Midwest Gardening Jun 20, 2009
-- You can dig up the whole plant, trim back the top a little, then bury the rose in a trench topped with a foot of soil and a layer of mulch. Dig it up in spring and replant. (Sioux City Journal)
Southern grace in the garden Jun 20, 2009
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thursday, June 18, 2009. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Mowing won't thicken St. Augustine Jun 19, 2009
If you find a few in your house, treat the mulch near doorways with insecticide. Because they prefer moist environments, be sure to fix dripping outdoor faucets and damp spots near your downspout. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Mulch to be considered Jun 18, 2009
In the garden, that makes mulch the equivalent of a chunky bracelet. Mulch dresses up a garden and makes it look finished and polished ... Over the years, I've used Western red cedar, pine bark, cocoa bean hulls, cypress mulch, newspapers, glass clippings, synthetics and plastic. (Waterloo Courier, IO)
Warm weather triggers aphid infestation Jun 18, 2009
Pile soil or mulch around the growing stems. Leave the top three or four inches above it all. (Anchorage Daily News)
Solving tomato problems Jun 18, 2009
"They are probably one of the easiest vegetables to grow, but no vegetable is problem proof, said Ron Wolford. Here are some of the common tomato problems you may encounter during the growing season. Fluctuating spring temperatures can be a problem for newly planted tomato transplants. To help get your tomatoes off to a good start, mulch tomato transplants with black plastic. Soil under plastic is around 10 degrees F warmer than uncovered soil. The mulch also conserves moisture and protects the... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
EPA declares asbestos emergency in town Jun 18, 2009
Miners carried vermiculite dust home on their clothes, vermiculite once covered school running tracks in Libby and some residents used vermiculite as mulch in their home gardens. Gayla Benefield of Libby, who suffers health effects from asbestos exposure and lost both parents to asbestos-related lung diseases, called the declaration a "a giant step forward" for improved medical care and clean up of the town. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Danger in the yard: Toxic plants pose pet threat Jun 16, 2009
The concentration of theobromine the active ingredient in chocolate thats toxic to pets varies depending on the processes companies use to create cocoa mulches. Because there isnt any consistency from product to product, its safest not to use cocoa mulch, Tegzes says. (MSNBC -- Health)
Vandenberg Village residents fill county’s beautification gap Jun 16, 2009
Steve Heuring rakes mulch Wednesday behind his home on Burton Mesa Boulevard ... About a month ago, Heuring and neighbors began clearing barren dirt and dead plants from between the curb and sidewalk with the goal of replacing it with mulch to prevent weeds and to plant drought tolerant plants and trees along the road a stretch of about 850 feet ... The county has provided the mulch at no cost. (Lompoc Record, CA)
Looking for a few good mowers Jun 16, 2009
About a year ago the city instituted an Adopt-A-Median program to not only mow medians and traffic islands on a regular basis to keep grass shorter than 5 inches tall, but also to prune shrubs, mulch, water plants and remove debris. Donnie Snow, director of the Parks Recreation and Cultural Services Department, said the program was modeled after one in Indianapolis. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Letter: Thanks to Shady Hill School Jun 6, 2009
In the spring, students from grades 4 to 7 have been busy raking and bagging leaves, gathering fallen branches and twigs, planting annuals and summer-flowering bulbs, spreading mulch and harvesting soil from the compost pile. More bulb planting and cleanup is done in the early fall. (Cambridge Chronicle, MA)
Little bugs can be a big nuisance for strawberries Jun 5, 2009
Remove mulch from around the plants. Carbaryl (Sevin, Bayer Garden Insect Control, etc. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Attack of the tree-killing pests Jun 5, 2009
The trees should be immediately cut down, burned, buried or chipped for mulch before the pine sawyer beetles emerge from the wood and carry the nematodes to new host trees ... Put the mulch where it doesn't directly contact the trunk, especially any wounds in the bark ... Any nematodes will dehydrate and die before they can wriggle into the mulched tree. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Think of the hungry when planting Jun 4, 2009
