Ask The Expert
I live in San Antonio Texas and I am having a "top dressing" applied to my yard next week. Should I apply corn gluten meal prior to this application?
3/26/20073:17:49 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Yes, it would be good for you to add the corn gluten meal prior to the compost application. If the company is not already going to add a fertilizer you might want to apply it before they come in.
I was wondering what your thoughts were on "weed and feed" products. I have a problem with yard onions and I have to get rid of them.
3/26/20073:16:53 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
With organics there is really no weed and feed application, the organic way to rid your yard of weeds is to build up the health of the soil so that the grass will become stronger and choke out the weeds. One preventative measure that you can do is to apply corn gluten meal in the fall and spring to keep the dormant weed seeds from germinating, top dress the yard with a ½” layer of compost and follow up with an application of a good organic fertilizer like Garden-Ville’s Premium Lawn Fertilizer 7-2-2. In the meantime you can pull the weeds by hand or spot treat the areas with 20% vinegar, just remember to try and avoid overspray as it will kill any other grass it comes in contact with.I am looking for a good inexpensive organic fertilizer for my ranch. We have one-12 acre costal field that needs some good fertilizer and we have other pastures that could also stand some attention. Do you have any recommendations and sources? Thanks, Gary
3/26/20073:16:14 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
You can use compost, dried molasses, or we have a fertilizer that comes in a 40# bag and will cover 4000 sq feet per application. For the compost you will need about 800 yards and the price per cubic yard for that would be $11 plus delivery. For the fertilizer you would need 132 bags and the cost for that would be $9.25 per bag. The benefits of the compost are the addition of beneficial microbes for soil conditioning and trace mineral nutrients as well as nitrogen. With the fertilizer you will get your NPK but not the soil conditioning benefits of the compost. All products listed are produced by Garden-Ville and can be picked up or delivered to you. Where is the ranch located?I went to our local nursery looking for gypsum to condition the soil in my flower beds. (They have not been turned over in years and have too much clay). My nursery did not have gypsum but suggested Garden-Ville Horticultural Humate in its place. My daughter is in charge of this project and is unfamiliar with Humate. Is this product going to condition the soil so it has less of that clay feel? How do we apply to these beds? We have all new shurbs and plants ready to plant - the bed is currently vacant. I am in N. Dallas.
3/26/20073:15:30 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Yes humate will help break up the soil in the beds, humate is humus which is thought by some to be important to the fertility of soils in both a physical and chemical sense. Physically, it helps the soil retain moisture, and encourages the formation of good soil structure. Chemically, it has many active sites which bind to ions of plant nutrients, making them more available.
We have St. Augustine grass in our backyard that was put in last August. There are a lot of weeds that have emerged in one side of our backyard(mostly chickweed, pig weed and crabgrass). We did not apply the pre emergent weed killer(corn meal gluten) which I regret not doing. I'm trying to hand pull the weeds but there are just too many. Is there any weed killer that I can use to spot treat these weeds and not damage the lawn? What should I be doing right now to keep the lawn healthy. I was planning on spreading compost through the lawn, do you think it is necessary to aerate before spreading compost? Also which fertilizer would you recommend. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
3/23/20073:27:31 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Uma,Aerating, spreading compost, and fertilizing with a good organic compost are 3 great ways to build up your turfgrass. As the grass becomes stronger it will choke out the weeds in the lawn. To kill off the existing weeds that are very dense you can get the 20% Vinegar and spray it directly on the weeds to kill them off, just watch the overspray because it will also kill the grass around it. You might also try getting a broad leaf weed killer like Image or Green Light's Wipe Out, they are safe for use in turfgrass lawns and should get rid of the problem. For a good fertilizer try Garden-Ville's Premium Lawn Fertilizer 7-2-2, it is a great fertilizer to get the beneficial microbes in your soil active to promote a healthy lawn. Garden-Ville has locations in the Austin, San Marcos, and San Antonio area to serve your needs. If you have any other questions let me know.I was wondering what your thoughts were on "weed and feed" products. I have a problem with yard onions and I have to get rid of them.
