By, the Old Guy with the Pony Tail Effective lawn care requires accurate granular product application. Broadcast spreader calibration is necessary for an effective application. The following procedures are one example of effective spreader calibration:
Winter is almost here! Is your backyard ready to face it? All through spring, summer, and fall your outdoor oasis serves as your nature resort, away from the hectic pace of the outside world. Come winter and it becomes the most neglected space. Of course, the cold does make it a tough time to go out for yard maintenance. But a little push to your will can give you a head start for when spring arrives. This year prep for spring while you protect your outdoor lawn and garden through the winter months.
Think your garden goes to sleep during late fall and winter months? Think again. You’d be amazed at all of the nourishing, living, and preparing-to-grow taking place below the soil’s surface when everything above appears in hibernation. That’s why it’s essential to source your trusted garden supply in New Jersey before winter sets in. The quieter aspects of garden maintenance this season allows time to plan for next year. You can get the books and supplies necessary to begin envisioning the flower beds and gardens you anticipate planning in spring and summer.
There are a few good reasons why every home (or homestead!) owner needs a favorite garden center in New Jersey. By and large, it’s just nice to have a familiar place to go, where you know your way around, and where you enjoy professional farm/garden services and camaraderie from a team of people who feel like friends. The added benefit of regional garden expertise also means you’ll walk out the door with exactly what you need the first time around, minimizing the hassle of ineffective products or the need to add “returns/replacements” to an already overflowing list-of-things-to-do.
Ah, the Japanese beetle. Nasty little buggers, aren’t they? If you grew up in the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic or just about anywhere along the East Coast of the United States, you probably still have early-summer memories of capturing dozens of the copper-and-green bugs in your backyard with slippery Japanese beetle traps. As an adult with a yard full of lovely foliage, though, or perhaps a backyard garden or a rose bush, these miniature Asian invaders aren’t quite as much fun. Where Do Japanese Beetles Come From? The bugs are believed to have first escaped Japan and entered the U.S. in 1916. It’s thought that they stowed away in a shipment of Japanese flowers. Because of natural predators that are still present in
As many a homeowner knows, crabgrass is an ugly and tedious lawn weed that grows in a prostrate fashion close to the ground, stemming out like the legs of a crab. It grows in clumps, becomes very thick and patchy, and tends to choke out the more desirable grasses surrounding it. Crabgrass grows briskly and thrives in hot weather. It usually starts to grow in early spring when the soil temperature reaches 55-60 degrees, and remains that temperature for about a week or more. The grass particularly likes hot, dry areas and tends to grow in bare spots of soil where it may get more sunlight. It is also common by windows where the sun reflects onto the ground, heating
It’s that time of year again, time to visit your garden supply store and get everything you need to prepare your garden for spring. Preparing now will save you time and frustration when all you want to do is spend time planting and tending to your nursery. Here’s what you need to do to prep your NJ garden for spring: 1. Clean your garden Reorganizing your kitchen cabinets should not be the only thing on your spring cleaning to-do list. When was the last time you did a sweep of your nursery? Get rid of any plant debris. Be on the lookout for hibernating bugs—they like to hide out by the crowns of your perennial plants. Clean all of your
Bird feeding has become a year round hobby for many people. We have found that using a good quality bird seed allows our customers to see and feed more beautiful birds and puts less waste on the ground. Here are some suggestions on basic backyard bird feeding we learned from Bird Watcher’s and Rutgers’ Cook College Research and Extension. Create a habitat for bird feeding sections: Birds have three basic needs. They are shelter, food and water. Providing those needs in your backyard will increase a bird’s habitat. Thus, you will bring various bird species to your area. Creating a bird habitat will help you learn to care for them, forming a bond between you and your new friends.
We have now approached one of our favorite seasons here at Mendham Garden Center…fall. The lawns have had a lot of moisture this summer, which as we know depletes the nitrogen from the soil. So, yes, it is a good time to fertilize again. Having the proper pH is essential to the way turf absorbs nutrients. Which means this is also a good time to do a pH test, which we do free of charge at our garden centers. If pH is below 6.8 you need to lime. Remember that one bag of lime covers approximately 800 square feet (That would mean approximately 50 40-lb bags per acre). We also do free in-store pH soil testing at our garden centers.
Mendham Garden Center has been proud to serve Central Jersey garden enthusiasts since 1960, and our “youngest” store, in Annandale between Clinton and Flemington, is celebrating its 25th year helping customers with their home and garden needs. The new website is designed to help consumers before they even walk through the door. Our experienced staff works with customers to figure out which perennials make sense for their garden, or what steps they need to take to make sure their lawn is ready for the winter. However, we know that many people may be pinched for time, so we have brought many of these same resources online for your needs. Product Listings While we carry a number of products from bird
