Once upon a time the mullet was fashionable. Apartheid was tolerated. Madonna was a virgin. Soda pop cans were thrown in the trash and there was a company called Chem Lawn that would make our yards green and weed free.

Then we grew up and learned the truth . . . . almost.

I have received an onslaught of questions regarding weeds and dandelions in lawns and what company to use to eradicate them. But before I get into how to control these I want you to think about this:

Chem Lawn. Chemical Lawn. CHEMICAL LAWN!!! When you stop and process the name it really says it all . . . I mention this company, in particular, because it has set the standard for many of the copy-cat companies out there (not all, however). You should know that although the name Chem Lawn is gone but the company is still around.

Apparently, some ‘suits’ at Chem Lawn had a ‘Scooby Doo’ moment (huuuuh?) a number of years ago. So what did they do? Changed the name to Trugreen*. Ummmmmmm????

At my own risk let me just say right now that there is nothing true about chemically treated lawns. There is nothing healthy about them. Although we don’t know exactly what those harmful implications are at this point, is a country club lawn really worth the risk to you, your pets, your kids, the inside of your home, the environment? I say nay.

I was inspired by a new customer this week to search out natural regimens to control weeds. She is a cancer survivor and above all incredibly sensible and sensitive to this issue. She hit a home run when she simply said, “ NO CHEMICALS . . . . it’s just not worth my life”.

As luck would have it there was a Turf Management lecture last evening sponsored by MSU (with Dr. Kevin Frank – MSU Turf Mgt) and SOCWA (Lillian Dean -South Oakland County Water Association). Among the topics were Earth -Friendly Fertilizers/weed control. If you go to www.healthylandscapes.com or www.msuturfweeds.net you will get a whole lot more information than I am about to give you. However, this is where you should start if you are concerned with your lawns and want to keep things safe.

So, here are the basics that they stressed this evening for a healthy, safe lawn without chemicals:

• Mow at least 3” – 4” high. Taller grass means deeper roots that will produce thicker foliage and thus crowd out weeds. By just doing this within two years you will see a 75% reduction in broad-leaf weeds (e.g. dandelions)
• Return Clippings to lawn. Most clippings are 80% water and do not contribute to thatch but do add nutrients back into the lawn.
• Apply organic fertilizers in autumn. Corn Gluten Products, Espoma Organic Weed Preventer/Lawn Food (What I use in all the gardens I work in) or Scotts Organic Choice Lawn Food. There are others but I have had luck with these.
• Choose lawn fertilizers with low or NO phosphorus. Avoid using triple products (e.g. 12-12-12). Meijer sells mostly NO PHOSPHORUS lawn fertilizers. Thank you Meijer!
• Maintain a NO APPLICATION zone near lakes, rivers, streams, storm drains etc . . .
• Do not water at night. Key watering times are in the morning between the hours of 12:00a.m and 6:00a.m. Those of you with irrigation, reset right now. Do not pass this point until you reset your systems . . .
• Aerate at least once a year and fill the holes with a good composted material.

Keep in mind that by just doing this you will eventually see a significant difference in the quality of your lawn. And it’s safe!!!!

Now, will you get the “instant gratification” of a chemically treated lawn? NO! It takes time and some dedication by either you or your lawn service in insuring that these easy steps are followed. I mean, jeez, our health is maintained by long-term health oriented practices. So are our lawns. The ‘easy fix’ only leads to long term ‘issues’. Be informed about what goes on your grass and ultimately into your home!

As for the dandelions, they are in full bloom right now. (I love ‘em to be honest) They will get their fuzzies (technical term) and then will probably bloom a second time (with more fuzzies) before they merge back into the turf. If you have a nice bumper crop like I do and have the inclination, harvest them right now! You can make great wine out of the blossoms. Here is a website that might assist: http://fohn.net/dandelion-pictures/dandelion-wine-recipe.html it only takes about a week for the wine to be ready. I hear it’s good with shellfish.

There are many other companies out there that can help with healthy lawn maintenance and are endorsed by MGIA (Michigan Green Industry Association). Just drop me an e-mail and I will give you the name of an endorsed company near you!

