The best advice you should never take
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about why Jerry Baker says that you can use beer, soap, tobacco juice and the like for just about everything. Well “America’s Master Gardener” (I would like to know which university gave him that title) isn’t always right. Some things he suggest can be down right harmful. Also, I would much prefer to spray once to correct a problem with something that works instead of spraying different “concoctions” every 2 weeks or more often.
I don’t want to get into the specifics right now, but here is a list of sites that share my concern. I would tend to trust them as most contain university research.
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Whats/jbaker.htm
http://www.takomagardener.typepad.com/tg/2006/03/americas_master.html
http://www.gardenrant.com/my_weblog/2006/06/jerry_baker_ame_1.html
http://www.aenews.wsu.edu/Nov99AENews/Nov99AENews.htm
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/cabarrus/staff/dgoforth/newsart/baker1.html
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/entomology/pestnewsletter/NL-sept99.htm
Product Review - Ortho Dial ‘N Spray
Here is my first review on this site. And no I was not paid for my review, lol.
Current Drought Conditions
With all this none-rain we’re receiving here in the Midwest I can’t stress enough how much your practices in the lawn can make or break your whole year. So what should you be doing?? Great question, lets let the experts at Purdue answer those questions.
Facts and Advice on Turf Survival in Drought
Mowing Practices During Drought
Also Larry Caplan (Purdue Extension Coordinator) has some thoughts for you lawn and landscaping in one of his articles for the Evansville Courier and Press.
Tri State Soils Are Dry (June 10)
Crabgrass preventer? Again??
Now is about the time some believe a second round of crabgrass preventer is beneficial. For some it may be a good idea, especially with cool season grasses that tend to go dormant during the hotter summer months. The lawn will start to lend itself to invasion of weeds such as crabgrass which can grow in the warmer weather. However, be wary of crabgrass preventers bundled with high nitrogen fertilizers. You do not want to compound the problem that the weather has given you by forcing the lawn to grow when it should be resting.
The other reason that this is safe to do is that even if you plan on a fall overseeding the crabgrass preventer will be dissipated to the point that it will be possible.
Myself, I’m going to sit out this round, continue to water when needed during this Midwest drought we’re in. So far this has worked out well, as always a thick healthy lawn will withstand almost any obstacle. And if you do see some sporadic crabgrass in the fringe of your lawn, grab your crabgrass herbicide of choice and go at it.
Soil pH, a great summer project
Nows a great time to look into what type of soil you have as far as pH goes. pH can make or break a lawn. During the hotter summer months most lawn enthusiasts get bored. Fertilizer applications become risky, weed control is hard to schedule around the warmer weather, but you still want to play in the yard. Most pH adjustments take long periods of time to complete and the products used are normally safe to use in warmer weather. Here is a link to the article for more information:
Summer Fertilizers - oh my!
Go into any respectable garden center, hardware store, or the like and you’ll meet up with several summer fertilizers. The most common usually include an insecticide with a very high amount of nitrogen, any maybe some iron if you are lucky.
For cool season lawns I really believe in leaving them alone in the summer. If you want to apply any thing to your lawn go with good ol’ H2O. You’ll be happy with the results and won’t have to worry about nitrogen driven top growth while your roots starve to death. Although some also like to put down another round of pre-emergents which are usually mixed with high nitrogen fertilizers.
Myself, I’ll be watering and putting down iron in some form or another. My lawn will be green and I’ll finally be able to stop cutting it 2-3 times a week.
