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Posted by The GreenView Team at 2:12:28 PM | 4 Comment(s)

Here are a few quick tips to take care of your landscape during the winter months:

Make sure to brush off snow gathered on the top of bushes and other plants. The weight of the snow can break branches and damage the plants.

Try to avoid walking over the grass when there is snow or ice; this can cause the grass blades to break off.

Clean up any debris, like fallen branches, after winter storms.

Break out the shovel and not the ice! Ice melt can hurt your grass and plants. If you do use ice melt, be sure to lightly brush off any salt that has accumulated on your plants or lawn.

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Posted by Kate Stravinskas at 4:19:21 PM | 2 Comment(s)

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.

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Posted by The GreenView Team at 11:54:00 AM | 3 Comment(s)

Plants require certain nutrients to thrive, and unless the pH of the soil is at the correct level, the plant cannot absorb these nutrients. A soil test establishes these levels. The most common chemicals tested for in a soil test include calcium, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, as well as pH.  It is important for the homeowner to assess these levels prior to developing a fertilization regime.  The test results will let you know how much lime, nitrogen and other nutrients your lawn or garden requires.

To take a soil test, you need to dig appropriate samples of the soil.  For a typical lawn, that means under the turf (a depth of about 6 inches).  Sample several areas of the lawn and mix them together in a clean plastic or glass container, before transferring the sample to a bag or box, as required by the laboratory. Total sample should be around one cup in volume. For accurate tests, avoid areas that may be contaminated such as a driveway or road that is salted, or compost piles.

Allow excessively moist samples to air dry before testing or packing.  Do tests for each area of the garden where you intend to grow different things such as azaleas, herbs, tomatoes and lawn, all of which require slightly different fertilizers and amendments.  The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension is a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Extension offices are located in most states, and will provide information regarding where to send soil samples for testing and the cost (generally under $25).  Check out this list of state cooperative extension agencies.

Home tests kits are also available to test pH and a limited number of nutrients.  Prepare the sample for these tests in the same way as for laboratory testing, but follow the instructions for specific needs.

Author Kate Copsey can be reached at KTCopsey@aol.com.