Good Gardening,

Ed

* Trugreen has recently introduced a new multi-application regimen called “Natural Organics”.

So Tracy asked me this morning, “We are having a privacy fence installed near the end of summer.  What grows quickly and will provide some privacy and coverage in the meantime?”

Well, here is what I say.  Forget the wisteria.  Forget the trumpet vines.  Forget Clematis.  Completely forget Climbing Hydrangea.  Forget the English Ivy.

Instead:  Look for twining and climbing ‘no-brainers’.

I like the veggie vines for this family. . .  Here is why.  Tracy has two kids and at least one dog and a chain link fence.  The current chain link fence sits in pretty much full sun – GREAT!

Now, she can start seeds inside (under proper conditions) 8 weeks ahead of time.  That means NOW!!!!!  That’s a great way to introduce kids to horticulture.  It’s also expensive when coupled with the proper lighting and soil.

Unfortunately, most kids lose interest with the entire ‘germination’ process.  Let’s be honest . . .  so do the parents.  Plus, the plants end up being weak and who the hell has time to ‘harden them off”. . .  (hardening off means putting the little sprouts in full light and outdoors for a couple hours the first day, a few more the second and so on and so on until they are ready to spend the duration of their life outside).  Everybody is a little too busy these days for that sort of Martha Stewart luxury . . . .

They are inexpensive, and “prete -a -planter” (ready to plant)    Of course, you will lose the ‘nurture- effect’ of growing from seed but by the end of the season you will gain the ‘harvest-effect’.  Planting seeds and picking are the two chores kids like so buy a packet of seeds.  If they die then just go out and get the healthy plants for planting . . .

So Prepping the bed…  easy!

First, find a place along that fence that gets at least six hours of sun each day for a vegetable vine to thrive.  Easy!
Second, be sure that the soil is good mix of organic matter, reasonably free of stones and moisture retentive.  If you have clay, add compost and sand.  If it’s too sandy add compost.  Easy!
Third, always mulch (and you can even use grass clippings, newspaper or shredded fall leaves).  You will warm the soil and save water, both of which ensure bountiful crops.  Easy!

Next:  Choose your vines . . .

All vining veggies love heat.  They are in the family of (Cucurbitaceae).  That just means cucumbers.  Their flowers are both male and female.  That means, if you do not have enough bees, just dip your fingers inside each flower, get some pollen on them and dip your fingers into the other flowers.  There is lots of room here for fun, but I will just call it ‘hand-pollinating’.  It works.

Last, choose your vines:

*    Vining beans
*    Cucumbers
*    Pumpkins (yes they will be fine on a chain-link fence)
*    Cantaloupe (needs lots of diligent watering)
*    Gourds (very fun – go on-line to see which ones are best for you.  I like birdhouse gourds so     that the kids can  . . . .  ummmmmm make birdhouses out of them . . .. .  It’s a fun winter project!
*    Squash
*    Watermelon – (needs lots of diligent watering)
*    Morning Glory (no fruit but EASY!!!!)
*    Moon Flowers (no fruit but EASY!!!)

Hope that some of these ideas are handy.  Really, making a chain link fence into a trellis for food and/or flowers is a great idea!!!!  Try it and then send me pics. .. .

Garden Well,

E

“The gourd, too, aspires to grow high from a humble beginning” – Strabo , “The Hortulus”

So, everybody asks. “HORTULUS? What does the company name mean?”

Here’s the back-story:

My father-in-law, John Czechowski, was a very smart and intelligent man. About 10 years ago I yakked about starting a garden service business. He asked me “What exactly do you want to do?” I told him “Nothing huge and ‘industrial’, just people’s gardens so that they could enjoy them.”

John went to work researching on a name. . . .

One day I came over and he said “you need to read ‘The Hortulus’ by Walafrid Strabo.”

“Who’s he?” I asked , and as he was want to do went into an hour and a half lecture about this German fellow from the 9th century.

