3 killer weed control alternatives to weed killer

1. Pull, then mulch. Mulching your planting beds is an excellent way to keep spring weeds from creeping in. But don’t plan on smothering the weeds that have already popped up. Do some down and dirty weed pulling, and then spread the mulch to keep more weeds from arriving.
2. Spot treat. Applying weed killer to your entire lawn can be hazardous to any new grass you may have planted, so instead of an all-over weed killer application, just spray the spots that need it most. Whether it is a strip bordering a neighbor’s unkempt yard or a patch of crabgrass, targeted treatments can work wonders.
3. Weed control fabric. Putting down a layer of weed control fabric now can spare you hours of weed pulling later. If you already have established plantings, getting down into the soil to lay the weed barrier is a challenge probably not worth undertaking, but if you are undertaking any sort of major new planting, like a vegetable garden or a new flower bed, get the weed control fabric in there while you have the chance.

Spring weed control can be tough, but tackle the weeds now while they are small, and you will thank yourself later in the season.

And it’s not just lawn bowling. Plenty of other sports are hitting lawns across America this time of year. If you, like most of us, plan to use your lawn for more than just a little gentle stroll from time to time, you have to give it some extra care. Here’s how to get your lawn in good shape for summer fun times and how to take care of it in the aftermath to keep it from looking like a torn up football field.

Helpful hints for high traffic lawns

1. Create a smooth surface. More important than how your lawn looks is safety. You don’t want any twisted ankles. Doing away with low spots, divots, and other unevenness in your lawn will help–not to mention it will make games of croquet more fun! Fill in low spots with soil. If you add more than a half inch of soil, reseed the area.
2. Aerate. High traffic lawns–and yes, badminton counts as traffic–are more likely to suffer from soil compaction. Aerating high traffic lawns gives water, air and nutrients the space they need to reach your grass’s roots, which in turn makes your high traffic grass much happier.
3. Water very early. A wet lawn is much more likely to suffer damage from sports, and slippery, wet grass is an accident waiting to happen. If you water early in the day, your lawn will be dry in time for the sports action.

Now, let the games begin!

Thinking of it that way, your lawn is essentially your outdoor room’s carpet. How does it look?

1. Is it bare in spots?
2. Is it stained by the dog or the backyard swing set?
3. Has the color of the grass changed?

These are common problems for backyards and family room carpet. When you have company, the problems seem to scream at you. Unlike the family room, you can’t mask your backyard grass problems with a throw rug at the last minute. Though keeping your lawn nice is a process that needs time, here are some remedies that might get your lawn looking great in a snap.

Bare spots

Seeding is going to take awhile, but you can lay down a small piece of grass sod to take root and fill in. Remove any dead grass or debris in the bare area and add some new soil before you put the patch of sod down.

Stained grass

You can do the same thing in Rover’s favorite spot, but it will likely still be his favorite spot after the guests go home. The best way to neutralize the high-nitrogen content from pet urine that burns your grass is by watering those areas thoroughly.

Fading grass

Applying fertilizer regularly will help keep your grass full of nutrients and keep it the nice, lush green color that it had when you first planted it.

It’s best to just keep your lawn in tip-top shape rather than cram when company comes over. You just can’t rush perfection!

• 22 percent spent more time food gardening
• 19 percent spent more time flower gardening
• 19 percent spent more time container gardening
• 14 percent spent more time on lawn care
• 13 percent spent more time on yard and landscape maintenance

Only about one in ten households spent less time on lawn and garden activities.

How Can Gardening Help Your Bottom Line this Year?

1. Mowing your lawn yourself. This will save you money right away, if you already have a lawnmower. If you don’t, your savings will be delayed. Depending on how much you pay your gardener and how much you spend on a new lawnmower will determine how soon you will start saving.
2. Growing your own food. This might save you a bundle on veggies and fruits, and might help you eat better. If you don’t have the space in your own backyard for a vegetable garden, look into obtaining a plot of your own at a community garden.
3. Growing a few blooms. If you love the look and scent of fresh flowers in your home, then start growing your own. Flowers don’t take a lot of space to grow, and they add so much to your landscaping as well as your kitchen table.

Before you fret about tightening your belt, there just might be some ways to help yourself in your own backyard.

Eugenia oil: natural but toxic to humans

Billy uses pyrethrins to combat most flying insects, and he also uses a substance called Eugenia oil. Eugenia oil is made from eugenol extracted from the leaves, stems and flowers of the Eugenia trees. The dried buds of the Eugenia tree are cloves, used commonly as aromatics and in cooking. Oil of clove is also used for medicinal purposes to relieve swelling and minor aches and pains.

It is important to know that Eugenol is not interchangeable with oil of clove. Like pyrethrins, eugenia oils are natural and toxic.

While oil of clove may relieve a toothache, the same amount of Eugenia oil could be lethal to a toddler. Don’t think one supply of one or the other can have multiple uses for your household.

You can use Eugenia oils for your residential pesticide problems–it is not sold only to professionals. Obviously, keep them away from children. Eugenol kills bugs on contact and is not recommended as a repellent.

The Eugenia tree is indigenous to the spice islands and the Philippines, but you can buy the product locally. Ecosmart makes a line of insecticides that uses all natural ingredients like oil of thyme, rosemary, and other things including Eugenia oil. You can buy their products online or at stores like Home Depot and Walmart. You don’t even have to get your spiked leather cuffs out to have success in curbing what’s bugging you.

Privet Drive

The famous lane where Harry Potter lives in the muggle world is named for a common hedge plant–the privet shrubs. Privet shrubs reach a height of four to 15 feet. In North America privets are invasive–which might be a good thing for you if you don’t want to spend a lot of time getting them growing. They do need to be pruned if you want them to look like a prim and proper hedge. They can tolerate an aggressive pruning if they have become wild and unruly and will be growing again in no time. There are a few different varieties of privets, so refer to your gardening book or nursery professional for guidance.

