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Do just one thing this fall and you can improve the health and vigor of your lawn.  Fall fertilization helps lawns recover from the stresses of summer and provides needed nutrients to grow deeper roots and a denser stand of grass. And that means fewer weeds and a healthier lawn that’s more resistant to drought, insects and diseases.

Fertilize around Labor Day as the temperatures begin to cool and lawns start spreading outward instead of growing upward. Continue to leave clippings on the lawn. They return nutrients, moisture and organic matter to the soil.  Consider it free fertilizer applied every time you mow the lawn.

One fall application will give low maintenance lawns the nutrient boost they need. You’ll have a healthier lawn with minimal care.

Increase the quality and improve the lawn’s ability to withstand and recover from wear and tear with a second application. Apply fertilizer in late fall between Halloween and Thanksgiving, but before the ground freezes. Those growing warm season grasses should make the last application in early October at least one month prior to the first killing frost.

No need to purchase a winterizing fertilizer. Most soils have high to excessive levels of phosphorous and potassium. Have a soil test first if you suspect your lawn is deficient in these nutrients. You’ll save money and harm to the environment by using the right product.

Consider using a slow release, organic nitrogen fertilizer like Milorganite (milorganite.com) that helps improve the soil, while providing needed nutrients.  Research discovered that as the microorganisms work on releasing the nutrients from its pellets they also make some of the phosphorous, which promotes root development, as well as potassium, which promotes hardiness and disease resistance, that is bound to the soil available to the grass plants.

Continue to mow high as long as the grass continues to grow. You can gradually reduce the mowing height for winter if desired.

Once you see the improvement in your lawn, you may be inspired to adopt the holiday fertilization schedule. Adding one or two additional fertilizer applications can greatly increase your lawn’s health, vigor, wear resistance and ability to tolerate drought and pests.

Those growing warm season grasses can begin fertilizing around Easter once the grass begins growing. Make additional applications around Memorial Day and the recommended fall date. Those growing cool season grasses should wait until Memorial Day to start fertilizing in addition to the two fall applications. Add a mid-summer application of slow release fertilizer for irrigated lawns.

Fall fertilization is the first step in growing a healthy lawn next year. Do this one thing this fall and you will decrease your lawn care challenges and workload next year.

 

Fertilizing around Labor Day is good for your lawn. (Melinda Myers LLC/courtesy photo)
Contributing Author by — August 30, 2017 in Lifestyles

Make recycling green debris into compost convenient and attractive. Create a space you and your neighbors will appreciate. And locate composting in a convenient area that is easy to access and manage, so you are more likely to do it.

You’ll quickly recoup your initial investment of time and money.  Spend less time hauling the materials to the recycling center and money spent on soil amendments.

Most importantly, you’ll boost the health and beauty of your landscape while helping the environment.

Start by looking for spaces in the landscape or garden where compostable materials can easily be moved into the bin, pile turned, and the finished compost harvested and transported into the garden where it is needed. You found a place to stow the trash cans without ruining the beauty of your landscape or offending your neighbors, so do the same with your compost area.

Purchase or build a compost bin that matches your landscape style.  Some bins are built to be an attractive addition to the landscape while others are designed to fade into the garden and go unnoticed. Try using materials similar to your fence, shed or other structures. Situate the bin, so it appears to be an extension of these or an additional garden feature.

Speed up the composting process by creating a pile at least three feet tall and wide.  Use only insect- and disease-free materials. Do not include meat, fat, bones, or dairy products that can attract rodents or weeds and invasive plants that can survive most composting and end up back in your garden.

Mix nitrogen rich green materials such as vegetable scraps, and herbicide-free grass clippings and carbon rich browns such as cornstalks, evergreen needles and tree leaves.  Top this 8 to 10” layer with compost and sprinkle three cups of a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer, like Milorganite, over this layer.  The organic nitrogen helps feed the microorganisms that break down the raw materials into compost. Continue layering with plant debris, compost and fertilizer until the pile is at least three feet high.

Use plants to screen the compost process. Place a simple wire bin in the middle of the garden.  It’s convenient; since this is the place you generate garden debris and use much of the finished product. The surrounding plantings will hide the bin.