3/23/20073:22:36 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
With organics there is really no weed and feed application, the organic way to rid your yard of weeds is to build up the health of the soil so that the grass will become stronger and choke out the weeds. One preventative measure that you can do is to apply corn gluten meal in the fall and spring to keep the dormant weed seeds from germinating, top dress the yard with a ½” layer of compost and follow up with an application of a good organic fertilizer like Garden-Ville’s Premium Lawn Fertilizer 7-2-2. In the meantime you can pull the weeds by hand or spot treat the areas with 20% vinegar, just remember to try and avoid overspray as it will kill any other grass it comes in contact with.
Hi. I've been trying to keep my poor house plant alive for a while now. I can't even tell what kind it is, but it has narrow and long leaves like a palm plant. Anyway, it has always been brown and yellow at the tips since i brought it home, and the leaves have been curling up and dying. I improved the soil drainage a little and that helped, but now there's just some really crazy thing happening and I don't know what to do. There are long white tubes growing from one stem to the other. Some look like they are even rooted in the soil. Now I just noticed that one of them curled open, and there is a big white stalk inside that looks like it has spores or stomata on it. Seems like an ordinary house plant wouldn't be producing something like this naturally, but I really don't know. Do you have any idea what might be going on? Thank you!!
3/23/20073:22:04 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Laurie,The growth that is happening might be the seeds from the plant some plants germinate under the leaf, you might want to take a cutting from the plant to a local nursery to identify the plant and see whether it is needing more or less sunlight. For the soil you can add Garden-Ville’s rose soil to the potting soil to give the soil in the pot more body for the plant to grow in. One other thing you can do in the meantime is set the plant outside and drench the soil with water and give the plant some fertilizer. Let me know how it turns out, I am curious as to what type of plant it is.Hi, I have several questions. About 3 years ago we purchased a bag of DE from you. We still have way too much. How long is a bag (huge bag) good for? Does it lose it's effectiveness over time? The reason I ask is it's not killing the fleas outside anymore. This year will be another bumper crop of fleas of all types in Texas. I live in Cibolo near San Antonio. I don't want to use harmful chemical because we have pets and wildlife. The fleas are "atomic" anyway and don't seem to be killed by anything (past experience). I'm thinking of getting some beneficial nematodes from you to control fleas and insects. Might this help? Any other suggestion? We do vacuum all the time, treat the pets, but need to control the environment to get a handle on the fleas. They are eating Mom's dog alive... Thanks! Cheryl
3/23/20073:21:30 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Insect Control, Lawn Questions
Cheryl,The Diatomaceous Earth will lose its effectiveness over time due to moisture. I talked to Delphine Beck who is Malcolm Beck’s wife and she told me that to rid your yard of fleas effectively to spread out dusting sulfur providing no body in your family is allergic to sulfur. Malcolm mixed sulfur with liquid molasses and sprayed it on the yard and in their chicken coop and it took care of the fleas. You can pick the sulfur up here at Garden-Ville or at any feed store. Nematodes are a good step to take because they will kill the larvae of the fleas as well as fire ants.We have an enormous sloped rock garden in our back yard, supported by a retaining wall. There are several hundred very large rocks surrounded by various ground cover and perennial plants. My goal is to have the empty dirt spaces totally fill up with plants. However, the soil is too sandy and is being washed down with rain and snow run off. Can I put compost on top of the existing soil and plants, or would you suggest trying to mix the compost with the existing exposed soil? Also, I have reoccuring weed that I can't seem to kill. It looks like a three leaf clover and spreads like ivy. Several branches grow out of the dirt together and it is impossible to pull the roots out. I have been spraying them with Round Up, but they come back every year. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your input!
