Advice for Best Summer Lawns
W ant a beautiful lawn this summer? Follow these easy tips
for a greener, healthier lawn:
Keep it long
If you’re mowing shorter to prolong the time until you need
to mow again, you may be damaging the health of your grass.
Shorter grass gets damaged easier by heat and dry weather,
plus longer blades will shade the soil, protecting it from weeds
sprouting in between.
Longer in the shade too
If your lawn grows under a tree, it will need to compete with
tree roots for water and nutrients. Keeping it longer will help it
stay healthier and will require less water – which also prevents
fungus, mushrooms and weeds from growing.
Mowing pattern
Rather than mowing the same route pattern every time, switch
it up! Mow in a different direction every time to encourage
growth in a different direction.
Mow according to weather
Instead of mowing every weekend, mow less during hot
weather and consider skipping a week during summer months.
Longer lawns will retain water better than short lawns, and
damage the root system less.
No more bagging
Leaving grass clippings behind is a natural way of fertilizing
your lawn with needed nitrogen and other nutrients – plus
it’s a heck of a lot less work!
Watering times
Do not ever water your lawn during the day – especially
not during hot summer days or late-afternoons, as you will
be using three times more water as most of it will evaporate
before reaching the root system. Watering between 10am and
10pm promotes mould and weed growth. Instead, schedule
irrigation systems to go on at 2am, or water first thing in the
morning. Be eco-conscious, do your part, and conserve water!
got grubs?
NEMATODES hunt and feed on soil dwelling
insects by entering their body, injecting them with
lethal bacteria, and feeding from their insides. The
toxin usually kills the host insect within a day or
two. Available at your local hardware or depot store.
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silvergoldmagazine.ca
HOME + FAMILY
Home-made Bug Sprays
T he following remedies have been submitted by our
Silver and Gold readers, who believe they work like a
charm! Do you know of any other natural remedies to
keep those pesky summer bugs away? Let us know!
The Mouthwash Remedy:
• Large bottle of inexpensive blue mouthwash
• 3 cups of epsom salt
• 3 cups of stale, inexpensive beer
Mix well in a bucket, add to a sprayer and spray through
the garden, deck, and anywhere you sit outside. Spray
twice during the summer and twice in the early fall. “The
stronger you mix it, the better it works, and it smells nice
and minty because of the mouthwash.” Not recommended
for use on skin.
Vinegar Bug Spray:
Fill a spray bottle as follows:
• 1/2 with white or apple cider vinegar
• Add a handful of herbs: Mint, lavender, catnip,
sage and thyme.
• Top off with water, shake and spray in the garden,
deck, etc. Not recommended for use on skin.
Essential oil spray for skin:
• Fill a container halfway with inexpensive grapeseed or
olive oil (great for the skin, do not use canola as it has been
highly sprayed with pesticides, and genetically modified)
• Add a few drops of essential oils: see below.
• Top off container with distilled water
Safe for skin – do not get into the eyes, wash hands
after spraying. Re-apply every couple of hours.
Mosquitoes: Citronella, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus,
basil, clove, thyme, lemongrass, geranium, and lavender;
Ticks: Rose geranium, juniper, rosewood, thyme,
grapefruit, peppermint, lemongrass, and oregano.
WARNING: Most essential oils are
NOT RECOMMENDED for pregnant
or nursing mothers.
Lots more online! www.silvergoldmagazine.ca