Aug 12
Turf Health and Cultural Practices
Ok so you’re doing it again… the annual ritual of comparing your lawn to everyone else in the neighborhood. How come the guy two houses down has such a beautiful green lawn? Well let’s look at a few things that might be holding you back from winning this unofficial contest for [...] [...more]
Turf Health and Cultural Practices
Ok so you’re doing it again… the annual ritual of comparing your lawn to everyone else in the neighborhood. How come the guy two houses down has such a beautiful green lawn? Well let’s look at a few things that might be holding you back from winning this unofficial contest for the greenest lawn on the block.
First let’s remember that every gallon of the water we use today is now being metered, and all of us are now paying good hard earned money for that water! So having the greenest lawn on the block may be more of a challenge than in the past where you could simply pour on the water and fertilizer to get great green results. It is new day for those of us who got used to having no water meters. From here on out we better make sure we are getting the most out of the water resources that we have if we want to keep those beautiful green expanses of oxygen producing chlorophyll we call “LAWN” (because playing ball in my bare feet, it feels soooo good on my toes!)
I am going to skip over a few things that are basic and really need to be reviewed in a separate blog. Briefly however, they are fertilizing and having a functioning, properly installed irrigation system, and that you actually know how to change the time on your controller. These things are basic to having a great green lawn.
Apart from that, why care about the health of your lawn?, “If it looks green that’s all that’s important right” that is mostly true, but many problem turf issues can be slow to develop and often show up later or many seasons down the road because of something you didn’t do or where doing wrong.
The first thing to remember is that turf is a plant with leaves. It looses those leaves at various times in its life, the parts that we don’t cut off with our lawn mower, falls to the ground and then starts the process of decay. Some so called mulching mowers actually leave all the clippings in the grass to help “Mulch the Lawn”. A buildup of this decaying leaves is called “thatch”. How this thatch is handled can be something that can be a good thing for the health of the lawn or something that can be a problem later down the road, usually a problem. Another thing that relates to this slow buildup of thatch is poor water penetration. We often get customers who say their lawn just doesn’t look that great anymore and the weeds are taking over. And so, most people have been conditioned by television to think that there lawn needs a Weed-n-feed and that will fix the problem. The television advertisements during sporting events are full of commercials showing guys with nice green lawns using whoever’s brand of fertilizer to make their lawn green. There is more to it than that and in these days of wise water use we have an obligation to share what we know as professionals to help you maintain you lawn to its most healthy condition.
Okay now that I got that off my chest… what we are really talking about? Turf is a living plant. Plants have roots that go down into the soil (hopefully). The relationship of the plant to the soil, to the roots, to the health of the plant is critical. The first most important piece of advice I give to my customers at The Greenery is to set your lawnmower to its tallest setting when mowing and leave it there. Field test trials have shown this will make for a plant with a far deeper root system, a plant more able to make food for the roots and the new emerging shoots, and a plant more able to compete with weed seeds for space in the lawn. The first step to a healthier lawn! And all you had to do was change the setting on your lawnmower! How easy was that? Your new deeper healthier root system is now more able to slurp up every precious drop of water that you put on! And when you do fertilize, the lawn will be able to really get the most of the nutrients it needs because of the more extensive root system. Sounds pretty basic, and it is.
So now you’re probably thinking here is where Lee starts to talk about it being time to fertilize right? But wait, Here is another tip to make you lawn even better, remember were talking about improving the health of you lawn here! Ever heard of “Aeration” or “Aerating the Lawn” I can see a few puzzled looks on your faces so allow me to explain. Aeration is the process of mechanically removing a small vertical 2-4” long core of grass, roots, and soil from your turf, leaving a hole that you could easily poke a finger down. Greens Keepers on golf courses have been doing this to their lawns for years. Why should you poke holes in a perfectly good lawn you ask, here is why. Those holes make little paths for water and air to have better access to the roots of the lawn. And it also removes a small part of the thatch. This process also helps to reduce compaction of the soil thus making you lawn healthier! I have personally observed many lawns spring back to life after their first aeration treatment. This process should be performed by a professional who knows how to protect the sprinkler system. This professional can also make recommendations as to how often this process needs to be done for your unique lawn situation, however usually once every couple of years is a good rule of thumb.
