2013 Lawn Care Guide - Spring Planting

7/30/2019 2013 Lawn Care Guide - Spring Planting

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T H E V I L L A G E R E P O R T E R T H E W A U S E O N R E P O R T E R

FARM Safety

&

LAWN

SpringPlanting

Garden

April 2013


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2 Spring Farm Safety/Lawn & Garden/ Planting Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

WIELAND SURVEYING & ENGINEERING, LLC

Brian M. Wieland, P.E., P.S.Licensed Ohio Surveyor & Engineer

14067 County Road 20, West Unity, OH 43570Phone: 419-924-2100 Fax: 419-924-5390

www.wielandsurveying.com

Contact us for all your Engineering & Surveying needs!

SEE US FOR ALL YOUR

GRAIN, FEED, SEED,

AND AGRONOMY NEEDS

Gerald

419-598-8015

Wauseon

419-337-4306

Archbold

419-445-3426

Ridgeville Corners Agronomy

419-267-3315

Liberty Center

419-553-2321

www.geraldgrain.com

GERALD

GRAIN CENTER INC.

TOM MARSHALL

517-320-4481

DEKALB ASGROW BRODBECKS WELLMANS

06331 County Rd. M-50 Montpelier, OHOfce 419-485-5605

TRENT THOMAS

419-553-6478

As temperatures nally go UP thisspring, take a minute to look DOWN at

the ground and investigate the SOIL.

What does the soil look like? How does thesoil feel? Does rain sink into the ground

quickly? Answering these questions duringplanting can pay off later during harvest.

It doesnt matter what kind of land-owner you are - a small farmer, large farm-

er, organic grower or even homeowners

and gardeners - you can easily examineyour soils. Take a quick look and you can

learn a lot, says State Agronomist MarkScarpitti.

The Natural Resources ConservationService (NRCS), the conservation arm of the

U.S. Department of Agriculture, launched

Unlock the Secrets of the Soil in an effortto focus attention on soil health. Accord-

ing to State Conservationist Terry Cosby,Prime farmland makes up 73 percent of

Ohios 11 million acres of cropland. Thats

a heck of a lot of good agricultural landand a huge responsibility. The well-being

of future Ohioans hinges on how well weprotect and improve the foundation of ag-

riculture, healthy soil.To start a soil health assessment, youll

need your eyes, your nose, your hands,

and a garden spade or shovel.LOOKLook for plant residue or a liv-

ing plant canopy or cover. Dig a hole andlook at the soil structure. Healthy soil

looks like chocolate cake with lots of airholes and organic matter. And of course

you should see earthwormsour wonder-

ful soil engineers!SMELLHealthy soil has the distinct

sweet, earthy aroma of geosmin, a by-prod-uct of soil microbes called actinomycetes.

TOUCH--Soil should crumble easilyexposing long straight plant roots. Long

roots reach nutrients and water they need

to grow to produce the food we love to eat.Why should we care about soil health?

Cosby explains that healthy soil actuallyhas a direct impact on many larger issues

that affect life as we know it.Healthy soil can improve and regulate

water, sustain plant and animal life, lterpollutants, cycle nutrients, and supportbuildings. Healthy soils hold more water,

which can make the difference between

crop survival and failure during a drought.Healthy soils also resist runoff and ero-

sion, naturally suppress weeds and pests,

and sustain other natural resources.If your soil looks like it needs attention,

give us a call. Conservation experts in ev-ery Ohio county can help you develop a soil

health improvement plan and introduceyou to conservation programs designed to

off-set a portion of the cost of carrying out

the plan, explains Cosby. Improving soilhealth takes time, so the sooner you start

the process, the sooner youll reap the re-wards provided by healthy soils.

Remember, healthy soils producehealthy crops and a healthy environment.

So grab a spade and dig a little. You can

learn a lot! Visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/

soils/health/

CORN_IN_HEALTHY_SOIL ... The roots of

crops grown in healthy soil reach deeperin the soil. Deep roots help plants survive

drought conditions like last summer.

Dig A Little, Learn A Lot

Crop growers should take extra

precautions to scout their elds this

spring for slugs to try to get control of

these plant feeders before they attack

corn and soybean plants and cause

feeding injury, an Ohio State Univer-

sity Extension entomologist said.

Ron Hammond, who also has an

appointment with the Ohio Agricul-

tural Research and Development

Center, offers his guidance in vid-

eos posted on the Plant ManagementNetwork, a nonprot publisher of sci-

ence-based crop management infor-

mation for growers, consultants and

other applied audiences.

Hammond is a featured speaker

for April on the feeding injury that

gray garden slugs can cause to corn

and soybean crops.

OSU Extension and OARDC are

the statewide outreach and research

arms, respectively, of Ohio State Uni-

versitys College of Food, Agricultural,

and Environmental Sciences.Hammonds presentations are de-

signed to help growers and consul-

tants in the Midwest, Eastern and

Mid-Atlantic regions manage slug

problems in eld crops when using

no-till production, organizers said.

The presentations cover basic biology

of slugs and how it relates to grow-

er practices and an Integrated Pest

Management (IPM) approach to man-

aging slug problems.

The gray garden slug is the most

damaging slug in eld crops across

the county, he said. Its also the No.

1 slug pest problem probably world-

wide.

