The Green View

What Grows Like A Weed?

If it looks like a weed, smells like a weed, and grows like a weed, it’s probably a WEED! 

My favorite weed is called “Creeping Charlie.” It boasts such a pretty lavender flower, but oh does that vine spread! I once spent an hour on my hands and knees pulling them out—not a pretty picture for passers-by. Let’s face it, we all find weeds in our lawns and gardens at least some of the time. But the healthier your lawn is, the easier it will be to combat weeds. How do you keep your lawn healthy? First, you select the right lawn grasses for your climate zone and sun exposure, then you choose the right fertilizer and lime (depending on your soil test results), de-thatch and aerate if needed, and lastly, you mow and water.

The absolute best weed preventative is to follow a good lawn maintenance schedule. Using the Greenview Annual Lawn Plan takes the guesswork out of it for you, and will result in a spring lawn that’s weed-free. Just one application of Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Preventer 24-2-8 addresses two lawn spoilers: weeds and crabgrass. And believe me…it’s much easier to prevent the weeds from growing in the first place, rather than having to battle them once their roots have well…taken root deep into the soil!

If your lawn is rather thin lawn and struggling to survive, you may find that good old favorite, the  dandelion, invading your lawn here, there and everywhere!

What are the most common lawn weeds?

Well there’s the annual broadleaf weed, like chickweed and knotweed that form a tough mat. Then you have your perennial broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, violets, and ground ivy. Then there are your annual and perennial grassy weeds like crabgrass and foxtail with fuzzy seed heads. There are dozens more, but these are some of the most common.

So don’t wait until the dandelions turn to puff balls and start spreading their seeds all over your lawn. Spring Fertilizer Weed and Feed with Crabgrass Preventer provides both: a slow release nitrogen that fertilizes your lawn up to 12 weeks with controlled, steady nutrition over a longer period of time, and it prevents crabgrass and kills dandelions, clover, viney weeds and over 200 other broadleaf weeds as it fertilizes. There’s no excess growth, you mow less, and you get a healthier, greener, weed-free lawn!

So rise up from your knees and smell the roses instead of the weeds!

Content courtesy of the University of Wisconsin. Pictures courtesy of Love to Know and University of Wisconsin.

Submitted by J. Weinmann

Mow, Mow, Mow the Lawn…

With spring showers and the best Greenview Fertilizer products stimulating the growth of the most beautiful lawn you’ve ever created, you’ll soon be merrily, merrily mowing and watering to keep your lawn looking neat, trim and green.

Besides our desire for the look of a “manicured lawn” that we all admire, why do we mow our lawns? It’s a lawn maintenance practice that’s part of our American culture because mowing regularly and mowing properly is important if you want a weed-free, golf-course quality lawn that is stress free.

Lawn Mowers

And what’s a sunny weekend in the burbs without the hum of gas or electric-powered lawn mowers, cutting and vacuuming up the pieces of excess turf? From push-behind, or stand-behind to the sleek and  fast riding zero-turn mowers and tractors, before you buy, examine the most important functions of these common rotary-type mowers. They are: the height adjustments, mulching capabilities for recycling, cutting width, horse-power and innovative features like self-propelled mowers with speed sensing and cruise-control. Whichever mower you use, pay special attention to proper cutting height. Cut your grass too short and it will develop a shallow root system and weakling roots that will be easily stressed in the summer heat. You want turfgrass with a deep, strong root system, and higher mowing heights result in stronger roots and fewer weeds.

How often should you mow?

During periods of active turfgrass growth, your lawn may require mowing more than once per week. Mow about 1/3 of the leaf blade during any one mowing. Generally, you should mow when the grass is dry, but if it rains quite a bit and the grass becomes too wet for timely mowing, the turfgrass may shoot up and become quite tall. In this case, do a “double cut,” mowing at the highest setting and once the lawn dries, mow again to the recommended height. And don’t forget to vary your mowing direction to avoid the “rut” effect.

Some additional tips for proper mowing:

• Mow your grass at the right height during the summer, about 1 to 3 inches (it actually varies by grass type.)
• Each mowing season, tune up your mower and keep the blade sharp.
• If you let the grass grow too high, then cut it too low, such scalping can cause your grass plants to go into shock, making them susceptible to drought and disease.
• Mow during the coolest part of the day to avoid browning.
• And don’t forget the headphones—lawn mower engines can be loud!

As with any gardening task, stop mowing and watering occasionally….just to smell the flowers. Enjoy the view!

Content courtesy of Ohio State University Extension. Image courtesy of Green Pro.

Submitted by J. Weinmann

…Water It Properly Too!

Your human body is composed of over 70% water, and a healthy grass plant contains even more water—from 75 to 85 % of its weight! In many climates, high sunlight, temperature, wind and humidity can rob your grass of most of this precious life-sustaining liquid. Without water, new seeds can’t germinate and new grasses can’t absorb their required nutrients. And worse, your grass can wilt, become susceptible to disease and eventually die of thirst. Don’t let this happen to your new or established lawn!

Depending on the rainfall in your area, (and this is easy to measure by placing an empty can outdoors, marked at one inch) you may have to water weekly. However, it is just as easy to over-water your turf as it is to under-water it. An inch per week is a general guideline for most grass types. You’ll know if you have over-watered because your lawn will grow too rapidly, you may see evidence of fungal diseases, and you’ll be mowing more frequently. Over-watering wastes water anyway, and is usually prohibited in drought-prone areas.

