Lawn Care Service

Archive for September, 2010

I just completed a nice weekend of camping with a group of kids from our church and I must say it was exhausting in just about every aspect. It was great to be outside a ton and to really enjoy some of the best woods, lakes, and natural habitats that I have seen in a long, long time. However, that’s not the point of this particular article. You see the camp had an amazing cafeteria and kitchen staff that cooked some great meals for our crew. In the center of the table they placed some great information on their composting program and as soon as the meal was over we walked everyone through separating out their garbage and going through the composting process. It was a really unique experience and an opportunity to teach the kids quite a bit about composting and some of its benefits. If you are a composting fan or even if you are just curious… Here are 40 cool blogs about composting and related subjects.

1. The Compost Bin
http://compostbin.blogspot.com/
This blog offers some great videos that will help people that are looking to get into composting. There is also some information on where to purchase composting supplies.

2. Make Compost
http://www.makecompost.net/blog
This blog offers a really simple layout but if you look past that you will see a lot of videos and useful information about composting. It is really kept current as well which I greatly appreciate.

3. Sandra’s Garden
http://sandra-in-the-garden.blogspot.com/
This blog is largely from 2009 but that’s okay because composting is pretty much timeless. The information is good and there are links to some other really interesting resources about conservation and more.

4. The Compost Bin
http://thecompostbin.com/blog/
This blog site has a tagline “Everything you ever wanted to know about composting” and accordingly it has extensive articles not just about composting, but preserving nature as well. You have to dig a little though to get to the really good composting articles (so you were warned).

5. The Compost Guy
http://www.compostguy.com/
This blog is a must-read for anyone really serious about composting. The author goes into great details especially about red worm composting but he doesn’t stop there. This is simply a great blog!

6. Red Worm Composting
http://www.redwormcomposting.com/
This vermicomposting site is good for anyone who is passionate about learning to compost utilizing worms. The blog offers some great instructions and how-to guides but I have to admit if you have a weak stomach you may want to stay away from this one (but then again you probably won’t make much of a composter).

7. The worm dude
http://www.thewormdude.com/category/worm-blog/
This blog is the brainchild of Jerr Gach, a worm breeder from California. It’s got a great, clean layout and gets the DIY job done. Where are those red worms for me to test with?

8. Vermont Worms
http://vermontworms.wordpress.com/
Previous question asked and answered you can buy your red wiggler worms here AND get some additional great information on composting with worms. BTW, this site looks really nice and the author deserves kudos for their attention to design details.

9. Bokashi man
http://www.bokashiman.com/
This blog is all about bokashi—a special type of composting that is really popular amongst gardeners all around the world. You can find out how to do bokashi yourself over the course of several articles.

10. Bokashi Composting in Australia
http://billjackjane.blogspot.com/
This blog, which is based in Australia (as you probably guessed) aims to inform readers about bokashi and related composting subjects from down under.

11. Garden for the Environment
http://www.gardenfortheenvironment.org/blog/gardenblog.html
There are a few contributors to this blog which originates from San Francisco about organic gardening and composting. This one is also heavy with 2009 articles, but it is full of useful links and information.

12. Bokashi – an Alternative to Compost Tumblers?
http://bokashivscomposttumblers.blogspot.com/
This blog is based out of Australia and it has general Bokashi composting information using buckets and EM Bokashi powder.

13. Worm Farming Secrets
http://www.wormfarmingsecrets.com/
This site provides readers with information on the various uses of cultivated worms and includes some materials on composting. Worm tea anyone?

14. Mushroom Compost
http://mushroomcompostinfo.wordpress.com/
Okay I came across this blog and had to include this with a note that this is not your typical composting bin blog this is talking about mushroom composting which is a natural byproduct of growing mushrooms.

15. Squidoo.com-History of Compost Making
http://www.squidoo.com/History_Of_Compost_Making
This is an interesting squidoo entry that walks you through the history of compost making. It’s a good and quick read.

16. Green Living Tips
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/blogs/
This blog offers lots of general green living advice and recycling information, naturally it has articles and links about composting.

17. Squidoo-Bokashi
http://www.squidoo.com/bokashi
This article is helpful for people who want to learn more about Bokashi and of course it is another quick read which is specific to this particular type of composting. This is a great starter for the Bokashi beginner.

18. Go organic gardening
http://goorganicgardening.com/
Organic gardening is a close cousin to composting so you can get your fill of lots of related topics on this well organized blog.

19. Worm Digest
http://wormdigest.blogspot.com/
The title of this blog is I Got Worms Now What? I love that! This is another excellent blog on vermicomposting that obviously comes from a writer with a lot of creativity so it’s a fun and light look at a serious subject.

20. Earthworms and recycling
http://worms.blat.co.za/
You can read about worm farms, vermicomposting, bokashi, and more all on this one blog. Oh yeah! You can buy some great equipment and kits here too (not affiliated in any way with them but take a look).

21. Composting Blog
http://blog.composters.com/
This is one of my personal favorites! The blog is very current and has tons of articles dating back to 2007. If you have to pick one composting blog to read you have to look at the blog for composters.com.

22. Garden Gourmet
http://gardengourmet.wordpress.com/
This blog is under Scepter Corporation which promotes compost bins along with other eco products. It will take you all of five minutes to read so what are you waiting for?

23. Jenn’s Worm Composting Blog
http://wormdirt.wordpress.com/
The site has a tagline “Vermicomposting for all seasons!” and discusses vermicasting in colder climates with harsh (aka cold) winters. Of course Fall, Spring, and Summer aren’t left out but you may already know what you need to know about vermicomposting during those months.

24. How2compost Blog
http://how2compost.com/blog/composting_blog.php
I have to admit that I am a big how-to fan so I like simple guidelines and tips that I can use when I am trying something new and for composting this is such a site (one for beginners).

25. The online Gardening Guide
http://onlinegardening.blogspot.com/
There are four really great composting articles on this blog along with several gardening tips and guides that round out the blog nicely.

26. Garden Worms
http://www.gardenworms.com/blog/
This is another blogger with a design flair (okay I like cartoon characters what can I say…). It’s another good read on vermicomposting (by now you should be totally in love with that word).

27. Red Worms
http://www.redworms.com/blog/
This blog tells the story of a family-run company that also works to educate gardeners and farmers about vermicomposting.

28. Monster worms
http://blog.monsterworms.com/tag/african-nightcrawler/
Here’s another well designed blog that has some great pics and easy reads about vermicomposting and monster worms (no they are not scary in any way).

29. Earthworm Farming on Compost for Gardening Fertilizer
http://compost-earthworm-farming.blogspot.com/
This is a quick read mostly from 2008 but it has sample articles that include keeping away predators, vermicasting, and worm collection.

30. CebuVermicomposters’s Blog
http://cebuvermicomposters.wordpress.com/
This blog based in the Philippines and talks about the basics of vermicomposting. It has useful photos included and presents the information in a simple way.

31. Organic garden Tips
http://www.bestorganicgardentips.com/
This blog has various posts related to organic farming including composting using worms. If you have an organic garden, this is a solid read.

32. Vermiculture Blog
http://vermicultural.blogspot.com/
-this blog offers visitors essential information on vermiculture and related matters. It has blog posts regarding materials on vermiculture.

