Creating a raised bed is not hard to do at all. All this, and its all natural. In some lawns, lichens, especially very damp lawn lichens such as Peltigera lactucfolia and P. This information is useful for gardeners because it tells us when to plant and when to be on the lookout. Red thread fungal disease thrives in cool, wet weather. The Slow Food movement has sought in some countries to add an edible schoolyard and garden classrooms to schools. Theres an array of options, both old standbys and rare specimens, to bring nature inside. Dont grow delusions from a playful imagination. Check out books at your local library for more ideas.

Gardeners will have to use some common sense. But there has been a perception they dont work. So a whole lot of kids will have their hands in the soil, instead of on the remote control. Because many of these plants arent dependent on flowers to make an impact, its also a lower maintenance garden design. So how do you know which Hostas can tolerate a sunny site. I used them as mulch around my Hostas all last summer, to know ill effect. Weve put together a stepbystep plan to make things easier for you. 3edit Comparison with farmingIn respect to its food producing purpose, gardening is distinguished from farming chiefly by scale and intent. Our experience in design can make any property beautiful.

Well, Im not going to complain about having too many things to do outside. Take advantage of warm days, but dont trust your coddled seedlings to a weather report. Dont pick up the watering can until the top inch of soil is dry. The dust bunnies will wait, but spring pruning will . There was no getting around it without a lot of spraying and maintenance. Could it be too good to be true. Obviously one look around your garden will tell you what needs attention. Im sure weve all had rose buds that drooped the day after we put them into water.

I assumed my hubby was cleaning.

Green Earth Media Group, LLC   by Joan Casanova

Spring Garden Fixes Safely Fend Off Furry Friends

Whether Puxatawny Phil sees his shadow or not on Groundhog Day, there’s one thing for certain -- spring will arrive as scheduled on March 21st and so will families of groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, deer and other troublesome animals, each ready to pounce and plunder your garden, digging burrows where they're not wanted, and otherwise coming into conflict with their human neighbors.

But these creatures don't have to be the enemy of our gardens, and trapping them won't solve their relationship problems with humans. As we all are well aware, the arrival of spring brings the wildlife out of hibernation, and most likely right into our backyards and gardens. As spring is sprung, we suddenly are faced with long gardening to-do lists and a wide variety of pesky critters.

As a rule of thumb, it is far better to prevent wildlife damage than to wait until it occurs and try to combat it. This spring, Messina Wildlife Management can help you protect your beautiful backyards and your gardens with a full line of OMRI certified (100 percent) organic animal repellents. The products are all easily applied in a ready to use spray on bottle. They dry clear, are all pleasant smelling, and work for 30 days before reapplication is needed, no matter the weather. The full product line can even be used on edibles, and none of the products cause harm or physical irritation to the animals they repel. The products work by smell and taste, repelling pesky critters from your backyard, and they’re all pleasant smelling and safe to humans.

Pesky Problems1. Groundhogs: During the spring, summer and early fall, the Marota monax, also known as the Woodchuck, Whistlepig, or Groundhog, is a voracious, wild herbivore. It's the groundhog’s goal to eat as much as possible which puts him on a collision course within your garden.

Groundhogs are tunnel boring pests that can cause damage to your garden in two ways. First, they eat vegetables in the garden, attacking both the root crops and above ground crops. A second problem with tunneling rodents is the mass disruption of root systems, this weakens and can even kill the plants. 2. Rabbits: These furry creatures seem to multiply at the advent of every spring. They come out to feed overnight and in the predawn/dawn hours. Rabbits are accountable for severe damage to woody plants in your home landscape. The damage can be identified by the characteristic appearance of gnawing on older woody growth and the clean-cut, angled clipping of young stems. Distinctive round droppings in the immediate area are a good sign of their presence. Luckily, 90 percent of the rabbit's diet is grass. Those of us that have rabbit damage would swear that 90 percent of the damage they cause is to our gardens and expensive flowers! Rabbit damage can be identified by the clean, angled cut on the food source in question. The browsing of a rabbit will usually be no higher than 2.5 feet above ground.3. Deer: For non-gardener's, there's a captivating fascination with spotting a deer in a field, or perhaps in your yard. For gardener's, it can be quite the opposite. You love the sight of deer, anywhere but not in your garden. Yet, they seem impossible to keep away. Deer are responsible for a considerable amount of damage to plant and vegetable gardens. To determine if your flowers and vegetables are disappearing due to deer damage look closely at the half eaten plants. If you see a jagged, rough edge you can be sure the damage was done by deer as they have no incisor teeth and tear at the food source, leaving tell-tale signs of their presence.4: Squirrels and Chipmunks: These cute, furry, funny creatures can be quite destructive when it comes to your gardens and landscapes. Both ground squirrels and chipmunks are burrowing animals. Their burrow entrances are always open, unlike those of pocket gophers who plug theirs with soil. Ground squirrels and chipmunks can be seen foraging for food during the day. In nature, they feed on green leafy material during the summer and switch to seeds and grains during the fall and winter. One of the biggest complaints about squirrels and chipmunks is their attraction to wild bird feeders. They not only devour the feed they scare the birds away.For most animals scent and taste are the primary senses that attract them to food sources. If you disrupt the animal’s sense of smell and taste you have won the battle against the constant parade of critters in your landscapes. Visit www.messinawildlifemanagement.com for more information on safe, effective pest repellents.

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Green Earth Media Group, LLC is a Public Relations/Marketing Firm specializing in the lawn & garden industry. We provide a targeted approach to creating brand awareness and widespread placement for products, services, technologies and initiatives within the home and garden categories, successfully reaching the end user, the consumer.

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