August
2007
Community Paper
copyright ©2007 by Community Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
AUGUST
IN THE GARDEN
by Nick Francisco, Blodgett Gardens
3821 Edgewater Drive, 407-295-2363
WIN THE WAR WITH CRABGRASS / HEALTHY SOIL HEALTHY LANDSCAPE
I'm sure those who have battled with crabgrass in the past wonder if there is a possibility of winning the war with this pest This turf enemy is ever present popping Up with damaging regularity whenever we let our guard down. How do we defend ourselves against these guerilla attacks? We prevent the attack using chemical warfare (no this is not against the Geneva. Convention). We stop this enemy as the plans (seeds) of impending attack" unfold (germinate). Apply Hi Yield Crabgrass Control starting this month and every three months thereafter (four applications per year); We nuke this enemy with a deadly chemical vapor barrier that seeks and destroys the germinating plans of the enemy. Remember to always be on guard as this chemical weapon only protects our battleground for 90 to 100 days. Regular applications are our hope of winning the crabgrass war. NOTE: Crabgrass being an annual weed will die out in the winter months as fulfillment of its natural life cycle. We take advantage of this life cycle by beginning Hi Yield Crabgrass Preventer applications in September. This prevents a young crop of seedlings from passing through this death season and avoiding our chemical attack. We must PREVENT CRABGRASS NOW for optimum results. Apply Hy Yield Crabgrass Control after resodding or sprigging new turf for preemergent control, also apply Fertilome Root Stimulator to increase root activity of newly sodded or plugged areas as the material will affect some root growth. Do NOT apply within 8 weeks of seed application or 12 weeks before seed application. American Treflan gives great preemergent control of weeds in our flower and shrub beds. Safe to use around most but not all (check the label for listed plants) ornamental plants. Build your soil with monthly applications of compost tea and quarterly applications of Natural Guard Soil Activator. Soil Activator feeds the microbes in our soil increasing organic matter, opening pores, releasing nutrients that are locked in the soil, spoon feeding these nutrients to out plants, and increasing the water holding capacity of our soils. Regular use will also reduce the amount of fertilizer and pesticides we must use to have the AWESOME landscape we have always wanted. Questions? Come on by and I'll be happy to give you a tour of the soil environment.
Blodgett Gardens is now channel 9's local garden expert.
Channel 9 has a forum through their website where individuals may ask specific
questions to their problems and we (the experts) will answer their specific
questions rather than having to come into the store. Of course visual ID is
required for some solutions but many may be answered without seeing a sample.
