Plant Gardens 101

Proper soil preparation is the single most important step in making sure your new sod takes root and produces beautiful grass. Sodding is like painting; the hard part is in the prep and the finished product is only as good as the preparation. By taking the time to make sure your soil is properly tilled, fertilized and prepared, you are creating a firm foundation for a lawn that will last a lifetime. You’ll have a lawn that is dense and full, recovers quickly from wear, uses less water and fertilizer and needs less maintenance. When you add up the time and money you save in the long run, proper soil preparation is well worth the time and effort before you lay your new sod.

Professional sod farms follow this adage: The beauty is in the blades, but the action is in the roots. Soil preparation lets the roots grow deep and even so the sod can accept nutrients and moisture properly for excellent growth and beauty. (more…)

Mint family
Labiatae
Os’si-mum. Aromatic herbs (rarely shrubs) comprising 150 species, the one below cultivated for its fragrant, edible foliage.

Description
Leaves opposite, mostly toothed. Flowers small, irregular, crowded in whorls grouped in branching racemes. Corolla very small, usually not exceeding the toothed calyx, the lobes or teeth recurved in fruit.

How to Grow   (more…)

Adequate oxygen is essential for the health and survival of your koi fish and other pond creatures. As pond life utilizes the oxygen content of the water, it needs to be replaced. Oxygen enters the water where these two contact each other – primarily at the koi pond’s surface. That is why a waterfall is such a vital adjunct to your water feature.
As the water passes over and splashes against the rocks, it picks up large quantities of oxygen, aerating the water. Aeration can similarly be achieved with a fountain or water pump. These methods increase the area of water coming into contact with the air; in addition, the resulting circulation prevents stagnation of the koi pond.

SOME SYMPTOMS OF OXYGEN DEPRIVATION:

• Koi fish gasping at the surface for extended periods of time.

• Overnight death of fish, especially the larger, more sensitive ones.    (more…)

The chemical symbol for phosphorus. Used in the formula NPK of a complete fertilizer.

Blueberries are not only delicious, but considered an antioxidant super-food and one of the healthiest fruits around. While they can be pricey in the supermarket – blueberries are surprisingly easy to grow throughout the U.S. So why not grow your own? According to Nicholas Staddon, director of new plants for Monrovia, blueberries have been gaining tremendous popularity among home gardeners for many reasons. “Well of course, people love the sweet berries. But they’ve realized that these shrubs are really beautiful, “he explained. “They have a fantastic array of white to blush-colored flowers in the spring that cascade down in clusters. The satiny foliage changes in the autumn from a pretty green to vivid red and gold.” He points out that blueberries are easy to grow, resistant to pests and diseases, and will yield a nice harvest of fruit for several weeks during the summer. Blueberries don’t require much space, and grow very well in containers – especially in oak wine or whiskey barrels. You can put the containers close to the house to make harvesting easier. Just a light pruning once a year, after they stop bearing fruit, and the shrubs will maintain a tidy appearance. (more…)