Newsletter

Welcome to the ProGrass information center! My name is Steve Varga and each month I will be providing you with updated seasonal information on landscape care. Please check back regularly for current information that will help you have a better landscape and get the most out of your ProGrass services. Also be sure to check my care tip sheets and if you have any questions please click on my question and answer icon.

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Spring 2007

A Naturally Cared For Landscape Is Planet Positive

By Steve Varga, Chief Horticulturist

Is the planet Earth better today than it was 5000 years ago? Many things we do in our lives impact the earth. Some of these things we can change to lessen this impact; some we can't. I like my home, my car, light bulbs, food, clean clothes and a beautiful landscape--all of which impact the ecology of our planet. However, you and I can make better choices to reduce negative environmental impact and still live well.

One easy, painless choice is the NaturalCare family of services from ProGrass. NaturalCare involves taking a future or current landscape, and adding the proper materials and cultural care methods which nature needs to be successful.

NaturalCare is not a bag of magic beans. It is a family of horticulturally-sound programs based on a combination of natural products such as sea kelp, organic and natural fertilizers, mycorrhizae, humates and natural pest control materials. But, it does not end there.

NaturalCare is also an important part of our landscape installation department. Our designers and installers include proper soil-building amendments such as compost, dolomite lime, humates, mycorrhizae and other natural ingredients to build in a good, healthy start to a new landscapes and plantings. ProGrass takes NaturalCare even further with water- efficient sprinkler systems, organic mulching and horticulturally-correct pruning.

Whether you're looking for an all-new landscape, rejuvenation services for your landscape, proper pruning or lawn fertilization, NaturalCare by ProGrass is the best choice for a long- term commitment to the earth in your landscape, and to the planet Earth.

Health Benefits Of Your Landscape

In the past several years, much has been written about the role of natural environments and good health. Numerous studies have been done on the topic. In short, study conclusions are the same: humans have better health when they have exposure to "green".

Whether we spend time outdoors in the landscape, or just enjoy it from our windows, many university studies show health benefits.

One of the most well-documented studies followed hospital patients recovering from surgery. The study showed a relationship between the duration of hospitalization, pain medication needed and the access to view nature through a hospital window. The study concluded that patients with a view to nature out their hospital window recovered faster and needed less pain medication during recovery.

The concept of healing and therapeutic gardens has also gained ground in recent years. Many hospitals and care facilities feature green spaces designed to encourage movement which may be useful in physical therapy, as well as gardens designed for quiet reflection or meditation.

The idea of healing gardens is not new. Ancient Asian, Greek and Roman cultures all used nature for healing purposes to some extent.

Who knew that your own yard could have so many health benefits? Whether you enjoy actively gardening, entertaining in your landscape or simply prefer taking in the view from your family room window, your landscape has documented benefits for your health!

Ask Steve

Q:What's the best type of mulch to put down?

Steve:These are some of the common mulches you can add to your landscape beds.

• Compost is decomposed plant material. It is very good for the plants and will add many micro- organisms, nutrients and humates. However, it is very heavy and hard to spread. It does not last much more than one year and can also initially can have a strong odor which some people do not care for.
• Hemlock can be fresh (reddish/ brown color) or composted (rich, brown color). The composted type will last about a year and a half; the fresh will last longer, about two years, but does not look as natural.
• Hemlock does not have itchy slivers like Fir; neither does it have many nutrients
• Fir is often bright red. It costs a little less than Hemlock but looks the least natural and has itchy slivers that can irritate your hands if you garden. It will last about two seasons and will add few nutrients.

Plant Focus

Tsuga canadensis 'pendula' Sargent Weeping Hemlock

Conifers

I think hemlocks are one of the most beautiful conifers. They're soft to the touch, have interesting cones, do well in our climate and add a lush, green color to a landscape. However, most hemlocks are huge and will outgrow most landscapes within 10-15 years.

The Sargent Weeping Hemlock is a slow grower. It can be 'trained' to fit a specific area. Its weeping habit can grow down a retaining wall to create a veil of delicate, soft needles and small long-lasting cones. It can be planted in a rock garden and grow over or around boulders to form an alpine look. Or, the most common growth plan is to encourage it to grow upward on a plant support to a desired height. At that point, the plant can be left alone to hang down like a fountain.

Hemlocks prefer light shade or less than a half day of full sun. They are great for shady areas. They don't like to sit in water so if your planting area is low, build a small hill or berm.

Lastly, be sure to plant the NaturalCare way and use compost, humates and mycorrhizae to develop a strong, healthy root system for your new landscape addition!

Plant Focus plant choice from Steve Varga, ProGrass Chief Horticulturist.

Calendar

• In your vegetable garden: Plant spinach, radishes, kale, onions and garlic
• Reseed your lawn: After April 15th
• Pruning to take care of now: Prune back old growth on your perennials, hydrangeas and roses
• Scalping your lawn: One very short mowing right now helps to remove old, dead growth
• Moss control: Rake out heavy moss from your beds and lawn after moss-control treatment
• Watch for cranefly damage: Cranefly larvae in lawns can be damaging if populations are high. Call ProGrass if you're not sure what to look for.