Our June First Friday talk is now available on YouTube. During our monthly First Friday events, experts share practical information and answer questions on using integrated pest management techniques (IPM) to avoid pest problems and promote a healthy environment where you live, work, learn and play.
Sign up for Future What’s Bugging You First Friday Events!
Surprising Ways Weather Affects Your Garden
When planning your garden, there are three things you should always consider about rainfall:
- How much rain will I get?
- How much water is in my soil?
- How much water is available from my soil?
In this presentation, Dan Olmstead helps gardeners think about the ways that weather can affect gardening. He discusses the relationship between weather, soil properties, plant characteristics and microclimate. Ensuring that plants get the right amount of water can help you avoid some garden pest problems before they start.
Mowing Matters
When it comes to grass, mowing matters, and so does understanding how what goes on above ground impacts what’s happening below. Having a well-built root system helps. For example, the more grass on top, where sunshine is collected and photosynthesis occurs, the thicker the root system becomes. Eventually this allows you to overcome different pests, diseases and drought.
What’s good for the pollinator can also be good for your lawn. Give your lawn the edge, while giving yourself a break:
- Mow high in May, June, and July.
- Mow often enough to remove only 1/3 of a leaf blade.
- Keep your blades sharp.
Lawn Care Resources
Lawn Care: The Easiest Steps to an Attractive Environmental Asset
Sharpening Mower Blades and Adjusting Mower Height