Investing In Property by Landscaping
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People get nervous when the daily news hammers about a shaky financial environment. Do not be fooled. People are still buying homes, investing money into their property to improve the property value.
Toasted Green – Tips for Selecting the Best Lawn Fertilizer
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With things warming up the buzz of lawn mowers, weed eaters and fertilizer spreaders have become a more common weekend happening. Recently on a trip to the local garden center the bags of fertilizers were stacked up waiting for the local garden and landscape hero to load up the car or SUV with their next home improvement project – the lawn!
Let’s give you a hand with lawn fertilizer for your lawn along with some other links to resources.
The 3 numbers you find on the fertilizer bag are the major elements - Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus. There are of course also minor elements like iron, magnesium, etc. but for our today we’ll look at the big three.
The first number is Nitrogen – that is the element which will give your lawn a deep green color, build a sturdy, dense carpet with deep strong roots. Nitrogen when applied in too heavy a dose can toast a lawn from fertilizer burn. A healthy lawn can fight of disease, pests and handle drought conditions much easier than a lawn fighting for survival.
The second number on the fertilizer bag is Potassium. Potassium is nitrogen’s buddy as they work side by side to strengthen roots and toughen up foliage. Just like a healthy lawn strong grass leaves can handle traffic, disease, cold nights and drought much easier.
Last but not least is Phosphorus, which does more under the surface work to help produce a strong root system.
So the time has come to buy that bag of fertilizer!
When you walk into your garden center you’ll see a variety of fertilizers with a range of numbers. That 3 number blend makes the fertilizer suited for a special need. For example in the spring you want to promote growth so a higher nitrogen number for growth is a good selection. Going into the fall a fertilizer with a higher number in potassium is better suited for preparing grass for the long winter.
Before you look at any pricing, numbers or whatever make sure you know the type of grass you want to fertilize to get the right fertilizer to meet the growth needs. The time of year plays a part, the overall health of the lawn and yard maturity. The more information you have at your disposal the better position you’ll be in to make a buying decision.
You’ll find fertilizer in usually few different forms and Types.
Forms
Granular (slow and fast-release) – My personal favorite. It provides good long-term feeding for months and months.
Liquid – Good for quick greening but short term
Types
Synthetic – These are water-soluble and can be used by the plant almost immediately. Applying too much synthetic type fertilizer can “burn” foliage and damage your plants.
Organic – usually bulky and smelly – ok in the garden where it gets buried!
Here’s few links to other lawn articles:
Spring is Here - Spending Money on Dirt!
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For many “Spring” arrives in different ways. For some it’s the time change, others it’s the Azaleas starting to bloom… for me I’m just weird, I know it’s “Spring” from TV commercials.
In the just the past week I’ve seen or heard the audio rumbling through our home commercials for Lowe’s and Home Depot. But the one that always gets my attention is the Miracle Gro commercials. The reason why that piques my interest comes from some obscure fact that sticks in my brain.
A few years ago it was report that “Miracle Gro” spent 1 million per week during the season to promote their products. That season starts during the “Spring.” Do they make the best potting soil, media or dirt? You’ll have to decide, but there must be money in it. The Miracle Gro fertilizer commercial has not come across the radar yet but will soon I’m sure.
Spring is also in the air because of the weeds starting to grow. That means the “Round-Up” commercials with homeowners spraying have started. You’ll soon see them. The problem I have with the commercial is not the use of “round-up” it’s been a great product I use. However, you should always play it safe with some safety eyewear and gloves. Kill the weeds but keep the chemicals off and away from your body. That goes for the Spectrcide commercials and products also. But having someone applying these products in a Hazmat suit would not sell them as well.
It’s safe to say you probably won’t see many commercials on landscape rocks, outdoor landscape lighting for safety purposes or outdoor wireless speakers for your backyard landscape on TV. So next time you’re at the local garden center looking at the flowers, dirt and chemicals give them a look also - since Spring is here - cuz the TV told us so!
The Wasteful - Is It You?
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No matter how “Green” we may think we are a survey conducted by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence found that Americans have little taste for conservation - that’s the conservation of water.
The survey looked at the attitudes and the activities of 105 million US consumer households. The finding showed that one out of three households had ZERO plans to conserve water in their gardens or yards for the upcoming season.
One in four or approximately 21 million plan on using the least efficient way to water plants or irrigate! They plan to water by hand. Here’s 10 Tips to Improve your Irrigation
Anytime the economy turns people may not have the same money to travel but look to stay home and make improvements around the house. The survey showed the same thing.
Plans for major landscape upgrades to not only improve the look but landscaping can also improve the property values of a home. Tops on the landscape upgrade include renovating the patio landscaping or deck, installing water gardens and building sheds. Don’t forget improving the watering system with installing irrigation.
Almost half plan to grow some garden vegetables but 1/3 did not think very much about fertilizer needs. One in five plan on going the natural or organic route.
This speaks volumes to me. Plants are a way of life for many of us, but as consumers we have a long way to go in the basics - that being watering plants indoors and out along with using safe natural controls for pest to make our environment safer.
What are your plant plans for the summer. Is an updated patio in your future or even a garden?
Time for Houseplants to Celebrate Spring!
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It’s Time to Celebrate Spring!
Springtime is right at our doorsteps.
After the long winter it’s time for the growing season, pruning, giving those house plants a good thorough cleaning, repotting… if necessary and overall getting those plants in shape!
- But what about your houseplants?
- Where do you start?
- Who do you ask?
When house plants leave the nursery, their entire “how to” care information now sits in the hands of the local nursery or garden center. They know some basics on lots of plants but not the real inside scoop. Sort of like an office temp…
You’ve probably asked plant care questions, tried your hand at watering, fertilizing, repotting, moving plants around… But your efforts don’t deliver results!
You’re Frustrated!
That’s why I decided to do something about it.
I created a simple, extremely effective, easy to read, easy to apply, care guide on indoor house plants that anyone can understand and put to use.
If you’re serious about making your houseplants look their best! … Click the link for this
Special Guide!
Bring on the Spring!
