Have a Great Lawn That's Good to the Earth

Caring for the environment means caring for a full, green lawn. Properly maintaining your lawn will produce strong grass and can help protect and conserve water resources at the same time.

To enjoy a great lawn and protect fresh water resources for generations to come, follow these lawn care tips from the experts at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company:

• Strong, dense lawns can help reduce run off and erosion, and filter rainwater to recharge groundwater supplies. The foundation of a good lawn is rich soil, so use a mulching mower to return grass clippings to the soil where the clippings break down and recycle nutrients back into the grass.


• Generally, only new lawns require additional phosphorus for root growth. For mature lawns, choose a fertilizer that is low-phosphorus or phosphorus-free, unless a soil test shows a need for more.


• The best time to fertilize is in the spring and fall. Never fertilize when the ground is frozen.


• Use a drop spreader or rotary spreader with a side guard to keep fertilizer on the lawn.


• Sweep any grass clippings and fertilizer that land on driveways and sidewalks back on to the lawn to help keep nutrients out of waterways.


• Set your mower to its highest setting to build strong, deep grass roots that can find water and nutrients. Longer grass can also better withstand periods of heat and drought.


• If your lawn is dry, the best time to water it is in the morning. Water easily evaporates in the afternoon and watering at night can cause fungus and disease.


• When lawn problems arise, select the right product for the task. For small problems, use a spot treatment. For numerous problems throughout the yard, use a broadcast application.


• Use native plants in your landscape and garden. These plants are adapted to your area and better able to tolerate adverse conditions and resist disease.


• Avoid application when rain is in the forecast, as heavy rainfall can overwhelm soils and cause fertilizers to be washed into waterways.


• Storm sewers often lead directly into streams and lakes. Never dispose of clippings or pet waste in or around sewers or water resources, such as rivers, lakes and streams. Make it a habit to sweep up any fertilizer, grass clippings and leaves.
  

Courtesy of ARAcontent

A Little Good News

From CNBC reporter Diana Olick, an article that says there are going to be more foreclosrues. When you read it you'll know why we say, "It could be worse -- we could live in Merced."

A funny little poem

Marelli’s Fruit and Real Estate
by Raymond A. Foss

That is what the bright neon sign read
this bit of fun, this whimsy
this place Leno would love
to lampoon
poke fun

A shop, a store, with a little of this
and that selling fruit
its true
and other things too
Mickey’s Big Mouth
on the bottom rack
almost out of view
beyond the Night Train
the Red White and Blue
the Mock Turtle soup
a funny place to find this or that
behind the counter, the glass
the old dark store
I never askedabout the real estate