April 21st

By Mutt Mulligan

Spring Chores Part 2

We continue our look at some great spring gardening, landscape and lawn ideas from Kathy Van Mullekom in a Newport News, Va. newspaper article.

• Collect bags of leaves to mulch the pathways and the naturalized areas in your garden. They are free, plentiful and lightweight to handle. If you put several layers of newspaper under the leaves it will prevent most weeds from growing through.

• Water your outdoor containers during dry spells; well-hydrated plants suffer less.

• Cover your newly-planted seeds and plants with a floating row cover until established. They will grow quicker and it will prevent the squirrels from digging them up!

• Top off all bare ground with a layer of compost and mulch to prevent weeds and soil erosion.

• Compost all healthy refuse from your garden.

• Don’t be too tidy in the garden. Leave flowers heads to go to seed for the birds. Any insects harbored will become a thanksgiving dinner for the birds.