Category Archives: Real Estate

Winterize Your Yard – Northern Midwest

Wrap young trees – To prevent sun scalding wrap trunks with tree tape. This water repellant paper tape insulates and reflects away the sun’s heating rays.
Extend the growing season – Set-up a cold frame made with wood or brick walls and glass or clear acrylic top in a sunny spot. Use to plant root vegetables and cold-season greens.

For most everywhere:

Mulch Generously – Two inches of shredded bark, leaves or pine needles insulate plants and soil from the frost and winter’s drying wind and sun.
Trim Grass – Mow down to 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height before it goes dormant. Then rake thoroughly to keep bugs from building nests.
Remove Dead Leaves – In wet clumps they smother grass, shelter insects and breed disease. Mulch those on the lawn with your mower for natural fertilizer.
Rototill Veggie Gardens – Remove any remains of the past season’s crops which can become diseased. Turn up 8 inches; this exposes most destruction insects, such as grubs, and their eggs to birds and the cold.

Disclaimer: For Information and Entertainment Purposes Only.

South

Switch fertilizers – Don’t stop feeding annuals and veggies when temperatures hover around freezing. Just substitute a nitrate for nitrate based fertilizer; it’s easier to absorb in cold overcast weather
Prepare fragile plants for frost – To protect camellia buds, banana shrubs and tender succulents on frosty nights, cover them before sunset with sheets or blankets. Uncover during the day, to let plants warm. And don’t use plastic – this can cook the plants.

For most everywhere:

Mulch Generously – Two inches of shredded bark, leaves or pine needles insulate plants and soil from the frost and winter’s drying wind and sun.
Trim Grass – Mow down to 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height before it goes dormant. Then rake thoroughly to keep bugs from building nests.
Remove Dead Leaves – In wet clumps they smother grass, shelter insects and breed disease. Mulch those on the lawn with your mower for natural fertilizer.
Rototill Veggie Gardens – Remove any remains of the past season’s crops which can become diseased. Turn up 8 inches; this exposes most destruction insects, such as grubs, and their eggs to birds and the cold.

Disclaimer: For Information and Entertainment Purposes Only.

Test and fix your soil – Send a sample to a lab. Within a few weeks, they can tell you where the soil is deficient. Don’t dump on the weed and feed until you know it will really help. If you soil tests acidic sprinkle on some lime to help break down the nutrients when you fertilize.
Plant a Tree – Saplings 2 to 3 inches around will transplant best around this time. Plant under large trees, which will provide needed shade and keep it watered.

For most everywhere:

Mulch Generously – Two inches of shredded bark, leaves or pine needles insulate plants and soil from the frost and winter’s drying wind and sun.
Trim Grass – Mow down to 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height before it goes dormant. Then rake thoroughly to keep bugs from building nests.
Remove Dead Leaves – In wet clumps they smother grass, shelter insects and breed disease. Mulch those on the lawn with your mower for natural fertilizer.
Rototill Veggie Gardens – Remove any remains of the past season’s crops which can become diseased. Turn up 8 inches; this exposes most destruction insects, such as grubs, and their eggs to birds and the cold.

Disclaimer: For Information and Entertainment Purposes Only.