3/23/20073:20:58 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Landscape Questions, Product Questions
Stacy,If you are having problems with runoff I would not suggest you put any compost in the soil, instead try putting potted plants in the open areas. Amending the soil with compost is a good idea but with the soil running off I feel that it would not be worth the time and money to amend the soil. The positive side to potted plants is that you can pick out decorative pots to plant in and do not have to worry about runoff leaching the soil from around the plant and possibly killing it off. As for the weeds you can try the Garden-Ville Natural Weed Control and apply it directly to the plant trying to avoid over spray. Your other choice is a product called Image, it is a broad leaf specific herbicide that you can pick up at any lawn and garden center.Have a hill that water runs off and creates a mini-stream in the middle of our yard. We end up with standing water, which never allows the grass to grow in that area and allows for water to stand again. It also gets very muddy. The area affected is fairly large so we are leaning against regrading. Question - any suggestions to have the water drain better, or in place but not get muddy, say by putting stones(red stones or something), maybe a walkway and letting the water settle without getting the ground so muddy? Anyway, just looking for any solution other than regrading the backyard - any help would be appreciated.
3/23/20073:19:20 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Mr. Goblin,Does the hill run toward the house? Is the affected area to one side of the yard or all the way across? I need more information (where the house is, if there are any other slopes in the yard where the water could be diverted, etc) so I can get a better mental image in my head of what you are dealing with. There are different ways of draining the water off that are aesthetically pleasing, I just need to know the details to better help you.I went to our local nursery looking for gypsum to condition the soil in my flower beds. (They have not been turned over in years and have too much clay). My nursery did not have gypsum but suggested Garden-Ville Horticultural Humate in its place. My daughter is in charge of this project and is unfamiliar with Humate. Is this product going to condition the soil so it has less of that clay feel? How do we apply to these beds? We have all new shurbs and plants ready to plant - the bed is currently vacant. I am in N. Dallas.
3/19/20074:35:40 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Yes humate will help break up the soil in the beds, humate is humus which is thought by some to be important to the fertility of soils in both a physical and chemical sense. Physically, it helps the soil retain moisture, and encourages the formation of good soil structure. Chemically, it has many active sites which bind to ions of plant nutrients, making them more available.
i have a problem with earthworms they seem to come out on my patio in mass numbers when and after it rains i am terrified of them i am looking for something i can do not to kill them but to keep them away and off the concrete patio and walk ways any help would be appreciated thanks
3/19/20074:34:04 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Having earthworms is a good thing earthworms are beneficial to the soil in your yard. Aside from putting a rock landscape border around your patio there is not much you can do to keep them off of your patio without hurting them.
have found lots of black (hardshell?) bugs throughout my yard..Just learning organic...what should i use to eradicate them? (san antonio 281/bulverde area) thanks.... jr
3/19/20074:33:28 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Insect Control, Lawn Questions
Garden-Ville has a product called Organic Insect Control that you can spray through a hose end sprayer that will take care of beetles and other insects. You can purchase a 3# container for $20.99 and mix it at a ratio of about 1 pound per gallon of water and spray it over the entire lawn.
We just bought new home in Florida that has St Augustine grass.When sodded by builder grass was more brown than green.The landscape contractor told me to that i had a fungus that was causing the tips of the green blades to turn orange and recomended i spray a funguside which i did.The grass still didnt gree up so he told me to fertalize with Scotts Bonus Weed and Feed 29-3-4 which I did about 4 weeks ago. The lawn has irragation but still hasnt shown any sign of greening up.The PH is 6.75'I dont know if the grass is dead or what .It is greener close to edges of house and some green throughout yard but mostly yellowish tan.If you can suggest anything I can do I would appreciate it.I likt to take care of my own yard if possible. Some of my neighbors have outside chemical companys but I dont want to have to use them.But there grass is greener by a wide margin. Thanks L H Mc Queen
3/19/20074:31:19 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
With out seeing the grass it sounds like you have an iron deficiency issue. Have you applied any iron to the grass? Also, next time you fertilize try using a fertilizer with a higher middle number to try and help establish the root system of the yard.
