Lawn & Garden

Having plants in your environment can make you feel more comfortable and soothed, lowering your general response to stress.

Almost all bird feed is seed, and seeds, by their very nature, sprout. In a different location, wild birdseed might grow up to be a wanted plant. But in our yards or gardens, we see sprouted birdseed as a weed. So, how do you keep wild birdseed from sprouting and turning into weeds? Here are a few tips…

Organic weed controls must be produced from a list of allowed synthetic substances, or come from all-natural substances that are not prohibited. The National Organic Program (NOP) is administered by the USDA and includes a list of national organic standards, a list of allowed and prohibited substances, and a regulatory oversight structure. Generally, these products are clearly marked on the label as being certified organic.

We have all seen the adult ladybug. They are easy to identify as adults. However, the younger generations look very different. As beetles, they undergo complete metamorphosis. Chances are you have already seen the larva of a ladybug and didn't even realize it.

Summer is the most stressful time for our lawns and gardens. When the temperature increases, underlying problems begin to appear. Here are eight ways you can prepare your lawn to thrive throughout the summer heat.

Weeds and bugs seem to love the summer heat. If only we could convince them to take a vacation. If they aren’t going to take a break, we can’t either. The question is, can we treat weeds and bugs safely during the hottest days of the year? If so, how can we treat them safely?

Many early fruiting tomato varieties like Early Girl don’t like temperatures above 85-90 degrees. As the temperatures, rise many of these varieties will stop blooming, and those that do bloom will have poor fruit set. However, there are still a few things you can do to keep your tomatoes healthy until the temperatures come back down, and your tomatoes begin setting fruit again.

In talking with customers over the years I have noticed some confusion around the topics of aeration and thatching. In this article, we will discuss the purpose and best practices concerning aerating your lawn.

There are many great and fun ways to grow potatoes and some of them will save a lot of space in the garden. The basic premise of growing potatoes effectively is the same regardless of how and where you chose to grow them. I choose potatoes that are good medium size, what’s medium you ask? When I close my hand around one I barely want to get my fingers over the top. This doesn’t’ mean other sizes won’t work, if they are smaller than this I won’t cut them before planting. If they are bigger I will quarter them. With a medium size, I only cut them in half, I feel this is ideal and reduces the chances of rotting.

Have you have been looking for a way to recycle kitchen scraps without taking up the space of an outdoor compost pile? Consider starting your very own container worm composter! Worm composting (also called “vermicomposting”) is an easy way to create an abundant amount of organic fertilizer for all your plants while recycling hundreds of pounds of paper and food waste in your home. You simply create an enclosed space, add special worms, feed them with kitchen scraps and paper, then use the worm’s digested waste (called “castings”) on your houseplants, garden, and yard. It’s easy and it’s also fun!

Growing garlic at home is easy, productive, and satisfying. Not only do you get to know where your staple produce is coming from, but the varieties of garlic you can grow are also mind-opening. This year Zamzows found a new vendor for garlic and introduced three new varieties to choose from!

Learning how to compost may take some time to get it down to a science. Having access to home-grown organic produce is well worth the effort. Composting is the most environmentally responsible way of fertilizing for your garden, flower beds, and lawn. Composting involves keeping organic waste in a compost pile. Bacteria and other microorganisms break down your waste and turn it into fertilizer. You can easily create your own compost pile at home.