Train your dog, train your man, train your lawn?

I’m reading a book right now called What Shamu Taught Me About Life Love and Marriage by Amy Sutherland. The premise is that you should be able to train your husband (or anyone else, for that matter, by using techniques created by famous animal trainers. I’m not very far into the book, so for now, my husband isn’t coming when called or heeling very well when we go for a walk.

However, with drought conditions in effect for much of the D.C. area, I thought that now would be a good time to talk about the benefits of training your lawn.

Lawns and gardens can be water hogs. But experts agree that with proper training, most landscapes should be able to tolerate drought conditions with few problems.

Most lawns only need water up to two times a week in the spring and summer, less if it rains, and less in the fall and winter. The problem is that people start out watering incorrectly so they have to re-teach their lawns to use less water.

With drought conditions in affect for much of the area, now is the time to start re-training your landscape for less water. That means to ONLY water your lawn when it really needs it. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, you should water your lawn when it shows these signs of thirst:

A "thirsty" lawn turns from the normal green color to a purple-bluish color. In these areas the grass blades will not spring back if you walk across the lawn and your footprints will be visible. This is the first sign of "wilt" and indicates a need for water.

Here are some more landscape tips to consider during drought conditions.

Refrain from fertilizing – Fertilizing encourages new growth, and new growth is less drought-tolerant. If you do fertilize, use fertilizer with slow release nitrogen in it. If your goal is to improve grass color, try an iron application rather than fertilizer. Dull mower blades can also make your lawn look brown instead of green by shredding rather than cutting grass blades.

Reduce lawn areas– Since Lawn irrigation can account for more than 50 percent of total water use at residential and commercial locations, considering installing a pond, walkway, or larger garden beds in place of water-hogging turfgrass.

Irrigation Methods - Investigate the use of micro–irrigation for your plant beds. Micro-irrigation is more efficient way of distributing water directly to the base of plants without water loss from evaporation and wind drift. If you are in the market for a new irrigation system, find a reputable irrigation contractor who has experience with these systems. If you already have an irrigation system in place, many of the larger manufacturers now sell retrofit kits which will allow you to change specific irrigation zones over to micro-irrigation fittings.

Mulch. Add mulch to plant beds to reduce evaporation from soil and to moderate soil temperature, reducing stress on roots. Make sure to pull the mulch away from tree trunks and plant stems to leave a gap of an inch or two to discourage diseases and insects.

Amend the soil - To improve the water retaining capabilities of soil, considering adding several layers of top-soil or compost.

Weed – Keep weeds under control. Weeds steal water from plants.

Your plants and lawn may seem a little stressed as they adjust to their new watering schedule, but after a week or two, they should adapt and begin to flourish again.

For more information: Lawn Management During Heat and Drought and Watering the Lawn , both from Virginia Cooperative Extension

Or check out the Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog's other posts on Waterwise Landscaping Techniques

10 Green Tips to Help Save Money in Your Garden

I recently found a great post that helps us do two things we love: spend time in our gardens and save money.

The original post is called 8 ways to save money on costly lawn care and is from the bankrate.com site. What's really cool is that most of the things listed are very eco-friendly, too. I added a few suggestions of my own to round out the list to 10!

Read the full post for more details on their suggestions, which are:

1. Xeriscape your yard - The savings can be big. One estimate by the University of Illinois Extension puts the amount of water a lawn needs to stay green in summer at 1 inch of water per week, which translates to an average of about 2,500 gallons of water per week to keep a 4,000 square-foot lawn green, assuming no rainfall. If you pay $3 per 1,000 gallons, that's almost $400 per year to water your lawn. Xeriscaping cuts that in half, according to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, making the savings almost $200 per year.
2. Plant fruit trees - Not only can fruit trees save money by providing shade for your home to reduce heating bills, but they're also a great source of free fruit if properly maintained
3. Compost organic waste - Grass clippings, vegetable scraps and other organic waste can be turned into free compost to augment soil, to mulch around trees and to fertilize your lawn.
4. Plant perennials instead of annuals - Annuals must be replanted every year. Save money by planting perennials that will last three years or more
5. Plant leafy shade trees around your home - Once trees take hold and get big enough, their shade can keep your home significantly cooler and help you save money.
6. Start with seeds and smaller plants - You can cut your costs down by a half to two-thirds if you just buy quart-sized plants instead of gallon-sized containers.
7. Don't replace outdoor furnishings; paint them - You can save money on yard furnishings with some creativity and a little elbow grease.
8. Shop plant sales in the fall - Especially in the northern part of the country, you can save money as nurseries clear their inventory for the winter with plant clearance sales in mid to late fallHere are my extra two suggestions!
9. Participate in conservation rebate programs offered locally - Montgomery County Rainscape program, District of Columbia Smart Homes Program and others.
10. Shop at local thrift stores for garden goodies - Helps keep your garden costs under control while you support local charities.