Or place your bin behind a garden border of tall grasses, shrubs or other permanent plantings. Make sure your neighbors’ view is equally as nice.  Leave sufficient room for adding materials to compost, turning the pile if needed and harvesting the compost.

Team up with your neighbors to create more gardening and composting space.  Design a shared garden and compost area across the lot line.  Use steppers for easy access and beautify both yards with attractive plantings. You’ll each enjoy the extra garden space and valuable compost you create.

Up the ornamental appeal a bit more by installing a decorative fence as a backdrop for one of your garden beds. Design the screen to run parallel to a fence or hedge along the lot line.  Leave enough space between the two structures for composting, storing mulch, shredded leaves, garden stakes and more.  Include a gate or entryway along the side for easy access.

Once you start exploring options, your creativity will help you build a composting space suited to your needs. Then get ready to enjoy the increased beauty and productivity that the compost will provide in your gardens and containers.

 

Melinda Myers, who wrote this article, has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening.” Her

Decorative fences are an effective way to hide composting stations conveniently tucked behind gardens in the landscape. (Melinda Myers, LLC)

website is www.melindamyers.com.

Contributing Author by — August 1, 2017 in Lifestyles

Mountain Fitness, whose owner drew inspiration from seniors who were committed to staying physically fit, has closed after more than a decade as a mainstay of Eatonville’s business community.

The newly retired Nancy Mettler (pictured), herself a fitness buff as an avid hiker, snowshoer and skier, cherishes memories of older clients “who were fitness success stories,” Mettler said.

“Staying active helps so much with independence,” she said. “One lady had a prosthetic leg and lung problems but still came in several times a week to maintain as much mobility as possible. She never complained and always was so positive. Of course, there is also Bea. Over 90 and well-known to the entire community. She would drive her cart to the fitness center daily and do more than people half her age.”

In addition to her business, Mettler’s community involvement has included drives she helped organize during the Christmas holidays for donations of hundreds of bicycles and clothing for needy children. The items were distributed in recent years through Eatonville Family Agency.

Mettler, reflected on her business career, said her virtually lifelong participation in sports and the outdoors drew her into the fitness business.

“I’ve always been involved in some form of athletics, from playing high school and college varsity sports, to hiking and exploring with my sons when they were young,” Mettler said. She noted  her summers are spent backpacking and climbing “a good deal of time.” In the winter, she switches to snowshoeing and skiing.

“The last five years, I’ve had four knee operations, including two ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) replacements and an artificial knee. Without the fitness center to keep me active and help with rehab, I doubt that I’d be able to explore the outdoors as much as I do,” she said.

Over the years, many of Mountain Fitness’ clients have been “an inspiration to many of us” with their commitment to fitness, Mettler related.

“One lady had a prosthetic leg and lung problems but still came in several times a week to maintain as much mobility as possible. She never complained and always was so positive,” Mettler said. “Of course, there is also Bea. Over 90 and well-known to the entire community. She would drive her cart to the fitness center daily and do more than people half her age.

Nancy Mettler’s clients included seniors. One of them, a 90-year-old woman, “did more than people half her age,” Mettler said.
srmedia by — July 19, 2017 in Lifestyles

Athletic shoes. Water bottles. And smiles.

Those three things might best describe what you’ll see on seniors throughout July in and around Olympia the Washington State Senior Games brings thousands of older athletes together for competition, camaraderie and just plain fun.

Nearly 2,000 men and women over 50 participate every year.

Many venues have changed locations this year. Most notably, all track and field events have moved from Tumwater High School to North Thurston High School, due to track resurfacing at Tumwater this year.

There’s still time to sign up to participate. Registrations are being accepted through July 11 The fee is $33, plus $9 per each sport a competitor enters. More information is available at www.washingtonstateseniorgames.com and 360-413-0148.

According to Senior Games organizers, the athletes that come back year after year––some in their 90s––report that they most enjoy competing against themselves. They don’t care about medals or how they look in a pair of running shorts. The Games are about fun, first and foremost.

The hammer throw, as demonstrated by Fran Melzer, is a Washington Senior Games event in track and field.
srmedia by — June 21, 2017 in Lifestyles