Sun and Fuel

What a difference a month makes! The past two weeks have been filled with sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Have you seen the Narcissus popping up and blooming? The hope of Spring is everywhere. We have pre-emerged all but one of our customers' turfs. Here's to seeing less Henbit and Deadnettle in our turfgrasses this Spring.

Fuel costs are fast approaching $4.00 per gallon again. High fuel costs take a bigger bite out of our disposable income. High fuel costs drive [no pun intended] up the price of everything that is delivered by truck. At CDL, we have no other choice than to adjust our prices also. Diesel prices are higher than gasoline. Refueling our cars, trucks and equipment in the morning saves a bit due to fuel density changes at the coolest part of the day.

Wintertime

What can we say about this time of year? Cold. Damp. Snow. Ice. There have been far too few sunny days and we are 52% into the season. Did the ground hog see his shadow? Are we in for more cold weather? No and yes. It is supposed to be an early spring. We will keep our fingers crossed on that one.

It is now time to cut back those Crepe Myrtles if you haven't already. Also, if you have Knockout Roses, now is a good time to cut them back too. Last year I cut ours down to 12 inches above the ground. This year I am leaving them high so I can compare the growt and health of the blooms.

Leriope [monkey grass] can be mowed down with the mower on its' highest level. This will produce a very healthy blade in the Spring.

Rain

Rain.........we cannot live without it. There is something about rain water. While tap or lake water is good, rain water seems even better. Plants and grass LOVE rain water. Maybe it is because there are no additives in rain water. No chlorine, no flouride to be found in the drops from the sky. I moved my indoor philadendron and rubber plants out onto the deck yesterday so they could get plenty of rain water. The philadendron is 40 years old and was my mother's. Speaking of the deck, the storm that brought the rain also destroyed my canopy. Oh well. I can acquire another one. The thing I cannot acquire is rain. Thank you, God for the rain.

Speed Zone

I found Speed Zone, the selective herbicide that is safe for use on Bermuda and Zoysia dormant turfgrasses to control a variety of broadleaf weeds. Many golf courses use this product, including Vestavia Country Club in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Green broadleaf winter weeds are showing up in lawns that are still dormant from the cold winter months. I am using it in a 1 ounce per gallon in a 3 gallon backpack Solo sprayer. I am applying it only to the weed affected areas. www.pbigordon.com will give you all the specs you will need.

March came in like a lamb?

Things are thawing out. The ground is warming up. Bulbs are breaking through the surface and showing the promise of Spring. Now is the time to pull your old broccoli and collard plants up and plow the garden. We use the Mantis 2 cycle tiller to plow up Carol's garden. It is light weight and easy to manuever. Also, Crepe Myrtles and Butterfly Bushes should be cut back, if they haven't been already.

Pre emergent should have already been applied to turf areas. If there are green winter weeds, they can be controlled with a light application of Round-Up in Bermuda and Bahai grasses only. DO NOT get it near dormant Zoysia as it will prevent ANY green up in the Spring.

March; the transition month. We love it!!

Collards, mustard and broccoli

Pictured above; Packman Broccoli, Georgia Collards and generic Mustard Greens

Yes, it is time for me to stray from landscape topics and inform those of you who enjoy green vegetables of a thing or two. First and foremost, green vegetables are good for you. Generally speaking, the more the better. Second, green veggies are not difficult to grow. I am specifically referring to collards, mustard and broccoli. If you have an area (even 5x10 feet) you can grow these favorite fall vegetables. If you have a garden, then you probably already know that now is the time to get them in the ground. If you do not have the time to start growing from seed, you can pick up the small plants from your favorite garden center, or The Home Depot, as I did last week. Make sure your soil is soft and clump free, then drop them in the ground. If you are concerned about snails/slugs, sprinkle Ortho Bug - Getta around the little newbies. One small bag will cover 850 square feet. After a week or two, side dress with fertilizer, but not too much. Side dress = small trench to the side of your row with fertilizer and covered with soil. After 45 or so days, check the plants and you should be able to begin harvesting.

I was never a big fan of collards and mustard greens until the last year or two. They are so tasty as a side to barbecue sandwiches and New Year's Day meals of peas and cornbread and ham. Thanks to Moe's BBQ in Rocky Ridge for getting me started. And thanks to Carol for allowing me some space in her garden. I am still not such a fan of broccoli, but everyone in the fam is, so that is why I planted it.

Mulch---Straw and Bark

Mulching your plant beds is essential for moisture retention and for visual aesthetics. There are several options to choose from when deciding to mulch your plants. Bark, usually pine bark, can be obtained in large, medium or small nuggets, or shredded. It is available in bags or in bulk. Bags are usually 2 cubic feet per bag. Bark can also be purchased by bulk, if you have access to a truck or trailer. The shredded bark will cover a bit more area than nuggets, but the cost is about the same. Pine bark mulch has a pleasant aroma when newly installed. It is worth mentioning that redwood mulch has become available the last few years. It has a bright orange/red color, and can be used when there is an emphasis on contrast between plants and mulch. Pinestraw is ulually purchased in standard bales bound with an orange plastic twine. Pinestraw is very economical in that it goes a long way. It makes a very good "everyday" mulch, is easy to transport and relatively inexpensive. Pinestraw is not always "clean". There are pine cones, sticks and sometimes dead weeds in the less expensive bales. Generally, the higher the cost, the cleaner the bale.

Virtually all mulch needs to be refreshed or replaced after the passage of time. As the mulch decomposes, the color becomes ligher and it appears to be "going away." This is the signal to take action and re-mulch.