33. Vermicompsters.com
http://vermicomposters.ning.com/
This is a social network for people who are interested and actively practicing vermiculture. It serves as hub for information exchanges among people from all over the world.

34. Rotating Compost Bin
http://www.rotatingcompostbin.org/
If you want to produce garden compost quickly then you need to check out these spinning compost bins to see what they can do for you.

35. Worm Bin Composting
http://wormbincomposting.blogspot.com/
If you are a worm composting fanatic then you may have met your match with this blog. Enough said, you have to check it out for more details.

36. Not Dabbling in Normal
http://notdabblinginnormal.wordpress.com/
This blog is about pretty much anything even remotely related to nature and gardening and includes information on composting as well.

37. Suite101.com
http://www.suite101.com/
This is a fun site to use to research a lot of topics. Search for composting and see how many articles you ahve at your fingertips.

38. Missy’s Garden
http://missysgarden.blogspot.com/
This blog has posts on various offbeat topics related to gardening and offers information about worm bins and composting as well.

39. Worm Farming Hub
http://worm-farming.net/bokashi-bin-working-together-with-worm-farm
The blog’s moderator is an advocate of organic soil making through worm farming.

40. One 20 Farm
http://one20farm.blogspot.com/
Lots of basic and essential information on worm farming and composting can be found on this website.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

Landscaping is something that can add curb appeal to your home or more importantly, it can help you get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of your whole property.  It’s amazing what a difference having the yard of your dreams can be (front and back).  With that said, it can be really hard to achieve without some good, solid advice and a great list of ideas that you can use as a starting point for designing your landscape.  In order to make this a bit easier I chose my favorite landscaping blogs from the list of hundreds that are out there on the Internet.  I hope at least some of these can give you the inspiration you need to turn your property into the place you always dreamed it could be.

Here are 40 of my favorite landscaping blogs:

1. Central Florida Gardener
(http://centralfloridagardener.blogspot.com/)
This blogsite was created as a source for information about gardening in Florida.  It covers other issues including information on the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Homeowners Program.  It’s a useful resource especially for Floridians.

2. Ecotone Projects
(http://ecotoneprojects.wordpress.com/about/)
This blog is managed by a sustainability professional living in New York. A work in progress, this blog keeps track of concepts in landscape architecture of the blog author.  Dig deep and ignore the age of the posts and you will uncover some interesting restorative landscaping articles.

3. everGREEN landscape architects, inc
(http://evergreen-sb.blogspot.com/)
This site not only tackles topics on landscape designing and gardening but reports on latest issues, news, problems and solutions on architecture, landscape and environment.  Leland has been away for a while but the article archives are awesome.

4. Landscape designer
(http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/)
This blog is maintained by a landscape designer residing in Canada. The site features topics on advice about landscape, landscape architecture and gardening tips as well.  There are some really excellent pics on this site for DIY projects and/or industry pros.

5. Landscape living
(http://www.landscapeliving.com/)
This website gives visitors access to various information on creating breathtaking backyards for they can call home. Moreover, you can subscribe to the site’s insider tips on improving your landscape and garden.  The site is really current, well designed, and a good read.

6. Landscape Management Blog
(http://landscapemanagement.blogspot.com/)
This is the blog version of the magazine Landscape Management. This is where landscape artists, lawn care professionals, groundskeeper, or even athletic field managers can get the currents news as well as technical advice on landscaping and the likes.  There is even a little political flair to the site, it’s definitely fun and one of the most entertaining blogs on this list.

7. Landscape Solutions Blog
(http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/landscape-solutions-blog.html)
It’s a place where people who are interested in landscaping can get tons of ideas. It has feature articles that are mostly about trees, flowers, and plants you can add in your outdoor scenery along with how to plant and take care of them.  It’s got nearly daily updates so it’s a very active blog.

8. REALTOR.com® Blogs
(http://www.realtor.com/blogs/)
This blog is a good site for home sellers and buyers to connect and navigate around real estate market. Moderated by REALTORS®, it publishes reliable landscaping ideas and real estate tips from over 21, 000 bloggers that frequent the site.  It’s on the list because it can help you answer questions around the additional value that landscaping can add to your home.

9. Savvy landscaping
(http://landscaping.savvy-cafe.com/)
This blog is a good source of tutorials, guidelines, and tricks about landscaping. People who are interested in creating their own landscaping projects will find this site to be a great starting point.  It also has a great theme and is just an all-around pleasant site to visit.

10. Hoosierhillsinc – Landscape Designer
(http://www.hoosierhillsinc.com/)
This blog features tips on landscaping your swimming pool and taking on low-budget landscape projects. The blog has been running since 2005 and has hundreds of entries about landscaping.  I’d say this one is a MUST READ and one you will most likely want to subscribe to (RSS feed).

11. Dig in
(http://digindesigns.blogspot.com/)
This blogsite has posts about landscape transformation, before and after and Midwest modern landscaping. The blogs has a lot of photos that allow you to see the difference that good landscaping can make.

12. Landscape Design
(http://earthlandscapes.blogspot.com/)
This site features landscaping design and concepts that originate from the South African culture. The moderator is a designer based in Kwazulu, Natal.

13. THE GREEN MAN
(http://thegreenmanfld.blogspot.com/)
The blog has a sophisticated layout and photos that can serve as inspiration for people planning to try their hands on landscaping with flowers.

14. Green garden design
(http://greengardendesign.blogspot.com/)
This blog is maintained by a UK-based garden designer and writer. The site tackles issues on sustainable landscape architecture and provides information on garden design.

15. NZLANDSCAPES
(http://www.nzlandscapes.blogspot.com/)
This blogsite offers information on hiring services of landscape designers in Auckland. It also features posts about residential and commercial landscape design, landscape concepts, and garden products.

16. Carlseng Designs
(http://carlsengdesigns.blogspot.com/)
This blog has various information and tidbits about landscaping in the Central Oregon region. The moderator is a professional garden designer and describes herself as a “born again” gardener.  This is a fun blog folks!

17. Whispering crane institute
(http://whisperingcraneinstitute.wordpress.com/)
SHHHH! Let me tell you a secret about this really professional blog, it is quite spectacular.  The blogger is a professional landscape designer and it shows with the depth of the articles and general industry intel.

18. Dirt simple
(http://www.deborahsilver.com/blog/)
The blog’s moderator has been in the landscape design industry for 24 years. The blog features her works on commercial and contemporary landscaping with lots of photos.  She attempts (as you might infer by the title) to keep her writing dirt simple with clear, concise, and entertaining entries.

19. Landscaping
(http://landscaping.suite101.com/)
The blog receives contributions from a few bloggers who are experienced in the field of landscaping. It features topics on various gardening techniques and design, hardscaping, and tree care.

20. Malaysia Gardening and Landscaping Blog
(http://gardeninglandscaping.wordpress.com/)
The blogsite features topics on backyard landscaping, gardening, and various materials that can be used in landscaping outdoor spaces.

21. Lee’s Landscaping And Design
(http://leeslandscapes.com/dev/)
The blog’s writer is a landscaping artist from Minneapolis. It features landscaping services that he is offering, but it’s not a commercial at all for his services.  The articles are really informative and cover everything from sod installation to designing various water features.

