A lot of people want that perfect lawn. Dark, evenly spread grass, and a perfect garden with no weeds. They use fertilizer to get the grass healthy and herbicide to get rid of those weeds. But, has it ever occurred to you that if you can’t even touch fertilizer, shouldn’t you NOT be putting it on your lawn where your children play? I remember last summer helping a retired guy sprinkle some Scotts turf builder on his lawn. I got the bag out, and it read: “Warning: if inhaled, drink lots of water, and if in contact with skin, wash for 15 minutes. That kind of scared me, epescially because the guy wanted me to pour the dust into a wheelbarrow, and when I did, the dust flew up, but I was sure to hold my breath and back up a few feet.

I then went on to sprinkle the turf builder on his lawn with a shovel, and, I admit, his lawn did get a little greener. The thing that scared me, though, was that within the first 5 minutes or so sprinkling this dust, my throat hurt like there was something stuffed inside it that I was breathing through. I didn’t even inhale any turf builder, and drinking water didn’t help. That was my first and only encounter with fertilizer. I have researched a bit on the web since then, and have read a quite a few stories of the family dog getting sick from the lawn company treating the next door neighbor’s yard. I think the dangers of fertilizer are worth more discussion. I will continue to be on the lookout for more information.

Here are a few tips to help keep your flowers healthy. Start your flowers in the early summer when the threat of frost has definitely gone. You could even start them inside, and wait for the right time to transplant them, or simply move the pot outside to your porch.  Remember to deadhead flowers that are finished blooming, because doing so will increase bloom time and strengthen the plant. Help tall, slender flowers stay upright by placing stakes next to them. When the hot weather sets in, be sure to give your beauties plenty of water to get the roots to dig deeper into the soil. Keeping this up will be sure to give you beautiful flowers through spring, summer, and early fall.

Pete Skenandore

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