And this is the one causing prob-

lems in corn and soybeans and other

eld crops, but especially soybeans.The majority of problems with the

gray garden slug come at crop plant-

ing in the spring, Hammond said.

That is when the eggs have hatched

and the juvenile slug starts to grow

and reaches a size to start heavy

feeding.

And if the crop is there, they start

feeding on it, he said. And if the

crop isnt there yet, theyll wait for the

crop and feed on it.

In Ohio, Hammond said, this

tends to occur between early and lateMay.

In soybean, for example, because

its typically planted later in spring

after corn and typically emerges af-

ter juveniles hatch, it is often fed on

early in its growth stage, especially

during germination, which can cause

a complete stand loss before growers

even realize they have a problem, he

said.

General IPM recommendations

Hammond suggests include:

Using tillage in those elds if

possible.

Planting elds with potential

problems early.

Using practices to encourage

quicker growth such as row cleaners

or strip tillage. Monitoring spring slug popula-

tions and injury and applying mol-

luscicide when necessary. A video on

sampling for slug eggs is available at

http://go.osu.edu/slugeggs.

GRAY GARDEN SLUG ... The graygarden slug is the most damaging

slug in eld crops across the county,he said. Its also the No. 1 slug pest

problem probably worldwide.

Entomologist Offers Guidance On ControllingSlugs in No-till Soybean, Corn Fields

How To Prevent Soil ErosionHomeowners who spend

time tending to their land-

scape are increasingly look-ing eco-friendly ways to

maintain their lawns andgardens. Homeowners who

once relied on potentiallyharmful pesticides to craft a

lush lawn now prefer ways

that dont leave such a sig-

nicant carbon footprint.Preventing soil erosion

is one way to incorporate

conservation into lawn andgarden care. Conservation

is one of many environmen-

tal practices aimed at pre-serving the planets natural

resources, which includesoil. Preventing soil ero-

sion is easy and can be ac-complished in a number of

ways.DONT OVERWATER.

Some may assume that

keeping soil as damp aspossible keeps it healthy.

However, overwatering thesoil can cause runoff that

washes the soil away. In-stead of overwatering, keepthe soil moist but dont

overdo it. If youre havingtrouble keeping soil moist,

consider laying down some

mulch, which helps retainmoisture and deliver nutri-

ents to the soil.PLANT TREES AND

SHRUBS. Trees and shrubsare friends to soil, provid-

ing shelter while their roots

keep the soil in place andprevent it from easily blow-

ing away on a windy day.CREATE RUNOFF BAR-

RIERS. Runoff barriers areedges that can be made of

brick, stone or other mate-

rials that help reduce run-off. Many homeowners in-

stall runoff barriers alongsidewalks and driveways

to ensure the soil does not

spill out onto the pavement.CONSIDER LEAVING

SOME GRASS AROUND

THE GARDEN. Many ho-meowners dont view their

weekend gardening asfarming, however, similar

principles apply. One such

principle is conservation

tillage, which means leav-

ing a portion of vegetation

in the ground instead ofstripping everything away

before planting. For homegardeners, consider leav-

ing a small amount of grassaround the garden to keep

the soil within the gardens

boundaries.

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NOFZIGER TRUCKING LLC

See Us For All YourFarming Needs

419-335-9136

Co. Rd. BWauseon, Ohio

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419-298-2566

06018 STATE ROUTE 62 Miles East of

EDGERTON, OH 43517

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Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 Spring Farm Safety/Lawn & Garden/ Planting 3

255 Co. Rd. RNapoleon, Ohio 43545www.casindustries.com

Phone: 419-599-5180Fax: 419-592-5180

Email:[email protected]

Hellers Crop Service

County Road 15, Pioneer, Ohio

Ph. 419-737-2706

We Sell & Custom Apply Lawn Chemicals

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66th YEAR IN FARM AUCTIONS

FARM MACHINERY AUCTIONS 2ND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH

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3649 Co. Rd. 24, Archbold, Ohio 43502

(419) 445-2070 Toll Free: 1-800-364-2870 Fax (419) 445-2090

E-mail: [email protected] www.yoderandfreyfarm.com

Though farming wasonce big business in the

United States, by 2012 lessthan 1 percent of Americans

were professional farm-

ers. Many challenges facetodays farmers, many of

which are largely unknownto the general public.

Many people have anoutdated view of a farm as

a small, family-owned and

operated parcel of landwhere livestock is raised in

open pens and crops arehand-harvested when ripe.

The reality is that mod-ern-day farms have had

to overhaul operations to

meet demand and remaincompetitively priced while

adapting to the ever-chang-ing ways technology inl-

trates all parts of life. Each

of these factors present ob-stacles for todays farmers.

TECHNOLOGY - Ruralfarming communities are

expected to make an effortto integrate modern tech-

nology into an industrythat has been around for

centuries. But such a tran-

sition in rural areas, wherecommunications systems

may not be as up-to-date asthose in urban areas, is not

always so easy.DECREASE IN FARM-

ING AS AN OCCUPATION

- The United States Envi-ronmental Protection Agen-

cy says that only about960,000 Americans claim

farming as their principaloccupation. As that gure

has dwindled, the averageage of farmers continues to

rise, as the Bureau of LaborStatistics notes that rough-

ly 40 percent of the farm-

ers in this country are 55years old or older. This has

led to concerns about thelong-term health of family

farms throughout the Unit-ed States.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L

CONCERNS - Many farm-ers have come under scruti-

ny for how farming impactsthe environment. A growing

emphasis on sustainabilityand conservation has led

many people to protest cer-

tain farming practices.Climate change is an-

other environmental issuefarmers must deal with.