Deadline for CCLC's Conservation Landscaping Contest has been extended

Deadline for the CCLC's Conservation Landscaping Contest has been extended until September 15th, 2010. Still a few days left to get your application submitted!

First People’s Garden Fall Workshop - Today at Noon!

Looking for something fun and informative to do this Friday at 12 noon? Visit the People’s Garden at USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC for their first workshop of Fall 2010 entitled Gleaning Resources: Finding information, materials and helping hands for your garden.

Instructor Katie Rehwaldt, Program Director of America the Beautiful Fund’s Seeds That Grow Hope program and Co-Coordinator of the annual Rooting DC Urban Gardening Forum, is an expert at connecting DC residents with the tools and resources they need to grow their own food. She will be teaching how to save money, find seeds, help improve the environment, and gain valuable knowledge by tapping into the many obvious and not so obvious resources which can be found right near where you live and work. You’ll learn how to think creatively by turning trash into garden treasure, rally an army of volunteers, take advantage of government services, and get the help and advice you need when you need it.

Join them every Friday until the last week in October for workshops that will teach you how to extend your growing season, preserve what you’ve grown and prepare for next season. Register by calling (202) 690-3898. The People’s Garden is located on the corner of Jefferson Drive and 12 Street, SW.

From USDA Blog

Gardening good for the body & the soul - Follow Friday Friend

I love garden blogger Kathy Van Mullekom and her Diggin' In blog. I feel like she and I are definitely kindred spirits who enjoy our gardens both for the inspiration that they provide us and for the pleasures of the birds, butterflies and other little critters that share our garden spaces with us.

This exerpt from her recent post entitled Gardening is good: Research links mood to outdoor exercise is a perfect example:

The recent issue of AARP magazine features an article stating new research from England's University of Essex finds that just find minutes of "green exercise," which includes gardening, cycling and fishing, boosts your mood and self-esteem.

This latest research confirms what other similar studies have said: Getting your hands dirty helps you emotionally and physically.

Add a little mediation, or quiet prayer, while you garden and your spiritual side soars, too!

My meditation in the garden happens best when I encounter wonderful little scenes like the box turtle eating my Juliet tomatoes. I love turtles, so I was so happy to see him feasting on the treats. I always plant more than husband Ken and I need, so Mr. Turtle was welcome at my buffet. Read full post here.

Everything that Kathy writes is wonderful. She is definitely another example of my deep research - that "Peter Rabbit's experience aside, gardeners are probably just nicer people."

Follow Friday Tip: Follow Kathy on Twitter @diggindirt

Drought Alert for D.C. Region

WASHINGTON - The D.C. area's heavy dose of sunshine over the last six weeks has begun to take its toll on the region's water supply system.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has issued a drought watch for the D.C. region, asking residents and business to conserve water.

The record high temperatures along with the absence of rain in the area has affected streamflow and groundwater levels throughout the Potomac River Basin. In the last month, precipitation levels are 50 percent below normal.

While water demand decreases as fall approaches, COG wants people to take the appropriate steps to make sure the strain on supply systems is minimal.

"We are encouraging folks, sort of as an awareness step, to encourage conservation now, so if the drought were to persist and become worse, folks are practiced at what to do to conserve water," says COG's water resources technical manager Steve Bieber.

The watch is the second step in COG's four-stage drought response plan. Officials do not anticipate the watch reaching a "warning" or "emergency" phase.

COG wants residents and businesses to use water wisely during their daily routines, including:

• Limiting the watering of lawns, plants and shrubs
• Using a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways
• Using a commercial car wash that recycles water
• Reducing shower length
• Turning off water while brushing teeth
• Washing full loads in dish and clothes washers

If watering your lawn in necessary, Bieber says two waterings a week is enough to sustain its health.

"Measure the water using something simple like a rain gauge or you can even use a tuna can so you know how much water is going on your lawn," he says.

"You want to limit your watering to about one inch a week. Your best bet is to divide the watering of one inch into two waterings per week, typically in the evening, so you are not losing a lot of it to evaporation."

COG also asks people to use extra caution when smoking outside or using outdoor grills due to the fire hazard they present when used around extremely dry conditions.

Read other posts about conserving water on the Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog

Protect Your Groundwater Day, September 14

There seems to be a day for everything. And according to the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), September 14th is Protect Your Groundwater Day.

“Every person can do something to protect groundwater in their local area—from not polluting it to using water wisely,” said Cliff Treyens, NGWA Public Awareness Director. “We each have a personal responsibility to protect groundwater. The good news is that for most people all it takes is a small adjustment in their daily habits.”

