Mulch can be attractive too, so you might want to try decorative bark or woodchip mulch. Each will provide an attractive surface that adds a decorative and useful finish to flower beds, around the base of trees and along the edges of paths. Make sure you water the ground thoroughly before...
Inexperienced landscapers are notorious for this tree-killing practice. Not only does piling mulch around the base of a tree promote bark decay, but it also makes a fine home for mice, voles, and other small rodents. If that wasn’t reason enough to stop making mulch volcanoes, the tree’...
Black plastic mulchhelps warm the soil in spring, reduces water loss, and is convenient. This can make a big difference in short growing seasons. However, it’s not permeable, so it’s more difficult to water; it also breaks down when exposed to sunlight, and the soil under the plastic ...
Most lawn mowers have levers (some riding mowers have knobs) that you use to set the cutting height. They come with letters or numbers that tell you what height corresponds to each setting. However, the labels don’t always match the indicated mowing heights, so it’s a good thing to ch...
At the end of the season, empty thefuel tankand, to use up all remaining fuel, let the lawnmower run idle until the engine cuts out by itself. Make sure during the winter months that thelawnmoweris stored in a dry and sheltered place away from heat sources and chemicals (which could...
Dr. Gilman recommends that you loosen the soil over a much larger area around the tree after the tree is planted. Use a straight-backed shovel to break up the soil over a space that is roughly three times the size of the root ball. If you plan to spread mulch to cover the area belo...
Where mushrooms are problematic, use inorganic mulches, such as rocks, gravel, or rubber pieces.Organic mulches, especially bark mulch and wood chips, are a natural food source for mushrooms and encourage growth. Mow your lawn regularly at the recommended height to keep good airflow and sunlight...
Mulch around cabbage—especially in warm weather—to preserve soil moisture and keep the soil cool in warm weather. Cabbage heads will split when they grow too fast and take up too much water. To prevent this damage, twist heads a quarter turn to separate some roots and interrupt water uptak...
Add a 2-inch layer ofmulcharound the plant to retain moisture and control weeds. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Salvia does not like excessive summer irrigation. Feed container plants in the spring. Plants grown in a garden bed really don’t need...
It’s important to mulch around your new tree to reduce weeds and help the soil conserve water. However, never pile mulch on the trunk of your tree! This is a very common, but very harmful practice for the tree, and shortens its lifespan greatly. While you should always mulch your tre...