Strong storms and severe

droughts have made farm-ing even more challenging.

FINANCIAL FALL-OUT

- The ongoing recession of

the last half-decade hasalso affected farmers. In No-

vember of 2012, the UnitedStates Bureau of Labor Sta-

tistics indicated that the

unemployment rate withinthe agriculture, forestry,

shing, and hunting indus-tries was at 13.6 percent,

far higher than the national

unemployment rate.Further complicating

matters is competition fromcorporations and interna-

tional food producers whohave made it difcult for

family farmers to turn a sig-

nicant prot.Though it can be easy

for those who do not work

in the agricultural industryto overlook the struggles

facing todays agriculturalprofessionals, a greater un-

derstanding of those strug-gles and the challenges that

lay ahead can benet the

industry and its employeesdown the road.

Challenges Facing Farmers Today & Tomorrow

FARMING INTO THE FUTURE ... Greater public aware-

ness of agricultural challenges could help the industry inthe future.

Farm Safety For Just Kids has rebranded with a newwebsite that features new resources. In addition to thenew look, the distribution of materials has changed. Farmsafety educational materials will be available to downloadas PDFs for free.

As we looked at rebranding, we realized it was theperfect opportunity to also evaluate the delivery processof our materials, said Tracy Schlater, marketing director.Offering resources online eliminates two main obstaclesof cost and convenience for the volunteers and teachersusing our materials.

Initially, resources for tractor, ATV, livestock, andchemical safety topics will be available online and moreadded in the future. Resources available include lessonplans, activities, background information, fact sheets,and Power Point presentations, among others. Chemi-cal and ATV resources are available in both English andSpanish. In addition, one page fact sheets covering a vari-ety of other topics will be available as well.

Offering materials online goes a step further in ad-vancing Farm Safety For Just Kids mission to protect

rural farm youth and families by getting information outto more people. A supply of printed resources is still avail-able. To order hard copy resources while supplies last,

call 800-423-5437.Agriculture and farm safety have changed a lot overthe past 25 years, said Tracy Schlater, marketing di-rector. It was time for the organization to reect thatchange. Visit farmsafetyforjustkids.org and check it out.

Website Helps TeachKids About Farm Safety

Planting Corn During Optimal Time One Key In Getting Corn Planting Off To Good StartCOLUMBUS, Ohio Growers who want

to get their corn crop out to a good start this

year should make sure they get it plantedduring the optimal corn planting time,

which in some parts of Ohio typically starts

as early this week, an Ohio State UniversityExtension expert said.

Getting corn planted in southern Ohiobetween April 10 and May 10 and in north-

ern Ohio between April 15 and May 10 -- the

optimal planting times for corn in Ohio -- isjust one of several key measures growers

can take to better ensure they avoid irre-versible mistakes that could result in low-

er yield potential, said Peter Thomison, anOSU Extension agronomist.

OSU Extension is the statewide outreach

arm of Ohio State Universitys College ofFood, Agricultural, and Environmental Sci-

ences.We encourage planting at the recom-

mended times because this is historicallywhen you get the best yields, Thomison

said. Planting later than these times his-

torically has resulted in yield loss, in somecases a 30-bushel-per-acre reduction in

yield.Growers historically could see a loss of

a bushel to a bushel and a half in yield lossfor each late planted day.

But some growers may be hesitant toplant early this year based on experiences

many growers had with planting delays anddrought the past two years, he said. For

example, wet weather conditions caused

planting delays for many growers in 2011,but many were still able to produce good

and, in some cases, better crops.And for some growers who planted early

in 2012, their crops were at critical develop-

ment stages when drought conditions wereat their most severe, with numerous 100 de-

gree or higher days in early July when cropswere pollinating and at their most sensitive

point, Thomison said. That compares togrowers who, because of planting delays,

got their crops in later and had better crops.

As a result, some growers may be a littlegun shy at planting early this year or may be

more careful and not plant as early as theytypically would because of what happened

the last two years, he said. Its human na-ture to reect on whats transpired in the

past couple of years versus the historical

perspective because of concerns many mayhave that were experiencing more weather

extremes.But the generic recommendations are

that if growers have elds that have goodsoil conditions, are dry and suitable for

planting, with warming temperatures overthe next week to 10 days, it behooves them

to start planting, Thomison said.Mistakes made during crop establish-

ment are usually irreversible and can put a

ceiling on a crops yield potential before theplants have even emerged, he said. Follow-

ing these recommendations can help grow-ers minimize their risk.

In addition to planting at the proper

time, Thomison said growers can minimizerisk by:

Performing tillage operations only whennecessary and under the right soil condi-

tions. It is important to avoid working withwet soil and to reduce secondary tillage

passes which could cause shallow compac-

tion and reduce crop yields. The best timeof year for a deeper tillage is during the late

summer and into fall on dry soil, and onlywhen a compacted zone has been identied.

