How to grow… without a green thumb, by Jerry Baker (a summary by Pat Evert)
- ✦Lawn Care
Roughly 75% of all lawn problems are the result of thatch. Dethatch every other year.
Mowing
- Frequently, to remove no more than one third of the grass blade.
- Never mow when wet
- Pick up all clippings
- Always mow before you feed or seed
- Through spring and summer spray with soap every three weeks.
- Late fall do one low mow to rid of bugs.
- Mow tall August-February, mow short February-August, fertilize August,
Grandma’s summer tonic – Spray with lawn tonic in May and late July.
- 2 cups ammonia 16oz.
- 2 cups Epsom salts 16oz.
- 2 cups listerine mouthwash 16oz.
- 1 cup liquid soap 8oz.
- 2 cans of beer 32 oz.
Once a year condition soil with Sof’n’Soil gypsum, sharp sand and lime (25# bag of each).
When to overseed – early fall or early spring.
Bugs – always airate before treatment. Granular is more effective.
- ✦Trees, shade and flowering
Wash the trees once in awhile (6x/yr). Wash foliage with a liquid soap combination and K-Gro fruit tree spray. Spray in early April/May with Methoxychlor, Malathion and Kelthane to control most mites along with Grandma’s summer tonic. Dormant spraying is an absolute must for all trees and shrubs.
Soil – most plants do not like heavy wet soil or clay. A Sandy loam or gravelly soil will speed growth. Add a handful of bone meal, gypsum and planter mix.
Prune in early spring or after the blooms. Make sure your tools are clean and sharp. Clean them with your tonic. Any time you hack sterilize the cut. Cut at 45^ just above a module.
- ✦Fruit Trees and fruit bushes
Feed with bonemeal. Feed them in early spring w/5-10-5 or 4-12-4. Water well after feeding. Light application of fish emulsion 2-3x early in the season. Blueberries need strong acid soil and constant moisture.
Pruning, you can do more good than harm by pruning.
- To produce fewer but bigger fruit
- To shape it, opening the center for full light
- To remove weak and diseased wood
- To force formation of fruit-bearing buds
Best done in late winter, before buds swell up. Any transplant, trim off 1/3 of top growth to stimulate root vigor. All cuts bigger than your finger need be sterilized and sealed.
Spraying, very early in spring w/soap and mouthwash solution. Also can use K-mart or Ortho. Never spray during blooming or you’ll kill the bees.
- ✦House Plant Care
They like full exposure to light on all sides, and good air circulation.
Vary your plants menu: add a cup of the following formula:
- 1 tablespoon ammonia
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon saltpeter
- 1 tablespoon druggist sulphur
- 2 tablespoons epsom salt
- 2 tablespoons liquid soap
- 1 rust nail or femiron tablet
Plants that live indoors deserve a little time outside. You can use the KMart systemic insect, rose and flower plant food.
Benomyl controls most fungi
Kelthane controls most mites
Diazinon controls most soil insects
Potting mixture of 25% sharp sand, 25% peat moss, 25% garden soil and 25% perlite. Transplanting and repotting should be done in early morning.
Hidden in Plain Sight 