Category: lifestyle/lawn-garden

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) recenltly announced the availability of a new simple-to-use guide that will make it easier for everyone to keep Baltimore’s neighborhoods clean.

“I am delighted to announce the release of the new Baltimore City Clean Guide — a project led by the City’s new Clean Corps Initiative and their nonprofit and City partners. This guide will make sure communities know what to do and who to call when they are seeking resources to keep their neighborhoods clean,” said DPW Director Rudy Chow, P.E., during an event to kick-off the start of the Mayor’s Spring Cleanup,

This 24-page guide includes resources and phone numbers so that citizens know who to call when they need City services. Copies of the guide were made available to residents of the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community, where City leaders gathered to kick off the Mayor’s 17th Annual Spring Cleanup.

The Baltimore City Clean Guide is now available on DPW’s website, http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/.

More than 5,700 citizen volunteers representing 256 neighborhoods across Baltimore City participated in this year’s Spring Cleanup. This is the largest number of registrants and volunteers that have participated in the Mayor’s Spring Cleanup in nearly a decade.

Representing Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Director Chow was joined by representatives from the Departments of Transportation, Recreation and Parks, and Baltimore City Health Department. Each year, these departments work together to host the Mayor’s Fall and Spring Cleanups.

Clean Neighborhoods Keep Mosquitoes Away

Health Department Officials also shared information on the importance of properly disposing of litter and trash that can cause water to collect as the mosquito season approaches.

“It is critical that we keep our yards and neighborhoods clean as we take steps to protect Baltimore City residents from the potential spread of Zika virus this spring,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “There is no vaccine and no cure for Zika. That’s why the key to preventing Zika is stopping the spread of mosquitoes by removing standing water. Even a small bottle cap can be breeding ground for mosquitoes. Every citizen can help keep Zika out of Baltimore by covering empty containers and removing unnecessary items like empty tires from our yards. Together, we can decrease mosquitoes and ensure a cleaner, healthier, more vibrant city.”

To learn more about the Zika Virus, including information for women who are, may become pregnant, and their partners, as well as tips to prevent the potential spread of the virus, please visit: http://health.baltimorecity.gov/zika-virus/.

The CDC has additional information including the latest travel guidance, available at: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/.

Keeping your garden looking its best throughout the growing season and into fall is possible with the help of low maintenance spring planted bulbs. Plant them in spring among other annuals or perennials and watch as these bulbs brighten the garden, adding new life to your late season gardens.

Whether your gardens and containers are in full sun or shade you’ll enjoy the attractive foliage and pop of color that dahlias, cannas, calla lilies, caladiums and elephant ears will add to the landscape.

These easy care plants reward you with loads of beauty. Just plant, water and enjoy. Quality online retailers like Longfield Gardens (longfield-gardens.com) offer the greatest variety of color, shapes and sizes as well as planting and care instructions.

Grow dahlias in sunny areas with at least six hours of sunlight for the best floral display. Simply plant the tuberous roots four to six inches deep with the stem facing up after the danger of frost has passed.

Use dahlias in a cutting garden or as an attractive screen along fences and property lines. Use the shorter more compact border dahlias, like ‘Gallery Pablo’ in containers on your patio, balcony or deck where you and the hummingbirds will enjoy their blooms.

Wait until the danger of frost has passed to plant cannas in a full sun to partially shaded locations. Plant the canna rhizomes horizontally two to three inches deep with the growing point facing up. Take advantage of their bold

foliage and use cannas as a backdrop in the flower border or screen in the landscape. Use as a vertical accent in a large container or select dwarf varieties for smaller pots.

Calla lilies are another spring planted bulb that thrives in full sun or part shade. The speckled foliage adds color to the garden all season long. Include these one- to two- feet-tall plants in the front or middle of the flower garden or as a vertical accent or filler in a pot. And don’t forget to cut a few flowers to enjoy indoors. The black flowers of ‘Night Cap’ teamed with the white blooms of ‘Crystal Clear’ create an elegant display.

Like the other bulbs, wait for the danger of frost to pass before planting them outdoors. Plant the knobby rhizomes two to four inches deep with the growing point facing up.

Add some color and plenty of wow factor to shaded areas with the foliage of caladiums and elephant ears. These tropical beauties thrive when soil and air temperatures are warm. Wait for the danger of frost to pass and the soil to warm— 65 to 70 degrees— before planting them in the garden.

