you live in. If youre gardening in the Southwest, youre probably up to your ears in chores right now. But as you go northward to the Canadian line, the pace slows down. But in these areas, too, once the ground warms up, gardening will start in earnest.

How is your lawn?

Except in the colder spots of the Northwest where the soil usually cannot be worked, March has always been an ideal lawn planting month. Then it is warm enough for the seed to germinate rapidly yet early enough in the season for the grass to develop into a thick, healthy turf before the summer heat arrives. If you are starting a new lawn, dig the soil to a depth of 6 to 12 inches.

Better than digging, of course, is a mechanical tiller. This piece of equipment will pay for itself because it does so many other jobs, in addition to preparing a lawn site. At least look at renting one!

Remove all rocks from the soil and then roll it. The usual advice at this point is to sow the grass seed. However, youll find it worthwhile to soak the soil instead, to encourage the weed seed to germinate. Then you can dispatch the weed seedlings with a chemical weed killer like Round-Up. Ten to twelve days later you can plant your grass seed, with a lot more confidence and the knowledge that a few weeks hence you wont be on your knees pulling out unwanted weeds. The secret of getting a lawn off to a good start is to keep the seed bed moist.

Children should share in the spring gardening enthusiasm, too. Give them a spot to grow some nasturtiums and some radishes, and you may win a garden convert for life. Its true that theres nothing new about nasturtiums or radishes, yet their very speed of growth means they must have been designed to win the hearts of young gardeners. In 21 days from sowing, the youngsters will be eating plump red radishes. In 35 - 40 theyll have good-sized nasturtium plants and a couple of weeks later, incredulous bouquets of honey-loaded nasturtium blooms. Part of the fun of growing nasturtiums is to suck the nectar from the base of each flower after the tip has been pinched off.

Your backyard vegetable garden design and plan can be started now. Outdoors, radishes, spinach, peas and parsley can be sowed. Indoors, sow early cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, celery, eggplant and, in the Northwest, lettuce. In most coastal areas with lawn irrigation system California lettuce can be planted outdoors practically the year round.

Perennials that can be divided now include most of those blooming after June. Some of these are Shasta daisies, campanulas, helenium and rudbeckias. Some perennials, such as peonies, appreciate being left alone for twenty years or more. But generally speaking, its time to use the dividing knife on most perennials about the third year.

Transvaal daisies, though hailing from South Africa, will withstand Northwest winters west of the Cascades as long as the soil drains well. In the other sunny, warm parts of the West, Transvaal daisies really thrive. Set out husky young plants now. The blooms are available in all colors and are excellent for cutting. - 30234

About the Author:

For more details on lawn irrigation system design. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/lawn-irrigation.html.

Growing Great Bermuda Grass

By Dewey J Capasso

Bermuda grass is a low growing, uncomplicated, durable choice for southern lawns. Being a warm season grass it is both heat and drought tolerant while requiring less water than most other varieties. Which combines to give you a dense, medium green, low maintenance yard. All its positive qualities makes it an ideal choice for yards getting plenty of foot traffic from kids and pets.

Considered to be an easy to care for strain it will flourish with even a modest amount of maintenance. For instance, as it emerges from any dormant period, running over your lawn with an aerator will be beneficial. As will dethatching if needed. Both will help water penetrate deeper into the root zone rather than running off.

Even with a reputation of drought tolerance that doesn't mean you shouldn't water. Because if you do so deeply you'll not only encourage deep root development but your turf will take on rich, green carpet-like appearance. While the deeper roots will give it enhanced survivability during dry spells.

Did I mention Bermuda grass loves sunlight? To thrive it needs full sun for most of the day. So don't go planting this sun loving strain in the shade and expect lush success. Yet given plenty of sun it will give you a nice tight turf that can withstand wear better than most grasses.

While Bermuda grows well during summer you generally want to mow Bermuda grass short, quite short. The ideal cutting height ranges from half an inch to one and a half inches. Mowing it to an inch twice a week gives you a lawn that is dense and even in appearance.

