Archive for September, 2009
Wigglers are wonderful.
September 17th, 2009
Resist the urge to put down chemicals that kill grub worms in your yard.
Why?
Because those same chemicals kill the good earthworms that enrich your soil.
You’ll have the best soil in the world if you add a top layer of organic compost to your yard, your gardens, your plantings of all kinds.
Then, watch the earthworms arrive to help make your soil into black gold.
Posted in Dirty Little Secrets General Tips | Comments (0)
Patience please.
September 14th, 2009
Yes, it’s tempting to put in lots of pansies now that the mums and pumpkins are showing up.
Please, however, wait until October to plant pansies.
Why?
Because there is still lots of daytime heat during September and pansies like it cooler. September is time to still enjoy summer’s annuals like petunias.
Hot weather makes pansies stretch and get all out shape.
So, save pansy buying for your October trips to garden centers.
Posted in Dirty Little Secrets General Tips | Comments (0)
Gardening gets you fit.
September 9th, 2009
With all the bending, lifting and stretching involved, gardening can be a fun and effective workout - if you know how to make the most of it. Stacy Walters, registered kinesiotherapist, fitness director and creator of the Fit to Garden program, provides tips on how to turn a day of lawn and garden care into a day of healthy exercise.
Warm-up
Begin with five to 10 minutes of stretching the legs, ankles, arms, shoulders and wrists.
Proper technique
To help stay comfortable while gardening alternate between squatting, kneeling on a pad and sitting on a stool. Tighten your abdominal muscles when you reach and move.
Workout
When lifting, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, tighten your abdominal muscles and bend at the hips and knees.
Mulching helps conserve water in your garden, prevent weeds and keeps your outdoor spaces looking neat. Scotts NatureScapes Advanced is a natural, color-enhanced mulch and comes in a variety of colors and textures to maintain moisture and create a groomed landscape all year long.
Gardening cool down
Stretching the hips, hamstrings, back, neck and shoulders will help balance muscle groups that may have been overused and decrease post-gardening soreness.
For more information on garden workouts, visit Scotts.com or OutdoorLivingWithStacy.com.
Posted in Garden Fitness | Comments (0)