Use caladiums to brighten containers, dress up window boxes or edge a shady pathway. The colorful leaves stand out amongst the greens of shade gardens. Team variegated varieties with complimentary colored begonias, coleus or impatiens.

Include elephant ears in the garden or containers. Their large heart shaped leaves give a tropical feel to the patio, deck or pool area. Consider planting one, two or more to create an impressive welcome for guests or a bold statement in the landscape. They pair nicely with caladiums, coleus and other shade loving plants.

Make this the best season yet with the help of spring flowering bulbs. You’ll enjoy the variety and late season color these easy care plants provide.

Melinda Myers has over 30 years of gardening experience and has written over 20 gardening books. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Longfield Gardens for her expertise to write this article.

(METRO CREATIVE) — If boots, a warm hat and a tuned-up snow blower are the only items on your winter preparation list, your home maintenance plan may need a makeover. These simple home maintenance projects can help lower your energy bills, prevent more costly repairs and/or increase the lifespan of your home.

1. Heating & Ventilation – Examine your fireplace and chimney system to ensure that no soot or creosote has collected. Any cracks or voids could potentially cause a fire. Before you turn the furnace or boiler on, replace the air filter and hire a professional to inspect the unit more thoroughly. These steps will improve the efficiency and life of your furnace and will ensure stable indoor air quality.
2. Seal Windows and Doors – If not properly sealed, windows and doors can be a major culprit for heat loss. To keep the warm air inside, inspect the weather-stripping around your home’s windows and doors for leaks, rot or decay. Repair or replace structural framing, and caulk inside and out, if necessary.
3. Insulate well – One of the easiest and most effective defenses against heat loss is proper insulation. Prevent cold drafts from entering and the loss of heated air through basement headers, which, when left exposed, can make your furnace work harder. Look for a moisture-resistant product offering high thermal performance, such as Roxul Comfortbatt insulation. This type of mineral wool insulation makes installation simple. All that’s needed is a serrated blade or bread knife. Cut the batt to fit the cavity and press into place. The insulation will help improve energy efficiency as soon as it’s in place and provide savings over the lifetime of your home. Comfortbatt can also be used to top or replace old attic insulation. Aim for an R-50 or a depth of 16 inches.
4. Backyard Care – Save your property from potential damage by trimming overgrown trees and shrubs to prevent ice-laden branches from thrashing against electrical wires and your home’s exterior. Drain/shut off any exterior faucets and sprinkler systems to prevent freezing. Ensure rain or snow drains away from the house to avoid foundation problems.
5. Roof and Gutters – Inspect your roof for shingles that are warped, damaged or even missing to prevent a future leak. Use roofing cement and a caulking gun to seal joints where water could penetrate, such as around the chimney, skylights or vent pipes. Make sure that your gutters and downspouts are securely fastened. Downspouts should extend at least five feet away from the home to prevent flooding.

When it comes to preventative maintenance, a little time and effort can save thousands in energy costs and repair bills over the lifetime of your home.

Don’t let mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your garden and outdoor parties. Look for environmentally sound ways to manage these pests in your garden and landscape.

Start by eliminating standing water in the yard. Buckets, old tires and clogged gutters and downspouts that hold water make the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Drain water that collects in these as well as kids’ toys, tarps and pool covers. Store these items in the garage or turn them over to keep them from becoming a mosquito breeding ground. Even small containers hold enough water for hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes to breed.

Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week. Consider installing a small pump to keep water moving to prevent mosquito breeding or use an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in rain barrels and water features. The Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. They are both certified organic and safe for pets, fish, wildlife and children.

Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. These pests are less attracted to the lighter colors and can’t readily reach your skin through loose clothing. And be sure to cover as much of your skin as possible with long sleeves and pants.

Add a few birdhouses to the landscape to bring in the birds. You’ll enjoy their beauty and benefit from their diet of insects, including many garden pests and mosquitoes.

Keep the garden weeded. Mosquitoes rest in shrubs, trees and weeds during the day. Removing weeds and managing neglected garden spaces will make your landscape less inviting to these pests.

Consider using a personal repellent to protect you against disease-carrying mosquitoes. For those looking to avoid DEET, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also approved products with the active ingredient picaridin (found in Skin so Soft products), IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellents as you need to apply the sunscreen more often than the repellent.

Add a bit more protection while sitting or eating outdoors. Use a fan to create a gentle breeze that keeps the weak flying mosquitoes away from you and your guests. Some gardeners even take a small fan into the garden, while weeding.