22. Landscaping Design by Landry Builders
(http://www.landscapingdesignbylbl.blogspot.com/)
This blog is the webpage of Landry Builders, a contracting company that offers landscaping services. The blog features the company’s projects and offers advice on landscaping as well.  This is another great resource for information from a true pro in the industry.

23. Landscape Juice
(http://www.landscapejuice.com/)
The blogsite offers business advice on landscaping. It features posts about choosing a landscaping contractor, liability insurance for landscapers and gardeners, and blogging about starting/managing a garden or landscape business.

24. Landscaping blog
(http://benhacq.blogspot.com/)
The blog has been operating since 2008. It features about various landscape designs to be used in homes (residential services), and tips on creating and designing home and office gardens.

25. Decks
(http://deckcontractors.wordpress.com/)
This blogsite features decks that can be used in various landscaping ideas and projects.  If you live in areas where decks are popular, you need to check this out for some fresh ideas.

26. The Backyards and Gardens Resource Guide
(http://backyardsandgardens.com/)
This blog provides all the latest backyard landscape and garden trends. It offers instructions on do-it-yourself projects, design tips on awnings, front yards, patios and much more.

27. Landscape Architects NJ
(http://landscapearchitectsnj.blogspot.com/)
The blog has just been launched this year, but serves as an information hub on scenic landscaping, walkway designs, and outdoor upgrades.  It’s got some serious Jersey swagger (okay, had to be said)!

28. The Good Earth Garden Center Blog
(http://www.thegoodearthgarden.com/blog/)
This blog serves as the window of Good Earth Garden Center on the worldwide web. The site offers planting tips, and ways to beautify and maintain lawns and gardens.

29. Angel With Dirty Fingernails
(http://www.yardfairy.com/blog/about/)
The blogsite is managed a gardener who shares landscaping ideas to her clients and blog readers as well. The blog specializes on topics about low maintenance and low water gardens and outdoor spaces.  Plus, you have to read a blog with a title like that, don’t you?

30. Landscape design advice
(http://www.landscape-design-advice.com/landscape-design-blog.html)
The blog receives questions regarding landscaping and related issues from the readers. Entries have permalinks where the questions are answered. The website also has various photos about landscaping which you can browse for even more ideas.

31. Landscape design+more
(http://thlandscapedesign.blogspot.com/)
The blog is full of interesting photos about landscaping but it certainly does NOT stop there.  This has facts and factoids that none of the other sites write about.  If you are looking at some of the theories behind landscape design principles then this is the blog for you.

32. SLDA Landscape Design Associates
(http://www.slda.biz/wordpress/)
The posts are generally presented with a real personal touch.  You can tell that the Summer season is a blur for this designer as posts are scarce over the summer but this is a great looking blog with a really informative newsletter that I recommend you sign up for.

33. The home outside
(http://blog.jmmds.com/)
The blog aims to give tips to readers on how to design and manage their home landscaping. The blog publishes entries weekly from the main writers of the blog who are very knowledgeable in landscape industry (aka experts).

34. Willhite design
(http://willhitedesign.com/blog/)
The blogsite is maintained by Scott Willhite, a landscape architect. The blog is rich with colorful landscape photos some of which have been featured in Home & Garden.

35. Colors never end
(http://rcawley.blogspot.com/)
This blog is very helpful in solving problems in your garden and yard. The main focus of this blog is to use landscaping to increase the curb appeal of a home before putting the home up for sale.  It’s basically the fundamentals behind staging your yard prepping it for potential buyers.

36. Luc’s Lively Landscapes
(http://livelylandscapes.blogspot.com/)
The blog has been operating since 2008. It features step-by-step details and photos in various landscaping projects done by the blog owner.

37. Steve Snedeker’s landscaping and Gardening Blog
(http://www.stevesnedeker.com/)
This blog is very useful if you want to obtain some ideas about landscaping options for your yard. It has topics that talk about all the tools of the trade and useful construction materials that you can use for your own DIY projects.

38. The Landscape Architecture Resource
(http://landscapearchitectureresource.com/)
This blog tackles almost all issues and concerns about landscaping. It also will keep you on top of various industry events to make sure you don’t miss any big conventions.

39. Design Concepts Blog
(http://blog.dcla.net/)
This blog is the web space of the Landscape Architecture firm, Design Concepts. The blog publishes essays on various landscape spaces such as parks and playgrounds to name a few.

40. O’Connell Landscape
(http://oclandscape.com/ocblog/)
The blog allows distribution of useful landscaping information for consumption by the world wide web at large as well as O’Connell’s prospective customers. It features articles about the company’s current projects, landscape and garden materials, and links to other sites related to landscaping and gardening.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

If you are looking for a great way to enjoy your yard and save a few bucks at the same time then you may want to consider starting a garden.  A well maintained garden area requires some year-round work and if you are lucky enough to live in a mild climate you may be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor all year as well.  If not, don’t worry as we will help provide you with resources to maximize the personal satisfaction and yield that you get out of your garden no matter how long your gardening season may be.  One of the best sources of information is other online blogs that specialize on different subjects related to gardening.  I put together of 60 of the best gardening blogs I could find from around the World to help you whether you are just getting started or are an old pro at gardening.

• BACKYARD GARDENING – This blog offers articles about backyard gardening. Aside from the usual articles the blog also has photo gallery on backyard gardening and serves as medium on forums of visitors interested to know more about gardening.




• SUSTAINABLE and URBAN GARDENING – If you both love gardening and Mother Nature this blog is perfect for you. It primarily talks about urban and eco-friendly gardening.  Susan Harris is the author of this blog and does a great job of keeping this updated and relevant.




• Your Organic Gardening Blog – This blog is perfect for people who are interested or curious about maintaining an organic garden. There are posts on techniques, tips and conversations on organic gardening you can read.  There is also an interesting section of the blog dedicated to composting that is by itself worth visiting to read.




• GARDENING BLOG – The blog features posts from various contributors and accepts questions from its readers. Each post has photo for a more vivid expression of the topic.  The pictures and writing are stunning and this is an all-around really professional blog.  Nicely done!




• Garden Bliss – The blog has been online since 2004 and provides the author’s (Angela Pratt) insights on gardening. There are also photos of Angela’s plants and flowers aside from other gardening events she has visited that you can view.




• My Tiny Plot – This blog is not only helpful for people who are fond of gardening. The articles deal with veggie gardening and seasonal cooking as well.




• The Budding Gardener – Canadian Gardening Blog – This blog talks about a variety of topics including garden shows, ornamental grasses, and spring flowers. The blog is conversant to readers and even invites them to share their own experiences in gardening.




• Gardener’s Journal – The blog has only operated for about 2 years, but readers can get a lot of insights about veggie planting in their garden. The owner even shares recipes and some background on vegetables in his garden.




• Cold Climate Gardening – The blog provides articles on gardening during cold weather and information on various vegetables and flowers. Blog posts come from more or less 15 contributors.  If you live in a colder climate this one is simply a must read blog!




• Allanbecker.Gardenguru – This blogsite gives readers information about garden design and provides inspiring photos that you can use as inspiration for your own garden.