Mulch: There is no such thing as bare ground in nature. Use leaf or other brown mulches around trees, shrubs and on perennial beds ... Containers: Mulch as above. (Anchorage Daily News)
Butterfly Gardening with Native Pla... Jun 3, 2009
It is best to mulch established plants before Winter; prune back old stems if they freeze and new growth will emerge in the Spring. They can also be cut and shaped before growth begins if they have become too leggy. (Suite101.com)
Volunteers help with landscaping project Jun 2, 2009
Four Mattoon High School students and three University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Coles County, volunteered their time, plants and mulch to landscape the area around the LifeSpan Center s flagpole. The students worked under the direct supervision of the gardeners by laying down a weed barrier of wet newspapers, planting plants and hauling and spreading mulch. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Community garden is gift of heart May 31, 2009
Gifts have totaled at least 10,000, she said, and came from parents, students, residents and local businesses including mulch from the city of La Crosse delivered on Wednesday. The garden has a practical purpose, too, she said. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Now's the time to plant trees May 31, 2009
-- A layer of mulch around the tree helps keep the top of the ground cool and hold moisture around the tree. Don't put mulch right up to the trunk because it can trap moisture that could lead to rotting. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Discoveries Upend Traditional Thinking About How Plants Make Certain Compounds May 30, 2009
6, 2008) Hairy vetch mulch activates, in regular tomatoes, some of the same metabolic pathways and genes that are activated in biotech tomatoes by the insertion of the ySAMdc gene, which makes tomato plants. (Dec. (Science Daily)
Answering some FAQs about gardening (2) May 30, 2009
Also, you were probably told to put 2 to 3 inches of mulch all around the base of the new tree about 3 to 4 feet out from the base ... Pull the grass out and put the mulch down ... Thats another reason you need the mulch-so you dont hit the tree with the weed-whacker line. (Boerne Star, TX)
Green Space: Composting worth a bit of effort May 29, 2009
This small amount of thatch provides insulation to roots and serves as a mulch to prevent excessive water evaporation and soil compaction ... Many organic materials from your yard can be put back to use, in yards and gardens with very little effort as mulch, by composting ... Mulching offers numerous benefits such as protecting the soil, conserving moisture and suppressing weeds. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Increasing your outdoor water efficiency May 29, 2009
There are in this method: water conservation, soil improvement, limited turf, appropriate plants, mulch, irrigation using soaker hoses and drip irrigation, and maintenance ... Soaker hoses, which lie flat on the ground and are slightly buried under the soil or mulch, allow water to seep directly into the soil and deliver water at the root zone of plants. (Lexington Minuteman, MA)
Saugus Fire log May 17-23 May 27, 2009
Outside fire A caller reported a mulch fire in front of the Continental Restaurant. Engine 3 responded to the scene and extinguished a small mulch fire, May 20. (Saugus Advertiser, MA)
A conversation, or perhaps the start of a movement May 27, 2009
Palo Alto Online News. Uploaded: Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 4:02 PM. (Palo Alto Online, CA)
Summer Squash in Waterwise Gardens May 26, 2009
Mulch well around each remaining seedling ... Straw mulch helps keep the beetles from walking from plant to plant ... Remove debris (not mulch) from around plants. (Suite101.com)
Homeowners save money by doing the work themselves May 26, 2009
Here is how she spent the day instead: clearing out dead grass, branches, leaves and twigs from her large, heavily wooded backyard in Lexington, then hauling it to a mulch pile. It was a job for which Stegman and her husband used to hire landscapers. (Boston Globe)
The Bookworm: Gardeners will really dig this book May 24, 2009
Instead, plan early and use old newspapers and mulch to make tilling unnecessary. If you did your homework, you should have some compost ready, too. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
YARD & GARDEN: Tips for new vegetable growers May 23, 2009