I have bermuda grass that's being taken over by my neighbors St. Augustine. How often and for how long would you recommend I water my lawn? I've heard that there are certain times of the year that watering is not necessary. Could you answer the question taking into account the different months of the year? I have a sprinkler system that I can set automatically. Thanks so much for your help.
3/19/20074:30:50 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Lawn Questions, Soil Questions
A good rule of thumb is to water deeply once a week for 15-20 minutes before sunrise.
How can I control the yellow nut thatch grass in central Illinois.
3/19/20074:29:27 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
To control nut grass in your yard you might try a product called Manage, it is an herbicide for nut grass that is safe to use in turf grass lawns.When is the best time to add compost to my St Augustine lawn? And when is the best time to apply beneficial nematodes for grub control?
3/19/20074:28:56 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
The best time to add compost to your yard is in the spring and fall, the best time to add nematodes is when your soil is still wet. You need to make sure that the soil does not dry out this summer, adding the compost will help keep the soil temperatures down and the moisture in.
I live in the Ingram Mall area and I would like to help my yard be healthy, since it suffered a lot from the drought. It is a mix of St. Augustine and some Bermuda. Do I need compost or your 7-2-2 fertilizer or both? Also, I would like to get rid of the Bermuda, which is coming from my nekghbor's yard and trying to take over the St. Augustine. What are your suggestions for getting rid of it? Thanks
3/19/20074:28:08 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
It is going to be hard for you to get rid of the Bermuda since it is a weed by nature you can try spot treating the areas that are heavily infested with Garden-Ville’s Natural Weed Control, after the grass has died bring in compost and lay St. Augustine sod squares on the areas and keep them watered so they can establish root systems, don’t forget to fertilize with the 7-2-2 soil food . The compost will help break down the thatch in your yard and promote growth of the
We are buying a house in west Ft. Worth near Azle and would like to plant an evergreen privacy screen between our neighbors on either side. We would like something that does not have to be maintained but natual and about 6 to 8 feet tall. any suggestions. thanks . R. Reid
3/14/20075:09:09 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Your local growers will be able to recommend something for the area. Everything that I have looked at grows to a height of about 15’ tall unless maintained properly.
Amy I have a home off Evans and Bulverde road. The builder sodded the front and I paid a man to sod the back. It is Bermuda. The back sod apparently was of poor quality and I have had weeds for the 2 years since it was put in. I even had a yard service on a program yet they never could control the weeds. I was use to St Augustine and this Bermuda is new to me. In doing some research on the internet it appears Molasass or Sugar spread like fertilizer will kill and keep weeds away because they can't grow in rich soils. Will this harm the Bermuda though? Is the Fertilizers you sell with Molasass in them the way for me to go? Please help.
3/14/20075:08:14 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Fertilizer, Landscape Questions
When you spread the molasses it feeds the microorganisms in the soil that give the soil nutrients. The soil that was laid in the back yard was probably of poor quality and that is probably where you are getting your weeds from. Since we are in spring I would recommend that you get a pre-emergent like corn gluten meal and broadcast it at a rate of 20# per 1000sq ft. and pull the existing weeds. To help build up the quality of the turf I would also recommend that you spread a ½” thick layer of compost like the premium compost available at any Garden-Ville and fertilize with a good organic fertilizer like Garden-Ville’s 7-2-2 soil food, the idea behind organic lawn maintenance is to build up the soil because the weeds live primarily in poor soils with little to no organic matter. The stronger your turf grass is the less likely you will have weeds in the yard.
I live in North Central Arkansas and I have trouble with what I call sand burs, in my yard. How can I get rid of these?
3/14/20075:06:50 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
You need to broadcast Corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent in the spring and add an organic fertilizer or dried molasses, the best way to keep the grass burrs out is to build the health of the soil by adding organic fertilizers and compost. Other than pulling the existing weeds you can try a product called Image that is safe for carpet grasses.