Then add a bit of ambience to your next party by lighting a few citronella candles for your evening events.

Citronella oil and the scented candles do have some mosquito repelling properties. Scatter lots of candles throughout your entertainment space. Position the candles within a few feet of your guests. This can provide some short-term relief from these pests for you and your guests.

Melinda Myers is a Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist with more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20

gardening books. For more information, gardening videos and tips, visit: www.melindamyers.com.

BALTIMORE — Now that spring weather has arrived, many Maryland homeowners are thinking about how they can improve their lawns and gardens. For some, it’s a matter of mowing and trimming. Others may want to adjust their landscaping, while considering the environmental impact using less water, fertilizer and pesticides.

For those who lack a green thumb, a lawn care service or landscaper can help give you the yard of your dreams. However, it’s important to pick the right company. Hiring the wrong company could turn your dream landscape into a nightmare.

Better Business Bureau serving Greater Maryland advises consumers to get clear, written expectations for the services the company will provide and agree on a fee before work starts.

Last year, BBB received over 7,000 complaints against landscape contractors and lawn maintenance contractors. Many of the consumers were unhappy with the services provided and alleged the companies they hired did not perform the duties they agreed upon. Others complained about problems with advertising or billing. Local homeowners also expressed dissatisfaction with recurring contracts that they believe they did not authorize. That’s why it’s important to do your research before hiring a lawn care business.

BBB offers the following tips for finding a lawn care company you can trust:

Know what you want from a lawn service. Lawn care companies provide many services, so it is important to decide which services and products are appropriate for your needs and budget. If environmental impact is of concern, ask for substantiation of any “eco-friendly” products advertised.

You get what you pay for – usually. High quality fertilizers, seed and other products will inevitably cost more, but in the long run, may very well be worth the added investment.

Check references. Ask the company for references and photos of previously completed projects. Call references, and ask about their experience working with the company and if they were satisfied with the services provided.

Ask for a lawn inspection and free estimate. Lawn care companies that quote a price without seeing your lawn may not give you an accurate estimate. A company should be willing to visit your home to provide you with an agreed upon fee. Cost is usually based on the size of your lawn so make sure they provide an accurate measurement of your yard not only for pricing, but to ensure the fertilizer is applied at the proper rate for your property.

Get a written agreement. A contract should clearly state the services you will receive, guarantees and refund policies, as well as, how and when payment will be handled. If you are using a recurring service, the contract should also include how often the company will come out to work on your lawn, how to cancel the service and a schedule for when payments are due.

Shop around. Get written estimates from a few different companies. Keep in mind the cheapest is not always the best. You may want to pay more for higher quality services.

If your lawn maintenance or landscape provider service include fertilizer, Maryland has very specific laws and rules for lawn care providers that promote healthy lawns and protect our waterways from nutrient runoff. Make sure your agreement includes the following:

• Soil test
• Certification by MD Department of Agriculture to apply pesticides and fertilizers
• Performance of the services only during prescribed periods, excluding December 1 through March 1.

For more information, contact your BBB or the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Make this your biggest and tastiest tomato harvest yet with proper planting and care.

Reduce pest problems and increase the harvest by growing your tomatoes in a sunny location with well-drained soil or in a quality potting mix for container gardens. Improve your garden soil by adding several inches of organic matter to the top eight to twelve inches of soil prior to planting. Compost, aged manure, and other organic materials help improve drainage in heavy clay soil and increase the water holding ability of sandy soil.

Add a slow release organic nitrogen fertilizer like Milorganite (milorganite.com) according to label directions at planting. Slow release fertilizers provide a constant diet that is better for your plants and less work for you. Save yourself more time by mixing the fertilizer into the soil when incorporating the organic matter. Then give your plants a midseason boost as needed.

Once the soil is prepared, wait for the air and soil to warm to plant your tomatoes. Planting too early when the soil is still cool and the nights are chilly can stress the plant and delay your harvest.

Plant your tomatoes slightly deeper or in a trench for better rooting. Trench tomatoes by digging a shallow trench about 3 to 4 inches deep. Remove the lower leaves and lay the plant on its side in the hole. Roots will eventually form along the stem. Carefully bend the stem, so the upper leaves will be above the soil. Fill the trench with soil and water.

Stake or tower your tomatoes to reduce insect and disease problems and make harvesting easier. The type of tomato and your schedule will help determine the training system that works best for you.

