SUMMER
PLEASURES
* Macomb Center *
* for the Performing Arts
One riot Summer Nieht!
"Smart Gardening" is
Key to an Easy Yard
T
he key to an easy care
garden is to combine
time-honored gardening
practices with new
products and technology that
save time and trouble in the gar-
den, according to gardening ex-
pert Todd Steadman.
"I like to call it smart garden-
ing," says Steadman, editor of
Garden Gate magazine, which
specializes in practical garden-
ing tips, ideas and advice. "You
put in your time, research and ef-
fort up-front in order to save
yourself problems down the road.
"Begin with the basics — good
soil, the right plants, food and wa-
ter. These are the fundamentals
of a healthy, trouble-free garden,"
says Steadman. He offers the fol-
lowing tips:
• Prepare the Soil. Good
loamy soil that drains well is es-
sential to a successful garden.
To achieve this it is advisable to
add organic matter such as com-
post or peat moss. Work the or-
ganic matter into the soil to a
depth of at least 12 inches.. By
adding enough organic matter
to build the soil up a few inch-
es above the surrounding area,
you can create a "raised bed,"
which is ideal for improving
drainage and keeping the soil
loose and workable.
• Choose the Right Plants.
Not all plants are equal. Some
are easier to care for than others.
A local nursery or garden center
is a good source of information on
trouble-free plants. Often species
that are native to your area, and
thus adapted to local conditions,
are a good choice. Plus, there are
new patented varieties that are
bred to be resistant to disease.
One example is the new Flower
Carpet groundcover rose which
flowers prolifically yet is natu-
rally resistant to common rose
diseases such as black spot and
mildew.
• Use Timed-Release Fer-
tilizers. Just like people, plants
need a balanced diet to stay
healthy. However, traditional
water soluble fertilizers need to
be reapplied every week or ten
days. Plus they are messy and
difficult to handle. New coated
timed-release fertilizers act like
the timed-release capsules in
cold pills. They release their nu-
trients gradually, over time.
With these types of fertilizers it
is only necessary to feed every
two to six months, depending on
the mix.
• Water Regularly. Water
is the one non-negotiable ingre-
dient required for your garden's
growth. Plants need about one
good, thorough watering per
week. If nature doesn't provide
sufficient rain, it's up to you to
supplement. The key to water-
ing is thoroughness. A light
sprinkling only wets the surface
of the soil, which encourages
shallow root growth. It's impor-
tant to give a minimum of one-
inch of water each watering.
This gives a deep soaking and
encourages deep, strong root sys-
tems.
To measure how long or much
you need to water, turn the
sprinkler on to the pressure nec-
essary to reach the greatest pos-
sible expanse of yard. Put out
three empty tuna cans or mar-
garine tubs, evenly spaced from
right next to the sprinkler head
to the furthest reach of the
spray. Check the time, then
leave the sprinkler on until
you've collected at least one-inch
of water in each container.
Check the time again, and this
will tell you how long you need
to water at that faucet setting.
It's best to water in the very ear-
ly morning hours, even pre-
dawn. An automatic water timer
that turns the water on and off
at a pre-set time is helpful.
• Build in Low Mainte-
nance Options
Other tips for an easy care
yard include ways to discourage
weed growth and reduce the
amount of area you need to
maintain.
"Mulch is both attractive and
helpful," explains Steadman. "It
makes a garden bed look neat
and professional and it discour-
ages weed growth.
"One way to reduce your gar-
den maintenance tasks," says
Steadman, who by training is a
landscape architect, "is to reduce
the amount of your garden that
will need attention. Consider a
smaller lawn area to reduce
mowing needs. And permanent
garden structures like deck and
patio areas not only reduce your
maintenance needs, but give you
a place to enjoy your garden." ❑
Tower of Power
Sunday, July 13 at 7 PM
THE
PASLIN
COMPANY
Sponsored by
Adult $22 • Student/Sr. Cit. $20
1P
77C1
-7C-4/144,157-e7e
/
HUDSON'S, HARMONY HOUSE
& BLOCKBUSTER music
Call-For-Tix (810) 645-6666
Hall (M-59) at Garfield Road
One mile east
of Lakeside Mall
LAKESIDE
(810) 286-2222
MACOMB CENTER
For The Performing Arts
A community service program of Macomb Community College.
"THEY THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING. DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL.
IT WAS A SUCCESS BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS.
IT WAS MY DREAM. AND IT CAME TRUE."
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Our new policy confirms banquet space availabilities 2 years in advance
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Radisson®
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Call our catering sales experts today to set up a personal appointment at (810) 827 4000.
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