Under-watering will result in your lawn going dormant. Your turf will lose its deep green luster and some  grasses could die and you will need to re-seed in fall. Your lawn will signal thirst by becoming a purple-bluish color and it will be easily crushed underfoot. For the southern-most states, warm-season grasses can better withstand most drought conditions.

Some additional watering tips…

• Water deep and infrequently for a healthier root system and fewer weeds.
• Water early in the day (5:00 to 10:00 a.m.) to avoid evaporation.
• Plant drought-tolerant grass—especially in dryer areas of the country.
• For cool-season lawns, apply Greenview Fairway Formula Fall Fertilizer 29-2-10 in the late summer or early fall for better root growth and drought tolerance.
• For a newly sodded or seeded lawn, water more frequently for the first month until your lawn is well-established.
• Aerate to loosen compacted soil and allow water to get to the roots.

For those of you who prefer to water with in-ground sprinkler systems, careful planning, design and installation will ensure an efficient irrigation system. Test for uniform water distribution of your sprinkler heads and adequate overlap to diagnose and prevent either dry or saturated areas that can lead to an unhealthy turf. Testing will also help you figure out how long and how often to run your sprinklers to deliver the right amount of water to your lawn. And lastly, monitor any run-off, and be aware of local regulations to keep your environment clean as a good neighbor should.

Content courtesy of Ohio State University Extension. Images courtesy of Quick and Simple, Virginia Cooperative Extension and My Vine.

Submitted by J. Weinmann

From Lawn to Landscape...enhancing mother nature's gifts

Your lawn is the canvas; your landscape is the finished work of art. A well-designed landscape can bring you unending pleasure on many levels. Your community enjoys the view, you increase your property’s resale value and the colorful birds of the air seek sanctuary in your yard. The cardinals, chickadees, finches and other birds specific to your locale are feeding in the spring, so be sure to have plenty of Lyric Wild Bird Food on hand. Hours and hours of enjoyment are yours when nature is your entertainment.

So you have a lawn and it’s beautiful. Planting trees, shrubbery and plants around the lawn may seem pretty straightforward. But if you attempt this without a plan, you may end up with less than picture-perfect results.

On the other hand, if you spend some time organizing and laying a design on paper, creating a visual  representation of your property with key yard-house-people relationships in mind, the result can be astounding! Most importantly, you’ll want to organize your plantings and decorations to ensure maximum usefulness as well as aesthetics. Every entrance and exit to your home will be enhanced if the function and decor are properly designed.

Being realistic is also a key to successful landscaping that has long lasting beauty. With the vast array of plants, flowers, trees and decorations available on the market today, it’s easy to overdo it. So keep in mind that you also want to reduce the maintenance of your landscape so that it’s practical. If in your design, you consider the time and resources you have, this will help you enjoy it for years to come without regrets.

Some varieties of plants or other materials in the landscape may take up a great deal of space and leave little room for people, and that’s another great reason why planning is essential---to make your landscape livable. And for your landscape plantings, our line of Woodace Tree, Shrub and Plant fertilizers will keep your new and established floras and evergreens healthy and strong throughout all of their growth stages.

Landscape Design Basics…

Most homeowners are not experienced landscape designers, but the “do-it-yourself-er” and even the amateur gardener can very adequately design their own outdoor environment by following a few important principles:

First, observe and analyze the habits of all who will be using the space, including adults, children and pets. List their needs, desires, and activities. Figure out about how much space each of their activities requires. Also pay careful attention to the view in and around your property and to the ecology of the site, for a “greener” way to landscape.

Recognize that the art of landscaping differs from other forms of art because it grows and changes from season to season. A newly landscaped property will hold a promise of blooms and views to come and may look a bit scant at the start. But with time, each specimen and flower bed will grow to fill its intended space and add a variety of color and texture for every month of the year.

In your plan, consider landscape construction too, where walls, pathways, water features lighting or other accents may add symmetry, depth, drama or just another level of enjoyment. For example, a trellis brimming with vines and flowers can be a welcoming entry or a dramatic exit to a garden or pathway. After all that work, decorating with comfortable benches will be a welcome site for the weary gardener or admiring guest.

Finally, consider landscaping to attract birds. Every species of bird has its own unique food requirements, and these may change as the bird matures and as the seasons change. Plant the trees, shrubs, or flowers that will provide the fruits, berries, grains, seeds, acorns, nuts, or nectar they crave. Want more birds? Position plenty of feeders using our Lyric Wild Bird Food for all four seasons and provide a constant and fresh source of water. A frog pond, water garden, or bird  bath will be most effective if the water is dripping, splashing, or moving. Trees, shrubs, tall grass, and bird houses will provide excellent shelter for the birds and protect them from predators. Include a wide variety of plants in your landscape plan to attract a greater number of bird species that will amaze the avid birder.

Using both Greenview lawn and landscape and Lyric Wild Bird Food products, in concert, will make it easy for you to transform your landscape into a work of art—one that will become more than something to admire. It will be an extension of your living space—a true outdoor adventure where you can appreciate and share the wonders of nature with family and friends throughout the year.

Content courtesy of Texas A&M and Baltimore Bird Club.

Images courtesy of By Design Landscaping, Superior Landscaping Solutions, Bird Watchin and Landscape Design Advice.

Submitted by J. Weinmann