September 26th is Johnny Appleseed Day - Share some garden love

On September 26, 1774, Johnny Appleseed was born.

Here are a few suggestions to celebrate the life, love and kindness of this generous fellow gardener.

1) Buy some locally grown apples. Maryland Apple Orchards, Virginia Apples

2) Play Johnny Appleseed with your own garden seeds (and cuttings) by sharing them with others. Northern Virginia Plant Exchange

3) Buy a decendent from a genuine Johnny Appleseed planted tree - If you have never visited the Historic Tree Program pages of American Forests, you are missing all sorts of fun. They sell trees that are direct decendents of trees owned by famous presidents, environmentalists, adventurers and others.

Rose's are read - reading about Rose's garden

I found this post about a neat woman named Rose when I was wandering around the internet today. The post is called Rose's Sustainable Gardening Tips and was written by Rachel Grad back in 2008.

Rose seems like such a neat person, that I encourage you to read the blog post about her, as well as the linked one to information about her solar home in McLean, Virginia.

Here are some of Rose's cool sustainable gardening tips from the post:

1) Garden organically , 2) Make sure the soil is good, 3) Choose appropriate plants, ....6) collect rainwater.

And this is one of my favorites:

7. Use your garden to build community, for example, plant a pumpkin patch in your front yard and then have the neighborhood children come to pick a pumpkin for Halloween.

Take a few minutes to read the whole post. You'll love it!

Take a child outside week - Sept. 24 - 30th

If you are like me, you learned much of your love of gardening from your parents or someone else who took you outside to share the wonders of gardening, nature and wildlife with you when you were a child.

Unfortunately, with our busy lifestyles and so many electronic gadgets that keep us indoors, many of today's children spend very little time outside.

Take A Child Outside Week is a program designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world. The Take A Child Outside Week website has many wonderful suggestions to help get your kids outdoors, from lying on blankets examining the trees to teaching a child to whistle using blades of grass (remember doing that as a child?)

Or here is a suggestion of my own that can be used in any yard or landscape:

Have a scavenger hunt in your yard (can also be carried out at a local park): Wake up early and take a quiet walk around your yard with a notebook in hand. Look for at least ten wonderful, curiosities of nature that aren’t easily noticed and make a list of them. Perhaps you will see some caterpillars dining on a host plant or a beautiful spider web stretched across two tree limbs or a tiny little tree frog hidden in the leaves of a flower. Make a list of your finds (but not their locations). Give a copy of the list to each of your children or other participants and have a scavenger hunt in your yard. Whoever finds all the items first wins!

Whatever you do to celebrate Take A Child Outside Week, make sure you let the child in YOU come out and play!

Happy First Day of Autumn - My Favorite Season!

Quotes about Autumn

• "Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." - Elizabeth Lawrence



• " I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. - Nathaniel Hawthorne



• "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot



• "Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." - Stanley Horowitz



• "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -Albert Camus

Please don't poison my planet - eco-friendly options for weed control

I just saw a post on a “green” blog that started out by saying that now is a good time to “Spray lawn weed killer.”

My reaction: ACK!

In keeping with my personal “don’t poison the planet” rule, I went searching on the Internet for some non-toxic ways to control weeds. I haven’t tried most of them myself and I welcome input from anyone who has about what has worked for you and what hasn’t in your yard and gardens.

Hand pulling - Admittedly, not the easiest or most fun, but certainly the least toxic to the planet. Hand pulling weeds is also one of the many garden chores that help to burn calories. Weeds should be pulled before they go to seed and care should be taken that the whole tap root is removed, not just the weed tops. Weeding forks are excellent tools for getting the whole weed. There is a very extensive list of various weeds in a Chemical Free Lawn and Garden book that I own, listing control methods for the different weed species. I’m not sure why they took the time or the space in the book to provide the list of different weeds because as far as I can tell, every single weed says either “hoe, dig or pull”.