Turns out, Walafrid was an early Benedictine monk. He wrote about his garden accounts not for documenting new plant species, not for pharmacological discoveries , not for an agricultural account of the times but just for the shear poetry of the natural growing world and his love for plants. He believed more in the aesthetics of gardening more than a garden’s practical uses.

Hortulus translates simply as “The Little Garden”. He wrote “The Hortulus” in 849 CE. His work lay in fallow until the 15th century when it was discovered by the Benedictines. When the manuscript was found in Gall in 1484 it was quickly translated in Venice and since has been a landmark in of gardening literature.

Although no original manuscript of “The Hortulus” exists today, the poetry of Walafrid’s gardening account still shine through despite the constant translations through the millenia. “The Hortulus” became the standard for early gardeners, the Christian church and horticulture for over 1000 years.

I have an English copy (not easy to come by) for anybody who may want to read this. It is a wonderful account of the joys of gardening along with descriptions of plants used during the Medieval times. . .

Garden Well,

e

 (maybe these sites will help . . . )

I use rain barrels. Not as much as I should. http://www.springfield-twp.us/documents/Rainbarrelsfinalbrochure.pdf

I recycle tin (http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001320.tip.html), cardboard (http://www.ehow.com/how_9161_recycle-cardboard.html) and plastic (http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/bottled_water/). Although not everything makes it to the “blue bin”.

I compost by throwing organic materials right into the garden. Not in a compost bin. The dogs usually eat what I throw out . http://vegweb.com/composting/

I turn the heat down to 60 during the winter nights. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-thermostat-tips-save-money.html but use an electric blanket turned on “high” http://home.howstuffworks.com/question91.htm each night.

I’ve driven a Prius since 2003 (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2001-to-2003-toyota-prius.htm) but prefer my Ford Taurus Wagon (http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=2003&make=Ford&model=Taurus%20Wagon)and my bigger Ford F50 Truck for work http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f150/

I’ve installed a native rain garden that is only 80% native. It’s the only place that gets sun in my yard and I love lavender and other sun- loving ornamental plants that have been imported from beyond state lines and need fertilizer and water. http://www.socwa.org/nature/PDF/RainGardenBrochure’09.pdf

I prefer to fly than to drive anywhere (although I do limit my flights to 5 hour drives or more). http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/sep/21/travelsenvironmentalimpact.ethicalliving

I love meat, veggies and fruits but mostly do not buy organic. http://www.rsc.org/Chemsoc/Chembytes/HotTopics/Organic/Index.asp

In summer, I let the lawn brown but water my heirloom tomatoes and favorite plants daily. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lawns-725/Michigan-lawn-care.htm

I limit my shower times but my daughter does not. http://www.showermanager.com/index.shtml

Our family buys “to keep” but we find that nothing “keeps” so we end up ‘throwing away’, only to buy again. http://www.nau.edu/~soc-p/ecrc/recycle.html

I feel ever more guilty despite my increasing attempts to ‘conserve’. http://www.businessweek.com/careers/managementiq/archives/2009/01/can_the_world_l.html

I wonder where should I be at environmentally and feel that I am below where I should be average. http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/archives/174324.asp

I would like to do a little more to ’save the planet’ but “life gets in the way”. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=climate-change-begins-at-home

Anybody else feel like this? If so go to the blue articles I found on-line. They address some answers but still leave me feeling insufficient. If you have some links to share PLEASE PLEASE do!!!!

And, just for the record, I cannot believe that Ben and Jerry’s, Zingermans, Assaggi (with Mark as your server), or Josefs Bakers do anything bad – EVER!!!

Garden Well,

e

As of this morning we have 5 days left until March 20! Check out my website – I have a countdown to spring clock!!!! Thanks Maureen P.!!!!! Fortunately for me though my back garden is not paying any attention to the celestial equinox. Plants have a mind of their own!

So I have lots of bits and pieces poking up through last winter’s fallen branches, lost dog toys, toppled pots and dog poop.