• Skippy’s Vegetable Garden – This blogsite is a comprehensive journal that tracks the owner’s activities with her garden. There are lists of the seeds she used, garden diagrams and her recommended planting schedule.




• Organic Gardening News and Advice - The blogsite offers gardening news and insights regarding organic gardening, farming, as well as sustainable agriculture. The blog’s owner has been an organic gardener since 1995.




• Aussie Organic Gardening – This gardening blog aims to promote organic gardening in general hence, it does not encourage readers to use chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.  It’s  a great resource for natural gardening advice.




• Eden Makers Blog – This blog is managed by Shirley Bovshow, a professional garden television host, gardening coach and landscape designer. She shares tips on plant combinations and more on her blog.




• The Organic Gardening Blog – This blog shares tips on starting an organic garden, natural pest control, landscaping, and composting.




• Veggie Gardening Tips – This blogsite has been operating for five years and has over a hundred posts on gardening (for those keeping track that’s really impressive). The site also contains photos on various vegetables and veggie gardening techniques.




• A Way to Garden – The blog is owned by a professional writer who has been writing articles about gardening for 20 years.  Needless to say, this is high quality reading that will keep you glued to your computer so reserve some time to dedicate to this blog.




• Amy Stewart – This blogsite is the online version of Amy Stewart’s articles. She has published essyas and commentaries in Garden Design, the New York Times, and Organic Gardening to name a few.




• Garden Rant – This blog was started in June 2006 and since then offered readers informative articles about gardening. It has been awarded as the Best Garden Blog and Most Innovative Garden Blog, by a jury of its peers.




• Gardens of the Wild Wild West – This blog covers an extensive range of gardening topics. The owner, Mary Ann Newcomer, has essays regarding garden writers, garden-inspired movies, and gardening events and activities.




• In Advertent Gardener – This blog space shares the personal experiences of the owner as a gardener. The topics range from weeding to indoor plants to growing tomatoes.




• Irish Blog of Home and Gardening – The blog is a source of information not solely for gardening, but for home, family and other related topics as well.




• Growing Southern – This blog has been in operation since 2005. It offers information about wildflowers, composting and other stuff that you can use to improve your garden.




• Art of Gardening – This website has a lot of tips on practical gardening and various gardening events and activities that the author is involved in related to gardening.




• The Aquaponic Gardening Blog – This blog features an alternative way of gardening called aquaponic. It offers information about aquaponic gardening and its components.  If you don’t now what aquaponic is, you better visit this one today to find out!




• The Upside-Down Garden – The blog’s owner is from New Zealand and aims to share his garden’s development through time.  This type of garden chronicle is really interesting especially if you are also starting a garden as you can pretty much follow along with him.




• Contextual Gardens – The blog is a great source to learn about interesting gardens. The essays are made more interesting with the photos attached to them.




• Seed of Serenity – The blog space talks about the experiences of a novice gardener who wishes to share relevant and true-to-life experiences on gardening.




• Gardening and Cleaning – The blog offers tips and information on gardening solutions. There are guidelines for choosing the right fertilizer, rose pruning, and preparing one’s lawn for summer.




• Garden Walk, Garden Talk – The blog’s creator is a master gardener and an architect who is enthusiastic about sharing tips and ideas about maintaining a garden.




• Potato Queen and Mulch Boy – This blogsite is the owner’s diary of their garden’s transformation since it has started in 2001. This blog is a great read for you if you are planning to start your own garden as well since it chronicles their whole experience.




• Tony – The Garden Guy – The moderator of the blog has been a gardener for about 28 years. The blog is a medium for conveying his tips on gardening.




• Veggie Gobbler - The blog features stories regarding the author’s garden and family. Aside from that the garden articles, it also has recipes that are based from her garden’s plants.




• Gardening with Wilson – The blogsite has been running since 2007. Aside from information about gardening, the website also features articles on other DIY projects.




• Today’s Garden Ideas – The essays in the blogsite provide the reader with instructions on maintaining and designing gardens to give them a beautiful appearance all-year round.




• The Gardens at MELISSA MAJORA – This journal is a great source for information on maintaining a bee-friendly garden.  If you don’t know what a bee-friendly garden is or why you would possibly want one then please visit this blog.




• The Garden Life – The site is very attractive because of the various photos posted in the site. You can refer to these photos along with the information given in the articles to jumpstart your own garden experiences.




• Marcelle Nankervis – This blog shares stories, tricks, and tips for people who are interested in gardening. The blog aims to promote sustainable and green gardening techniques which make it very popular right now.




• Missy’s Home & Garden Improvements – This blog is a collection of various blog articles from various people around the website. The topics are mostly from their own experiences which you can easily relate to and/or get useful information from to apply to your own garden.




• The Clueless Gardens – This blogspace offers information on various components of a garden—from plants to animals to garden decorations. Aside from the insightful articles, the blog also has interesting photos mostly featuring the author’s garden.




• Balcony Gardener – Balcony Gardener is all about container gardening which involves small gardens in containers that are suitable for high-rise apartments and other urban housing options. I’ll tell you one thing, there are a lot less weeds to pull!




• Balcony Garden Dreaming – Balcony Garden Dreaming has explorations in permaculture balcony gardening and edge gardening.  The blog owner is a really great and fun character that you will definitely enjoy getting to know.




• Totally Inept Balcony Garden – Like many of us Daphne is strapped for time and space in her small apartment balcony.  She is making the most of it and sharing her experiences with us to add some green to urban areas and gardens.




• 66 Square Feet – This is an award winning blog about a small 66 Square ft. garden located in New York City on a small terrace.  This garden (in a cold climate) offers 12 seasons of delight for the owner and she is shares it all with her readers.




• Life on the Balcony – Life on the Balcony has gardening tips for apartment and condo dwellers that are interested in trying container gardening for the first time (okay, lots of advice for experienced container gardeners as well).




• NYC Gardener – This is another great blog about a gardener from New York City.  She shares gardening secrets from her urban garden including what appear to be ways to grow some gigantic tomato plants.  Nicely done!




• The 6×8 Garden – This blogger is turning her 6×8 balcony into a vegetable container garden and is a self proclaimed part hobbit, part Jedi, and a lacto-ovo vegetarian.  If you aren’t interested in finding out more… how is that possible?




• Green Roof Growers – Green Roof Growers features techniques like SIP (sub-irrigated planters) and pop bottle planters to turn an urban garden into something truly unique.




• CityDiggity – CityDiggity is a great and award winning blog about urban gardening written by Avis Weathersbee, a writer living in Chicago, IL.  She tackles all kinds of subjects from selecting the right veggies to plant in your small space to spreading the word about urban agriculture and sustainability in general.




• A Growing Delight – Alice and her husband are from Australia and they are very interested in sharing their gardening experiences with you.  They have some great stories and pictures of their garden down under.




• Gatsby’s Gardens – This is a really great looking blog that provides garden coaching/advice as well as tons of useful information on container gardening.  There are a lot of really nice high resolution photos on this site as well.




• New York City Garden – As the title of the blog suggests this is another great blog all about gardening in the big apple (NYC).  It is kept very current and I am a huge fan of this particular blog on urban gardening.




