By Bill Scheffler  April 1, 2005

Greetings Gardeners!

Boy oh boy does this warm up feel good! I think the plants enjoy it as much as we do. We did not have a hard winter but it sure lasted a long time.

Now that the grass is starting to grow, the first cut of the year can be short. This will remove some of last year's brown blades of grass which will make it look better. Many of us are mowing high like we should, but the long grass from last year can get a little messy and ugly and sometimes invites diseases. A short cut once a year can help keep the grass from sprawling and getting ugly. Mulching the grass clippings is best, but if it gets too thick then you may need to bag some off and toss it under the bushes or in the garden. I add it to the compost pile and then make sure to mix in lots of wood chips so it won't stink and get slimy.

Very little fertilizer is needed for the lawn this time of year but an application of gypsum is very helpful. It can neutralize some of the dog urine and road salt, aerate the soil, and adds calcium to the soil to feed the plants. We get a lot of bang for our buck using gypsum. It works well in the flower beds, under the trees, in the lawn, and in the compost pile.

Speaking of dog urine, some corn syrup in water helps neutralize the urine and allows the grass to recover. Adding gypsum definitely helps. Putting a soaker hose over the area to "flush the potty" and dilute the urine is also important. Eight ounces of corn syrup to a gallon of water mixed in a sprinkling can and poured over the dog spots will be a big help.

Enjoy the nice weather we are having but make sure not to dig in wet soil. Let it dry out before you cultivate or plant anything.

See you next week!

Bill