I have to yak about the three plants that I love this time of year (witch hazel, snowdrops and lenten rose):

First, and most inspiring in my desperate looking back garden right now are the witch hazels (Hamamelis). A few years ago, after I took out all the lawn, I planted lots of flowering shrubs. Two of those were the witch hazels ‘Arnold Palmer’ and ‘Diane’. They are deep in my back garden. I didn’t think much of them at the time. However, now is a different story!

Arnold Palmer is bright yellow and from the kitchen window it looks as if the forsythia are blooming already! It’s been showing now for about 10 days and will continue to do so through April when they finally let the forsythia, daffodils and tulips take ownership of spring.

Diane is a copper-red color. Up close she is gorgeous!!!! Unfortunately, she isn’t able to upstage the brown perennial stalks all around her near the back of my garden and alas, she is barely visible from the house. Live and learn! This spring I am going to move Diane to the front garden (away from the Arnold Palmers) where she will be constantly passed by and appreciated. I am not sure if there is a Tiger Woods witch hazel but if that comes to be then I am definitely keeping Diane away from him.

There are a number of varieties of witch hazel that bloom both in early spring and late autumn, so if you are interested, give me a call and let’s get those in!!!! In Michigan springs these are a must have!

Second are the snowdrops (Galanthus) Like the witch hazels they have been blooming now about 10 days. I love ‘em. The little white petals and verdant green strap-like leaves just brighten everything up. They are great for naturalizing, but beware, they do have a tendency to spread and once established they are like herpes, essentially impossible to get rid of. They end up in places that surprise you! What’s great about them though is WHO CARES . . . !!!!! They die back by June and you can forget about them until beginning of March. If they creep into the lawn, the first mowing will take care of them. These little bulbs are an early spring garden ‘must have’.

Third, and without question my favorite are the Hellebores. Also know as the Lenten Rose in the family of Ranunculaceae (which is just a fancy word that translates to buttercup – use it in a sentence and people will be impressed!).

For many of you they are not blooming yet. But I happen to have a nest of them close to the house, sitting within the seams of a slate pathway. Consequently, these little guys get lots of early spring sun and warmth and water from the melting snow. I actually have a little fellow called the Ivory Prince (Walhelivor).

He was the perennial of the month in April 2006 and was given to me by my mother-in-law last fall. I gave some to Janet just to be sure that if I killed mine she would at least have a bit left to share. Not sure how hers is doing yet?!? Anyway, the Ivory Prince gorgeous right now. If you have questions on Hellebores give me a call because there are over 2500 varieties, most of which fall within our zone! Hellebores come from dark purple to ivory. Again, an early spring and fall favorite. (P.S. Janet had some hellebores blooming in September/October last year so . . . I have not had that luck).

So, that’s about it. I need to chat about weeds next week. You HAVE to get these out NOW!!!!! Gonna do a little search for S.E. Michigan’s most common ( and figure out how to post pics to this blog) so that you know what to pull this spring.

Garden Well,

e

had to figure out how to bring this home . . . . The Netherlands Embassy on Mass. Ave in D.C. with it’s steel casing that sports ivy growing up it is the closest thing I have ever seen like this . . .  These are better yet . . . no damage to structures and infinitely more interesting to look at. . .

The easiest part of live walls  right now is planting them.  Finding the containers (or cells as they are called) is challenging.  I did manage to find a wholesale fellow in Toronto.  From what I understand he gets them from Paris directly from the monsieur who designed them about a decade ago.  Although I am not sure of the logistics, I do finally have a source!!!!!!

They retail for about 120.00 per container (not planted) and they are designed to withstand all weather and have the most ingenious water channel system built right in . . .   Although there is a specific soil mixture to ensure plant vitality, once established these chef d’oeuvres’ last through seasons and for years. . .

Last August, I installed three components on a slim wall at a residence in Bloomfield Hills at Mary B.’s house.    As far as I know this is the first residential install in S.E. Michigan.  Ford Motor Co. has a factory  that has used the same materials for their green living roof but they used thousands. . . .  and I understand that they are from the same company . . .Our use is vastly smaller but equally as elegant , arranged with sedums in a tick-tack-toe pattern.  It’s striking, unusual and definitely a conversation piece!!!