• The London Vegetable Garden – Guess what?  People actually grow vegetables on their balconies in London as well.  This is a cool blog all about raising a vegetable garden from a balcony in London.




• The Chile Foundry – Part farm/part garden blog you can get great information on growing chiles and other ingredients for your own secret salsa from this great UK blog.  It’s a little different than the rest of the blogs on the list but I LOVE SALSA!




• My Little Vegetable Garden – My Little Vegetable Garden is all about gardening in Malaysia and the best part about this blog is that the veggies are more than just carrots and beans.  You get to see some great and different vegetables that you can grow and enjoy wherever you are (which for me is part of the gardening experience I truly love).




• Dirt Therapy – Phillip Oliver writes about gardening in northwest Alabama and includes lots of great pictures with the spirit behind the blog being the positive health impacts and mental wellness that comes along with gardening.




• My Rustic Bajan Garden – This blog features a garden in the tropics (Barbados).  As you would expect it’s simply beautiful except when it floods.




• Rambling in the Garden – You can get some great gardening tips for the Southwestern US States from this blog.  It is owned by Doreen Pollack of Phoenix, AZ.  It’s very current and also has some good pics of her Arizona garden.




• Veg Plotting – Veg Plotting is an eclectic blog with lots of articles mostly about rural life and gardening in  Wiltshire (in the UK).  I’ve never been but this blog makes you want to visit.




• Flowers and Weeds – Flowers and Weeds discusses gardening in the rainy Pacific Northwest as well as again giving you a feel for this region of the country.  They have some great vacation pics as well from Tulameen, BC.




• From a Houston Garden – From deep in the hart of texas we get this blog which covers the Houston garden scene and provides some great recipes for your garden goodies.




• Bay Area Tendrils – Bay Area Tendrils discusses vertical gardens and some amazing plants that you won’t see on any other blog in this list.  Alice is quite unique and also has a very active Twitter feed so don’t forget to follow her tweets!

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

Flower gardens can really add a lot of aesthetic beauty to your yard and some instant curb-side appeal.  Whether you are really up on all the latest trends in landscaping or just a novice thinking about your first flower garden, one of the best resources you can leverage are all the great books on the subject.  Flower gardens are mostly about art, but there is also some science to be aware of regarding which flowers work best in various climates and under specific weather and sun conditions.  I put together this list of great books by researching various other gardening and online book sites on the Internet.  You can find most of these on Amazon or of course you can just drop the title or author’s name into Google.

Here are 30 Must Read Books About Flower Gardens (in no particular order):

1. Flower Gardens by Penelope Hobhouse – The book discusses the various garden styles from natural gardening through classic flower borders. This book also contains lush photos of featured gardens.
2. Colour in Your Garden by Penelope Hobhouse – This book focuses on the color aspect of horticulture. It will guide the readers in finding the right color combination for their flower gardens.
3. Colour schemes for the flower garden by Gertrude Jekyll, Charlotte West – The book was published in 2001 and talks about the fresh approach in maintaining a flower garden. The book also includes beautiful illustrations of various flowers and gardens.
4. The Gardener’s Book of Colour by Andrew Lawson – If you want to learn more about improving the color of your garden, then this book will do the trick. It contains tips on exploring how you can achieve the perfect color harmony in your garden.
5. The gardens of Gertrude Jekyll by Richard Bisgrove, Andrew Lawson – This book which was published by the University of California offers readers relevant information about the beautiful garden of Gertrude Jekyll. It contains the practices she uses in her garden and the authors’ analysis on her garden as well.
6. Colour in the Flower Garden by Gertrude Jekyll – Written by one of the most influential gardeners, the book contains Jekyll’s principles on garden design. It also talks about the history of gardening.
7. Flowers and the Flower Gardens by Elizabeth Watts – This book presents information on garden systems for specific months (seasons of the year). It also contains information on rose propagation and great foliage plants.
8. The Edible Flower Garden by Rosalind Creasy – This book provides a comprehensive guide on the selection and cultivation of flowers that can eventually be used for cooking, both as a garnish and ingredient.
9. The Flower-Garden by Joseph Breck – This book is a modern rendition of some of the classic books on gardening.
10. The Flower Garden by Ida Bennett – The book is dedicated to amateur flower gardeners. It covers various aspects of flower-growing such as rose beds, house plants, and winter protection.
11. The Arizona Low Desert Flower Garden by Kirti Mathura – The book contains useful illustrations and instructions on designing and cultivating flower gardens in the low-desert atmosphere in Arizona. It also contains tips on low-water gardening, fertilization, and plant maintenance.
12. Flower Garden at Monticello by Edwin Morris Betts, Hazlehurst Bolton Perkins, Peter J. Hatch, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, Inc. – This book talks about the garden in Monticello that was restored in 1941 by Edwin Betts. The book contains detailed documentation of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s ornamental garden which is one of the most unique gardens in America’s history.
13. Dresden Flower Garden by Blanche Young, Lynette Young Bingham – This book offers a great alternative approach on flower gardening. It features quilting adventures that are as fabulous as having a countryside version of a flower bouquet.
14. American Flower Garden Directory by Robert Buist – The author is known as a seedman and owns the Robert Buist Company; Buist was the one who brought poinsettias to America. His book serves as guide to the history of flower gardening in US.
15. Lets Make a Flower Garden by Hanna Rion – The book has a fantastical approach to flower gardening. It is a slightly older book but well worth picking up for it’s fun approaches to gardening.
16. The Fower Garden by Alan R. Toogood – The book was published in 1987 and serves as a guide to creating special effects and color combinations in your flower garden.
17. The Practical Flower Garden by Helena Rutherfurd Ely – This is a reprint of an earlier book on gardening. Ely’s book talks about fertilization, raising flowers from seed, and color arrangements for flowers.
18. The Southern California Native Flower Garden: A Guide to Size, Bloom, Foliage, Color, and Texture by Susan Van Atta – This book instructs gardeners in using environmentally-sensitive design applicable to Southern California’s climate. It has detailed metaphors and growing information about the region’s most attractive and interesting plants and flowers.
19. Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert – The book presents Ehlert’s dazzling and colorful flower garden. The book also has colorful collages.
20. The Big Book of Flower Gardening: A Guide to Growing Beautiful Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Roses by Time Life Books - Aside from the insightful details on various flower gardens, the book also has big colorful photos that are enticing to the eyes.
21. Garden Flowers from A to Z (Compass Guides) by Esther Herr – This book has information on selecting plants along with their profiles. The book has 200-250 plants listed alphabetically.  If you are stuck on what else you might want to plant, then get immediate help from this book.
22. A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards (Copyright 2002) – This book attempts to educate children about gardening. If you feel like your child should know more about gardening (even at a young age), then this book is highly-recommended.
23. The Flower Garden: A Practical Guide to Planning & Planting by Helen Dillon, John E. Elsley – This book is a great guide for people who are just starting in cultivating their own gardens. It contains instructions on the right flowers and plants to be used in your garden and how to take care of them.
24. An American Cutting Garden: A Primer for Growing Cut Flowers Where Summers Are Hot and Winters Are Cold by Suzanne McIntire – In this book, the author discusses the ways on how to plan a cutting garden for ornamental farmers. The author discusses a variety of flowering plants from bulbs, annuals, biennials, and perennials.
25. The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden by Lee Schneller – The book provides an easy-to-use blueprint system that is helpful for flower gardeners. It also serves as a flower catalog, identifying various flower specimens with colorful photos.
26. The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers, Revised and Expanded by Lynn Byczynski – The book provides detailed and convenient plans for home gardeners and small commercial farmers who are looking for growing tips from professionals to help them raise flowers all-year round.
27. Garden Bouquets and Beyond: Creating Wreaths, Garlands, and More in Every Garden Season by Suzy Bales – This book is a reliable reference book about flower gardening throughout the year. It also showcases the best foliage and bloom plants that can be used as garlands and decors.
28. The Bountiful Flower Garden: Growing and Sharing Cut Flowers in the South by Neil G. Odenwald, William Carlisle Welch – The book provides detailed descriptions as well as high-definition photographs of cut flowers you can grow in your garden. The book also contains useful advice by the authors.
29. Covering Ground by Barbara Ellis – This book gives advice on how to turn your lawns into beautiful flower covers. The author helps open up your imagination inspiring readers to make their own flower beds with amazing color splashes.
30. Foliage by Nancy Ondra – The author discovers the wonder and beauty of blooms in your flower garden. The book also presents some flat-out amazing photos.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