Ok, so now we get to the fertilizing part. Here again we are going to recommend something to not only feed the lawn but to improve the health of the turf itself and the soil where the roots reside. Remember my earlier comments about thatch? Some relatively new turf fertilizing theory is recommending the use of organic fertilizers to help stimulate the soil microbes, whose job it is to aid in breaking down the dead plant material building up on the surface of the soil. This breaking down process of the thatch converts dead organic material into food and nutrients for the beneficial bacteria living in the soil down among the roots of the turf. This is particularly good if you have a mulching mower and you are leaving your lawn clippings behind each time you mow. So here is a word picture for you, to help illustrate the process I am describing. Think of this process as a microscopic composting pile living in the soil among the roots of your turf. How cool is that! (“Honey - I’m composting in my soil below my turf”)
This composting process works well because you are encouraging the living microorganisms down in the root zone of the turf with the proper amounts of air and water along with a slow release organic form of fertilizer that actually feeds the soil microbes while it feeds the turf. You get a two for one deal here! We at The Greenery are recommending the Gardener & Bloome lawn food to accomplish this job. A word of caution here, if you choose to use a synthetic fertilizer you will not get the benefits from the beneficial soil microbes that in the organic fertilizer and are doing the composting job. Furthermore you could even windup decreasing the number of existing healthy microbes living in the soil, the turf will look green but you will not be doing anything to help with the reduction of the thatch layer.
So to summarize:
• Mow tall
• Aerate your lawn every 2 years
• Fertilize with an organic based fertilizer containing beneficial soil microbes
Have fun with this information and go forth and take claim to your
New Healthiest and Greenest Lawn on your block!
Look for more information to come on fertilizing, proper irrigation systems and watering practices!
Guest post written by
Lee of The Greenery
Aug 08
I am writing this post in response to a recent increase of this pest. The plant symptoms are stippling very much like spidermites (which also frequently affect grapes) but is much more severe to the point of bleaching the leaf almost white followed by death of part or all of the leaf. The leaves can [...] [...more]
I am writing this post in response to a recent increase of this pest. The plant symptoms are stippling very much like spidermites (which also frequently affect grapes) but is much more severe to the point of bleaching the leaf almost white followed by death of part or all of the leaf. The leaves can be sticky and will often have small dark brown dots on the lower side which are droppings from the insects.
These leafhoppers are tiny, only 1/6″-5/8″ long and are often the same color as the leaf so they can be very difficult to see. Upon a little research I found that there are many different species of leafhopper and they are pretty specific about what they eat. The typical Grape Leafhopper (Erythroneura comes) will also infest blackberry, Boston Ivy, catnip, currant, maple, plum and Virginia Creeper. This insect can transmit diseases so control is important. It is related to the Sharpshooter which made headlines a few years ago and like the Sharpshooter can devastate crops.
If you think you have this or any other pest in your yard or garden, you can bring a fresh sample into the nursery for diagnosis. Please remember the sample needs to be fresh and in a sealed plastic bag.
-Adria
Jun 07
Now that the warm weather is here, our gardens are finally taking off and unfortunately so are the insects!
For tomatoes the common problem insect is the tomato hornworm. It is easy to control and even prevent this pest by using insecticides with the main ingredients Bt or Spinosad. Bt has been around for years and [...] [...more]
Now that the warm weather is here, our gardens are finally taking off and unfortunately so are the insects!
For tomatoes the common problem insect is the tomato hornworm. It is easy to control and even prevent this pest by using insecticides with the main ingredients Bt or Spinosad. Bt has been around for years and works very well but needs to be applied every week to maintain control. It also needs to be mixed up fresh for each application since it becomes foul smelling and ineffective within one week after being mixed. Spinosad is a newer introduction and is recommended to be applied every week, especially if you have a heavy infestation but I have found it can last as long as 2 weeks in between applications. At The Greenery you will find Monterey Garden Insect Spray (containing Spinosad) in concentrate or a convenient hose-end sprayer. Oh and did I mention both of these solutions are ORGANIC!
Aphids and whiteflies can devastate annual plants like vegetables. They can be controlled many ways but the way I recommend is using Dr. Earth Home and Garden Spray. It is all natural so it is safe for edibles and actually repels the insects too. Now the trick with whiteflies is to spray the plants down with a strong spray of water 3-4 days from the last insecticide spraying. Whiteflies have a very fast life cycle and you can not apply insecticides, organic or not, that frequently hence the use of water. This knocks down the adults so they can’t get up and continue reproducing.
Snails are a year-round nuisance here in our climate. I recommend the use of Monterey Sluggo or Sluggo Plus. Sluggo is a long lasting pellet that is safe for us and pets. Its main ingredient is iron-phosphate which is a naturally occuring element in the soil. Sluggo Plus contains iron-phosphate along with Spinosad to control other insects that live on the soil like cutworms, sowbugs and earwigs.
So I have covered the main insect pests we see in summer. Is there an insect that you have a problem with? Let me know!
-Adria
May 05
We were very excited and anxious when we decided to try a Ladies Night Out at The Greenery. Thanks to our loyal patrons and fellow businesses the night was a great success! It was a wonderful night and we have received lots of positive feedback about it. It sounds like everyone enjoyed themselves, even our [...] [...more]
We were very excited and anxious when we decided to try a Ladies Night Out at The Greenery. Thanks to our loyal patrons and fellow businesses the night was a great success! It was a wonderful night and we have received lots of positive feedback about it. It sounds like everyone enjoyed themselves, even our hardworking staff. Thank you Teresa, Ali and Chavelle for all your hard work to put together such a wonderful night.