Corn gluten meal– Although it won’t kill weeds that are already present, corn gluten meal is a safe pre-emergent control, which means that it prevents weed roots from developing so the seedlings die before they can take over your lawn or garden. It is safe for people, pets, fish and wildlife. Products which are based on corn gluten as the main ingredient are available under many names, including WOW and Concern.

Solarization– If you have a specific area that you can leave alone for awhile, you can kill everything (weeds included) by wetting the area and covering it with clear plastic sheeting. The edges must be sealed to make the whole thing airtight. This process is called solarization and it works because the rays of the sun heat the soil to temperatures as high as 140 degrees at the surface and up to 100 degrees as far down as 18 inches. Keep in mind that while this method kills pests and diseases in the soil, it will also kill other plants and any insects, earthworms or other beneficial critters that don’t have the opportunity to crawl away to another location. For more information, read the fact sheet: Going Solar to Set Your Soil Straight.

Use boiling water - For weeds in sidewalks, driveways etc, you can pour boiling water directly on the weed. You can also use boiling water in gardens but keep in mind that it won’t be great for earthworms, plants that you want to keep or any beneficial creatures that are hiding out under the soil. For stubborn perennial weeds (including poison ivy) you have to expose the roots and pour on the boiling water. Don’t rebury the roots, as keeping them exposed helps speed their demise.

Weed torches – Small, propane powered torches are available specifically for burning weeds out of cracks and crevices in sidewalks and driveways and will even work in gardens and lawns. Keep in mind that it is the heat, not the flame, that will kill a weed and the heat can affect plants well beyond the visible flame. Also, anything that is too dry can catch on fire, including mulch, dry leaves, your sneakers, etc.

Household vinegar– A recipe that I found on the Internet said that you can control weeds by mixing 1 cup vinegar with ¼ cup lemon juice, pouring it into a spray bottle and spraying it directly on weeds. This mixture is said to control herbaceous broad-leaf and grass weeds, including chickweed, ragweed, plantain, crab grass, quack grass, and wild carrot and results are said to be obtained in as soon as two hours. I also found several sources that warned that vinegar and lemon will both upset the natural chemistry of the soil and make it difficult for other plants to grow.

Using mulch - Mulch can help to smother weeds in a garden by blocking sunlight. This keeps weed seeds from germinating and young weed seedlings are smothered.

If you have found eco-friendly products or methods that help control weeds, please let us know by leaving a comment. My husband and I are pretty tolerant of most weeds in the lawn (many visiting critters seem to like to eat them, including our neighbors goat that sometimes gets loose and wanders into our yard). In our gardens, we just hand pull and use mulch.

For more information:
Pesticide Alternatives, Montgomery County Watershed
A Corny Solution for Weeds (pdf file) about corn gluten
Going Solar to Set Your Soil Straight (pdf file)
Weed Control – Fairfax County

Online ources for purchasing products :
Gardens Alive
Planet Natural

Exercise benefits of eco-friendly landscaping

I was thinking about all of the great exercise that I get while working in my eco-friendly landscape, so I decided to find out just how much good all of this bending and stooping is doing for my body while I try my best to “do good” for the planet.

I hope you enjoy this list of Health Benefits of Creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape

** Estimates for calories burned are from the fitness and exercise directory that I found on the LiveStrong website and are based on the weight of a 120 lb. female.

  1) Sweeping your driveway and sidewalks – It is bad for the environment to leave grass clippings, fertilizer or other substances on a driveway where they will wash into storm drains and pollute local waterways. Sweep up all clippings and add them to your compost pile or your gardens for added mulch. Sweep up any spilled fertilizer and put it back in your garden. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 288.

2) Raking leaves – Rake all leaves and put them in your compost pile. They will decompose and make great compost for the spring. Health benefits: The cardiovascular benefits of raking up the leaves in fall are not unlike a true "gym" workout. This activity burns approximately 274 calories

3) Bagging leaves – if you don’t have your own compost pile, bag your leaves and give them to a friend or neighbor who does. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 218 calories per hour.