Determinate tomatoes (look for the D on the tag) grow a certain height and stop. They work well in towers, containers or even hanging baskets. Indeterminate tomatoes, labeled with an I, keep growing taller, producing more flowers and fruit until the end of the growing season. These do best when grown on tall sturdy stakes or extra tall strong towers.

Towering tomatoes is easy. Simply place the tower over the tomatoes at planting. Tomatoes grown in towers produce a larger, but later harvest than staked tomato plants.

Allow a bit more time if you decide to stake your plants. Place the stake in the ground at planting. Be careful not to injure the roots. As the plants begin to grow prune off all side branches, suckers, that develop between the main stem and leaves. Loosely tie the remaining one or two stems to the stake. Cloth strips, twine or other soft ties work well. Keep tying up the plants as they continue to grow. Staked tomatoes produce the earliest and smallest harvest.

Check new plantings every few days and water often enough to keep the developing root system moist. Reduce frequency as plants become established. Water established plants thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are slightly moist. Mulch the soil with evergreen needles, shredded leaves or other organic mulch to keep the soil consistently moist and suppress weeds. Consistent soil moisture encourages more flowering and fruiting, while reducing the risk of blossom end rot, cracking and misshapen fruit.

Harvest your tomatoes when fully colored. Leave them on the plant an extra 5 or 6 days for even better flavor. Unfortunately, the animals often move in and feast on the ripening fruit. In this case, you may need to finish ripening tomatoes indoors.

And once you taste that first red ripe tomato, you’ll be looking for more sunny spots for containers or to expand your garden.

Melinda Myers is a gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist with more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books. For more information about Myers, gardening videos and tips, visit her website: www.melindamyers.com.

Brighten up your patio, deck or front entrance with containers. They’re an excellent way to add color, fragrance and beauty where space for planting is limited or non- existent.

Set a few containers on the front or back steps, in the corner of your deck or any other location where they can be enjoyed. Try stacking several containers in order to create a display with greater vertical interest. Check the views when looking from inside the house out as well as when enjoying the space outdoors. Strategically place containers for the greatest viewing pleasure.

Save even more space by using railing planters. You can dress up the porch or deck by filling these planters with colorful flowers and edibles. Make sure they are sturdy and easy to install. Reduce time spent installing and maintaining with easy-to-install self-watering rail planters, like Viva balcony rail planters (gardeners.com).

Don’t limit yourself to flowers. Mix in a few edibles and bring some homegrown flavor to your outdoor entertaining. You and your guests will enjoy plucking a few mint leaves to flavor beverages, basil to top a slice of pizza or sprig of dill to top grilled fish.

Herbs not only add flavor to your meals, but texture and fragrance to container gardens. And the many new dwarf vegetable varieties are suited to containers. Their small size makes them easy to include and many have colorful fruit that is not only pretty, but delicious.

Add a few edible flowers like nasturtium and pansies. Dress up a plate of greens with edible flowers for a gourmet touch. Or freeze a few pansy flowers in ice cubes and add them to a glass of lemonade or sparkling water.

Include flowers like globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Lisianthus, and daisies that are great for cutting. You’ll enjoy your garden inside and out throughout the season.

And don’t forget to plant some flowers for the butterflies to enjoy. Zinnias, cosmos, and marigolds are just a few that are sure to brighten any space, while attracting butterflies to your landscape. Salvia, penstemon and flowering tobacco will help bring hummingbirds in close, so you’ll have a better view.

So make this the year you select a container or two that best fits your space and gardening style. Fill it with a well-drained potting mix and combination of beautiful ornamental and edible plants to enjoy all season long. The additions are sure to enhance your landscape and keep your guests coming back for more.

Melinda Myers is a gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist with more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books. For more information about Myers, gardening videos and tips, visit her website: www.melindamyers.com, offers.

STATEPOINT — A beautiful lawn is important for a lovely home, but when those autumn leaves begin to fall, some extra effort is required to keep things picture perfect. This once meant firing up noisy machinery and piling up bag after bag of yard waste. Now that we live in more environmentally-conscientious times, this might not seem like such a responsible idea.

Doing things by hand doesn’t have to lead to a sore back. Learning some helpful hints can make your lawn really stand out this year and help you get the job done in a breeze.

Spring is when the lawn and garden really come into full bloom, but fall is when plants are storing energy and nutrients to have ready when the season turns. Like an athlete training in the offseason, get a step up on the competition by building a good foundation. Now’s the time to fertilize and aerate since roots keep growing and storing energy even when above-ground growth slows during the colder months. Don’t forget to keep watering too!