Q) Is peat moss good as mulch ... As a mulch, it cakes readily so that water flows off the bed rather than down into it. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Airport board approves excavation project May 22, 2009
The authority voted to donate 50 for mulch from Schneider Nursery for the war memorial. Next meeting will be held at 7:15 p.m. Monday, June 15, at the airport terminal conference room. (Brownstown Jackson County Banner, IN)
Sprays may be the answer to control squash bugs May 22, 2009
It includes use in greenhouses and as mulch. Sprinkle 10-10-10 fertilizer, then till a row 2 feet wide and several feet long.. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Grass-free yard options May 21, 2009
This Roslindale home features a variety of lawn alternatives, including perennials, annuals, mulches, and more ... Low-growing plants such as creeping thyme and oregano spread to fill gaps during the summer, and two types of mulch - pine and cocoa - blanket what the creepers do not ... At this point, the work is about mulching, pruning, and watering. (Boston Globe)
Harden before you plant May 21, 2009
Lawns: Instead of raking, put on those safety glasses and mow and mulch sticks, leaves and twigs and leave them in place ... It is valuable for composting and mulching ... Clean up underneath shrubs and hedges of any sort and reapply missing mulch, which should be available from the leaves you collected for this purpose. (Anchorage Daily News)
Cleaning a sealed and waxed oak floor May 21, 2009
We already removed and replaced the mulch near the house that was the likely source ... It grows in wood mulch and fires those black spores as far as 15 feet; hence the name ... If the replacement mulch is wood chips, the fungus will continue to grow. (Boston Globe)
Pallet Buyers Need to be Aware of 'Voodoo' Environmental Claims, Says PALNET USA May 21, 2009
They get delivered, picked up, inspected, repaired, reused, and when no longer viable, get ground up into garden mulch or stove pellets. Smith concludes, "Companies that are striving to be environmental need to be able to rely on the claims their suppliers make to be true and accurate. If not, everyone suffers, the environment included.". (PR Newswire)
Local farmers celebrate with sweet treats May 21, 2009
Farmers and home growers can use blankets, towels, newspapers or mulch to insulate the plants, said Stevens. Another, more time consuming method is to coat the plants with ice by spraying them with water. (Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, NC)
Greenspace: How to get the most out of your tomato plants May 21, 2009
Mulch: Conquering weeds is critical ... If you use mulch, wait until the soil warms before applying ... The best mulch is tree leaves shredded with a lawn mower. (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
More of this story May 21, 2009
The BRTA continued to contract landscape maintenance through June 2008 at 29,700 each year for labor, plus the costs of plants, mulch and other materials ... This recession has hit a lot of business owners pretty hard and now we re being asked to dig in to maintain a contract that I knew was pretty hefty in the beginning, Simms said, adding that he doesn t mind chipping into a contract but that he understood property owners would be responsible for maintaining healthy plants, mulching and... (Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, OK)
Neighbors learn to share during downturn May 20, 2009
"We chip up our branches and make our own mulch out of it," Ms. Matranga said. "There are a couple of passionate gardeners on our block.". (The Augusta Chronicle)
Neighbors share in the downturn, and save May 20, 2009
"We chip up our branches and make our own mulch out of it," Matranga said. "There are a couple of passionate gardeners on our block. Many of us who contributed to this machine, we've lived on this street together for 20 years.". (MSNBC -- Business)
Declaring War on Flowerbed Weeds May 19, 2009
Using a good commercial grade weed mat or several layers of newspaper and two to three inches of mulch will help keep weeds out ... Create a good foundation for prevention, using heavy-duty weed matting or newspapers, laying mulch on the top of the soil. (Suite101.com)
Police Log, May 4-10 May 19, 2009
Thursday, May 7 At 1:35 p.m. a landscaping company was throwing mulch in the roadway on Boston Road. At 2:09 p.m. a resident reported receiving harassing text messages on Tomahawk Drive. (Billerica Minuteman, MA)