Adjusting seeding depth according tosoil conditions. Corn should be planted be-

tween 1.5 to 2 inches deep, which provides

protection against frost and allows for ade-quate root development. Seed depth should

be adjusted for weather and soil conditions. Adjusting seeding rates by eld. For ex-

ample, high-yield potential sites with highsoil-fertility levels and water-holding capac-

ity can benet from higher seeding rates,

while lower seeding rates work better withdroughty soils or in late-planted crops.

Planting a mix of early-, mid- and full-season hybrids between elds, which reduc-

es damage from diseases and environmen-

tal stress at different growths stages. Usingthis method also spreads out harvest time

and workload. Planting full-season hybrids rst, fol-

lowed alternately with early-season and

mid-season hybrids, which allows the late-season hybrids to get the most benet from

maximum heat unit accumulation, Thomi-son said.

13773 Co. Rd. 3-75

Edon, OH 43518

Phone: (419) 630-7090

Fax: (419) 272-2742

WeB

uyStan

dingGr

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lfalfa

!

BY FLORIAN CHIRRA

EXTENSION EDUCATOR

Soil temperature and moisture

are important factors in corn seed

germination and emergence. Theold rule of thumb for temperature is

when morning soil temperature at a2 inch soil depth is 50 F its time to

plant. Under ideal soil temperatureand moisture conditions corn should

emerge in 7 to 10 days. Yield reduc-

tions resulting from mudding theseed in are often much greater than

those resulting from a slight planting

delay. Planting before the soil tem-perature is warm enough for germi-nation greatly increases the potential

for stand failure. Note, soil tempera-

ture can vary depending upon soiltexture, soil color, soil drainage and

surface residue.According to Dr. Peter Thomison,

Corn Specialist at Ohio State Univer-sity the recommended time for plant-

ing corn in northern Ohio is April 15

to May 10. Another measurement isGrowing Degree Days. Growing De-

gree Days are a measurement of the

growth and development of plantsand insects during the growing sea-

son. Development does not occur atthis time unless the temperature is

above a minimum threshold valueof 50oF. Approximately 100 to 150

Growing Degree Days are required for

corn to emerge. In central Ohio thatoccurs around the end of April rst

of May. Realize corn germinates veryslowly when soil temperature is less

than 50oF leading to uneven stands.

So usually after April 25 plantingwhen soil conditions allow is usually

safe. After May 10 corn yields beginto quickly decline. The latest prac-

tical date to plant corn is June 15thhere in Northern Ohio which will re-

sult in a 50% yield reduction.One of the many lessons learned

from the 2012 season was the impor-

tance of waiting for soil temperatureto reach 50oF before planting corn.

The abnormal, early warm weather inMarch in 2012 and higher than nor-

mal growing degree accumulations

enticed some farmers to plant cornin early April, disregarding the soil

temperature. This resulted in chill-ing injury to seeds and uneven emer-

gence and stand loss. Planting depthis another important consideration in

planting corn.

Corn should be planted between1-1/2 to 2 inches deep to provide

for frost protection and adequateroot development, according to Dr.

Thomison. Seeding depth should be

monitored regularly during the plant-ing operation and adjusted for vary-

ing weather and soil conditions. Ir-regular, especially shallow planting

depths contribute to uneven plantemergence, which can reduce yields.

Mistakes made during crop establish-ment are usually irreversible, and

can put a ceiling on a crops yield

potential before the plants have evenemerged.

Soil Temperature & Moisture Are Crucial For Corn Emergence


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Its Spring Planting Time ...

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419.472.7082

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SAND ANDSTONE, INC

It only makes sense to turn a little patch of your prop-erty into a personal supply of organic food.

Quality and cost-control are the top reasons to do it-- and avid gardeners will tell you that there is a special

kind of joy in planting, growing, picking and serving the

freshest produce possible.Today, approximately 30 percent of residential homes

in North America cultivate a vegetable patch and most willtell you that the growing season can be full of surprises.

Sometimes, the winter will leave much more moisture in

the ground than the year before, but other times, droughtwill hamper your harvest and so will heat, insects, weeds

and plant disease.Insects and disease can be a serious problem when

growing vegetables, says Reinie Drygala, Products Man-ager for PureSpray Green, a leading name in innovative

garden products. If uncontrolled, they will destroy yourprized collection of vegetables and owers. The question is

how do you effectively deal with these pests and still use

a product that you can feel good about when it comes toyour impact on the environment?

Our researchers experimented tirelessly to produce ahorticultural spray oil for year-round control of insects

and disease, Drygala continued. The resulting Pure-

Spray Green is an all-in-one formula for use in organicgardening and allows gardeners to feel good about spray-

ing it on owers, fruits, vegetables, shrubs and trees.The sister brand Clear Choice is also a breakthrough in

herbicide technology for controlling weeds on lawns andwalkways.

Here are a few more quick tips to refresh your start-up

skills in the vegetable patch:CLEAN UP: Clear your patch by removing grass, rocks,

or other debris.TILL THE SOIL: Add at least 6 centimetres of new veg-

etable garden soil to provide nutrients, improve drainage,and to promote strong root growth.

PLANT AT THE RIGHT TIME: Early season vegetablesinclude broccoli, carrots, lettuce, peas, and spinach. By

early June, you can plant the warm-weather vegetableslike corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.

PREVENT WEEDS: Put a layer of mulch around the

plantsCONTROL PESTS AND DISEASE: keep an organic-

approved spray handy for insect and disease control. In-formation at: www.todaysclearchoice.com.