If you are a dog owner there are many ways that you have to look to protect your best friend from various dangers around the house.  This actually also extends and perhaps even more so to your yard, garden, and landscaping.  In general you want to protect your landscaping from your dog and in some cases your dog from your landscaping (especially pesticides and other chemicals you may use to fertilize your yard and garden).  I thought it would be helpful to put together a short list of 10 things that you can do to dog proof your yard and garden.

1. Fences – Perhaps the single most effective defense for your dog and your landscaping is fencing.  You might even use invisible fencing to not impact the aesthetics of your yard while protecting your dog.  Of course there are other types of decorative fences that you can use up to (or arguably down to) and including the always-effective chain link fence.




2. Dog House – It’s not a penalty to put your dog in a dog house outside, it’s an area that he/she can claim for themselves and you can easily protect the area around the dog house.  You can make sure to not use chemicals around that area and you can effectively isolate your pet from your landscaping keeping both safe and everyone happier.




3. Plant Selection – There are several varieties of plants that are poisonous or dangerous to dogs that you should be aware of and avoid planting in your yard (of course you should remove and replace any that are already in your yard).  You can get a very nice list here: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/.




4. Lawn Care Products – You should look for natural/organic lawn care products and make sure that you verify that they are each safe for your dog.  If they are not safe for any reason then you need to make sure you isolate your dog to avoid contact with the products.  Here is an article on a related topic about toxins and pets: http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/18/household-toxins-more-dangerous-to-pets-than-people/.




5. Landscaping Choking Hazards – Dogs are very playful and sometimes they will confuse some of your landscaping props for toys.  It’s important to avoid things that could be choking hazards.  Even something as simple as river rock needs to be avoided as sometimes dogs will chew on them and potentially choke or need surgery to remove them.  Here’s an article about a dog that had this very problem: http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/12/dog_swallowed_a_rock.php.




6. Decorative Ponds and Swimming Pools – These are particularly a hazard for puppies but can be for adult dogs as well.  If you decide you want to incorporate these types of features into your yard then make sure you protect your dog from the potential drowning hazards.




7. Digging, Digging, and more Digging – If your dog is a digger then you need to take special precautions by protecting areas that you don’t want your dog to dig.  You can also work with a trainer to stop your dog’s digging or support all your efforts by using a spray like No-Dig! Spray by NaturVet to deter your dog from digging in certain areas.  You can also bury chicken wire in the ground around places that you don’t want your dog to dig.




8. More Invisible Barriers – You can also use a product like Off Limits Spray Dog Repellant to keep your dog out of trash cans, sand boxes, gardens, and other areas of your yard that you just don’t want them to go.  This is safe and an inconspicuous way to control where your dog goes.  They learn pretty quickly where they can and can’t go so you probably won’t have to use something like this for too long.  If they relapse, just repeat the spraying.




9. Compost Piles – If you compost then you simply have to keep your dog away from your compost piles.  They just can’t be expected to avoid those and they eventually represent all kinds of potential hazards (mold, bacteria, etc.).  Proper composting is a great topic for another article…




10. Dog Spots – This is commonly caused by dog urine and is an initial lush green growth from the fertilizer in the urine followed by dieback causing eventual yellow spots on the lawn.  The best thing you can do about these is to teach your dog to go in a specific are of the yard that has pea gravel or some other landscaping that won’t lead to “dog spots.”

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

There are many great reasons to choose to make your own pesticides for your yard and garden versus buying pre-packaged chemicals.  In general strong chemical applications are really best left to lawn care specialists that can be sure to get the proper chemicals applied in the right proportions to take care of the problem without creating another.  There are several homemade pesticides that are really safe for the environment and they can be equally as effective at fending off pests.  You may want to try these homemade recipes first before giving a lawn care service a call:

1. Mild soap and water.  One of the safest and most effective homemade pesticides is some dishwashing soap mixed in with water.  In general, it just takes a few drops of soap into a spray bottle followed by water.  You don’t need to use an excessive amount of soap to get the trick done (one tablespoon will do the trick).  Basically, this mostly irritates the pests and gets them to leave on their own.




2. Spearmint hot pepper horseradish spray.  This one packs a little bit of a punch.  With this recipe you mix ¼ cup of hot red peppers, ½ gallons of water, ¼ cup of fresh spearmint leaves, ¼ cup of horseradish (both the root and leaves), and ¼ cup green onion tops.  You basically soak all the veggies in water for several hours (overnight) and then drain and save the water adding 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.




3. Salt and water.  If you are facing a problem like cabbage worms and spider mites then you might want to consider raising the sodium levels enough to irritate them.  You mix 2 tablespoons of salt in 1 gallon of water and then spray that mixture onto your plants/garden.




4. Oil and soap spray.  You can also mix in one cup of vegetable oil (sunflower oil, corn, soybean, or even peanut oil will work) with one tablespoon of mild liquid dish soap and two cups of water.




5. Ammonia spray.  This one is not my first choice as the smell is really strong and the ammonia can have negative effects as well (especially if you use too much).  You mix this in a 1:7 ratio with water and apply the solution to the infected area.  This should get rid of most insects (reapply as needed).




6. Citrus spray.  You soak 1 cup of lemon or orange peels, ¼ cup of spearmint leaves (or sage), and ¼ cup of lavender leaves overnight in a gallon of water.  Drain this mixture and saving the water along with 1 tablespoon if liquid dishwashing soap and then apply that solution to your plants.




7. Wormwood tea.  If you have a problem with moths, slugs, snails, or even moles and gophers you might want to mix up some wormwood tea.  This involves about ½ pound of Artemesia leaves (A. Absinthium is common wormwood) along with 6 pints of water.  You coarsely chop the leaves and bring them to a boil in 2 pints of water. Then you simmer that solution for 30 minutes pouring the result into a spray bottle along with a quart of fresh water.