Growing Tomato Plants in an Organic... May 19, 2009
Top with a 3-inch layer of organic mulch to control soil moisture, which reduces blossom end rot. Some gardeners swear by red mulch to increase yields, but plastic does nothing to enrich the soil ... Waiting until nighttime temperatures are at least 60 degrees and placing plants where they receive six to eight hours of full sun is just as important as mulch color. (Suite101.com)
Gardeners Go Green For Good Cause May 19, 2009
Try to put mulch down once the plant is in the ground. Copyright 2009 by. (Click2Houston, TX)
Seeds of community: Public garden brings together all walks of life to grow friendship, their own food May 18, 2009
Konner Karren, 15, front and his brother, Jeff Karren, 17, back, load mulch into wheel barrels at the Community Garden in North Logan Saturday ... Published: Monday, May 18, 2009 12:32 AM CDT HYDE PARK Judy Torres surveyed the dozens of volunteers spreading mulch and building raised planter beds at the community garden behind St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church ... If you re too stressed, this helps you calm down, Silos said while turning mulch. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Bake out bugs by solarizing May 18, 2009
Use clear polyethylene, not black plastic mulch ... However, it is safe to leave the plastic over the beds as mulch for warm season plants that could benefit from higher soil temperatures in autumn. (Lake City Reporter, FL)
June gardening guide May 17, 2009
Continue mulching your garden beds with bark chips, saw dust, mulch and compost to provide a warm layer through the winter and to assist with the retention of water. You are still able to split perennials like agapanthus, clivias, dietes and cannas. (iAfrica.com)
Cottoning hemlocks May 17, 2009
Water hemlocks during drought periods if possible; dont damage the shallow roots by compacting or tilling the soil underneath a tree; dont change the soil grade or water runoff near a tree; and maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch under a trees branches. Locate birdfeeders away from hemlock trees. (Carlisle Sentinel, PA)
Tricky to grow, celery may be worth the challenge May 17, 2009
Mulch after plant is about 6 inches tall to conserve moisture and discourage weeds. Sidedress 5-10-10 or manure tea in second and third month of growth. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
How Do I Save Spindly Tomato Plants? May 16, 2009
Mulch your plants and try not to wet the leaves but water at ground level. I planted 14 this year and so far they look great. (Epicurious.com)
Garden Caretaker Loves the Work May 16, 2009
She also knows just how carefully to lift the mulch from her entire back yard, where numerous spring beauties reside, awaiting the first beam of light ... The gathered mulch, leaves from last fall, and dead plant matter go straight into the compost box right along with old shrubs, last years' pumpkins, shriveled potatoes, table waste -- except for meat and a sprinkle of Quick Start, an inoculant ... Sides shares with visitors the magic she felt when blue blooms of scilla, now spent against the... (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Tiny green thumbs reshape Indialantic school's landscape May 16, 2009
The teachers received a $400 grant from Boeing Co. to help fund the rainbow garden, as well as a donation from Wal-Mart and a donation of mulch from the Indialantic Ace Hardware store. Several parents donated flowering plants, too. (Florida Today)
"Mulch" Improved: Homeowners Spruce Up Landscape and Increase Home Value May 16, 2009
"One of the things that you can do to help save money on your landscaping is making sure that you're watering efficiently. One of the ways that you can save water in a landscape is by mulching the landscape.". He says placing a two-inch layer of mulch in your yard helps keep the soil from drying out and therefore it needs less water ... "It also adds organic material to the soil as the mulch breaks down and gets incorporated into the soil. So that's always a benefit to the plants," says... (RealtyTimes)
The new art of landscapes May 15, 2009
Butler created an intricate trenching system to control erosion while alternating rock and mulch beds in the front yard. Plants were placed carefully throughout the property, with attention to scale and wind direction, ensuring they grow into the space while keeping its spare, Zen-like look. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Gardens showing productive signs May 15, 2009