WATER: Keep seedlings moist by watering regularly.HARVEST: Your bounty should grow quickly from

seedlings to a full harvest in less than 60 days.

GARDENING TIPVegetable gardens make great additions to any home

garden, but home gardeners should know that not all veg-etables should be planted year-round. Vegetables vary as

to their optimal growing conditions, which often hinge on

climate. For example, tomatoes are popular among homegardeners. For the best tomatoes, the soil should be warm

and the sun above should be hot. Some vegetables, how-ever, actually prefer colder climates. Cauliower often

thrives with colder soil and steady rainfall. When plantingvegetables in a home garden, homeowners should always

consider seasonal changes. Such changes enable garden-ers to have fresh vegetables almost year-round.

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Cultivate Your Own Bounty Of Vegetables

HELP CONTROL COST ... Planting your own vegetables

can help you to make you grocery budget stretch a littlefurther.

Can Pools & Lawns Cohabitate Peacefully?The backyard has become a go-to destination for warm

weather recreation. As the staycation has grown in

popularity, more effort has been put forth in making thebackyard a place where all members of the household can

enjoy themselves. That means merging interests into onespace. A pool may be competing for acreage along with

a decorative patch of lawn. Some homeowners wonder iflawns and pools can be successful alongside each other.

Many question if chlorinated pool water poses any ill

effects on the grass in the backyard. In addition to splash-out of water during fun times in the pool, water also will

be tracked across the lawn from children and adults exit-ing the pool or will ood the grass when it is necessary

to clean and backwash the lter. Will you be left witha dried-out patch of chlorine-burnt lawn? Probably not.

Healthy chlorine levels in a pool are kept so that the

pool water is generally on par with the chlorine levels con-tained in regular tap water. You wouldnt hesitate turn-

ing on the hose to water your lawn, so you shouldnt beoverly concerned about pool water splashing out of the

pool, particularly if you are stringent about maintaining

the proper pH levels and chlorine levels. Also, soil canwithstand chlorine at high acid levels and is pretty resil-

ient about self-correcting. Furthermore, grass blades areselective about which nutrients they absorb, so excess

chlorine likely will not penetrate the grass blades.Chlorine also dissipates in the sun. Therefore, while

the levels may be elevated upon just hitting the grass,over a short while the chlorine will essentially be used upand pose no additional threat to the surrounding lawn.

Some people have actually said that watering yourlawn with pool water can be an eco-friendly way of curb-

ing water usage. Therefore, it may be safely used on lawnsand most owering plants. It is unadvisable to water veg-

etable gardens with pool water because of any trace levels

of other chemicals that may be found in the pool water.

Homeowners still concerned about exposing theirlawns to pool water can create a buffer zone around the

pool. Inground pools are traditionally bordered by con-

crete or patio blocks. Place stone or mulch around theperimeter of an above-ground pool to catch any splashes

and to create a barrier between the pool and the lawn.Also, direct backwashed water through a long tube and

have it ow it to an area away from the lawn.

Pool owners who want to have vibrant grass likelydont need to worry about chlorine damaging their lawns.

In fact, the lawns may ourish with the extra watering.

POOL WATER REFRESHING ... In most cases, pool waterwill not damage lawns because the chlorine level is not

high enough.

Few things are antici-pated more in spring than

the arrival of new leaves onthe trees and budding ow-

ers in the garden. A land-scape awash with fresh col-

ors can brighten the spiritand make anyone want to

head outdoors.There are many different

plants that begin to showtheir colors in the spring.

A number of perennials,

annuals and trees begin toower or show new sprouts

come the springtime. Hereare some plants that can

be planted for springtimeenjoyment.

ANNUALS

Looking for rst signs of

color? Look no further than

these wonderful annuals.*Alyssum: Starting in

April, this cascading boun-

ty of tiny owers offers a

sweet aroma that attractsbutteries.

*Dianthus: These vivid

owers also attract butter-ies and are often a cottage

garden staple.

*Gypsophila: Also

known as babys breath,these delicate owers can

serve as ller in any land-

scape. Pink and white vari-eties are available.

*Impatiens: One of thebest-known plants for the

garden, these annuals

come in scores of colorsand can generally tolerate

full sun to full shade.

*Larkspur: Belonging tothe buttercup family, these

owers bloom in shades of

white to violet.*Pansy: These owers

are some of the earliestspring bloomers, arriving

alongside spring bulbs like

tulips.

*Petunias: Petunias puton a show of color through

the entire season, making

them a popular beddingower.

PERENNIALSThese plants will come

back year after year and of-

fer spring shows.*Cherry blossom: The

owers that sprout oncherry trees are some of the

rst signs of spring. Their

pink or white buds are of-ten a spectacle, so much so

that towns and cities hold

cherry blossom festivals.*Columbine: These

beautiful blooms attractbutteries and can be a

nice part of a garden bed.*Jacobs ladder: Varie-

gated foliage that is dap-

pled with violet-coloredowers can add a sweet

smell and visual interest to

the garden.*Primrose: These ow-

ers come in a variety ofshades, making them ver-

satile in any garden. They

also tend to attract butter-ies and hummingbirds.

*Sweet violet: These

fragrant owers are ed-ible as well as attractive.

