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16 Jul 2012
1 Comments By valarie Dan's, Featured Posts

Got Weeds?

Got weeds? Don’t blame it on Arnold Palmer….

For most Americans the perfect yard includes grass, in some cases lots of it. Not just any grass though, the turf must be lush, green and free of weeds. Of course this achievement isn’t natural and requires the consistent application of synthetic fertilizer, selective herbicides and lots of water.

Up until the 1950’s turf grass was primarily installed and utilized for recreation in the US. From that point forward turf was mostly considered ornamental and in many cases a status symbol. Some experts blame this on professional golf and television. As televised golf gained popularity so did the desire for thriving , weed free monoculture in yards. Even dry, arid climates such as Reno enjoy this luxury today.

Going organic will require a perceptual shift for many people. With applications of natural elements such as compost and nitrogen (fish emulsion for example) chemical free lawns are often as lush and green as any other on the block. However we do find more than just grass in our grass. Clover for example has become all but extinct in my neighborhood with the exception of my lawn which is full of it. As it turns out clover is a “nitrogen fixer” and rather than choking out the grass it actually helps the turf absorb the available nitrogen in the air and soil. This in itself dramatically reduces the need for fertilizing. Then there’s the perennial battle of the dandelion. Despite the fact that they are also nitrogen fixers I pull them every chance I get and find that they only thrive where the turf is weak.

So if you’re considering a chemical free lawn start by evaluating what’s important to you. If health and ecology prevail over image then you’re a good candidate. Assuming that’s the case perhaps you should start by teaching your kids to wear shoes while playing on the grass (they will be happily ignorant of bees and clover). Or as is the case in my house they may soon realize that an occasional bee sting is not the end of the world and certainly a safer alternative to the chemicals most of us use today.

 

11 Jul 2012
0 Comments By valarie Uncategorized

First Annual Old Southwest/Newlands Edible Garden Tour

Heirloom Gardens is sponsoring the first annual Old Southwest/Newlands edible garden tour on Saturday, July 21.  We are encouraging neighbors to get out on bike or by foot and check out each other’s gardens.  Who better to show off our hard work to than those who can appreciate it most? ~ Other gardeners!

We here at Heirloom Gardens LOVE what you have done with your yard and we hope you will consider putting your home on the tour!  We are focusing on edible landscapes and gardeners who have transformed yards into lush gardens, rich in diverse life and beauty.  There is so much that can be done in Northern Nevada, and we think you have an exceptional example that should be shared with others.

Our vision is that we will create a map with a specific progressive route through the neighborhood.  We are limiting the homes on the tour to a half mile radius.  The tour will begin at 4:00 and end around 7:30 in an easy-paces casual style.  All “Garden Tourists” will sign in at the first house and will receive a recognizable name tag.  The price of admission will be only a donation to the Food Bank.  We ask nothing of you other than that you open your gate and let us look (hopefully carefully) at your beautiful garden.  We invite you to come along and take the rest of the tour with us.  We all love to spend time in our gardens, to eat the fruits of our labors, and to share the techniques that seem to work (or not work) for us.  This wonderful tour will give us just that opportunity.

Some of the homes on tour will be offering a drink or snack to garden tourists.  If you are so inclined, feel free, but please don’t feel pressured, this is easy-going, nothing stuffy, meet the neighbors, relax and enjoy!

Please sign up by just hitting the ‘contact us’ button. [CONTACT-US-FORM] Please send us your name, address and telephone number.

Kindest Regards,

Valarie and Dan Rider

 

 

 

06 Jul 2012
1 Comments By valarie Dan's, Featured Posts, Uncategorized

Trees and Turf

What’s wrong with planting trees in turf?

When people think of trees they often mistakenly envision the root systems as a carbon copy of the canopy that appears above ground. That is, root systems seeking water and nutrients deep into the soil.

This is often not the case in Northern Nevada where soils are typically rocky, dry and deficient in organic matter. When trees are planted in grass their roots have no incentive to go deep. Assuming the lawn’s in good shape all the water and nutrition a tree needs exist in the top 18 inches of soil and that’s exactly where the roots will grow. Some pictures are worth a thousand words and I think these photos do just that.

For many people this is already a problem and rather than simply saying, “Don’t do this” we do have a few tips.

Dig a tree well (remove the grass and leave a depression) several feet from the base of the tree.  Fill the depression with quality compost and cover with mulch.

Water trees slowly, deeply and less frequently. Their needs are different from the surrounding lawn.

Stay away from 2-4D, Weed-B-Gone is the most popular culprit.  The same ingredient that kills broad leafs such as dandelions and clover also kills, guess what, wait for it, TREES!!!!

It’s unfortunate that by the time you see symptoms of stress in your trees, it’s often too late to correct the condition. We’re happy to help if you’re concerned.