After the last post, time simply flew...other projects came in the first place, and I ended up putting off this one that should have been my priority in 2010. After all, it was the idea of creating a blog like this that helped me to get through the first months of the year as a retired teacher. I found in it a substitute for the classes I no longer had to teach. And, in the end, blogging turned out to be a great pastime.
But, once a teacher, forever a teacher... my teaching practice was required, and my blog was set aside for a while.
So, after a few months, here I am writing about summer flowers - which are just gorgeous. Every garden, every corner is filled with colors, from bright pink to light rose, from dark purple to light blue, not mentioning the numerous varieties of yellows.
The bougainvilleas this year are incredibly colorful and so are the gracious hibiscus. My neighborhood is specially blessed with so many beautiful gardens. Were not for the boiling heat this summer and I would say this is my favorite season.
Nineteen days from now summertime will be knocking at our doors. Thinking about packing up and going somewhere to enjoy vacation with your family? Nice, but before doing that, take some time and look around your lawn and check (in case you haven’t done it yet ) whether it needs some maintenance. Oh, you might say, I’ll hire someone to take care of it, it’s so much work, a time-consuming task, I can’t do it myself.
Well, actually, it’s not as hard as you believe. Once you have a few guidelines and tips – and some spare time - you may easily get a healthy green lawn just in time for the first backyard BBQ of the season.
Let’s see what should be done :
1.Revive your lawn by fertilizing it properly. Fertilizer is the key to ensuring strong healthy growth of the yard grass which will grow greener and thicker.
Typically, you want to fertilize two times a year. If you’re less concerned about perfection, in the north you can get away with feeding just once a year: in the spring or fall. In the south, with its longer growing season, you will need to feed twice, spring and fall.
Start in early spring, approximately 30 days before the growing season begins in your area, continuing through the growing season until fall. But be careful, though: don’t use too much fertilizer.
If you’d like to fertilize organically, check out the variety of organic products at your garden center. Or, just rake 1/4 inch of compost atop the soil.
2.Mow your lawn properly, that is, do not cut too much off the grass top. Instead, set the mower to a mid-position so you won’t “scalp” the lawn, which can be disastrous. (Check out the post of May 6th)
3.Also remember to control the weeds by pulling or digging them, being sure to get as much of the root as possible. If you fail to get enough of the root, you will simply be doing a prune job. With dandelions in particular, it’s important to get at least the top inch of the plant’s long, narrow taproot.
With these tips you are ready to take care of your lawn and make it the perfect place for summer gatherings.
You may want to check out May 6 post for other ideas.
After the last post, time simply flew...other projects came in the first place, and I ended up putting off this one that should have been my priority in 2010. After all, it was the idea of creating a blog like this that helped me to get through the first months of the year as a retired teacher. I found in it a substitute for the classes I no longer had to teach. And, in the end, blogging turned out to be a great pastime.
