Lawn and Garden Decor Ideas

When you take pride in your lawn, you may occasionally want to add your own personality to it as well. You can speak through your lawn with the detailed decor you choose to add in your flowerbeds, garden, or lawn areas. Sometimes it can take years to build a style that you're looking for, but everything starts somewhere. Here are just some examples we have begun in our own gardening areas that you can creatively take and make your own. We'd love to hear about your examples so please share in a comment!

A Humble Gardener's Resting Place

Simple themed flowerbed decor using "here and there" items: Small bench from a family member, small watering can filled with rocks so it doesn't blow away, large planter (hopefully soon to be blooming with flowers), rocks from around the property, and a children's toy shovel, rake, and hoe leaning up against the wall. My wife's creative talent at work.

Natural Attraction

This is self explanatory. Floral shrubs- such as these gorgeous Lilacs- are an easy addition to any yard area to lighten it up and show off good taste. We were blessed to have these already here at the house when we moved in last year and they are full of sweet smelling blossoms!

Redneck Upcycled Berry Patch

This past year has been difficult in terms of windstorms. We had both a gazebo and small greenhouse destroyed due to wind blow overs. The pieces to each still serve as useful, however, in the building blocks of this bird an deer repelling berry patch. Note the tall black "poles" of sorts holding up some berry netting- those are from our once nice gazebo. See the small green poles stuck in the ground? Those, topped with some brown bottles, keep the berry netting lower to the ground in those areas for the strawberries. Again, my wife's thought processes on this one!

Flower Beds not Grass Beds!

This Memorial Day Weekend is one of outdoor accomplishment at our household. The garden is getting finished up, the lawn is being taken care of, areas are being set aside for farm animals, etc. There are those things that need done, however, that seem like just a nuisance and a waste of time. One such chore that has been very frustrating for my wife this weekend was going through the flowerbeds and clearing all the overgrown grass.

It has been a little while since the flowerbeds have really had some good attention due to other household and garden duties taking priority. So, with time taking its toll and allowing the grass to grow, having to get down and dirty with pulling the LONG blades and roots of grass was backbreaking and time consuming work.

My wife then began to ask the question- how can this be avoided?

Various resources being read in a Google search for "keeping grass out of flower beds" mentioned these ideas:

- Invest in some good edging.

- Have raised flower beds.

- Mulch around your plants after killing and pulling the grass/weeds out.

- Take a foam paintbrush soaked in "Round-Up" and brush it on the grass/weeds you want gone (careful not to get it on your wanted plants).

- Kill the grass while it is young and remove root systems before starting fresh on worked up and mulched soil.

- Get on your hands and knees and pull everything- though this is the most tedious.

All of these seem like great ideas (with the exception of the last one!)- and we'd love to hear if you have any other advice. Please leave a comment with your thoughts for the future work that will inevitably need to be done again in our flower beds- we'd love to hear your "tricks" on keeping your flower beds instead of grass beds!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Natural Fertilizers

A couple of weeks ago our family went out and bought a pig. In honor of this little creature, this post is going to highlight some of naturally produced fertilizers that are out there and that are great for lawn and garden usage.

Pig Manure (see our piglet above!):

According to http://farmingfriends.com/pig-manure/: "Pig manure makes good compost as the pig muck is mixed with straw.Pig manure has a very high nutrient content and is rich in potash and phosphorus.Not only does pig manure enrich the soil which helps plants to grow but it also helps improve the soil structure as the straw (plant material content) in the manure helps the soil to hold water. Pig manure can be applied to root crops especially leeks and potatoes. It is important to remember not to apply fresh manure to plants and crops as the manure will scorch the plants. Let the manure mature or apply the manure and work into the soil four weeks prior to planting.

Cow Manure:

Well-aged cow manure is one of the best organic fertilizers you can apply to lawn turf. It is high in nitrogen and many other trace nutrients but releases its benefits slowly over time so burn and stress on the grass are not an issue

Read more: How to Put Cow Manure on Grass | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/81319-put-cow-manure-grass.html#ixzz1velnlAoY

Chicken Manure (we also have some of these on our small household farm!):

Per: http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Can-I-use-chicken-manure-in-my-garden-H66.aspx- Chicken manure makes great compost for fertilizing your garden. However, we recommend you compost it first: don't add it directly in quantity. Uncomposted chicken manure is very "hot": too much nitrogen can burn your plants. Once your manure is composted, it is great for your garden, however.

Chicken manure does not acidify soil: it tends to raise the pH. Actually, one study demonstrates that chicken manure is as effective as lime in raising soil pH (making it more basic rather than more acidic). That same study shows that plants can absorb more calcium from the manure than from lime due to the fact that so much calcium and magnesium are contained in the manure. Poultry litter contains about 100 lbs. calcium per ton (dry weight). Composted chicken manure supplies nutrients and organic matter for your soil--improving its "tilth"--makes phosphorus more available and reduces your soil's aluminum toxicity.