It’s Not Me, It’s Yew

English yew is a conifer and the hedge of choice for English gardens. English yew is what comprises those fantastic mazes you see in English palaces. They grow slow but also can tolerate a great deal of pruning. They can be trimmed into topiaries for extra interest–cones, balls and spirals are the most common shapes.

Boxwood: Great for Short Borders

Boxwood has a small green leaf. Its tight growth makes it look so nice when it is trimmed square or round. It is also a common shrub in English gardens. It grows slowly, so be patient. You may have seen a boxwood planted with a chicken wire form of an animal for the plant to grow into. That is a great way to make extreme topiaries.

Whether it is a simple hedge you want or a fantastic garden design, ask the professionals at your garden store what works best in your climate zone and with your soil.

Martin delivers a live potted Christmas tree to those willing to shill out $25 to $125 for a month of pine fragrance. Delivery is another $30-$60. After the holiday is over, he picks it up and takes it back to the nursery. If you became inexplicably attached to that particular tree, you can literally adopt the tree so you get the same one next year.

Because it has not been chopped down, it’s still living and doesn’t lose its needles. Clean-up is simply taking off your decorations and calling for pick-up.

The Pride of Ownership

If you like to own instead of rent, you can surely buy a potted tree and keep it outdoors after yuletide. Consider your success rate at keeping plants alive before you take on the responsibility of maintaining the family Christmas tree. Pine trees can grow a great deal in one year. By renting, you can always order the size you need.

Evergreen: the Old-Fashion Way

If this service is not offered where you live and you don’t want to keep a pine or a fir growing all year, you can still practice responsible gardening. You can use your Christmas tree for mulch. Call a tree service that has a wood chipper. They can mulch your Christmas tree and you can use it in your garden.

1. Gardening Gloves

Ergonomically-designed Bionic gardening gloves offer extra cushion where it counts to reduce calluses. They have breathable areas and a fitted cuff to keep debris out. These were designed by a hand surgeon and range in price from about $20 to jut over $40. A great gift and who wouldn’t want to garden with the bionic power of Jaime Sommers or Steve Austin?

2. Handy Hand Trimmers

It’s nice to have several pairs of hand trimmers: a pair for the frontyard, backyard, vegetable garden and even a small pair indoors to trim the houseplants. A comfortable design is preferred. A ratchet in the trimmer can also be nice to trim thicker stems and branches while easing the effort required.

3. Soap and Moisturizer

Throw in a nail-brush while you are at it. Gardeners need a soap with a little bit of exfoliant–natural is preferred–to remove any sap or other sticky stuff from their hands. A good non-greasy moisturizer is also needed to follow a good scrubbing. Farmers seem to have some of the best hand treatments that are readily available at most pharmacies and inexpensive. Udder Cream and Corn Huskers Lotion are two reliable products. Read the ingredients if chemical sensitivities are a consideration–these both have methylparaben in them which is an allergen to some. Burt’s Bee’s makes a great hand crème too that is all-natural.

After shopping, package these in a terra cotta pot and see what blooms. Your gardening pal will just love these!

Choice of Vines

Common backyard vines are ficus pumila, star jasmine, bower vine, morning glory and ivy. There are many more that you can choose that will help you create the look you want. Greenery or flowing flowers will give you a different feel, look and even scent. The scent of star jasmine on a sunny wall is great under an open bedroom window. There are vining flowers like sweet peas, bougainvilla, mandevilla, and delicate wysteria that look absolutely gorgeous on an arbor or on a trellis over a porch. If they die back, like these do, you will want to keep them trimmed and maintained. Then there are vines from fruits and vegetables: grape, potato, pumpkin that can be directed and enjoyed in various ways in your garden.

Beauty and the Beast

Beyond thoughts of Tarzan swinging from your trees, vines can be beastly to your structures. Though vines can offer insulation, they can also cause some problems. If you are shopping for a vining plant–flowering or not–here are some things you should think about before you head to the nursery.

Vines on walls can:

• Remove paint;
• Deteriorate stucco;
• Acts as a ladder for rodents;
• Creates a nest for insects and rodents;
• Cause moisture damage, and
• Weaken roofs or wood structures.

You can protect your home by only growing vines on brick or cinderblock and by keeping your vines well-manicured.

Warmth of Winter Wonderland

First of all, if you have some chilly nights but more clear nights than rainy, then a full-size patio heater might be worth the investment. For under $200 you can buy a pretty powerful heater at Lowe’s. Fire pits are also nice to add ambiance and warmth to a cool weather soiree. Candles in general add a warm look. Use hurricanes to help keep the flames lit and to magnify the effect.

City Sidewalks and Tablescapes

Use things in your garden as components in a beautiful tablescape on your buffet or patio table. Use flowers or greenery from your shrubs to garnish your tables. Twigs can add architectural drama when strategically placed in a vase. Turn over terra cotta pots to make great bases for small platters or candles. Sprinkle a few pebbles around to finish off the look.

Oh Give Us the Figi Pudding

Serving dishes have never been more fun than when you use outdoor materials. Buy a few pavers to be platters for your cheese assortment or canapés. A wheel barrow never looked better than when it is filled with ice and beer or bottles of champagne–brings new meaning to the term “port-a-bar.” Line clay planters with plastic or aluminum foil to serve a salad or side dish. Fill a birdhouse with colorful glass Christmas bulbs for a charming centerpiece that is organic and glamorous.

Entertaining outdoors can be cold, forgettable, and disastrous. Use your backyard accessories to make your backyard parties warm, memorable, and a lot of fun!