Glenns Garden

Busy Summer this year at the urban garden. We have been busy with the outlying facilities re-landscape as well as the splitting of perennials at the main campus this month. On top of all that is going on we are seal coating and re-striping the pavement. This is a big undertaking that involves closing down parking lots and roadways on the weekends. This not only creates challenges for the visitors and staff we have a lot of scheduling conflicts and must plan properly to work around them.

The weather has been hot this summer. It has not been unbearable but it certainly has affected the plants and lawns. Add to the heat we have had a lot of rain which is a blessing and a curse, Warm night and days have meant the vegetable gardens have performed well in fact most everything from the summer garden is winding down and that canning has been going on for several weeks now. Nothing like home made salsa in the winter to bring back the hint of a warm summer afternoon. Still have a few more weeks to enjoy those fresh tomatoes right off the vine. The lawns have however been invade by annual grasses due to the ideal growing conditions. Crabgrass and foxtail have taken over a lot of lawns. The best solution I have found is to give then a shot of roundup as they brown out get some peat moss and seed. Work up the area apply seed and top dress with the peat moss. Keep the area moist and then in a couple of weeks the areas killed off will be back in good shape. This is also the routine I use for a whole lawn renovation, the difference is I rent a slit seeder and do the whole lawn with it after it has browned out and go in several different directions. The real trick to success with seeding is moisture you need to keep the lawn moist for four weeks to allow all the seed to germinate.This means a light sprinkling a couple of times a day. The best time to do this is the end of August this will allow the grass to establish well by the end of fall and establish a good root system for next year.

As I mentioned earlier we have been splitting up dayliles and hosta and replanting the beds. The excess have been potted up for use next year. Well that is except for a hundred of the daylilies that will be used at the outlying facility for the landscape renovation. This saved about $500.00 in plant materiel costs and will significantly enhance the whole project.

We are starting a new sight called B A Green Thumb. It is a community type sight and one that will focus on many issues and projects for home farming and gardening to green living. It is free to be a member and we are looking for those interested in gardening and D I Y as well as forum members to share their experience and gardening skills with others. We are especially looking for those who have questions or need help and advice. Please check it out and join click the banner below