Rain Barrels

a blast from the past...




Last year I wrote an entry about rain barrels. If you are considering adding a rain barrel (and who wouldn't with the benifets it gives to your garden), then give this entry a read. http://gardenrainbarrel.blogspot.com/

Whether you want to collect rain water for your lawn/garden, decided to go green by reducing the strain on your city's storm drains, or just looking for another project; rain barrels might be the right option for you. Searching the web for different rain barrel systems, I found nothing that fit my situation. There are some basics to consider before you build your rain barrels: Amount of water, Filtering, Storage, and Usage.

This topic has grown a life of its own. Please visit my rain barrel blog where I go over this topic and explain why I chose my rain barrel design.

Lawn Care: Part 2 Mowing

Why to mow tall.

When I first got a house and started mowing my theory was "If I mow short, then the grass will grow slower. Thus less yard work and less mowing." Problem was that the law was always brown and weeds were rampant. I spent more time than ever fertilizing, watering on dry weeks, and weeding. When the lawn finally got water, the grass would grow rapidly and need to be cut. In short my grass was unhealthy and I was struggling to keep it alive.

Mowing high and relax. This year I started mowing high. My mower has a max setting of 3 inches (wish it was more). The changes were small at first, but 4 months later I am relaxing more then last year. The grass grows fairly slow (having reached its max height). The grass is greener then my neighbors, because the roots go deeper (I haven't needed to water the lawn at all this year). Weeds are slightly less of a problem, but there is always a battle between lawn and weeds. However now my grass is healthier, and seems to be fighting weeds better.

Keep in mind

• Some southern grasses (that like hot weather) due better at lower heights (2in-3in)
• In states that get more rain, I have heard that wet grass tends to folds over and needs to be cut shorter
• here in Wisconsin I keep hearing and reading that 3-4 inches is the recommendation.

Reference Links:
http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/how-high-should-i-cut-the-grass.php
http://www.donnan.com/mowing.htm
http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp

Lawn Care

Maybe it is a case of the 'Grass is always greener...' but my neighbor yards look better/healthier then my yard. I need to take a long deep look at how I am taking care of my yard. Last year I took a very simple approach of  fertilize and cut the lawn, but still my lawn is lacking. And so the experiment beings...

This year I am going to try 2 different theories of lawn care. Though out the year I will update you on how things are going and any issues I having.

Front Yard: The Conventional Fertilizer Chemical
This is your basic fertilizer and spray weeds/bugs. I am mainly going to be reading through brand name websites like  Scotts/MeracleGro. People have been doing to for year so it must work. I am going to dig deep learning about the chemical way and let you know what work/fails.

Back Yard: Mother Earth Organic
It is age of 'Going Green'. I am going to all natural with this approach; Digging up weeds, using organic lawn repair (lime, gardener's sulfur, compost), and rest to the earth worms. Most of the good information I have found is from Rich Soil. Lots of what I have been reading says just let it be and pull up weeds.


Feel free to leave comments, concerns, or ideas.