How beneficial is fertilizer to my yard?

Your lawn is a living breathing plant just like any other plant. It needs food, air, & water like everything else. Good sunlight, a regular watering schedule are just a couple of things that can help you have a luscious green yard. Lawns generally get a lot of nutrients from Mother Nature but a good fertilization schedule can be very beneficial just like its good for us to get a daily serving of fruits and vegetables. A general feeding will help your lawn to develop a deeper root system and a thicker density of coverage (filling in more as it develops). These two things can help the lawn survive during the summer heat, and a thicker, denser lawn is a natural defense against those pesky weeds.

The main three ingredients of a lawn fertilizer consists of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K). Take a look at the front of a lawn fertilizer bag. The different numbers you see on the front (10-18-32) give you the information of how much of each of these elements are present in the product.  Each of these elements has its own benefit for your lawn. Nitrogen provides the green color and thicker grass blades. Phosphate helps feed the root system.  Potassium helps the roots to develop that deep root system.

There are two forms of fertilizers on the market, liquid and granular each having its own benefits. Liquid fertilizers provide a quick feeding with helps a lawn revitalize itself in days. The downside is that it’s a lot more expensive. Granular fertilizers do take some time to feed but will last longer with a lot of products now having a slow release system.

If any help is needed in developing a fertilizer program for your yard, give us a call. We provide a complete fertilization program to fit everyone's needs.

When to start developing your spring garden.

A lot of things on people’s minds are starting to be warmer weather and getting out of the house. This has been a harsh winter for most of the United States. Cabin fever is starting to set in, if it hasn`t already in our minds. Now would be a great time to start thinking about your spring garden and be prepared when this weather does finally change for the better. You still have some time as most of the ground hogs saw there shadow on Ground Hog Day, which means 6 more weeks of winter. I know a lot of people don`t want to hear this. But as they say, being prepared is better than not having a plan.

You may want to completely renovate that old garden or simply add some news plants to your existing garden. The decision is simply up to you, and having a decision will help when you to prepare your plan of attack. Always keep in mind how much sun hits the area or is it completely shaded during the day. Different plants adapt to different areas to help with this factor. Also doing a soil test will help to steer you in the right path of what to do to your soil for the lushest, greenest plants. You can read more on soil testing on website blog.

If you’re not born with a green thumb but still want a garden, we know a great gardener in St. Louis that can help.

How to keep the enthusiastic gardener busy in the winter.

There are a lot of people that hate to see the gardening season come to an end every year with winter. This is a big hobby among a lot of Americans.  "The exact number of people on planet Earth who garden remains to be exactly calculated, but the increasing interest of gardening, for various reasons, is hard to deny. Poll numbers taken in 2008 show that up to 43 million households reported they planed to grow some type of their own food, and increase pf approx. 19% from the year prior." (Excerpt from ask. com). There are a lot of people who have not looked at the possibility of gardening indoors year round. With a couple of steps and some planning it is possible to keep the most avid gardener busy in the winter months.

Of course there is always planning to do before starting any garden. A couple of things that will be needed are as follows: A good area to lay out your garden which can either be a utility room or a warm basement. Seed trays are a necessity as goes with a good starter soil. An electric heating mat will be useful in helping the seeds germinate if the plants aren`t transplanted from the outdoors. Interior growing lights will help to feed the seeds uv rays after they have sprouted.

After you have laid out your area, its time to plant.  Always check your seed packet recommendations when it is a good time to plant. Starting seeds outside first can always be difficult with how the weather changes before the winter months.  As mentioned before, starting seeds indoors isn`t that hard with a heating mat. A heating mat will give the seed a good start and guarantee germination when the soil remains warm. After the seed has sprouted is a good time to install the growing lights and have them remain on 15-17 hrs a day. A crucial time to monitor the soil moisture comes into play once the lights are starting to be used. The lights do help the plant but in turn can suck the moisture away just like the sun.  A seed tray cover can help to retain moisture in the soil. Daily watering is a good thing to practice with indoor seedlings. The heat mat can be removed at this time once the seeds have sprouted and the lights and watering have been applied.

This a good way to extend you harvest season year round and to always have gardening at your finger tips.


photo credit: gnuckx via photopin cc

How to make a compost bin.

Compost is a mixture of different materials that turns into a good soil amendment. This is a good way if you like to garden organically without chemicals.  There are really only 3 key things to remember when starting your own compost bin.  They are simple to maintain and in return makes great harvests for your garden.

First thing is to build a structure to house the compost in. They can be built yourself or pick one up at your local gardening center.  They range from tumblers to simple wire meshing holding them together.  When building a structure, keep in mind how much waste is at your disposal and how fast you need the after product for gardening. Once a structure is decided on, try to place it in a sunny spot in the yard. A warm compost bin will decompose a lot faster than one in a shady area in the yard.

Next, is the key ingredients for a good compost. There are two key factors that consist of brown and green matter. Brown matter can be twigs, dried up leaves, wood chips.  Green matter consists of grass clippings, food waste.  Keep away from things like meat & fish as this can invite in unwanted critters.  Mixing brown and green matter in equal intervals is a good idea to keep a good balance in the compost.

Third thing is just a few rules for housekeeping. Turn the pile over every week or two to make sure there is a good blend of ingredients. Feel the pile after turning it to see how much moisture is at hand. Add a little water if it feels dry to the touch, too much water can turn your pile into a pile of mush though. Add new green and brown matter regularly to keep the feeding bacteria feel at home. The final product should be a dark, matter that looks like soil. This usually tends to take a couple of months depending on the factors as mentioned above.

