what about clippings?

From our friends at Scotts.

It's a question we all face when mowing: Should I bag my clippings or leave them on the lawn? In most cases, the answer is easy: Leave the clippings on the lawn! Leaving the clippings will save you time and energy, and it will return valuable nutrients to the lawn.

Like Free Fertilizer
The most important thing you can do for your lawn is to feed it regularly, and grass clippings contain the same beneficial nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients as fertilizer. In fact, clippings can provide as much as one-third of the annual feeding requirement for your lawn.

Less Work for You
In addition to recycling nutrients back into the soil, leaving the clippings will cut down your mowing time and relieve you of the chores of emptying the grasscatcher and hauling bags of clippings out to the curb. It may also be keeping your clippings out of the landfill, depending on how your town handles yard waste.

Some Simple Guidelines
There are a few things you can do to help keep your grass strong and looking good when you leave the clippings. Keep your mower blade sharp and mow regularly at the recommended cutting height for your type of grass. Avoid mowing when the grass is wet. If the grass gets so long that mowing at your normal cutting height will remove more than one-third the length of the grass blades, raise the height on your mower. Mow once at the raised cutting height, then again in a different direction at the normal height. Avoid surge growth by using a slow-release fertilizer such as Scotts® Turf Builder®.

Not a Thatch Problem
Contrary to a popular lawn myth, leaving clippings on the lawn does not cause thatch, which is a layer of partially decomposed grass-plant parts between the soil and live grass. Grass clippings are mostly water, so as long as you mow regularly at the right height, they will break down and disappear rapidly.

The Exception: when Bagging is Okay
There are some circumstances when collecting your grass clippings is warranted. If you see signs of lawn disease, pick up the clippings to avoid spreading the fungus. Grass clippings can also be collected for use in a compost pile or as mulch, unless you recently applied a weed control product to the lawn. Some folks bag their grass clippings for aesthetic reasons or to keep the clippings from being tracked into the house. In most cases, following mowing guidelines will avoid clumps that detract from a lawn's appearance and will keep the clippings small enough to filter down into the lawn.

turf builder time

It's time to for your second application. If you have broad leaf weeds, Scotts® Turf Builder® With PLUS 2® Weed Control is our recommendation.

If you forgot the overall plan, see here for the John Conyer Yard Care Program©.

Dandellions

Kill Visible Dandelions
The best way to attack dandelions is to kill the whole plant, taproot and all, and then keep new weeds from establishing themselves in your lawn. To take care of your dandelions, apply a weed-and-feed product, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® With Plus 2® Weed Control in the spring. If that doesn't get them, follow up in 2-4 weeks with an application of Ortho® Weed-B-Gon MAX® Weed Killer for Lawns. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

Don't hand pull them, as they will grow right back unless the tap root (often 2-3 feet deep) is completely removed.

Choke Em Out
A thick lawn is the best method for preventing dandelions and other broadleaf weeds in the lawn. Mow your lawn at a high setting on your mower, and follow a regular feeding program to achieve a lawn that is thick enough to keep weeds like dandelions from

garden exercises

Hope to see you guys out there doing this ...

got weeds?

Choose How Long You Want Your Weeds Gone

Weeds love to grow in areas where there is no competition for them. Driveways, patios, graveled and mulched areas are some of the most common places to find weeds. In order to kill weeds and grasses, there are two types of weed-killing products you can use.

Choose Your Option

The first option is to use a non-selective weed & grass killer that kills the weeds you spray down to the root.

The second option is to use a non-selective weed & grass killer that also contains an ingredient to prevent weeds from growing back. Because this option kills existing weeds AND prevents new ones, you won't have to treat for weeds as often as with typical weed & grass killers.

First Things First

In order to know the correct solution for your weed problem, you should first answer a simple question to avoid running into trouble. "Do I want any plant growth (trees shrubs or flowers) in the area where I have my weed problem?" If the answer is "no", move to solution #1 below. If the answer is "yes", move to solution #2 below.

Solution #1: In Areas Where No Vegetation Is Desired (gravel and dirt paths, rockscapes, patios, and driveways)

For long-term control in areas where no vegetation is desired, treat the area with Ortho® GroundClear® Ready-to-Use orOrtho® GroundClear® Concentrate. One application kills and prevents weeds for up to one year!

For best results, allow GroundClear® to soak into the ground and avoid runoff to nearby desirable plants. Here are some other tips to help ensure success:

• Do not apply GroundClear® over the root systems of desirable trees, shrubs, and plants.
• Do not apply to slopes.
• Apply only to areas where no vegetation growth is wanted for up to 1 year.

The 1.25 gallon Ready-to-Use version includes a convenient sprinkler cap, while the 1 gallon Concentrate version offers a great value for covering larger areas (up to 300 sq ft) and can be applied using a tank sprayer or a watering can.
Watch how to keep weeds from coming back.
Solution #2: In Areas Where Plant Growth Is Desired (near trees, shrubs, and flowers)

To control weeds in planted areas or mulch beds with trees, shrubs, or flowers nearby, treat these areas with Ortho® Season-Long MAX® Ready-to-Use or Concentrate. One application kills and prevents weeds for up to 4 months!

When treating around desirable plants, shield the plants from drift with a sheet of cardboard or plastic. It will not harm desirable plants as long as the desirable plants are not contacted directly by the spray or drift. If desirable plants are accidentally sprayed, rinse off immediately with water. When replanting in areas where Season-Long MAX® has been applied, be sure to follow these tips to help ensure success:

• Wait 4 weeks before planting trees and shrubs. Wait 8 weeks before planting annuals & perennials. • Use garden gloves, dig the planting hole, and set aside the removed soil. Backfill the planted hole with garden soil (such as Miracle-Gro® garden soil) and spread the removed soil in an area where no vegetation is desired.
Related Products

» Ortho® GroundClear® Vegetation Killer Ready-to-Use
» Ortho® Season-Long MAX Ready-to-Use

remke buys bigg's

If you haven't heard and are a fan of Bigg's, the supermarket chain will be closing shop in Cincinnati. Remke Markets will buy some of the stores including the Mason-Montgomery Road location but will likely reduce its size significantly.

Risotto Balls

Now I know it's St. Patty's day, but this is a good Italian recipe from Carol Tabone of Jungle Jim's. I just linked it from our blog because I am lazy and didn't feel like re-typing it. It's a great snack....not low fat, but it's Spring, you can walk it off, right?

Oslercook Blog Risotto Balls