Weeding can be made less painful if you adhere to the old gardener’s trick of completing this task after it rains. When the earth is dry, it’s harder to pull out the whole weed without breaking off the top. After rainfall, the ground is soft, making it easier to pluck out entire weeds. They can easily be added to leaves and other debris that needs to be hauled away.

Leaves can smother your lawn if enough of them build up, preventing sunlight from reaching the grass and increasing the chances of lawn disease. Collecting the leaves in bags allows your lawn to breathe and receive proper sunlight.

The average cost to remove leaves is $374. There are easy DIY methods that can save you money. To make your life easier and get the job done faster, consider using tools such as the EZ Leaf Hauler, which acts like a giant dustpan for leaves, and is a cost-effective, green alternative.

Reduce waste by packing more leaves into every bag with tools like the EZ Leaf Stomper or using leaves and yard debris for mulch or compost.

Good posture can also prevent backaches when raking leaves. Keep your head up and back straight. Relieve back pressure by raking in the “scissors” stance: placing one foot forward and the other back and reversing position when comfortable. Another option is to haul tarps by using pull handles like EZ Tarp Tugger.

Opt for ergonomically designed rakes, shears and pruners that require less hand strength and provide a comfortable non-slip grip to help prevent muscle soreness. More information on innovative tools for raking, hauling and bagging yard waste can be found at www.ezlawnandgarden.com

Get a head start on home improvement this fall with smart lawn and garden care. Grab the kids and get the clippers, rake ‘em in and bag ‘em up.

You can see and feel the change of seasons. Fall color is starting to appear, pansies, mums and asters are in the garden center and your thoughts are turning to preparing your landscape for winter.

Those in warm climates are switching to winter annuals, while those in colder regions are fortifying their landscapes for the cold winter ahead. No matter where you live, invest some time in preparing your landscape for the change in seasons. Dedicating some time now will pay off with healthier more beautiful plants next spring.

Continue to mow the lawn high as long as it continues to grow. There’s no need to cut it short unless that is the look you prefer.

Fertilize the grass with a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer like Milorganite (milorganite.com). Fall fertilization provides the greatest benefit to your lawn and gives you the best value for the time and money invested.

Those in cooler regions growing bluegrass, fescue and perennial ryegrass should fertilize around Labor Day when temperatures start to cool. Then make a final application between Halloween and Thanksgiving before the ground freezes.

Those in warmer climates growing centipede, Bermuda and zoysia should also fertilize around Labor Day. However, be sure to make the last fall application at least one month prior to the average first killing frost.

Shred leaves as they fall. Leave some on the lawn to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. As long as you can see the grass blades through the shredded leaves your lawn will be fine.

Use the rest of the shredded leaves in your compost pile, as mulch on top of the soil or as a soil amendment. Just dig a two to three inch layer into the top 12 inches of annual or new planting beds. These leaves will break down and add organic matter. By spring the leaves will decompose and the garden bed will be ready to cultivate and plant.

Plant a few bulbs now for a colorful early spring display. Incorporate compost, aged manure or other organic matter into the planting area. Add a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer at the time of planting. In general, plant bulbs two to three times their vertical diameter deep. Follow specific planting and spacing directions on the package or tag.

Select animal-resistant bulbs to avoid squirrels digging up the bulbs and deer and rabbits eating the blooms. Daffodils, hyacinths, grape hyacinths and squills are a few to consider. Little Tommies (Crocus tommasinianus) tend to be more squirrel resistant than other crocus varieties.

Those gardening in mild climates need low chill bulbs that will thrive and flower after a mild winter. Or purchase precooled bulbs for winter planting and spring flowering.

Allow disease and insect-free perennials to stand for winter. This will increase their winter hardiness and your enjoyment. The dried leaves, stems and seedheads provide beauty for you to enjoy, seeds for the birds and overwintering homes for many butterflies and beneficial insects.

Plant trees, shrubs and perennials. The soil is warm and the air is cool – perfect conditions for planting and establishing trees, shrubs and perennials. And for those lucky enough to garden in warm climates, add a few winter annuals.

Continue to water the landscape as needed throughout the fall. Be sure to water evergreens and new plantings thoroughly before the ground freezes.

No matter where you live or the size of your garden, get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of fall. Be sure to invest a bit of energy now to insure your landscape is ready for the season ahead.

Melinda Myers is a gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist who has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books. Visit her website: www.melindamyers.com for gardening videos and tips.