8. Sugar and boric acid.  If you find yourself struggling with an army of ants (or in an all-out battle) you may want to mix one part confectioner’s sugar to one part boric acid powder and sprinkle that around the perimeter of ant mounds or anywhere you see a lot of ant activity.




9. Garlic spray.  You can soak 1-15 diced garlic cloves in 2 cups of mineral oil for 24 hours and then strain that solution adding the liquid to a spray bottle.  Then apply that to your plants.




10. Onion, peppers, and garlic.  If you really want something that packs a nice punch then you can grind 3 large onions, 3 hot peppers, and 1 bunch of garlic and place them into a gallon of water.  Let that mixture sit overnight and then strain the spices and top off your gallon with fresh water.

All of these solutions should be applied thoroughly to the surface of the plants or grass including any underside to make sure that you don’t leave the pests a safe haven to hide and/or feast on while the effects of the natural pesticide wear off and/or get washed away by rain and/or your sprinkler system.  If you try a few of these solutions and just don’t seem to get anywhere then you should contact your lawn care professional.  They can use several different chemicals and will also have a good supply of organic solutions to use.  If you want them to use only organic pesticides you should let them know that in advance.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

If you have never worked on a lawn sprinkler system before because basically you never had to, then you are absolutely not alone. What’s amazing is that almost everyone I talk to assumes that it would be something super easy to do until you tell them it is THEIR sprinkler system that is malfunctioning.  Now, YOU go find the problem. What? I am not a plumber or an irrigation specialist where do I start? If you think about that it’s completely natural. Why would you know how to fix your sprinkler system or even how to have a reasonable conversation with an irrigation specialist about your system? Let’s start there with the basics of being able to hold a reasonable conversation with someone that you call to come out and fix your lawn sprinklers. Here are some simple steps you can take to get more familiar with your sprinkler system:

Step 1 – Where does the water for your sprinkler system come from?

Simple, right?  You just need to get familiar with your system and know where the water actually comes from for your sprinklers.  Sometimes the water is delivered using the city water supply (just like for the rest of your house).  Other times your subdivision or homeowner’s association may have developed a recycled or “reclaimed” water system to use for irrigation.  In addition, it is also possible that water is being pumped from a local lake or well to feed your sprinkler system.  So, you need to find the source and then understand how to shut off the water from the source in the event of a problem or leak.

The most common method of delivery to your sprinkler system is via the municipal water supply and in that case there will be a second back-flow prevention device near your water meter to enable you to shutoff the water to your sprinkler system and allow the water to your home to remain on.  You can simply shut them off one at a time to figure out which one controls the water to your sprinklers and which one controls the flow of water to your faucets.

Step 2 – Where is your controller/timer and how does the blasted thing work?

Another one that sounds deceptively simple but can be troublesome is locating the controller for your sprinkler system.  It is usually located on the interior or exterior of your garage.  If you don’t have a garage then it is usually on the exterior of your home (probably near your water meter and close to the back-flow preventer).  Once you find your controller you need to figure out how to be able to shut it off in the case of an emergency (cut power off to the device).  Of course, you also need to find out how to program your controller either by consulting with an irrigation specialist or by Googling or reading the owner’s manual.  For now, you just need to know where it is located and how to turn it on and off.

Step 3 – What kind of sprinklers do you have in your system (rotary, stationary, flood bubblers, etc.)?

This may actually be the easiest of all the things you need to know as you can just observe your sprinkler system and know what you have right away.  You will either have stationary sprinklers (they don’t move), rotary sprinklers (they rotate/move back and forth), or what is called a flood bubbler which shoots a stream of water out of the head sort of appearing like a bubble or mushroom if you will.  You only need to know this if you have a problem with one sprinkler head and need to replace it or if you are describing the problem to your irrigation specialist.

Step 4 – Do you have a low volume/drip system?

Many residential systems are of this kind in order to conserve water especially in very dry areas of the U.S. or traditionally dry areas.  If you don’t see water spraying on plants, trees, or flower beds then it is possible that you have a low volume/drip system.  If however you see full streams of water coming out (intentionally) then you most likely do not have a drip system.  Your lawn care company needs to know this because a drip system will also require a pressure regulator and filter which could be another source of any problems you are having so just let them know if you have a drip system. Of course, if you do have one you need to know where that pressure regulator and filter is located as well.

Step 5 – Where are your rain sensors located, do you even have any?

A lot of systems do have rains sensors to avoid running your system when you don’t really need to run it.  Again, these have become more popular as systems have gotten more sophisticated.  If you don’t have one you should consider adding one because you can save money on your water bill by allowing your system to detect whether or not it actually needs to run instead of just following its set schedule.  Assuming you do have one you should know where one or more of them are located as again they can also cause your system to malfunction.  These are normally located close to the controller.

Step 6 – Where and what valves control the flow of water in your zones?

So we briefly mentioned that you need to know how to control the flow of water to your entire system, you also need to know that there are normally valves for each sprinkler zone as well.  The lids for these controls are generally 6” in diameter and normally are either green or purple in color.  If it is purple, that normally indicates that you have non-potable water usually from a reclaimed source.  Regardless of what color the lid is you need to know how to manually shutoff each zone using these valves (so find out where they are located).

Okay, that should be enough for you to be able to carry on a conversation with a lawn sprinkler specialist or customer service rep at you local home and garden center in the event that your system starts to malfunction or just doesn’t seem to be getting the job done like it used to do.  Plus, if you followed all of the steps above you should be feeling pretty good about your basic knowledge of your sprinkler system and how it works.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

If you are like me you are at least concerned about different pests that could attack your lawn and either destroy what you have worked hard to achieve or simply cost you a lot of money to get rid of.  That’s a normal concern for anyone who has the responsibility for maintaining a yard.  One of the best ways to deal with this concern is to get educated on the most common and dangerous (to your yard) pests.  I thought I would put together this list of the 10 most common lawn bests to be looking for:

1. Cutworms – This is the street term for the larvae of the Turnip moth (generally the larvae of moths).  They love to eat leafs, stems, and nearly any part of a plant that they can get to.  They get their name from the common practice of  “cutting” off a seedling at ground level by chewing through the stem.  There are lots of variations and colors of cutworms including green, yellow, or even brown.  They are most often found in the Upper South Carolina, North Carolina, Coastal Inland Valley, Upper and Middle South Region, and the Coastal Tropical South.  They love Bermuda grass, bent grass, and rye grass.



2. Chinch bugs – I recently did a full article on these little guys.  You can read more about them here: http://www.lawncareservice.net/blog/2010/10-tips-to-detect-and-destroy-chinch-bugs/.  They are commonly found just about everywhere in the U.S. including the Coastal Tropical South, South Western Deserts, North Central West, Middle and Lower South, High Plains, and the West Mountains.  They will comfortably and quickly destroy your yard if you don’t take care of the problem early.



3. Mole crickets – These pests are on the bigger side (1-2 inches long).  They have shovel-like limbs in front for digging and even swimming.  For the kicker, these guys can also fly as far as 5 miles.  It lives year-round and goes into hibernation in the winter.  They are nocturnal and you will hear them chirping at night as they dig beneath your yard and do damage to your turfgrass and Bermuda grass.  These are most common in the South (nearly everywhere), the Western Mountains, and the High Plains.



