The Outdoors IDEA
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The Outdoors IDEA
Around the House, Around the Park, Around Adventure, and Around the Great Outdoors!
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If cooler weather has you longing for sunny days outdoors, take heart. Once spring rolls around, you can safely begin the annual cleanup to prepare your yard for months of warm-weather enjoyment. Start by evaluating your lawn with these tips.Spring into Lawn and Garden Care
(Family Features) If cooler weather has you longing for sunny days outdoors, take heart. Once spring rolls around, you can safely begin the annual cleanup to prepare your yard for months of warm-weather enjoyment. Start by evaluating your lawn. Look for bald spots where grass has grown sparsely and needs reseeding, or uneven areas that may need to be filled and leveled. Before you take steps to correct any problems, you’ll need a clean slate. Clear the yard of any leaves, rocks or sticks that may have accumulated then cut the grass as short as you can. Use a thatching rake to remove dead roots and grass. Break up the soil in bare spots to create an environment that will be hospitable to new seed. Add lawn soil to level the surface. You’ll also need to apply an herbicide to treat weed-infested areas. Allow the weed killer to work for about a week then rake again to remove dead weeds. Then you’re ready to over-seed or spot seed, depending on your lawn’s needs. Your climate will determine the best grass variety for your yard. Be sure to select and apply a fertilizer that is consistent with your grass type and water thoroughly to promote deep root growth, which can help your lawn withstand extreme conditions as temperatures rise. Your lawn isn’t the only part of your yard that needs attention during the spring months, though. Your garden and flower beds may need some care before they, too, are ready to burst with new bounty and color. Begin by clearing your garden and beds of any debris like leaves and other matter that piled up during months of neglect. Gently turn the soil and work in fresh fertilizer. Before your plants and flowers are in full-growth mode is the ideal time to make repairs. Check edging for any damage, replace rotted woodwork and complete any other maintenance tasks. As for the plants, prune before the first buds sprout to minimize stress. You can also start indoor seeds, and early spring is the time to divide perennials and plant some hardier vegetables, such as onions and potatoes. The warmer months may still seem far away, but getting some of your lawn and garden care underway now can make those warmer, sunny days feel closer in no time. Find more seasonal tips for prepping your yard at eLivingToday.com. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:eLivingToday.com KEYWORDS
 With the right equipment, you can win the battle with the leaves this Fall! (BPT) - The temperature may not have dropped just yet, but make no mistake, fall is coming. Soon enough, baseball will give way to football, green leaves will turn yellow and red and your lawn care routine will take on a whole new set of tasks. Fall lawn care isn’t the long marathon of the summer yard season, but it packs plenty of work into a few short months before the winter. You can make this lawn care blitz a little bit easier by applying the following tips. * Stimulate your lawn. While your grass may no longer need its weekly mowing in the fall, you can’t ignore it until spring. Look for brown, tan or white patches on your lawn, as this can be a sign of mold growth. Apply a lawn fungicide to halt this growth and an organic fertilizer to stop its spread and support future root growth. * Blow those leaves away. Raking leaves can be a Herculean task, so simplify the process by investing in a lithium-ion blower. The Greenworks 60-volt Backpack Blower is a heavy-duty solution perfect for homeowners with a quarter to three-quarters of an acre to cover. And for yard-lovers that prefer a handheld blower, Greenworks has you covered there too! Both solutions are lightweight and reduce noise while eliminating emissions, and because they're battery powered, you don’t have to bother with mixing gas and oil. * Seed and sod. If you do notice patches of dead grass in your yard — a common occurrence if fallen leaves have not been blown away — don’t wait until spring to address the issue. Over-seeding the area can rectify the problem if the spaces are small. If your lawn has significant portions that have died, it may be time to look into sodding options instead for more comprehensive coverage. * A fresh spray clean. A season’s worth of wind and rain can leave the sides of your home looking pretty dingy. Fall cleanup is the perfect time to give your home a reset by spraying down your siding, decks, and patios. Greenworks 2200 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is an environmentally friendly gas-alternative solution with five nozzles that allow you to adjust the tool’s water pressure based on the task at hand. The pressure washer is also designed with Smart Response Technology to adjust motor RPMs as nozzles are changed, ensuring the perfect water flow for every job — and the on board LED display guides you to the best job for each nozzle, letting you clean your home in a smart, efficient way. * A hole in the ground supports future growth. Fall is arguably the best time of year to aerate your yard, allowing water, oxygen and fertilizer to more easily reach the root structure of your grass. Self-propelled aerators are relatively inexpensive, and you can also rent one if you plan to make this a once-a-year chore. Whatever you decide, tackling this chore now will allow your lawn to grow back thicker and fuller next year when it will be time to start thinking about spring lawn care once again. KEYWORDS
 Fertilizing with the right balance of nutrients applied in the right quantities and at the right time of year is a winning combination for a strong, healthy lawn. With these tips and the right strategy, equipment and work ethic, it’s possible to grow the lawn of your dreams. (Family Features) Before you become green with envy of a neighbor’s lush-looking lawn, remember that beauty is more than just skin deep – even for yards. Fertilizing with the right balance of nutrients applied in the right quantities and at the right time of year is a winning combination for a strong, healthy lawn. With these tips from Bayer Advanced lawn and garden expert Lance Walheim in your back pocket and the right fertilizer in your spreader, your lawn can become the belle of the block. When to Fertilize Application timing depends on the type of grass you have and where you live, and it should coincide with natural growth cycles:
Most new lawns don’t need to be fertilized until 6-8 weeks after planting. How Often to Fertilize There are a number of factors to consider about the frequency of fertilizing, including the type of grass, the length of growing season, the type of fertilizer used and the quality of the lawn you want. Generally, you should fertilize every 6-8 weeks, but select fertilizers, like Bayer Advanced Triple Action Lawn Fertilizer, that have slow-release forms of nitrogen can feed lawns for up to 3 months and ensure they are nourished at all three layers – grass, roots and soil. How Much Fertilizer to Apply First, decide between wet and dry fertilizer. For most people, dry, granular lawn fertilizers are easiest to apply evenly. Before you buy, determine the square footage of your lawn and check bag labels to determine what’s best for your lawn size, keeping in mind that application rates are based on pounds per 1,000 square feet. Remember, extra fertilizer can be put back in the bag and saved for a future application. How to Use Fertilizer The best way to apply dry fertilizer evenly is with a properly operating fertilizer spreader. How much fertilizer you apply depends on the type and model of spreader you use. Each has settings that are adjusted according to fertilizer label recommendations. Avoid fertilizing by hand, as it can be difficult to apply evenly. Fertilizer spreaders come in two basic types:
With the right strategy, equipment and work ethic, it’s possible to grow the lawn of your dreams. Find more solutions, tips and advice at bayeradvanced.com.
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