Across the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, cool season lawn grasses perform best. Bluegrass, often called “Kentucky bluegrass”, grows in zones with cool summer night temperatures and adequate annual rainfall. Bluegrass is not as heat and drought tolerant and a higher water use rate than tall fescue and warm-season grasses. Bluegrass performs best in moist […]
Archive for the ‘Lawn Care’ Category
Best Bluegrass Cultivars For Cool-Season Lawns
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2014
Posted in Fertilizing, Kentucky bluegrass, Lawn Care, seeding lawn, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Best Bluegrass Cultivars For Cool-Season LawnsPreventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer Plants
Posted by Hugh on May 18th, 2014
Powdery mildews are serious fungal leaf diseases infecting many garden plants. Each one is host specific. The powdery mildew that attacks summer phlox does not infect zinnias or pumpkin vines. Powdery mildew disease on crape myrtles does not attack lilacs or roses. In recent years new powdery mildew diseases have popped up on dogwoods and […]
Posted in Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Garden Problems, Irrigation, Lilac (Syringa), Monarda (Beebalm), Peony, Perennials, Phlox, Powdery Mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Preventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer PlantsSoil Sampling Is Good Insurance
Posted by Hugh on January 25th, 2014
Do you know what your soil needs to grow a great lawn, flower, or vegetable garden? If you haven’t analyzed the soil in the past five years, get it done in any season. Most gardeners do it in late winter when university, state, and private soil labs are busiest. The local Extension office or a […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, applying sulfur, compost, Fertilizing, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Lawn Care Comments Off on Soil Sampling Is Good Insurance“Death By Mower” Disease
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2014
“Mower disease” is a totally preventable human malady caused by permitting lawn grasses and weeds from growing near the crown of trees and shrubs. The problem is commonly seen on large properties such as church grounds, cemeteries and public parks. Large gang mowing machines (with many reels) cut 95-98% of the turf area. Workers follow […]
Posted in Disease prone, Dogwood (Cornus), Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Mowing, mulching, mulching trees, Pruning, Weeds, Weeds, winter injury Comments Off on “Death By Mower” DiseaseFall Is Great Time To Renovate Your Lawn
Posted by Hugh on September 5th, 2013
Is your lawn nothing but bare spots, thatch, and weeds? Late summer and fall is an ideal period to reduce thatch build-up and repair dead lawn areas. Thatch is composed of old grass clippings, e.g. leaf and stem debris not decomposed. By aerating the soil and removing thatch, you will improve soil water absorption and […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Fertilizing, Garden Maintenance, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Lawn Care, Mowing, Pesticide recommendations, seeding lawn, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue, Thatch management, Weed control Comments Off on Fall Is Great Time To Renovate Your LawnLabor Day Holiday Begins Home Lawn Recovery
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2013
Hopefully, summer’s extreme heat, drought, and in some areas flooding, are about over. Late summer and fall are opportune times to start a new or renovate your home lawn. Rainfall is usually plentiful and cooler day-night temperatures should spur a rapid grass recovery. Your current lawn may be mostly bare ground with lots of weeds. […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing, Irrigation, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue, Weeds Comments Off on Labor Day Holiday Begins Home Lawn RecoveryRecommended Tall Fescue Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2013
Tall fescue is considered one of the best cool season lawn grasses around homes and on public and commercial lands in the eastern and midwestern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5 thru 7). The cultivar K-31 is still an old standby, but so many better performing cultivars have now within reach. They feature improved color, plant […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing, Heat Tolerance, Irrigation, Lawn Care, Mowing, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue Comments Off on Recommended Tall Fescue CultivarsFungus In A Lawn A Natural Phenomena
Posted by Hugh on August 11th, 2013
White or brown colored mushrooms are the visible reproductive (fruiting) structures of some types of fungi. An umbrella-shaped fruiting body is the most common form, but mushrooms come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Most people call them mushrooms, toadstools, or puffballs. Mushrooms are the reproductive stage of fungi and their spores are “seed”, the […]
Posted in Disease prone, Fertilizing, Lawn Care, Mulch Quality, mulching, Mushrooms, plant nutrition, Soil drainage, Thatch management Comments Off on Fungus In A Lawn A Natural PhenomenaHeat Tolerant Annuals That Create Their Own Heat
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2013
In some parts of the U.S. summer is sizzling, and it may also be very dry. Several colorful annuals cope with summer heat and humidity better than others. Northeast U.S. cities are sweltering near 100°F. A sure bet is that every summer will be hot and humid in Savannah, GA. Near a popular restaurant is […]
Posted in Acalypha spp., Begonia, Coleus, Drought tolerant, Fan flower (Scaevola), Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Irrigation, Marigold, Moss rose (Portulaca), Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Salvia, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Sweet potato vine, Tapioca plant (Manihot), watering tips Comments Off on Heat Tolerant Annuals That Create Their Own HeatTreat Colorful Caladiums As Tender Annuals
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2013
Caladiums at Yewdell Gardens in Crestwood, KY (near Louisville) Caladiums (Caladium bicolor) are tropical foliage plants which are grown as annuals. Caladiums brighten up shady to sunny spots. Their brightly colored foliage is either heart and lanced shaped in color combinations ranging from red, rose, pink, chartreuse, green, and white. Caladiums absolutely prefer a warm, […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Caladium, compost, Deer resistant, Flowers, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Irrigation, mulching, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Treat Colorful Caladiums As Tender Annuals