4) Building raised bed gardens – raised bed gardens help prevent overwatering and over fertilizing. Health benefits: Outside carpentry burns approximately 327 calories per hour.

5) Installing rain gutters – utilizing rain gutters and downspouts to redirect rainfall into the grass and gardens helps prevent stormwater runoff. Health benefits: Installing rain gutters burns approximately 432 calories per hour.

6) Creating compost - Composting is a natural process that involves the decomposition of biodegradable matter such as fruits, plants and vegetables. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 272 calories per hour.

7) Digging – Planting eco-friendly plants helps conserve water and the environment. Digging in a garden engages both the upper and lower body, and any tools and equipment you use provide resistance. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 272 calories per hour.

8 ) Gardening (general) - Gardening exercises and activities involve preparing soil, pruning plants, planting bulbs and maintaining flowers, plants and vegetables in a garden plot - Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 259 calories per hour.

9) Weeding – hand weeding instead of using chemical herbicides is healthier for the planet. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 331 calories per hour.

10) Hauling compost – Using compost is a great way to conserve water. Hauling compost and mulch across various distances can engage the upper and lower body in constant movement. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 245 calories per hour.

11) Hoeing – Hoeing by hand is a great way to work the soil and remove weeds. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 272 calories per hour.

12) Kneeling to pull weeds - Kneeling will engage your thighs and glutes as you bend and sit for various intervals of time. Health benefits: Kneeling burns approximately 54 calories per hour.

13) Lawn mowing, pushing a hand mower – push mowers are better options for the environment than riding mowers or power mowers. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 327 calories per hour. 14) Laying crushed rock – crushed rock is a great pervious surface to use in the landscape to allow water to percolate into the yard. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 272 calories per hour.

15) Picking flowers and fruits – enjoying the fruits of your labors makes eco-friendly gardening so much more fun! Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 163 calories per hour.

16) Picking up litter - Picking up litter helps the environment -- and your waistline! Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 274 calories per hour.

17) Planting trees - Planting trees help shade the home and landscape - Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 331 calories per hour.

18) Planting native plants - Planting seedlings, shrubs and trees may require you to stoop, squat, bend and lift various gardening materials and tools as you complete the task. Choosing native plant species is often better for the environment. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 245 calories per hour.

19) Pushing a wheelbarrow - Pushing a wheelbarrow while walking employs one of the best aerobic activities available — walking. Coupled with the added resistance of the wheelbarrow and contents, pushing a wheelbarrow will typically expend more energy than walking on your own. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 272 calories per hour.

20) Shoveling compost, dirt, etc - Shoveling moderate loads, such as dirt from your garden, is a good way to get your daily workout and build muscular strength at the same time. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 381 calories per hour.

21) Tilling the soil - Before the first seed or sprout can be laid, gardeners must till the soil to prepare it for planting. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 327 calories per hour.

22) Trimming shrubs and trees manually – Using hand tools is always better for the environment AND your body. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 331 calories per hour.

23) Hand watering plants – Watering by hand helps prevent overwatering. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 187 calories per hour.

24) Tree hugging - Hugging someone (or something) lightly engages your upper body--you will use your arms, shoulders, back and perhaps even your neck muscles in your embrace. Health benefits: This activity burns approximately 54 calories per hour. :)

Free Rain Garden Workshop in Frederick County, Sept. 25th

Deadline for registration is September 22

The Potomac Conservancy, in partnership with the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, is hosting a free public rain garden workshop at Bar-T Mountainside (2914 Roderick Road. Urbana, MD 21704) on Saturday, September 25.

Learn how to manage stormwater and beautify your own backyard through rain gardens, pollinator gardens and other lawn-reducing practices. You will also learn how to select the right native plants for the project and how to ensure your project’s success. Participants will get hands on experience planting two gardens with native flowers, grasses and shrubs.

The workshop will be held from 10am – 4pm and includes a light lunch. Registration is capped at 30 participants ages 16 and up. Please RSVP to Aimee Weldon at weldon@potomac.org by September 22nd.

Why are rain gardens important?