Like Mary, I had to buy three to test them out.  Unfortunately, they have yet to be planted,  however they have been mounted on that thin wall near the garage door (where nothing can grow)   Only 5 weeks and counting and I will have the second vertical live scape in S.E. Michigan.  Just waiting for the Sedums to be delivered!!!!

Give me a call if you are interested in experimenting with this cool new garden element!

My last outdoor ‘activity’  was for a wonderful woman in Bloomfield Hills in early November.  Belle is a dear friend of my parents and called us to clear the leaves. That morning was bright and crisp and VERY heavy with the smell of  Maple and Oak leaves – rotting in the easement . . .  lol.    The Andover H.S. band was practicing in the distance.

Michigan is SO GREAT this time of year! I stopped at the Franklin Cider Mill on the way and  . ..  mmmmmmm.  Those of you in the area know and I won’t say anything further . ..  . Of course, it was near the end of “The Season’ and halfway through our raking I realized that my supply of brown bags was depleted.  Leaving Cody to ‘steady-on’,  as they say, I ran over to the Home Depot to  buy a new supply of brown recycling  bags.

I bought far more than I needed, thinking . . .” I’m going to stock up for spring clean-up –  which will be in about three months”.  . .. .  Let’s be honest, in Michigan it’s more than three months between seasons.   In my mind I always downplay winter’s  ’internal confinement’  It’s my defense mechanism for the actual and real  four and  a half months of green deprivation those North of the Mason Dixon need to endure. . .

I don’t mind the first two and a half months of that confinement.  It flies by.  We have holiday installations in hotels, restaurants and homes.  Of course, there is also the welcome opportunity to spend time with my own family during the holidays after 8 months in other people’s gardens.  Then in January there is the planning of  new web pages, mailings, blogs and finances . . . blah, blah, blah

Unfortunately, that all ends by Feb. and I am now at ‘that moment’ – the time where  it’s miserable outside, I am stuck inside and it’s  cold, cloudy and generally grim.  Now begins that excruciating amount of downtime that leaves me with time to scan the barrage of garden magazines that I have been piling up since December.

I am looking at 27 publications right now!   These magazines make me frustrated and give me hope. Right now I am actually a little bit more frustrated and I am not sure if its the result of nature deprivation or constantly cold toes . . .

Despite my deep-winter gripes here are some cool and interesting new plants I found for your 2010 gardens:

For containers/perennial gardens check out  the Surprise Bouquet Yucca ( – Mon.-  Hesperaloe pariflora “Sunrise Bouquet’)  It’s zone 4-10 with maroon-tinted foliage.  Exceptionally bright hot-pink flowers.  Very cool!

For your spring Perennial Garden you should look at the Yellow Doodle Dandy Itoh Peony (Mon. – Paeonia (itoh) x Yellow Doodle Dandy’) It’s zone 4 – 8.   It has large yellow flowers that are about 8″ wide with a light fragrance.  I love this plant because it loves full sun (like all peony) but can grow equally as well in dappled shade (will need staking)  Perfect for cut flowers. . . . !!!!

The new climbing Clematis called Vancouver Starry Nights (Mon. – Clematis x Vancouver x Starry Nights).  zone 4 – 9 .   Eight inch rosy pink flowers.  Loves full sun and will grow to 10 feet.

And for orange lovers . . . Orange Yarrow (H.C.G – Achillea Terracotta).   Zone 3-8 .   This plant has a grey-green foliage with peach to coppery-orange flowers. Same care as all Yarrows . . .

And announcing the 2010 Perennial Plant Association’s plant of the year:  Blue False Indigo (Baptisia Australis).  Zone 3 -9.  Full sun but tolerates partial shade (needs staking ).  Violet blue lupine-like flowers on 12′ racemes.  drought tolerant after established.

Of course there are a whole lot more plants that I love.  I will update you on those later.

If you have a secret to keeping sane in the winter PLEASE update us!!!!!

Ed