Our friends at Beyond Pesticides have a great post out today about how to manage mosquitoes effectively without toxic chemicals: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/?p=3643 ...

With the weed control season winding down in most areas of the country, the advertising from the lawn chemical industry will begin focusing on insect control. Everything from ants to aphids, to cinchbugs and grubs will begin to surface in our lawns and gardens. The urge will be to kill them dead with whatever product folks can purchase the fastest. Before you rush out to purchase something from the category ...

This is off our usual lawn topics, but timely nonetheless for gardeners in northern climates: http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=117831&catid=2 ...

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="alignnone" width="648" caption="A moss lawn in a shady area can be a beautiful addition to a landscape. "][/caption] One of the tenets of our approach to lawn care is that "weeds" are messengers sent by Mother Nature to tell us something about the soil below. You can kill the messengers any number of ways — with chemicals, natural products, flaming, boiling water, or pul ...

[caption id="attachment_1437" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="Of these three common home compost bins, the tumbler in the middle will "finish" compost most quickly. "][/caption] I spoke to my alma mater's alumni association last night about stewardship of the planet. The talk, which is a nice break for me from organic lawn care, is titled 10 Words: Essential Dialogue for Saving the Planet. We had a g ...

[caption id="attachment_1419" align="alignnone" width="432" caption="If they gave out prizes for the biggest dandelions, my daughter, Aimee, might have won yesterday."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1420" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="From the tip of the root to the top of the flowers, Aimee's dandelion plant measured more than 3 feet."][/caption] It was my goal this year to set a personal reco ...

[caption id="attachment_1374" align="alignnone" width="648" caption="This lawn, of ornamental peanut plants, almost thoroughly outcompetes other plants."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1375" align="alignnone" width="648" caption="The blossoms will persist year round if the plant is mowed once per year."][/caption] Still in Florida with my family, I can admit to my blog followers that my mind never compl ...

[caption id="attachment_1329" align="alignnone" width="375" caption="This South Carolina lawn is grown with a species known as centipede grass, which looks like St. Augustine from a distance, but is really quite different."][/caption] This time of year, when folks are considering an upgrade on their lawn, or looking to replace the Kentucky bluegrass that needs to be mowed twice a week, myriad questions come ...

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="alignnone" width="648" caption="To some people, this lawn would be a nightmare. To others, it's a season of wine and salads."][/caption] My 3-year-old daughter practically leaps out of the house in the morning these days. Enthralled by the flowers growing by our woods' edge, she can't wait to pick a fist full. I always think of my grandmother, too, in April. Just as her ...

I came across this video this morning that features the editor of Organic Gardening Magazine talking about organic lawn care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xyRtbBie6U&feature=related. I think he's spot on with his recommendations. Just be sure to read this piece on corn gluten meal before you rush out and spend the money. The forsythia is blooming or past bloom in most regions of the country. That means w ...