Even though Bermuda grass is a variety that adapts well to poorer soil with good drainage fertilizing can't hurt. Once it shows signs of greening up and is actively growing again in the spring you'll want to feed then. And again in the fall. Applying nitrogen at the rate of one or two pounds per thousand square feet will produce vigorous growth.

After it has become established weeds won't be much of a problem for a Bermuda grass lawn. The weeds simply can't gain a foot hold. You can ensure that happens by regular mowing to remove the seed heads that are needed for any invader to multiply.

As it gets cooler and the season changes Bermuda grass will start to look like it's dead as it browns out or goes dormant. Some like to over seed with an winter rye to maintains their lawn's green color during the cooler part of the year. Others don't miss cutting the grass so leave it as is.

The big reason for the popularity of Bermuda grass is it many desirable traits. Most report it to be durable, hardy and very resilient. Plus as a heat loving strain of grass once established it needs very little help in the water department. Even better it can also fend off most weed invasions on it's own too. So what's not to like? - 30234

About the Author:

Dewey J Capasso not only understands the benefits of Bermuda grass he can tell you if that lawn tractor you've been eyeing is the ubermower of your dreams or a money pit. Not only that he can advise on the best zero turn mowers and help with other lawn care concerns.

Fall Lawns Call For Seed Feed And Weed

By Kent Higgins

Selecting Stock Plants - September is a good time to begin making cuttings for starting next year's plants. Lantana cuttings should be made from seasoned wood before any lush growth occurs after the fall rains. If the cutting wood is soft, the cuttings will rot or blast instead of developing roots. The colorful Jacob's coat (Alternanthera) can be kept as cuttings over winter as can other types of herbaceous plants such as hibiscus, geraniums, coleus, ice plant, sultana and wandering Jew. By September, these plants are conditioned properly for taking of cuttings.

Roses - The cool nights of September will stimulate new growth for a lush crop of bloom during early October. This means the last application of fertilizer should be made this month. Light liquid feedings will be very beneficial, or you may use your own pet brand of commercial fertilizer or rose food. Cottonseed meal is a wonderful food and should be used at the rate of one-half teacupful per plant and worked in lightly around each plant. Heavy watering should follow so that the rose plant may absorb the food. Throughout our section, the quality of fall roses often surpasses that of spring blooms, even though they are usually fewer in number. In watering, keep the water off the foliage and do not water after mid-afternoon in order that the plants can go into the night with surfaces dry. The usual disease and insect pests are prevalent during this fall season, so be on constant guard to protect these plants.

Fall Lawns - Seed, feed and weed - these are the lawn problems during September. There is still time to seed bare spots in a lawn and get a cover before killing frost. The final feeding of the season should be applied by mid-September and usually a shot of potash will help to harden off the grass for winter. By light feeding is meant about four pounds of a balanced fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. For this last feeding, use a balanced fertilizer rather than straight nitrogen. This will keep a good color and a healthy turf without over stimulation of vegetative growth and will insure hardening off of the grass to withstand winter conditions. For those who want a winter lawn, this is the last call for planting Italian rye to give that lush green sparkle to the lawn during the winter. Sow seed as suggested last month, and follow with careful care and grooming. A neglected winter lawn can ruin the permanent grass and become an unsightly mess.

By the end of summer many lawns have become infested with weeds and foreign grasses which have persisted in spite of mowing. In my lawn, i put kimberly queen fern but still infested with weeds. These lawn enemies will set seed in a short time and a major infestation may result the next year. The new weed killers will get most of these pests, and there are special selective killers for some of the more difficult kinds such as crabgrass, dandelions and plantains. These chemical controls work better during the warm part of the day, but anytime is a good time for killing weeds just like caring for kimberly queen fern.

If there is serious infestation, large scale spraying will bring them under control. The beautiful feature of the liquid killers is the ability to "spot" kill and most of them do no harm to the permanent grasses. Occasionally, weeds will escape detection in other parts of the garden in out-of-the-way places and these can infest an entire garden, so be on the lookout for them. - 30234

About the Author:

Now is the time to learn the topic on kimberly queen fern. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com/kimberly-queen12-i809.html.