Horse Manure:

Horse manure stands out as by the far the best manure around for soil improvement. It is usually very cheap or free and it is readily available around horse stables. Horse manure is not as strong a fertiliser as chook, cow or pig poo – but it is the best organic additive for soils. Get more details at: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/article.php?id=6087.

Do you have any other ideas on natural and organic fertilizers for lawn and garden? Please share! Comments are open!



Enjoy the Sun- But Protect Yourself From It Too!

It has been so nice having the sun shining this last week. It gives us the feeling that we are going to have a long, hot summer to enjoy. This is just a quick post reminder to protect yourself from the not so pleasant part of having sun shining on you while outside working in your yard.

We all hear and read about the risks of skin cancer and have felt the pain of sunburns and so we are constantly making sure our children are protected adequately. But sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves as we’re tilling the garden, weeding the flowerbeds, or enjoying other outdoor activities with our families.

Some reminder tips to avoid that nasty burning, itching, and peeling feelings that follow a terrible sunburn:

• Obvious first one: Wear some sort of sunscreen. The more SPF the better, but of course this will depend on your skin type and preference. According to http://skincare.about.com/od/sunkissedglow/f/SPFratings.htm "Higher SPF's aren't always necessary. You need to look at a couple of things when you are shopping for sunscreen. First, how light is your skin tone? Those with lighter skin will usually burn faster than those with darker or olive skin. If your skin starts to turn red fast, you'll want a higher SPF."
• Wear a large brimmed hat (straw or cowboy) to shade your head, eyes, face, and neck from taking the brunt of the sunrays.
• Wear a very light colored long sleeved cotton shirt while being in the sun for a long period of time to avoid affecting your arms.
• Take the occasional break and go sit in a shaded area to rehydrate your body and assess how your skin is feeling.

Have a safe and fun weekend in the little bit cooler weather we're expecting in our beautiful North Spokane area! Enjoy the sunshine and don't let it hurt you!

Don't Make that Dandelion Wish!

As children we are shown to make a wish then try to blow ALL the dandelion seeds off at once so it can come true. As adults we don't want any of those seeds spreading through our beautiful lawns!

As many of you already know, Dandelions are a pest to a lawn due to "They aggressively compete with grass and ornamental plants for sunlight, water and nutrients. Dandelions are perennial weeds that reproduce seedlings rapidly during the spring and fall seasons. Once established, they continue to appear unless eliminated."Read more: How to Permanently Kill Dandelions in Your Lawn | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4857581_permanently-kill-dandelions-lawn.html#ixzz1usTmhFRx

And eliminating dandelions is also a pesky thing to do- According to landscaping.about.com at http://landscaping.about.com/od/weedsdiseases/a/kill_dandelions.htm "Above-ground, their seeds ride the wind currents, poised to drop into the slightest opening in your lawn to propagate the species. Meanwhile, below-ground, they strike down a taproot up to 10" long. Pulling the taproot as a means of dandelion removal is problematic. Thick but brittle, the taproot easily fractures -- and any fraction of the taproot that remains in the ground will regenerate." This means that dandelion wishes made with the natural wind, and the regrowth of dandelion roots that are attempted at being picked, make these annoying weeds difficult to get rid of.

According to www.richsoil.com, "Dandelions love a pH of about 7.5. Grass loves a pH of about 6.5. So if your pH is 7.5 or higher, your grass will probably never beat out the dandelion. Lower the pH to 6.5 and your grass has the advantage!" So pH levels can help... what else?

As www.better-lawn-care.com states, there are some organic ways:

The best time to attack them is right after they flower - when they have finished blooming, not when flowers are present - they are weakened by low food reserves in their roots. Dandelions flower in the spring and again in the fall.

You can control them by pulling or digging. Make sure the soil is moist and remove as much of the taproot as possible. Weeding tools - like the Weed Twister, Weed Hound or a large flat-head screwdriver - are helpful. You will probably have to dig a dandelion several times before it is eliminated. Keep digging the new plants as they return and before they form a large taproot.

Horticultural vinegar (20% acetic acid) can be used to spot spray dandelions. Kitchen grade vinegar is not an effective herbicide, its acetic acid concentration is only 5%. The acetic acid concentration needs to be at least 20% to be an effective natural organic weed control. Vinegar will only kill dandelion foliage - not the taproot - new plants will return from the taproot. Vinegar is also non-selective, take care to spray only weed foliage because it will kill any foliage that you spray - including your grass!

Corn Gluten Meal can sometimes be used as natural organic weed and feed. It has been observed to work as a pre-emergent herbicide - it prevents seedlings from developing a root system - it will not kill mature dandelions. Just be aware that CGM can be difficult to use as an herbicide - timing and environmental conditions must be perfect for it to work. It is 10% nitrogen by weight - making it a good natural organic fertilizer.