These plants can self-plant, so unless a garden-

er wants them to spread,

they should be kept con-tained.

SIGNS OF SPRING GARDEN TIME

SPRING IS HERE ... Cher-ry blossoms are one of the

earlier signs spring has ar-

rived.


5/6

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 Spring Farm Safety/Lawn & Garden/ Planting 5

419-924-5210

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ERIC RICHER

EXTENSION EDUCATOR,

OSU EXTENSION FULTON COUNTY

Spring is the season many of us thinkabout our lawns and landscape and be-gin to provide critical care to make surethey stay healthy throughout the sum-mer. Were beginning to get the calls in

the Extension ofce about how and whento fertilize lawns, so I want to identify twokey fertilizing times for this spring. Firstof all, I want to review the 3 numbers thatmake up the fertilizer analysis on everybag of fertilizer that is sold. Those 3 num-bers represent the percentage of Nitrogen,Phosphorus and Potassiumor N, P andKthat are present in the bag of fertilizerbased on weight. You may see numberslike 15-15-15, 28-0-3 or 32-0-4, just toname a couple. For instance, a bag of 28-0-3 will have 28% nitrogen, 0% phospho-rus and 3% potassium as K20. Though allthree nutrients are important for healthyturf, nitrogen will cause the greatest re-sponse by visibly increasing the green.Because of this, some turf fertilizer recom-mendations are given based on pounds ofnitrogen per 1,000 square feet of area.

When fertilizing those lawns that havebeen established for at least one year orlonger, the rst application that can bemade is in late March or April. Depend-ing on when Easter falls, this applicationis sometimes referred to as the Easter ap-plication. We usually like to wait until theground temperature is at least 45-50 de-grees and the grass is just starting to greenup. Another way to determine if this rstapplication is being done at the right timeis to coordinate the rst lawn fertilizer ap-plication with the time when forsythias areblooming. Forsythias are the deciduousshrubs that have the brilliant yellow ow-ers rst thing in the spring. Forsythia isMother Natures way of determining whenground temperatures are adequate forgrowth. In Fulton County, you still have

adequate time to get this application doneas we are having a delayed spring this year.During this rst application, it is rec-

ommended to apply a fertilizer that has ananalysis ratio of approximately 3-4 timesthe nitrogen as it does the potassium. Itis suggested that phosphorus be left out ofthe fertilizer in the spring to avoid leachingor runoff from heavy spring rains. So youmight purchase fertilizer that has an ap-proximate analysis of 19-0-5 or 32-0-10 orin general, be called early spring fertilizer.In many cases, this fertilizer will also havesome form of crabgrass preventer to pre-

vent germination of crabgrass weed seedthat can be unsightly later in the summer.I would suggest that the formulation of ni-trogen that is in the fertilizer be at least50% slow release to extend the benetover 6-8 weeks. Be sure to read the labelinstructions for application rate for yourspecic fertilizer spreader. Target rate ofnitrogen is to 1 lb per 1,000 square feet.

The second application of fertilizer thisspring should be in late May or early June,often referred to as the Memorial Day ap-plication. Again, it is suggested that youpurchase a fertilizer that is absent thephosphorus. You will want to apply a fer-tilizer that has 2-3 times the nitrogen aspotassium and still with at least 50% slowrelease nitrogen. You may notice retailfertilizers with an approximate analysisof 19-0-8 or 25-0-11 that are suitable forthis time of year. For this application it isrecommended to get a fertilizer that is im-pregnated with a product that will protect

your lawn against summer grubs. Grubscan weaken healthy root systems and area good food source for moles. Target rateof nitrogen should again be to 1 lb per1,000 square feet.

While this article is written to empha-

size the rst two spring fertilizer applica-tions in turf, it should be noted that somehomeowners and professional lawn carecompanies may fertilize additional timesthroughout the year. An additional lb ofnitrogen per 1,000 square feet may be ap-plied in July (July 4th holiday) and againin September (Labor Day holiday). Theseapplications can be made based on per-sonal preference but are optional and de-pendent on weather variables. However,the often overlooked yet most importantapplication of fertilizer in turf is the latefall (between Halloween and Thanksgiving)

approximately 1-1.5 lbs of nitrogen per1,000 square feet. This application helpsturf overwinter and get a rapid start inspring. Above all, the best way to deter-mine how much fertilizer a particular lawn

needs is to conduct a soil test with recom-mendations.

COMMERCIAL NEW

APPLICATOR SCHOOL:OSU Extension Fulton County will be

hosting a new applicator training schoolfor Commercial Core, Industrial Vegeta-tion and Turf on Tuesday, April 30th, righthere at the Robert Fulton Ag Center inWauseon. Registration can be found onour website at fulton.osu.edu or by calling419-337-9210.

The extreme heat and drought of 2012was hard on lawns and gardens. Manygardeners are facing a blank slate of baresoil, masses of dead patches that wereonce lawn or a bit of grass interspersed ina sea of weeds, says gardening expert Me-linda Myers.

Myers recommends following thesesteps to improve lawns this season.

Start this spring to renovate or improveyour weather-worn lawn. Remember thatwater is critical to get newly seeded andsodded lawns to survive. So be preparedto help nature along with the recovery ef-fort.

Evaluate the damage. Then use thecheck list below to nd the best course ofaction to aid the ailing lawn.

