What could be simpler than moving a lawnmower over the grass? Why would anyone need advice on that? Well, like anything, there’s always more to it than appears at first glance.
Selecting the proper length is always the first puzzle to solve in lawn care. The answer is complicated by the variability in types of grass, average amount of sunshine and rain and other factors. But, in general, the following holds true…
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It’s only been just over a hundred fifty years since grass was cut with a hand scythe - if it was cut at all. That was about the extent of lawn care then. Now, there are a dozen tools - some hand, some power, that are considered essential for keeping that green carpet in shape.
A lawnmower is the most basic. It’s odd to think of a living organism as needing to be sliced to stay healthy, but as a professional gardener acquaintance once said ‘Grass likes to be cut’. To accomplish that, a good lawnmower is a necessity. Though among the more expensive items in the tool set, if maintained well it will last forever.
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Apart from your lawnmower, the trimmer or edger may be the tool you use most. Very few lawnmowers will get everything, since most lawns butt up against a wall, patio bricks or have trees in the lawn. As a result, the only way to keep that lawn looking really neat is to finish the job with an edger of some kind.
But which kind?
Traditional edgers are dual blade affairs with a long wooden handle. Despite the aging design, they still do the job and do it well. They require no gasoline, are lightweight and there’s no cord to get in the way. If the blades are kept clean and sharp, they can edge a 20 ft x 40 ft patio or 30 feet of sidewalk in a few minutes.
Spreaders are handy for laying down weed killer, fertilizer and other lawn care products that help you maintain the yard or garden. They come in two basic types - broadcast spreaders and drop spreaders - and you may find it helpful to have at least one of each.
A broadcast spreader itself comes in two different varieties, push-cart and hand-held.
Taking care of a yard is a year round job for some. For those who get a brief break due to snow on the ground, there are still some things you might want to study up on before Spring.
The first thing to keep in mind is that Spring isn’t the only, and not always the best time to do prep work. If you need to re-seed bare patches, just before the first snowfall of the year is a good time to start. The seeds will get worked into the soil by the weight of the snow and lay dormant for Winter.
The two most basic chemicals your lawn needs are water and fertilizer.
These two work together to give your lawn everything it needs from you. The rest it gets for itself. Even these, of course, may be supplied in other forms or from other sources, depending on the soil and climate.
One of the most common difficulties in proper lawn care is how much and when to apply either of these. To overcome those problems, though, is relatively simple.
The two most basic chemicals your lawn needs are water and fertilizer. Ah, you weren’t used to thinking of water as a chemical? Well, H2O is certainly a chemical formula.
These two work together to give your lawn everything it needs from you. The rest it gets for itself. Even these, of course, may be supplied in other forms or from other sources, depending on the soil and climate.
One of the most common difficulties in proper lawn care is how much and when to apply either of these. To overcome those problems, though, is relatively simple.
A watering can sounds like such a simple device that one wonders how there can be any difficulty in picking one. But, thanks to the ingenuity of contemporary designers, there are a dozen varieties. One may suit your needs better than another.
Consider the weight. Water weighs about 8 lbs (3.6kg) per gallon (~4 liters). If the watering can itself weighs a pound that’s over 12% of the total if you’re dispensing a gallon. Why add the extra weight? Plastic containers today are strong, rust-proof and come in a variety of attractive styles.
They may or may not have all the features you want, though.
It can be handy to have a detachable rose (that’s the part on the end of the nozzle with tiny holes through which the water pours). Sometimes you want to rain gently on the plants, other times you want to deliver a gusher in a short time. That means either having two different styles, or choosing one with a changeable rose.
It’s more common to find that feature with metal watering cans, but plastic ones that provide it do exist.
Size is related to weight, and also to your ability to handle it easily. A large can may hold two or three gallons but that’s 16 or 24 lbs, plus the weight of the can. That’s a lot of container to carry around just to water a few houseplants. Even when filled with less water, the can may be bulky and awkward.
If you get a smaller can, and there’s no rule that says you must have only one, watering those indoor plants becomes quick and easy. Having watering cans in three sizes will cover the complete range of jobs you can expect to use it for.
Small bonsai, for example, can get by on very little water. In fact, overwatering is one of the most common ways novice gardeners hurt their plant. Medium-sized plants, such as an orange tree in a pot, can use all the water you can give it, provided there’s good drainage. For that a larger watering can is better.
For those large, outdoor jobs you can often use a hose. But hoses are heavy and inconvenient to drag around and reel up again. Also, if you have a large yard, there may be places the hose won’t go. Having a larger watering can for those big jobs makes life easy.
You may have gardens that aren’t easy to plumb for a soaker hose system. A large watering can solves that problem, too. When the rains don’t accommodate your plants’ needs, you just dump three gallons of water around the base of the plants. If you have good soil, that retains enough but drains properly, the larger cans will deliver plenty.
Whichever type you buy, be sure not to let water sit in for long. That encourages the growth of bacteria that can be harmful to pets, people and plants. It also gives mosquitoes a good place to breed. Letting it stand overnight, to allow for evaporation of chlorine is good, but a week is too long.