On Protect Your Groundwater Day, NGWA urges you to ACT.

ACT —acknowledge, consider, take action.

Use this day to begin doing your part for protecting one of our most important natural resources — groundwater!

1. Acknowledge the causes of preventable groundwater contamination and water waste. Remember, any chemicals used in your yard have the potential to wash into storm drains and pollute local waterways —

• There are hazardous substances common to households
• Most household water use occurs in a few areas around the home.

2. Consider which apply to you —

• What specific hazardous substances are in and around your home?
• Where do you and your family use the most water?

3. Take action to prevent groundwater contamination —

When it comes to hazardous household substances:

• Store them properly in a secure place
• Use them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
• Dispose of them safely.

When it comes to water conservation:

• Modify your water use (more water saving tips)
• Install a water-saving device.

For more information about Protect Your Groundwater Day, visit the NGWA website

Getting rid of your dirty little secrets - Where to dispose of old garden chemicals

Okay. So you've decided to go organic in your garden and stop using all of those chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that you used to rely on. That's great, because fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can wash into storm drains and pollute local waterways.

But what are you supposed to do with all of those foul-smelling bottles of chemicals that are taking up room in your garden shed or garage? Obviously, you can't throw them in the trash or pour them down a drain somewhere. The correct way to dispose of any toxic product is to take them to a toxic disposal site.

Earth911.com has a great website that helps you locate the best place to recycle ANY materials, including toxic garden chemicals. Just enter the product and your zip code to Find Recycling Centers near you and this great site will bring up the closest location. Click on a location for more information, including a map!

Rain Barrel Workshop - Monday, September 13

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Clean VA Waterways are providing a Rain Barrel Workshop at Forest Hill Park in Richmond, VA on Monday, September 13th from 6:30 - 7:30 P.M. Learn about the benefits of rain barrels and how to install and maintain them. Each participant will go home with a pre-assembled rain barrel. This workshop is held at the Stone House in Forest Hill Park, which is near the intersection of Forest Hill Ave. and 41 St. Richmond, VA. Space is limited. To sign-up, contact David Jennings.

Cost: $65.00
Contact: djennings@acb-online.org – (804) 775-0951

Love of books is deeply rooted - thanks mom

There are two places where I love to get lost - in nature, or in a good book. Thankfully, my mother planted both of these seeds in me at a very early age by often taking me to the beautiful little woods in our small hometown and to the local public library. My love of both nature and reading have stayed with me throughout my life.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month - "a time to remind everyone that a library card is the smartest card of all". If you haven't visited your local library recently, I encourage you to do so. Here are some excerpts from a couple of the books that I picked up on my last trip.

The Vegetable Gardener's Bible , by Edward C. Smith, ©2000 - I really picked this book up to learn more about which vegetables I might be able to grow at this time of year. I didn't even notice that "Ed's High-Yield W-O-R-D System for All North American Gardening Regions" is based heavily on using organic methods. In fact, "organic" is the "O" of the W-O-R-D system, which stands for Wide Rows - Organic Methods - Raised Beds - and Deep Soil. The book contains wonderfully detailed information about environmentally friendly topics such as compost, natural pest control and fertilizer, testing your soil, worms and many of the other topics that I have been studying over the last few months. In fact, if I had found this book earlier, I could have saved myself a lot of research time on the Internet. The second part of the book has detailed instructions for growing many popular vegetables. As is often the case, visiting the library allowed me to "preview" this book and decide that it is a must-have for my own personal library.

American Gardening Series Waterwise Gardening, by Lauren Springer, ©1994 - An excellent book on saving water in a landscape written in a fun, chatting-over-the-garden fence tone. Here are some excerpts from the introduction: "Waterwise gardening is just plain old common sense. Good gardening practice means adapting to the conditions at hand. Why have a garden that depends on large amounts of a resource that appears to be ever more expensive and elusive? Why not bank on the future and create a less needy garden? Even if there has always been enough water in your area, a drought-tolerant garden allows you to go away without cumbersome arrangements for watering in absentia. A garden in harmony with its surroundings, both in appearance and in terms of cultural needs, is a healthier, more beautiful garden. Plants that receive the conditions they prefer are better able to fight off pests and diseases. Plants that get by on less water demand less to look their best."

As usual, I also picked up a couple of fiction books while at the library. I've already been able to read the two new James Patterson novels as well as the latest John Sandford. All of that fun and knowledge for less than $2.00 (I was a little bit overdue on some of them!)

Some people say that public libraries are becoming obsolete because of computers and the internet but I know I will never feel that way. I could no more do without the public libraries then I could do without being outside in nature.

Thanks mom, for giving me both of those loves.

P.S. I still miss you.

To find your closest local public library, visit this site: Search for Public Libraries