Like the good little gardener wannabe that I am, I am waiting to mulch the vegetable bed until the temperature rises, to allow the soil to heat up. With the rain (loud knocking on wood), I've had to water only once or twice. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Green Thumbs: Spring is joyously sprung May 15, 2009
Apply mulch over the root ball but away from the trunk of the tree, especially if the specimen is to be grown in full sun, and provide supplemental water during periods of drought to minimize the potential for dogwood anthracnose, a disease which has become a problem in our area in recent years, characterized by large, purple-bordered leaf spots and brown patches beginning on the tips of the foliage. This disease should not be confused with spot anthracnose, which appears as tiny spots the size... (Hanover Mariner, MA)
Aspidistras need fair share of shade May 15, 2009
If not, they can thrive without yearly fertilization, especially if you mulch an area four feet on all sides so roots can spread out and anchor the plants from wind damage. If you want to increase growth, use any landscape fertilizer three times per year: spring, early summer and fall. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Green thumbs up: Playing catch-up on garden cleanup May 15, 2009
Once the gardens have been thoroughly weeded, I usually broadcast a slow-release balanced fertilizer like MNLA Plant-O-Ganic (8-8-8) and then apply a layer of mulch. The use of summer mulch offers many benefits ... Apply two inches of bark mulch over the root systems of trees and shrubs, but avoid direct contact with trunks and branches because it could eventually suffocate woody plants and promote the possible infiltration of insects or diseases. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
Green Space: Plan a cut flower garden this year May 15, 2009
To minimize watering and weeding maintenance, spread a 2-3 inch layer of some organic mulch around the plants when they are a few inches tall ... The mulch will discourage weed growth, keep the soil moist longer, and add nutrients to the soil as it breaks down ... Add to the mulch layer if it breaks down to less than an inch. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Meadow gardening May 15, 2009
(If you don t want to use any chemicals you can cover large areas with black plastic with 3 to 4 inches of mulch on top of the plastic. Leave the plastic for 2 to 3 months which should kill most of the weeds. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
In search of rhubarb May 14, 2009
Mulch and water, then water weekly, or when dry. The first year, "harvest the plant lightly, or not at all." The second year, only harvest stalks "as wide across as your thumb. After that there's nearly no limit to the harvest.". (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Spiders are a natural garden pesticide May 13, 2009
Use mulch in the garden, since it provides protection and humidity for spiders. After the season, leave areas of the garden untilled and leave dead plant stalks so they provide habitats for spiders. (Burlington Union, MA)
High Street goes ‘green' with trees May 12, 2009
Last, Hunter said a mound of dirt should be built and mulch should be spread around the tree. After his instructions, the volunteers spread out in groups on either side of High Street for four blocks. (Keokuk Daily Gate City, IO)
Location, location May 11, 2009
Mulch, but not heavily to avoid clematis wilt ... Mulch in winter for protection. (Waterloo Courier, IO)
Neighbor Island Schools Hope to Achieve Yellow Pages Directory Recycling Success May 9, 2009
The directories will be converted into oil-absorbent materials and used to manufacture home insulation and mulch for local companies such as Green Lava Hydro-Mulch and InCide Pest Control Cellulose Insulation. Much like last year, students not only have the opportunity to recycle their island's old telephone books, but also have the chance to win cash prizes for their respective school as a result of these collection efforts. (PR Newswire)
Why Some Newly Planted Trees Die: Stresses During Handling And Transport Affect Tree Health, Survival May 9, 2009
They recommend careful planning to prevent unnecessary movements of trees at both the nursery loading area and landscape site and warn that if trees are placed in mulch or composted material for an extended period of time, burlap may quickly deteriorate in warm, moist substrate. Information from this research study can be beneficial for tree growers and end-consumers alike. (Science Daily)