I WANT TO MAKE SEVERAL RAISED VEGETABLE BEDS BUT, NOT SURE WHAT WOOD I SHOULD USE? WOMANIZED HAS CYANIDE SO DON'T WON'T TO USE THAT AND RAILROAD TIES HAVE CREASOTE. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND AND WHAT SOIL MIX WOULD BE BEST SINCE I'LL BE BRING IT IN?
3/14/20075:03:03 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Last spring I built a raised bed for my 87 year old grandfather out of cinder blocks and mortar mix to hold it together, it was labor intensive to install but it made a good structure that he can sit on and put bags of soil, fertilizer and such that will last a long time. The soil mix that you will want to bring in would be a lawn and garden type of soil that is rich in compost and sand to allow proper drainage.
Is the Canada Green Grass Seed a good seed to plant for yards around the San Antonio area and west?
3/14/20075:00:47 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
The paragraphs below are from the
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Can you aerate and then treat yard with pre-emergent in the early spring? I am in Ohio.
3/14/20074:59:44 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Yes you can, if you are going to aerate your lawn I would suggest top dressing the lawn with a good ½” thick layer of compost to put back the organic matter that decays away over time. Aerate then put the pre-emergent out, and them top dress with compost.
My son's bed has bed bugs - i have thoroughly cleaned all his bedding and encased the mattress in a special covering for bed bugs but he is still getting bitten. Would your organic insecticide help with this? How would i apply it? Would i mix it with water and spray the bed frame? Thanks! Whitney
3/14/20074:53:32 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
I have read up on bed bugs and they are a tricky creature, yes the organic insecticide will take care of the bed bugs. Just make sure that you inspect all crevices to make sure they are not hiding in there. If you decide to purchase the organic insecticide I would recommend that you get the puffer so that you can get the insecticide in all of the small places. You might also want to look at purchasing another mattress.
What is a quick effective way to kill my old lawn so that I can lay new sod down? Ideally I would like to do it in a environment-friendly manner but I do need to move quickly....thanks!
3/14/20074:52:22 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
20% vinegar will kill just about anything it touches and it is safe for the environment, you can purchase it online or at any Garden-Ville location here in south Texas.I'm looking for a vegetation based compost to apply in a vegetable garden with sub-surface harvested parts (carrots, turnips and beets) as well as above-the-ground harvested plants (letuces, etc). Are there recommended composts for this tye of garden?
3/14/20074:50:02 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
If you are in the Austin area we have a product called TOP Compost. It is a vegetation based compost that we offer in bulk.
We have no grass in our backyard since the trees create a complete canopy. We were thinking of covering our backyard with mulch for our kids to play on and then adding in shade loving plants. Are there any reasons for not doing this? Also, which type of mulch would we want to use?
3/14/20074:49:56 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
If you are going to plant shade loving plants I would suggest that you build raised beds so that you are not fighting the established roots of the trees. Any kind of mulch will be sufficient, if you want to go inexpensive you can get a native grind mulch or a cedar grind mulch.
I have an old garden in my back yard that has been fallow for a number of years. About 8 years ago, the area was double-dug to a depth of about 2 feet, and since then, has the best thatch of grass in the yard. I want to get back to a vegetable garden - what's the best way to get rid of the current thatch on that plot?
3/14/20074:48:31 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
You can try spraying the Natural Weed Control or 20% Vinegar on the area and then till the ground up.
I had sod laid last February in my back yard. I have a lot of trees and shade. The lawn did great till the summer then started to get thin in places. I continued to water and now i have a few areas that are just dirt. I have top dressed with compost in October and had used a commercial fertilizer in june. I would like to re-sod that area but am afraid to. The soil is hard I would like to put down a 4 way mix on top till it in, but am unsure what St Augusting will grow in the shade. The grass in the shadier spots is still nice.
3/14/20074:47:39 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
I live in central New Jersey. Every year toward middleof June when the weather turns hot and humid, My lawn gets what I believe is nutgrass (light green grass that grows taller than the rest of the grass and you can't pull it out my hand, because it has nodules underneath the surface. Is there anything on the market that can kill it.