Read more from original site: How to Kill Dandelions and Keep Them Off Your Lawn http://www.better-lawn-care.com/kill_dandelions.html#ixzz1usXTbqyC

And of course, there is the option of using chemical removers and herbicides-as long as they are the right ones, done in the right way, and at the right time.

Have a great week and I wish you a dandelion free summer! Get in touch and we'd love to help!

Pay In Full Discount... Limited Time Left!

This year Green Jeans Lawn Service began offering a 5% Pay in Full discount for clients who sign up for weekly services. This discount normally applies for pre-payment of 26 weeks of weekly mowing services with any additional weeks of services (weather dependent at the end of the season) being billed at the 5% off rate. Full payment would be due on or before the first date of service...

Some clients are getting a later start on their first mow with Green Jeans Lawn Service, so there is an adjustment to the offer for this year and new clients. As of today there are estimated about 20-22 more weeks left for weekly services. This offer will still stand as an option with the 5% discount to apply if weekly services are signed up for and started in the next 2 weeks. We hope you'll take advantage of this great offer and allow us to service you and make you proud of your yard this year. Call us for more details!

We service the Suncrest, Nine Mile Falls, and North Spokane, WA areas.

Let us maintain your yard while you just enjoy it!

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For your ease of knowing you can trust your Green Jeans Lawn Service provider!

Mushrooms in the lawn- Not as bad as on pizza...

I have noticed some of those unsightly images of fungi sprouting up in our lawn. Round white or brown colored polka dots that are completely out of place and don't really fit with the nice cut of the green grass blades... Irritating.

I have been reading, however, that mushrooms in my lawn can actually be a positive thing... According to an article on www.gardeningknowhow.com "While mushrooms in the lawn may look unsightly, they are actually beneficial to the lawn. The extensive root system of lawn mushrooms help the soil retain water and lawn mushrooms also help to break down organic materials which help add nutrients to the lawn." And www.skynursery.com states: "Mushrooms do not normally damage grass or other plants. The only problem is aesthetic."

Even though mushrooms can help in a yard, or at least not damage one, you may still make the decision that you don't like them there. And that's ok too. The article in www.skynursery.com says "one solution is to just mow or break off the mushrooms.". The information on www.gardeningknowhow.com goes into a bit more detail, however... First- identify what causes mushrooms to grow in a lawn and why they'd be growing in yours. Mushrooms are fungi that like to break down organic material; what organic materials could be found in your yard? Animal waste? Retained moisture in a shady spot? Perhaps the solutions are just to pick up some of the waste. Maybe some bushes or trees can be trimmed back a bit to eliminate some shady areas. "You can also treat your lawn with a fungicide, but if you do not address the issues that cause mushrooms to grow in your lawn, chances are that the mushrooms will just come back."

And again- the other suggestion is just to leave them alone. It is of course, your preference. Just as my wife wouldn't mind mushrooms on her part of the pizza- but my kids and I would rather have them not even near our pieces.

Have a good week!

Insurance on Your Landscaping... Are You Well Covered?

With my wife being an insurance agent, she has some knowledge on the topic of what a home insurance policy covers. She brought up to me tonight the issue of how landscaping is also something that is covered on your home insurance policy. Of course insurance policies can vary between company or type, but occasionally there are limitations to how much will be paid out on trees, shrubs, and plants. It is definetely a recommendation to make sure you've talked to your agent about whether your lawn and landscaping decor are covered to their complete value if there is a loss.

Picture this scenario:

Your house is surrounded by quite a few pruned and tall Juniper bushes and you have well- maintained colored rose bushes under all of your windows. One day you are in a rush to get to work and in your haste to make the kids breakfast, you forgot to turn your gas stove off all the way. After everyone has left the house, the potholder you left by the stove catches flame. Eventually the whole house goes, and all of your surrounding landscaping. You can only imagine how you'd be feeling. During the claims process of making sure everything gets replaced, the thought of your yard and landscaping doesn't even come to mind. After all is said and done, and you've had your house rebuilt and your belongings all replaced- you look out your window and wonder what is missing?

Where are those gorgeous pink, purple, and reddish roses you would stop and smell every day while opening your kitchen window to air the house out? Why don't you hear the little songbirds that would nestle in the bushes surrounding the house? Perhaps, due to their growth over the years and or the breeds of roses you had, there was not enough coverage to make sure each item was replaced to it's full value. After all of the work you had put in, and the time you took to obtain the beauty you've wanted in your yard, you are very disappointed with your policy to not have that replaced as well.

Just the word of advice- check with your insurance agent to make sure the beauty you have worked hard to build and continually work hard to maintain is covered in the event of a devastating loss.