Hi friends. Let’s start by answering a question submitted by an Antelope resident. The question is, "how do I stop clovers from overtaking my lawn?"
Ortho has actually come out with a new product that I am really excited about: Weed B Gone Max plus Crabgrass Control. Listed as one of its main targets is clover and it is rainproof in an hour. I recommend buying the concentrate with the hose end attachment. It’s economical and easy to apply to the entire lawn! Until now we’ve had to buy two separate herbicides (weed killers) because crabgrass is in an evil class of its own. The only sure fire way to get rid of crabgrass is to move! So I’d love to hear how everybody’s gardens are doing. I am in the middle of moving and mine will be staying behind. I know, but that’s ok. I get to start over!
By the way, we (the Home Depot Nursery) now carry Amaze. It is a pre-emergent weed control for gardens, landscape and flower beds. It is in granular form and can be easily applied by your regular fertilizer spreader or by hand. Exciting huh? No more being over taken by weeds and this stuff won’t harm our little plant friends. Pre-emergents work best when the soil is dry and between 55-60 degrees. For doing the lawns in February/March, I recommend Vigoro with Weed Stop.
Has anyone started on their compost yet? I’d love to hear. Use the Kellogg organic fertilizers. Any of them can be used for this purpose. They have beneficial mycorrhizae in them that will just be a blessing to all the roots of the plants you use it on and it just helps speed up the breakdown and decomposition in your compost. I can’t wait to start on my new landscape and garden when I finish getting moved in. I’m going to adopt some new friends I’ve never played with before this coming year (next month I hope), like the Pieris Japonicas aka Lily of the Valley. They are starting to bloom and I have them in red, white and pink. Also the Erica Darbyensis aka Ghost Hill Heather has beautiful pinkish tones. I’ve always liked them, just never had them in any other color but white or purple. I’m thinking of doing a small pond/water garden. If any of you have any advice or experience you’d like to share with me about that I’d love to hear it. I’ve never had a pond before. I want to try something new to make up for my gardens I’m leaving behind. For the men out there, or for friends with Valentine’s Day in mind, cut flowers are always a nice gift but roses die, diamonds-if you can afford them, and candy…what about that New Year’s resolution? Buy a nice pot or planter box, small bag of soil, perhaps a new pair of garden gloves, some plant food and a couple of nice red, white, or pink plants or flowers. Arrange it nicely or in a basket and let them have fun planting them or do it as a date! A Valentine gift that keeps on giving that every gardener would love to receive. Well friends, I must go pack. Come in and see me or write to me via the paper. God bless and good luck. Happy Valentine’s Day.
–Your Plant Lady