Lastly,  if you hire a landscaper or lawn service, be sure to let them know you have a compost so they don't dispose of your yard waste which can be a valuable source of ingredients for your compost.

photo credit: USM MS photos via photopin cc

DIY: Paver Installation

Paver installations can be a lot less cheaper than having a concrete pad laid out. Concrete has a more tendency to crack if the base isn`t prepped correctly. Repairing pavers is a lot easier than repairing concrete. Repairs to concrete also can be ugly to the eye. Don`t get me wrong as I still enjoy concrete along with paver patios, walkways, & driveways. Pavers just give a more unique design as you can change the pattern & design when laying them out. A good experience too is to go out and see what nurseries & gardens have to offer for pavers, this will help you get an idea of what you want. This will also help in the planning of the paver installation.

Planning and laying out your design is the first step in paver installation. The decision on where the pavers will go as well as will they fit play into the design. The best way is to measure out the site then do a rough draft on paper. Once this is done, you are ready to lay out your plan. A garden hose or rope can be used to lay out the outline of the design, Then simply mark it with chalk or paint. Try to stay about 8 in. out from the your hose or rope when marking the layout. Also remember if the area needs to slope to help the runoff of excess water. This helps to avoid any damage over a period of time.

Next, it`s time to figure out how many pavers will be needed for the job. The simple way to do this is, measure length times width of the area. This will give you the square feet of the area. Remember to add in 5-10% over that for any tricky curves or extra cuts for the design.  Once you have all that, most landscape material stores can tell you how many pavers are needed for what you desire.  

Now it`s time to do some digging.  There are some things to keep in mind when doing your excavation of the area. Establish the height of your pavers, and do not exceed this. Water always drains down hill, so slope the area away from your home or any buildings. When sloping a large area, a good rule of thumb is go down one inch. for every four to five feet.  Placing stakes around the perimeter helps give you guide lines when digging out the area. You can also use stakes to show you where to slope the area more when needed. Calculate the total depth now of what will be needed for all the material. This is done by adding the thickness of the pavers, with the inches required for your base and sand bedding. You are now ready to dig out the area.  Compact the ground after excavation for the next step. You can rent a compacting machine usually from any tool rental company.

Now comes the time to lay out your base material. A good base consists of crushed stone that can be either limestone or gravel. Make sure there are a various sizes of stones in your base. This helps with the compaction. Try to make sure your base has no moisture in it. Compacting the area will be mush easier than if it was wet. This is known as a dry lay out. Depending on what your sub-base is helps to determine the thickness of your of your base. This is what creates a good foundation for the pavers. Spread out the stones in different phases, compacting each phase as you go. Once all the stone is down go around in a circular pattern with a compacting machine.

Remember to use edge restraints when installing the pavers. This helps to keep your pavers from moving after installation. Now its time to start laying out your pavers in the desired pattern. Once the pavers are laid, spread out your sand and use a push broom to manipulate the sand into the paver cracks. A good sand will help to keep out weeds from the area. The sand will bond after being spread out and moistened down. You can then use a sealing compound to finish up the job.

Santa may be a pro at walking on roofs and climbing down chimneys, but most homeowners are not.

This is a small article I found on the web I would like to share with everyone:

Thousands of Americans end up in the emergency room each holiday season due to falls when hanging holiday lights or decorations. While broken bones are the most common types of injuries, falls can be fatal.

• Around 165,000 Americans require medical treatment for ladder-related falls each year (CDC Study).

• Four out of five American homes use ladders around their homes to prepare for the holidays. (Home Safety Council Study)

• 97% of ladder injuries occur at home. (American Journal of Preventative Medicine)

• Winter weather adds risks – wet/icy conditions and condensation make ladders and roofs slippery, and blustery wind can cause ladders to become unstable.

• Men are 40% more likely than women to be treated for ladder-related injuries (CDC).

• Injury severity increases with age.

To ensure you and your family have the happiest of holidays, your safest bet is to hire a professional to handle hanging those Christmas lights and decorations for you. We offer holiday lighting set-up and removal. You buy the lights and we do the rest.

If you choose to handle it yourself, however, here are some ladder safety tips from OSHA to remember:

• Make sure your ladder is on secure and level ground before climbing.

• Keep the area around the top and bottom of the ladder clear.

• Space the base of the ladder one foot away from the wall for every four feet it extends up.

• Stay centered between the rails of the ladder. Do not overreach. Move the ladder instead.

• Do not stand on the top two rungs of the ladder.

• To reach a roof, extend the ladder at least three feet beyond the top of the roof.

• Ensure step ladders are securely locked open. Never use a folding step ladder if it is closed.

photo credit: Gamma Man via photopin cc
*Source Ecleanmag. com 

What is there to know about snow removal?

St. Louis weather brings many changes in the winter. Bitter cold & strong winds are  sometimes the case. Our winters around here have been slightly warmer in the past years though. The Farmers Almanac is predicting a snowy winter this season. With that in mind, here`s a few steps to prepare yourself for the snow. Obviously, first rule of thumb is to dress warm. Put enough layers on to keep warm outside, but don`t over due it as natural body heat can get hot quick. Try to do a short as you would when you work out. This helps to loosen the muscles in your body. "Always lift with your knees, and not your back."  This is a phrase we have all heard before as it also applies to shoveling snow. Stay hydrated and schedule short breaks as to not over exert yourself from the cold weather. Or if the thought of being in front of a warm fire sounds better than old man winter, let us remove the snow for you. Sit in your window sipping hot cocoa as we battle the St. Louis winters. We offer residential and commercial snow removal services in St Louis city and county for walkways & driveways.

photo credit: quinn.anya via photopin cc