Should You Aerate Your Lawn

By Jodi Nations

When a lawn appears sick even though it has received plenty of water and fertilizer and issues like worms, infestations and other problems have been ruled out, the need for aeration may be the problem. When soil becomes compacted, aeration may be the cure. The top few inches or so of topsoil needs to be able to breathe and absorb water and other nutrients. When it becomes packed down and hardened, this becomes harder to achieve.

When the soil becomes compacted, the lawn starts to wilt and dry up because water and nutrients are not able to reach the roots. Aeration is a great way to help crucial nutrients and water reach the roots, while increasing oxygen levels in the soil. Oxygen-rich soil helps promote root growth and enables grass to withstand drought. Aerating improves the health and beauty of the lawn.

Timing is important in deciding when to aerate, and the frequency of aeration depends on several factors, including the type of soil and the variety of grass. Soil with lots of clay should be aerated in the spring and fall, and soil with more sand should be aerated in either the spring or fall. Warm-season grasses should be aerated in late spring or early summer, while cool-seasons grasses, which can be found throughout Colorado, should be aerated in the early spring and the late fall.

It is recommended that aerating be undertaken on a day with mild temperatures when the soil is a bit moist. Watering the lawn the day before aerating is suggested. The ground should be moist but not saturated. Aerating in high heat and drought is not advised. Additionally, weed problems should be under control prior to aerating, and newly laid sod should not be aerated until its roots have been well established.

Most people don't realize that aerating is essential to a healthy carpet of grass. While most homeowners don't own an aerator, either because of price or time constraints, aerating on a regular basis is highly recommended. That's where hiring a lawn care company to aerate makes good sense. Lawn care specialists can determine the type and frequency of the lawn's aeration needs. Hiring a lawn care professional to maintain the lawn's health and beauty is a wise and cost-effective move to ensure a lush, robust lawn. - 30234

About the Author:

When selecting a lawn aeration company, make sure that they are licensed and insured! You can be sure that Nations Harvest, a provider of Lawn Aeration in Thorton, Colorado is licensed and insured. We also offer some of the best prices for Lawn Aeration in Thorton, Colorado.

How To Discover Excellent Sources For Garden Fencing

By April Kerr

If you intend to install garden fencing you may discover that there is such a huge assortment on the market it is tricky to know what to pick. There are a few different items of info that can make choosing the correct fencing system effortless and uncomplicated and may influence where you will obtain your fencing from.

First is whether you in actual fact need to fence an entire yard. If you are simply concerned in keeping animals out of your vegetables, costly fencing will not be required around the entire yard. Consider using temporary deer fencing or chicken wire caging to shield your plants. This can be fantastic due to the fact that after the growing season is over you can always take the fence down and re use it the next year. This can be a wonderful way to give security without straining your wallet.

Are there any regulations where you live about what materials a fence can be made from? Many housing developments wish to accomplish a unified appearance to the homes so they may well control the style of fencing you can utilize. It is essential also to check that if you are enclosing a pool that you pay attention to height requirements for fences. This may save you a lot of time and money because it can save you needing to rip down and replace a fence you have put up.

Are you planning to enclose a pool or other water source? There are regulations in loads of cities that say pools deeper than about 24 inches. Nevertheless the precise depth that is the cut off may differ from area to area so you ought to confirm that you follow the guidelines for your area. There are removable mesh fences that are specifically designed to meet municipal guidelines. These can be excellent ways to fence the area immediately around your pool.

There are so several places that you can come across fencing materials and advice. Take into account home improvement centers, hardware stores, specialty internet sites and even farm supply stores. These last places may offer excellent deals on chain link fencing supplies and provide you tips on the subject of the best methods to keep animals out of a garden.

You may what's more order plans and materials via the internet too. These can be excellent sources for extremely specialized kits including pool surrounds or electrification kits to keep prey animals away from livestock.

Whether it is privacy, safety or convenience that you desire, garden fencing can be a big investment. Plan in advance and think about what you wish to get out of your fencing and you will be much happier in the long run. - 30234

About the Author:

At Gardening Content you'll find info on such topics as types of wood fencing and affordable vinyl fencing.