Rain is natural; storm water run-off from man-made impervious surfaces isn.t. As residential subdivisions replace forests and agricultural land, storm water from increased impervious surfaces becomes a problem. Storm water run-off from developed areas increases flooding, carries pollutants from streets, parking areas and even lawns. Expensive storm water management structures are often required to address this problem.

By reducing storm water run-off, rain gardens can play a valuable role in changing these trends. While an individual rain garden may seem like a small thing, collectively they can produce substantial neighborhood and community-wide environmental benefits.

Source: Rain Gardens: A How To Manual for Homeowners (PDF)

12 Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening

Last winter, our friends Jon and Kim Hindman of Wyoming showed us their snow covered back yard and said "And this is where we intend to build our raised bed vegetable gardens." They had the whole thing planned on paper and as the luscious smells of the home cooked meal they were preparing wafted through their cozy home, I could almost envision the joy they would get by adding homegrown herbs and veggies.

Jon and Kim being who they are, I wasn't really surprised that they got the gardens built, planted and harvested in what seems like an incredibly short time. (My husband and I are both such procrastinators, we do things at a snail's pace compared to Jon and Kim.)

Since they have a photo record of the whole process, I thought it only fitting to use their photos to help illustrate this post about:

 

The 12 Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening

1) Less soil compaction from people walking in the garden – Walking on garden soil exerts pressure of as much as ten pounds per square inch causing soil compaction.

2) Control of soil content - Raised beds are usually filled with high-quality soil mixes that have large amounts of organic matter

3) Easy maintenance - Raised beds are more easily maintained than ground beds since the increased height of the bed reduces bending distance

4) Better Drainage - Soil in raised beds is better drained than soil outside the bed. This increased drainage is especially helpful when growing plants in low-lying or poorly drained areas.

5) Better yields - Research has shown that raised bed gardening yields on average 1.25 pounds per square foot, more than double the conventional method

6) Water, fertilizer, compost, mulch, etc. can be applied more carefully

7) Easier to keep out burrowing pests - Burrowing animals can be stopped by lining the bottom of the bed with wire mesh.

8) Raised beds can extend your gardening season. They tend to warm up a little sooner in the spring and remain productive later in the fall

9) Gardening on bad sites or soils - Raised beds make gardening possible on sites where growing plants would otherwise be impossible. Rooftop gardens and raised beds on top of solid rock are examples. Terraced raised beds turn hillsides into productive growing areas while reducing soil erosion potential.

10) Water conservation - The narrow dimensions of beds are advantageous for water conservation. Canvas soaker hoses, perforated plastic sprinkle hoses and drip-type irrigation disperse water in a long, narrow pattern well-suited to beds. Directing water to the soil helps to reduce disease problems which can result from wetting the foliage with overhead sprinklers.

11) Less weeds - Dense planting techniques help reduce weed seed germination.

12) Better use of small spaces - Raised bed gardens can help maximize all available space and are typically smaller than traditional gardens, making them a more convenient option in areas with limited space.

For more information:

Raised Bed Gardening, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Container and Raised Bed Gardening, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Raised Bed Gardening, University of Missouri Extension

Vegetables, Raised Bed Gardening, University of Tennessee

Raised Bed Gardening, Alabama Cooperative Extension

Nice article about mulch

I found this nice article about mulch this morning. The writer reminds us of the benefits of using mulch.

Mulch reduces water loss from soil, which means less time spent watering your garden, and less water used. The use of mulch will minimize germination of weeds, so there’ll be fewer weeds to compete for water and nutrients, and fewer for you to pull. It improves soil aeration and drainage, and reduces soil erosion. Mulch insulates the soil, keeping it warmer during the winter months (which, shockingly, are just around the corner!). Mulch can also give your garden a well-groomed and professional appearance and keep your plants from becoming dirty. Click here to read the full article entitled Responsbile Gardening: Mulching

As a reminder, there are several places to get FREE or very low cost mulch in the Metro DC area. For details, visit our post on Free Mulch

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