Kensington Garden Club
Green Garden Tips
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Green Gardening Resources
Carolyn W. Organic Lawn
Establishing an organic lawn doesn't happen over night or in one season. but once established it is easy to maintian and can save you both time and meny.
Be Patient. A chemically treated lawn may take time to transition into a health organic law.
Here are some tips to help you along.
Reduce Your Lawn Size - Consider using naturalistic landscaping, ground covers, stones, mulch, flower beds, vegetable gardens, meadows, etc. A smaller lawn requires less time for mowing with more time to do other things that you enjoy.
Test the Soil - Soil tests help identify the need for lime and compost. The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station will give you a free analysis of your soil.
Seed or Overseed - Thick turf will help crowd out weeds. Grass seeds with clover will provide the lawn with needed nitrogen. Fall is a good time to seed.
Mowing - Set your mower to a height of 3-4 inches. Higher grass conserves watering and naturally shades out some weeds. Consider an electric mower or a hand push one for some good exercise.
Watering - Watering is best done in early morning. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth.
Fertilize with Compost - Compost is an excellent source of minerals, nutrients and beneficial organisms. It is best applied in the early spring or late summers. Leaving the grass clippings on your lawn will also help provide some of the nutrients.
Weed Control - Pull weeds or use an organic product like corn gluten in early spring to keep weeds from germinating.
Pest Control - Milky spore may be used for Japanese and Oriental beetle grubs. Beneficial nematodes have also shown promise in controlling grubs.
GLYCERIZING
Glycerizing: Allow the stems to take up and translocate a glycerin/water mixture. This is ideal for magnolia and mistletoe.
Mature leaves work best, but younger leaves can be preserved, too. Some ivies, mahonia, eucalyptus, boxwood, beech, camellia, oak and rhododendron also do well if allowed to absorb glycerin. Using mature leaves, mash the stem ends of each branch with a hammer and place the stems in a warm mixture of glycerin/water (1 glycerin: 2 water, by volumes). Branches of mature leaves should be no longer than 18 inches, including the part of the stripped stem that is in the container of glycerin/water. It is important to remember that the cut branches will take up the glycerin/water mixture, so more of the mixture must be added to the container to replace that which has been taken up. Keep the solution depth at about 6 inches. After crushing the stems, some hobbyists place the plant material in a salt solution (1 tablespoon table salt/ gallon water) for 24 hours before placing them in the glycerin solution, reporting that this increases the uptake rate of the glycerin solution. If younger leaves are used however, they should be submerged completely in a 1:1 glycerin/water solution (vol./vol.), then washed once done.
You'll know the process is complete when the entire leaf turns golden brown. It may take two to three weeks before all the foliage is done.
The leaves remain flexible, and wreaths made from glycerized magnolia leaves can remain beautiful for many years. Glycerin can be obtained from your local pharmacist. Unfortunately, it is not cheap. Request the technical grade of lycerin; it is less expensive than the laboratory grade.
From the Clemson Extension, Home & Garden Information Center website
(1999):http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic1151.htm
Celebrate Earth Day Every Day
Click belowfor copy of
KGC Brochure on Non Toxic Recipes
Going Green with Gardening
The most important role for green gardening is, "The right plant in the right place". If the plant requirement for light, soil condition and nutrition are met it will thrive with very little effort.
Use disease and pest resistant plants whenever possible.
Composting is so easy. Save all the waste from fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee and tea grounds, and let it work to nourish your plants.
Mulch your garden. Mulching with natural materials that decompose helps to conserve water, discourage weeds and adds nutrients to the soil as it disintegrates
Conserve water by collecting rainwater in screen-covered containers, Use soaker hoses in the garden to prevent water being wasted by evaporation.
Avoid using pesticides by planting plants that attract natural predators
Plant pollinator-friendly plants to attract butterflies and bees to your garden.
Avoid power tools in the garden as much as possible. Push movers are great exercisers and raking instead of leaf blowing increases upper-body strength .
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Cleaning Green
Energy Conserving
Landscaping Organically
Ensuring Safe Drinking Water
Building Environmentally Safe Homes
Reducing, Reusing, Recycling
Air Quality Improvement
Toxic-Free Personal Care Products Purchases
Educating For A Safe & Healthy Environment
Eating Locally Grown Organic Food
Add Insulation To Pipes And Water Heater
Reject Junk Mail Go To: mailstopper.tonic.com
Turning OFF The Lights
Hazardous & Electronic Products Collections
Driving a Hybrid Automobile
Always Consider Carpooling
You Can Make A Difference