4. Bermuda grass mites – These are one of the smaller pests and will require a 10X or 20X magnifying glass for you to see if you suspect you have them.  They attack Bermuda grass with is the most popular grass used for football and sporting fields across the U.S.  They can barely be seen but they are worm-like mites.  They have two pairs of legs near their head.  They will generally stunt the growth of the grass and if the infestation is bad enough they can cause the grass to die.  These are most common in the Coastal Tropical South, Western Mountains, South West Deserts, and the High Plains.



5. Scale insect – There are only about 8,000 species of scale insects (yeah, scary).  They are completely parasites of plants feeding on the sap directly in the plant’s vascular system.  Since there are so many species they vary a lot in size, shape, color, and overall appearance.  They are particularly fond of St. Augustine grass and are capable of doing severe damage to your yard if not caught early.  They are found in the Northern and Central Midwest, High Plains, Western Mountains, and the Coastal Tropical South.



6. Mealybugs – These are technically a specific kind of scale insect but they are very common in moist, warm climates and generally well knows (you have probably heard of them).  They feed on plant juices including subtropical trees.  The male and female mealybugs are quite different in appearance.  The males have have wings, the females do not.  In the end, you don’t want either anywhere near your yard.  They are most commonly found in the Southern States, California Coastal areas, Western Mountains, and the High Plains.  They thrive on St. Augustine grass and centipedegrass.



7. Fire ants – These are the aggressive red weaver ants (there are actually 280 species of stinging ants) and if you have them you will most likely know especially if you have ever been bitten by a bunch of them.  This is a wide-spread problem in the U.S. pretty much common to every area of the country but especially in the South and Coastal areas.  They are also very damaging to St. Augusting and ryegrass.



8. Armyworm – This is also sometimes called okalombo or the nutgrass armyworm.  The larvae feed on really all types of grasses and some early stage cereal crops (not that you would have those in your yard).  It gets its name from “marching” in large numbers from grasslands into crops or from yard to yard.  They are found in Southern States, the Midwest, and coastal areas in California.  They particularly like Bermuda grass but will gladly dine on fescue, ryegrass, or Kentucky bluegrass.



9. Sod webworms – There are over 400 species of moths that are classifed as sod webworms.  They feed on all grasses but have a special affinity for sod thus the name.  If you recently put down sod in your yard and know these guys are in the area, take precautions.  They are commonly found in the Midwest however they can show up elsewhere.  They are typically found in Kentucky Bluegrass which is common in the Midwest.



10. Billbugs – There are 60,000 different beetles in the same family as billbugs.  They like to hollow out the stems of mostly Kentucky Bluegrass.  It results in circular patches of dead grass.  They are most commonly found in Northern States (from New England to the Pacific Northwest).

If you find that you have any of these pests in your yard you have a lot of possible treatment options, the surest being to contact a lawn care/pest control specialist to come out and analyze the yard, the extent of the damage, and to provide a quote for controlling these pests.  If you are interested in taking out the problem on you own you can either talk to someone at your local garden center or you can feel free to shoot us an email and we will do our best to offer solutions to you.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post

It’s that time of year and if you haven’t heard, chinch bugs are very active and could easily be making their way to your yard.  I thought I would spend some extra time discussing these little buggers (terrible pun intended) and to see what you might be able to do about them if you find that they have invaded your yard.  Summer is their time to shine and in order to deal with them you first have to identify whether or not they are the source of your problem.  Once you figure that out you can spend time working on a treatment that will send those guys packing and put other pests on notice as well that your yard is protected.

Identifying a Chinch Bug Problem

Just because your grass is turning brown does not necessarily mean that it is being caused by chinch bugs.  There are several reasons why your grass may be dying so lets figure out how to know that it’s due to chinch bugs.

• The first sign that you may have chinch bugs is to know the type of grass you have their favorite grass is St. Augustine.  If you have St. Augustine be on the alert because you are serving the dish these little guys crave (Kentucky grass owners you are next on the menu for these guys so don’t get too complacent).
• The next thing to look for is the location of the brown spots in your back yard.  Chinch bugs like heat so generally you should see patterns to the brown spots located around heat sources patios, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
• Next, get to know what chinch bugs looks like.  They are usually less than 1/3 of an inch long.  They are red in color when they are young and turn black with white wings when they become adults.
• Now that you know what they look like setup a little trap for them to see if you can catch them in the act.  Get down on your hands and knees and comb the grass where the brown spots meet the green spots to look for bugs.
• Another option is to take a can (coffee can, soup can, any can) and cut the bottom of the can off (so both the top and bottom are open now).  Then stick the can into the ground around where the green and brown grass meet and fill the can with water.  The chinch bugs should rise to the surface of the water if you have them.

Ways to Get Rid of Chinch Bugs

Okay so assuming that you have identified that chinch bugs are the source of your problem you need to work on different ways to get rid of them and to keep them out of your yard (no return guests allowed).  Here are some tips to rid your grass of chinch bugs:

1. Let’s start with a nice and simple approach that will at a minimum irritate your chinch bugs.  You can prepare a mild soap/water mixture.  You will need one ounce of dishwashing soap per one gallon of water.  You should apply each gallon to one square foot of grass along the infestation.  This will drown the young chinch bugs (the red one’s) and will severely irritate the adults hopefully causing them to leave to find another yard.  Please remember chinch bugs crave dry grass, not wet grass so keeping your grass well watered will reduce the chances of getting and/or perpetuating a chinch bug problem.




2. You can also try manual removal.  Remember the coffee can tip from above?  You can also use that on your yard to catch the chinch bugs and remove them.  You basically have to keep moving your can along the infestation line and applying water causing the bugs to float to the top and then skim them off.  You repeat this until no bugs float to the top and then keep moving your can along the infestation line.  Another manual technique that we have seen used successfully is to use a flannel sheet to capture the bugs.  You effectively throw the flannel sheet over the infected area as they chinch bugs run from it they may get caught up in it and be easy for you to pick off.  If you use this technique I strongly recommend that you supplement it with another method (like soaking the ground with soapy water).




3. You can try a natural, environmentally friendly product like Organicide which is essentially a mixture of fish oil and sesame oil (of course you can make this mixture yourself as well).  You apply this over the infected area to kill the chinch bugs and irritate them at a minimum.




4. You can purchase and apply your own commercial insecticide to knock out the problem.  The issue here is that chinch bugs have become very resistant to pesticides including DDT in the 1950’s.  So you need to carefully select your pesticide.  A couple pesticides that I recommend you take a look at are Talstar and Acephate.   You can usually purchase a pesticide that targets chinch bugs at your local garden center.




5. If you have tried what you can and/or you want to be sure to knock out the problem it’s best to call a lawn care professional to come out and destroy the chinch bugs for you.  You will no doubt see other benefits as they treat the yard properly to avoid just moving your problem around your yard.

Summer is a great time of the year, but it does bring new pests with it and one of them happens to be chinch bugs.  The good news is that they are relatively easy to detect and it is very possible to get rid of them.  Hopefully if you have brown spots caused by chinch bugs this article will help you restore health to your grass so you can enjoy your lawn again.

Delicious Facebook Stumble This Post