If the lawn is more than 60 percentweeds or bare soil, its probably time tostart over. Use this opportunity to createa great foundation for growing a healthylawn. Kill off the existing vegetation, addseveral inches of organic matter such ascompost or peat moss and a low nitrogenslow release fertilizer into the top 6 to 8inches of soil, and rake smooth.

Select more drought tolerant grasseslike rhizomatous (turf-type) tall fescues,buffalo grass, and Habiturf native lawnmix. Make sure the grass is suited to

the climate and plant according to the la-bel. Then sow the seeds, lightly rake andmulch or lay sod. Water often enough tokeep the soil moist until the seeds sproutor the sod roots into the soil below. Thenwater thoroughly when the top few inchesof soil are crumbly, but slightly moist toencourage deep roots.

Fertilize new, existing and stressedlawns with a low nitrogen slow releasefertilizer like Milorganite. It wont harmstressed lawns, young seedlings or newlylaid sod. It will encourage slow steadygrowth. Southern lawns can be fertilizedin April and again in early June. In thenorth fertilize around Memorial Day. Andif 2013 turns into another hot dry sum-mer, it wont burn the lawn.

Mow high to encourage deeply rootedgrass that is more drought tolerant and

pest resistant. And mow often, removingonly a third of the total height. Be sureto leave these short clippings on the lawn.

They return moisture, nutrients, and or-ganic matter to the soil.

Repair small dead and bare patches asneeded. Use a lawn patch kit, grass seedand mulch. For small spots, loosen thesoil surface, sprinkle grass seed and light-ly rake. Or mix a handful of grass seed ina bucket of topsoil. Sprinkle the mix overthe soil surface.

Do a bit more soil preparation whenrenovating larger dead areas in the lawn.Remove or kill any weeds that have lledin these areas. Till two inches of compost,peat moss or other organic matter into thetop six inches of soil. Sow seed, rake andmulch or lay sod.

Overseed thin and sparse lawn. First,core aerate the lawn to improve soil con-ditions and increase seed-to-soil contact.Spread grass seed over the aerated lawnand water as needed. Or rent a slit seed-er or hire a professional with this type ofequipment. These machines slice throughthe soil and drop the grass seed in place,increasing the seed-to-soil contact whichis needed for good germination.

Core aerate lawns that have more thanone half an inch of thatch, those growing incompacted soils, or before overseeding. Byremoving plugs of soil you break throughthe thatch and create channels for waterand fertilizer to reach the grass roots.

Spot treat weeds on lawns that need

minimal repair. Wait at least until fall totreat new and overseeded lawns. Spottreating minimizes the use of chemicalsand reduces the stress on already stressedlawns. As always read and follow label di-rections carefully.

Proper maintenance and a bit of coop-eration from nature will help transform alawn from an eyesore to an asset in thelandscape.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author

& columnist Melinda Myers has more than

30 years of horticulture experience and haswritten over 20 gardening books, including

Cant Miss Small Space Gardening and TheLawn Guide Midwest Series. She hosts

the nationally syndicated Melindas Gar-den Moment segments, is a columnist and

contributing editor for Birds & Blooms mag-

azine and has a column in Gardening How-to magazine. Myers has a masters degree

in horticulture, is a certied arborist andwas a horticulture instructor with tenure.

Her web site is www.melindamyers.com

Lawn Renewal & RenovationTips To Create A Perfect Lawn

GARDENING EXPERT MELINDA MYERS SHARES

SIMPLE STEPS FOR INVIGORATING LAWNS

HELP THICKEN YOUR LAWN ... A little work and attention to lawn now will help to havelush, green grass between you tows this summer.

Spring Turf Fertilizing Tips

Ohio State Strawberry Workshop Is May 16PIKETON, Ohio Straw-

berry growers can learn

about new productionmethods and techniquesduring an Ohio State Uni-versity strawberry plasti-culture workshop May 16.

The workshop will beheld from 6 to 9 p.m. atthe Ohio State UniversitySouth Centers in Piketon,1864 Shyville Road. Regis-tration is $5. The centersare part of Ohio States Col-lege of Food, Agricultural,and Environmental Scienc-es (CFAES).

The workshop will fea-ture Brad Bergefurd, a hor-ticulturist with Ohio StateUniversity Extension andthe Ohio Agricultural Re-

search and DevelopmentCenter (OARDC). Bergefurdwill discuss the plasticul-ture production method,in which strawberries are

planted in September andgrow over the winter us-

ing plastic to keep the soilwarm and suppress weedgrowth, which results inlarger, sweeter berries dur-ing an earlier growing pe-riod, he said.

OSU Extension andOARDC are CFAESs out-reach and research arms,respectively.

Thanks to the relativelynew production method,Ohio consumers now canhave access to locally grownstrawberries as early as therst week of May and aslate as October.

In addition to touringthe plasticulture trials,participants will also learn

about:

Variety evaluations, in-cluding day-neutral (sum-

mer-bearing) strawberries. The use of white andblack plastic mulch to mod-ify soil temperature.

Winter row cover man-agement study results forfreeze and frost protection.

Drip irrigation. Fertigation manage-

ment, with row covers, bedshaping, plastic laying andtransplanting equipmenton display.

Registration includesthe program, handoutsand refreshments. ContactCharissa McGlothin at 740-289-2071, ext. 132, to reg-ister. The deadline to regis-ter is May 14.