3/14/20074:46:05 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
There is a product on the market that I have heard is really effective called Manage.
When is the best time to fertilize? What if I have a combination of grasses, St. Augustine and maybe a bermuda mix--not quite sure what it is.
3/6/20075:16:35 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Right now. I would recommend you use Garden-Ville's 7-2-2 fertilizer for a good quick green for your lawn.
I have a four foot wide flower bed that is bordered on one side by my house and on the other side by my front sidewalk. I would like to plant two Italian Cypress trees in this bed to flank my front window. How much room does the rootball of this plant need to prevent damage to the structure and to the sidewalk? Thanks for your help!
3/6/20075:15:30 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
I would not recommend you plant the tree in such a small area. The tree can grow to 6' wide when mature and a good rule of thumb is that the roots will be as wide or wider than the width of the tree. If you would like to have the cypress tree I would recommend that you plant them in pots so you can step them up as the tree grows.
MY SOIL WHEN IS DRY SEASON IS TOO CRACKED AND TOO MUCH HARD. WHICH PRODUCT I NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR CONDITION? THANKS.
3/6/20075:14:32 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
If your soil is that hard and cracks, you need to add compost. Add a 1/2" layer of compost to your existing lawn and water it in with Medina Soil Activator. That will help condition and break up the soil.
We are planting a vegetable garden in our backyard and because we have so much rock we built a 8 x 4 foot box out of timbers. The depth for the garden is approx. 12 inches deep. My question is what type of soil do I use for this type of backyard garden?
3/6/20074:31:51 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
You would want to use a lawn and garden soil or a rose soil, both are rich in compost. You will need 1 cubic yard of soil to fill the vegetable garden.
I live in the area Thousand Oaks and Wetmore roads here in San Antonio and plan on resoding my yard with St. Augustine this spring. What variety of St. Augustine would you recommend and when would be a target date for installing it?
3/6/20074:31:10 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Floratam or seville are two good types for this area, and a good target time for installation would be right about now so the sod has time to start roots into the soil before the heat of the summer comes. Don't forget to till in 2" of compost to condition the soil so the grass has good rich soil to grow in.
I have grub worms in my soil. They started appearing last fall. If I dig a one foot square, they'll be four or five worms. Should I be concerned? I practice organic, gardening mulching and using organic fertilizers.
3/6/20074:29:01 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Lawn Questions, Product Questions
Anytime you have grubs in your soil it is not a good thing, I would suggest you get some beneficial nematodes and spray the whole affected area. They will get into the soil and kill the grubs. You can pick them up at any Garden-Ville store. Or if Garden-Ville is not in your area check with your local lawn and garden center to see if they carry the product.
Every year I use pine straw to mulch around my vegetable plants. This brings on an enormous amount of pill bugs that I can't control. Is there anything I can do to have a good mulch that will not encourage them?
3/6/20074:28:29 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
You can try spraying the mulch beds with an organic insect killer like Garden-Ville's Organic Insecticide, but the reality of it is that the pill bugs will go where there is moisture. If they are not harming your plants I would not worry about them.
Looking for Good/Affordable Herbicide??? OR something that will kill weeds (sticker burrs) in Lawn....Thanx for the Help
3/6/20074:27:31 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Just before the spring and fall you should apply a pre emergent, a good organic pre emergent I would recommend is called Corn Gluten Meal. You apply it at a rate of 20# per 1000sqft. For existing weeds you might try Image, it is a broad leaf weed killer that is safe to use in lawns.
Our front yard is one big hill, sloping downward to the street. Recently we had a sewer line replaced, so now our yard is a dirt hill. We're thinking of terracing it, but don't know where to begin! Thanks, Christi Little Rock, AR
3/6/20074:26:36 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Before you go and start cutting into the ground you will need to call your local utilities department and have the area checked for water lines, electric lines, cable lines, etc. After you are cleared of that then you will need to figure out just how deep you want the terraces to be. You will need to rent a tractor to get a good smooth grade. Railroad ties are generally the preferred retaining wall material due to their long life and relatively inexpensive price compared to rock or pave stone walls. You might want to have a local landscaper come out and give an estimate so you can see just what will need to be done to the area. I hope this has helped.
