Garden links, information,and resources for people who garden!

Summer began last week at the urban garden. Mother Nature cooperated by posting highs in the 90’s with plenty of humidity thrown in. This is the kind of weather that always happens when there is lots of weeding to do. As was the case last week. We spent most of the week at one of the outlying facilities cleaning beds and pruning. It was not the most pleasant work conditions but everything looked so much better when we were done that you quickly forget the uncomfortable weather you were working in.

This is true for any garden. Sometimes we tend not to want to go out in the heat and work in the garden and prefer to wait fir better weather. I have found that the longer you put it off the harder it is to get things back under control. Sometimes it is better to go out for only 15 minutes and accomplish a little each day then it is to wait a week or two. In warm summer weather weeds can appear almost overnight then it is really a chore to get it back under control. I have not always been that diligent with weeding and then spent a long time cleaning it up that is why I have adopted the 15 minute methods and it really works. If you just add 15 minutes of a task you really do not want to do to each days schedule you will get it done and it will not become so much drudgery that it turns you off.

The construction of the building addition is underway and sort of on schedule. This past week the first of the concrete walls were poured so there actually appears something above ground to see I will post a couple of pictures before the weekend.

When weather gets hot it is very important to keep your eye on your container plants. Container plantings dry out very quickly and even if it is raining it is not always enough to keep your containers moist so be sure and check daily. Plants can wilt and be damage very easily in the summer heat.

The idea of fresh herbs right from the garden intrigues a lot of people especially those who enjoy cooking. There really is no other taste like sweet basil freshly picked. or the tangy taste of tarragon. The best part of all is that you can grow your own parsley, rosemary, thyme, or just about any other fresh herb without even having a yard or garden. In fact you can even raise them on a balcony. It is really easy to grow herbs.

Tarragon Parsley Rosemary And Basil Herb garden In A Container

A simple container like the one above can be put together in 15 or 20 minutes but provide you with fresh herbs the whole summer long. Below is another arrangement.

Basil Dill And Thyme Planter

Not only do these containers provide you with fresh picked herbs they look nice out on a patio or deck. There are so many different ways to grow fresh vegetables fruits and herbs in your own garden. If you would like to read some more ideas use this link gardening

More and more people every year are venturing into gardening and enjoying the fruits of a little time and healthy exercise. If you would like to learn more or are seeking additional information

advice on gardening

Well finally after almost a year the construction of the new radiation therapy building is about to begin. The scheduled completion date is October 1st we will see.

Due to the type of equipment that is being installed the walls will be concrete and 5 feet thick. This will be a tremendous amount of weight and as the hospital is built on parts Lake Michigan that has been filled in it will be necessary to build on top of caissons sunk 65 feet into the ground. This should be a very messy project.

When it is finished there will not be a whole lot of additional landscaping as the area boardes an existing parking lot so there is no room for it.

I will keep you informed as the work progresses. Here is a shot with the construction fence going up around the work site.

Construction fence around the work site

I will post more on this project throughout the summer.

This is the time when you want to do your lawn renovation in the north for cool season grasses. Generally after a winter like we just had in the Midwest the lawn will need some attention. The first step is to get up all the winter debris and cleanup the lawn. I like to set my bagging mower on a low setting then after picking up all the large twigs branches etc… I run the mower over the lawn slowly and try and vacuum up what is left.It is important to empty the bag often so you can get as much off the lawn as possible. This will do a good job at getting all the loose material up.

After you have run your mower you will need to rake out any dead grass that you find and also rough up the areas where you have bare spots. Once you have bare earth then it is time to put down your seed. Sprinkle the seed over the area and then I use a mulch of about a quarter inch of peat moss over the seed this will help provide moister and hide the seed from foraging birds. Once this is done you should fertilize and then keep the seeded areas watered for the next three weeks. This will ensure good germination. You need not water heavily just a lite sprinkle in the morning and evening. This is the number one thing required to a successful lawn renovation. If you do not keep the seed moist then as the seed germinates it will die . One very important thing is do not use any weedkiller or crab grass control until after the grass has germinated and is growing for three weeks.
If you do these simple things now your lawn will look fuller and be much nicer this summer.

As we are approaching the new growing season there are many tasks ahead. A lot of people are looking for new ideas to enhance their yard and increase enjoyment of the outdoors. A great idea is to turn your yard into a backyard wildlife habitat . This is a great idea not only will you be providing food and shelter for a whole host of animals that are quickly be pushed and shoved by the development of their native habitats but you will be creating hours of enjoyment for yourself and your family.

A backyard wildlife habitat need not be an expensive project. A simple thing like adding a bird feeder to your yard will start attracting birds that not only will add chatter and song to your yard but provide you with hours of entertainment. Planting flowers which attract butterflys will also add to your enjoyment. Planting Shrubs and trees will add shelter. Planting berries will provide food. A Birdbath is another simple idea that is not very expensive.

You can be as simple of elaborate as you like. For the more adventurous you might consider a backyard pond. A backyard pond not only will provide birds and squirrels a place to drink but you can add fish and frogs another great source of free entertainment.The pond will also attract dragonflies as well.

Birds love to come and take a drink in a backyard pond and to splash in the shallow water

What ever you might choose to do a backyard wildlife habitat is certain to provide a new demension of pleasure to your yard!