Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County
Providing horticultural information and programs to the community
Photo by Betty Scarlatta
Another gardening season has come to a close, but there are still a few things left to do before it’s time to hang up your trugs and trowels till spring. And while it may be tempting to just call it quits, getting around to some of these tasks now will make your gardening life easier in the spring –when your list of garden to-do’s will be even longer than it is at this time of year. So grab a sweatshirt, pull on your warm hat – -and get on out there! Continue Reading →
Some grass greening guidance to toughen your turf for the long haul…
Doggone it! Late summer heat and drought can be tough on turf. (Photo by Margaret Montplaisir)
As summer blazes toward its scorching conclusion, lawns tend to suffer under the twin stressors of high temperatures and either too much or too little rain. Common signs of heat and water stress are: brown patches, weeds, and an over-all brown and brittle appearance.
Wake me up when it’s over
Once temperatures get into the 80s and stay there, lawns can begin to struggle, and may even go dormant if they don’t get enough water. Luckily, lawns usually wake up again once watering or rainfall resumes—unless there’s been a period of prolonged drought. Under those circumstances, it can take more than a single rainfall or a few passes with the sprinkler to bring grass out of dormancy and back to green. Continue Reading →