Daylily, Hemerocallis spp., is a flowering perennial in the Asphodelaceae family that brightens summer gardens in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.It sprouts from a rhizome and has bare, slender stems
27.06.2023 - 03:37 / gardenerspath.com / Nan Schiller
Why & How You Should Lime Your Lawn and GardenAgricultural lime is a conditioning agent that many folks apply to their lawns, vegetable gardens, flower beds, and pastures. If you’re not sure whether it’s right for you, read on!
Is your grass lush, like a thick green carpet, or is it marred by bare patches and weeds? Do you have problems growing basic leaf lettuce in your veggie patch?
One reason your lawn or vegetable garden may be in distress is that the dirt is too acidic, and this is where we’ll begin our discussion of lime.
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Here’s the lineup:
A Little ChemistryThe pH of soil is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a mixture of dirt plus distilled water. Knowing this establishes whether we have acidic or alkaline soil. Neutral is 7.0.
Numbers below 7.0 represent acidity, and those above signify alkalinity. Different plants prefer different pH levels. The ideal for most turf grass is about 6.0 to 7.0.
Soil Savvy Test Kit
To determine the pH of earth in your garden, use a product like the Soil Savvy Test Kit, available on Amazon, or contact your nearest agricultural extension service for a kit.
Testing reveals not only the pH level, but nutrient deficiencies and excesses as well. Plants like grass require nutrients that are water soluble, so roots can take them up for healthy growth. A pH or nutrient imbalance inhibits this process.
We have a comprehensive guide on soil testing here on Gardener’s Path.
A variety of factors influence pH in the earth of your lawn or garden, including nutrient content, rainfall, fertilizer use, and soil type. Let’s talk about each.
Nutrient ContentTo understand soil
Daylily, Hemerocallis spp., is a flowering perennial in the Asphodelaceae family that brightens summer gardens in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.It sprouts from a rhizome and has bare, slender stems
Arugula, Eruca vesicaria, is a leafy salad green in the Brassicaceae family that also includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Swiss chard.It’s a self-seeding annual for Zones 3 to 11 tha
So your okra plant is flourishing and has started to bloom. Congrats! But when are the plants ready to harvest and how do you do it?We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
The alpine aster, Aster alpinus, is a short-lived cold weather perennial in the very large Asteraceae family that includes daisies, dahlias, and sunflowers.This herbaceous ornamental species is unique for having an earl
Growing carrots, Daucus carota subsp. sativus, in containers is a convenient way to produce your own fresh root vegetables, even if you don’t have the acreage for a full-fledged vegetable garden.One large round planter can yie
Coir is the fibrous husk and pithy dust that makes up the outer layer of a ripe coconut. Most of us don’t see this part because it’s removed before the fruits arrive in grocery stores, but it is widely available – as a soilless growing medium.Per the Cambridge Dictionary, the
Have you ever wondered about the bundles of bamboo stems you see for sale just about everywhere, from novelty stores to warehouse clubs?They’re called “lucky bamboo,” and despite their ubiquitous presen
The garden heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens, is a tender shrubby perennial, or sub-shrub, of the borage family, with clusters of sweetly-scented blossoms in shades of purple, blue, or white.With a backdrop of dark green pleated leaves, plants bear a resembla
Have you always wanted to grow your own succulents?You’re not alone.Some vari
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Bachelor’s button, Centaurea cyanus, is a European wildflower that has naturalized across the United States. It is a member of the Asteraceae family that includes asters, chicory, daisies, mums, sunflowers, and yarrow.It’s a vigorous plant commonly found growing among the grain crops in farmer
Columbine, or Aquilegia, is an intriguing member of the Ranunculaceae family with exquisite petals that give it an ephemeral quality, like a briefly glimpsed hummingbird.It is an herbaceous perennial that blooms from sp