Image: addisongreen.info
Spring clearly is upon us, and the time to prepare gardens, tend to flowers and vegetables and get that lawn in tip-top shape is in full swing.
Unless you’re an old pro, you may be wondering what you should be doing. Here are some tips on how to proceed, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(Note: Take note of any water restrictions imposed by the Town of Addison before following the instructions below.)
Spring, March-May
Flower and Vegetable Gardens
- Prepare new planting beds and gardens by mixing in one to three inches of compost.
- Pull weeds when they first start growing, while soil is moist and roots are short, before they go to seed.
- Buy plants that resist disease and use less water.
Tree and Shrub Beds
- Prepare new tree and shrub beds by mixing compost into the entire bed (not just planting holes).
Lawns
- Start mowing, about two inches high. “Grasscycle”—leave the clippings for free fertilizer.
- For lawns in poor condition: aerate, overseed and top-dress with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of compost.
- Fertilize lawns if needed in May with “natural organic” or “slow-release” fertilizer.
Watering
- Check soil moisture at plant roots before watering—don’t water until they need it.
- Lay out soaker hoses in beds and cover with mulch.
- Prepare sprinkler systems by testing, adjusting and repairing leaks.
Composting
- Harvest compost from your bin. Throw any uncomposted sticks or stalks back in for another cycle.
Summer, June-August
Flower and Vegetable Gardens
Image: addisongreen.info
- Mulch flower and vegetable beds with compost or grass clippings to conserve water and control weeds.
- Use fabric row covers to keep pests off sensitive vegetables.
- Identify bugs before you spray, squash or stomp—they may be “good bugs” that eat pests.
Tree and Shrub Beds
- Mulch shrub and tree beds with shredded wood, leaves or bark once a year to conserve water, reduce weeds and feed the soil.
Lawns
- Mow regularly and leave the clippings on the lawn.
- Keep mower blades sharp to reduce lawn damage and brown tips.
- Consider saving water by letting some lawn areas (ones that don’t get heavy traffic) go brown and dormant until fall.
Watering
- Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation.
- Water lawns one inch per week, if no rain, or let go brown and dormant (but water enough to moisten root zone once a month).
- Start and recheck watering systems, and adjust for weather. (Don’t water when it rains.)
Composting
- Add yard debris to compost pile; water pile to keep it moist. Place pile in shade or cover to hold moisture.
Tags: composting, EPA, garden, lawn mowing, United States Environmental Protection Agency