I wanted to share some photos of the evening.
We had a great turnout!
Teresa's daughter, Katie, and Jay's daughter, Sara, checked in our guests.
Two Guys Catering did the Hors d' ouerves
Our guests enjoyed Two Guys menu.
It was as delicious as it was beautiful.
Jay of The Greenery served the wine.
The guests enjoyed the wine, but who wouldn't?
Desserts by Angela's Sweets.
The desserts were as irresistible as they looked!
Cammie and Bobbi from The Spa.
One of the new products highlighted during the evening. Soy Toi is made of 100% soybeans and is a natural source of vitamin E and Lecithin, both of which are necessary for healthy skin.
The highlight of the evening was Chavelle's presentation on floral arranging.
Our talented designer, Chavelle.
One of the beautiful displays that evening.
The evening was gorgeous, as was the nursery. What a perfect setting!
It was a drop-dead beautiful evening!
As the sun went down, the nursery lit up.
Again, thanks to The Spa, Two Guys Catering, Angela’s Sweets and all the hardworking staff at The Greenery for such a wonderful evening!
-Adria
Apr 14
For those looking to grow the newly popular Goji Berry, we have the plants! Plant them in full sun and water regularly but do not over water. They can grow to 8′ so don’t be afraid to prune them to shape.
They are available in #1 size pots and only in limited quantities.
Good Luck!
-Adria
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For those looking to grow the newly popular Goji Berry, we have the plants! Plant them in full sun and water regularly but do not over water. They can grow to 8′ so don’t be afraid to prune them to shape.
They are available in #1 size pots and only in limited quantities.
Good Luck!
-Adria
Jan 12
For those who are passionate about roses or feel you are clueless and want to learn more, check out this free seminar. Rick of The Greenery will be teaching all about pruning, spraying and other maintenance that is important in the winter. Rick is very knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to roses. Just ask [...] [...more]
For those who are passionate about roses or feel you are clueless and want to learn more, check out this free seminar. Rick of The Greenery will be teaching all about pruning, spraying and other maintenance that is important in the winter. Rick is very knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to roses. Just ask him how many he has in his yard!
We look forward to seeing you there!
-Adria
Oct 26
This year we decided to host a Harvest Festival at The Greenery. We wanted it to be a fun day for the entire family full of drawings, kids activities and a Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin contest. We also had our Pumpkin Planter Seminar that day too. We think it was a success, just [...] [...more]
This year we decided to host a Harvest Festival at The Greenery. We wanted it to be a fun day for the entire family full of drawings, kids activities and a Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin contest. We also had our Pumpkin Planter Seminar that day too. We think it was a success, just check out the pictures!
Our face painter, Tiffany.
Tiffany also made all kinds of animal balloons!
One of the kids activities was to decorate a pumpkin like this.
The kids could also decorate a pot then plant a flower in it.
Thanks to the parents who let us take such adorable pictures of the kids. If you would like to have your picture or your children’s picture removed, just let us know.
I think the pictures were all too cute. Thanks to all who attended. It seemed like everybody had a great time!
Oct 25
This seminar is the third in our Fall Seminars at The Greenery. We hosted it on the same day as our Harvest Festival. The weather was perfect and everybody had a great time.
Thank you for all those who attended, it was a fun day!
-Adria
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This seminar is the third in our Fall Seminars at The Greenery. We hosted it on the same day as our Harvest Festival. The weather was perfect and everybody had a great time.
The empty pumpkins, ready for planting.
Seminar participants worked their magic to create a fun fall planter.
This was a perfect activity with your children or grandchildren.
Their fall masterpieces
A finished Pumpkin Planter. It is easy and fun to add different accents like this concrete mouse or gourd.
Another finished pumpkin planter.
Thank you for all those who attended, it was a fun day!
-Adria
Sep 28
For those who are Turlock Irrigation District customers, when you plant a tree you are eligible for a rebate. The tree has to be deciduous (loses it leaves) and be planted in your yard to be able to cast shade on your house. For more information you make come into the nursery and pick up [...] [...more]
For those who are Turlock Irrigation District customers, when you plant a tree you are eligible for a rebate. The tree has to be deciduous (loses it leaves) and be planted in your yard to be able to cast shade on your house. For more information you make come into the nursery and pick up a form or click here.
Hope this helps!
-Adria
Sep 27
I ran across some interesting information about edible flowers. There is a recipe about making candied flowers - Yum! Here’s the link. click here
For more information on which flowers are edible visit Botanical Interests website
Don’t forget, edible flowers make perfect additions to your winter vegetable gardens or containers!
-Adria
[...more]
I ran across some interesting information about edible flowers. There is a recipe about making candied flowers - Yum! Here’s the link. click here
For more information on which flowers are edible visit Botanical Interests website
Don’t forget, edible flowers make perfect additions to your winter vegetable gardens or containers!
-Adria