Which fertilizer causes the fastest and greenest plant growth?
3/6/20074:17:43 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Of our fertilizers the Soil Food 7-2-2 will give you fast results on green and growth. You want to get a fertilizer that has a higher first and middle number. The 7-2-2 is a balanced formula that Malcolm Beck (the founder of Garden-Ville) formulated himself.
Amy, my customer in regards to using Gardenville Natural Weed Killer, will the product kill common bermuda grass or slightly yellow the grass? He will be using it to control dandellion and other common weeds in the lawn. Thanks Mark
3/6/20074:16:25 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
It will kill just about everything it touches, the Natural Weed Control is a non selective herbicide. Or just pull them by hand.
Is partially composted cedar bark OK to use as a mulch for my vegetable garden. Some one told me that the cedar bark contains chemicals that will retard the growth of the plants. Thanks
3/1/20073:10:29 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
No, you can use the cedar mulch around your plants. The only way mulch would keep a plant from growing would be if you were to cover the plant totally. The mulch helps keep the weeds down in your garden. The oil found in cedar bark actually repels pests.
Hello! I would like some advice on my backyard. I cannot seem to get grass to grow, although in my neighbors' yards on either side of the fence exists plenty of green grass. Our yard is very shady and the dirt is very compact. We have tried St. Augustine sod in the past. Possibly we haven't planted it the correct way? We are planning on renting a tiller to loosen up the soil but I wonder about the quality of the soil. Would it be enough to till it and lay down compost and fertilizer before the sod? (What type would you recommend?) We live in San Antonio with a lot of caliche under the soil. Thank you for any suggestions you have! Melissa
3/1/20073:09:24 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
You are going to have a hard time growing grass in the shaded areas, you are on the right track renting the tiller. Till the compost and fertilizer into the soil before laying the sod, after laying the sod I would recommend you water the grass with Medina’s Soil Activator. It will help stimulate the microbes in the soil and also help loosen the soil. You may want to look into getting your trees trimmed to let some sun light through to help the grass along.
I had new sod installed in my Texas yard in October of last year. It came with green clover leaves. We watered as instructed but after watering, we quickly had what appears to be dollarweed. The grass is still dormant, (I hope) where as the dollarweed is well up above the grass is taking over quickly. Tuesday, I covered the yard with sugar and watered it in. Am I suppose to mow the weeds down for the sod is still dormant. Should I spread top soil or wait. Its almost as if my ground is confused and certainly am very green on organic lawns. (This is my first attempt at organic lawn keeping.) My backyard is my families and labradors playground, so I am absolutely anti-chemical. I do have a concern about ants, because I have a 5 year old. But if that is one of the few negatives of using sugar and organic material, so be it. Could you please give me some instruction of what to do from here onward? I hope I haven't waited too long. Thank you so much for all your info and time. God bless you. Shannon C.
3/1/20072:25:35 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Shannon,When you say sugar I assume you mean molasses right? There is a product called Image that is a broadleaf herbicide, spray that on your lawn and the dollar weed will go away. Spread about a ½” layer of our Premium Compost on your yard and that will condition the soil and help build up the strength of your grass to choke out the weeds. If you are spreading dried molasses on your yard that will help keep the fire ants away, for some reason they do not like the dried molasses.This is the group of freshmen again. Thanks so much for your advice on the gardening. We were trying to decide what plants would grow best, (and, perhaps fastest) in the time of March 1 through April 1. From the choices of carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, lettuce, mustard, okra, and spinach, which would be the most realistic for growing the best under an elementary school garden condition. Maybe what I mean is which are the easiest to grow. We are trying to narrow it doen to 4 and would really appreciate your opinion. Thanks!
3/1/20072:24:33 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Lettuce, Spinach, Mustard, and dill will grow the fastest. Let me know how it turns out!
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