6/6


SUPERIOR FARMSUPPLY, INC.

107 State Route 107 Montpelier, Ohio

419-485-8351

A water feature in the

backyard is not only an at-

tractive way to add dimen-sion and visual interest to

the entertaining space, itcan also be a tranquil, re-

laxing place to which to re-tire. A pond lled with ma-

rine plants or sh can be a

welcome respite in the yard.For those who havent

done major excavation orbuilt something similar in

the yard before, it pays to

become educated before

digging the rst hole. In or-der to ensure the sh pond

goes in correctly, there area few things the do-it-your-

selfer needs to know.DETERMINE SIZE.

Many rst-time pond build-

ers simply make their pondstoo small. If sh or a lot of

aquatic plants are planned,be sure to size it large

enough to accommodate

growth. Err on the larger

size -- some dirt can alwaysbe added back if it seems

too large. A koi pond shouldbe at least four feet deep at

its deepest point. One canvary the depths of the pond

by creating shelfs of dirt or

rock.DETERMINE LOCA-

TION. The best place to puta pond is close to the house

so that it can be enjoyedwhen someone is outdoors

or inside. Also take into

consideration rain run-off.This may contain chemicals

from fertilizers and pesti-cides that can contaminate

pond life. Avoid locating it

too close to trees, otherwisea lot of time will be spent

cleaning out leaves and oth-er debris. If the pond will be

growing only plants, be sureit gets a few hours of steady

sun a day. For a pond con-

taining only sh, shade willbe adequate.

PLAN ON WATER CIR-

CULATION. Although circu-

lation is not a must, it canhelp aerate the water and

clean out debris, if a lter

is used. Plus, moving wateris less susceptible to insect

larvae growth like that ofmosquitoes. Figure a water-

fall or water jet into the de-sign and a skimmer that will

suck out the water. Be surethe skimmer is positionedso that the level of the pond

water meets halfway up theskimmer box. If a water-

fall will be used, graduallyslope the pond away from

the waterfall to direct water

toward the skimmer. Checkmunicipal building codes to

see if a permit will be need-

ed for the pond and the req-uisite plumbing/electrical

work. There may be regula-

tions as to how deeply thepower line must be buried

and other requirements.PURCHASE THE COR-

RECT LINER SIZE. Be sure

to purchase the right sizeliner for the pond. Measure

the maximum length andwidth of the pond. Double

the depth of the pond andadd it to these measure-

ments. Add a foot or two for

overlap and this will giveyou the pond liner size.

PAY ATTENTION TO

ROCKS AND GRAVEL. Too

much gravel at the bottomof the pond may cause nox-

ious gases to build up that

can gradually kill off marinelife. Only put about 2 inches

of gravel. Also, keep in mindthat some rocks are better

left out of the pond design.

Limestone can affect the pHof the pond water making

it very acidic. Try to makethe pond look as natural

as possible, hiding pipes

and electrical switches withplants and other landscap-

ing items.Fill and get started. Be

sure to include some aquat-ic plants because those will

help create the right mix

of nutrients into the waterthat can feed sh and other

plant life. There is also pre-packaged pond bacteria to

prime the pond lter. Letthe lter run a day or two

before adding any sh to

ensure that the water con-dition is right.

How To Build A Fish Pond The Right Way

A PEACEFUL ADDITION ... A pond full of sh can be a nice addition to a persons back-

yard landscape.

How To Cultivate A Herb GardenMany people cultivate gardens both inside and outside

of their homes with a focus on adding aesthetic appeal to

their property. But a garden that boasts plants that are

edible and pleasing to the eye is a possibility as well.Planting an herb garden is a creative way to enjoy the

sights, smells and tastes of a wide variety of plants. Usingfresh-harvested herbs in culinary endeavors imparts a

taste that dried spices cannot match. Whats more, freshherbs are often easy to cultivate.

Herbs are versatile, capable of lending great avor tofoods while also playing different roles in personal health

and beauty. Herbs can be grown to perfume homes and

bodies. There are herbs that are also purported to helpwith ailments, from upset stomachs to anxiety.

When planting an herb garden, you may want to payparticular attention to the types of avors and smells you

like in your home and cooking. This will help you to nar-

row down the types of herbs you will plant. Many would-be herb gardeners tend to start small to see what luck

they have when cultivating herbs. Fortunately, herbs can

grow well in containers indoors, provided the soil is ame-nable and there is plenty of sunlight.

Herbs will grow best in well-prepared soil. Make sure

that it is rich in organic matter and drains well. Also,for plants like parsley, be sure to have deep pots or dig

deeply in the garden to establish long taproots.Until the weather warms up, you may want to begin

herb cultivation indoors and then transfer plants out-side during the summer. Basil, for instance, is a tropical

plant that does well in warm conditions. Therefore, it willneed to be kept away from drafts and get several hours

of direct sunshine a day. Place most herb planters in a

south-facing window of a home to ensure they get amplesunlight and to allow the soil to dry adequately between

waterings.With many herbs, leaf production will diminish on any

stems that ower. It is essential to pinch off owers that

form to encourage the herb plant to continue producingleaves, which are the parts of the plant most associated

with seasoning and aroma.

2013 Lawn Care Guide - Spring Planting

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