| The grass will get greener
Spring may have officially arrived a month ago, but by the look of things, the springtime lawn care season is still a few weeks away.$"/>$"/>Eventually, however, wet, sodden lawns will dry up and the annual cleaning and prepping ritual will begin.$"/>$"/> “In the spring time, what we need to do are the basics, like fertilizing the lawn to prevent weeds from taking root," says Benoit Castonguay of Trylawn, a Ville St. Laurent-based lawn care company.$"/>$"/>Castonguay says basic lawn cleanup comes when lawns dry up and become firm. Raking and aerating increases the amount of air, water and nutrients getting to the soil, strengthening grass roots and creating a healthier lawn. Applying topsoil, seeds and fertilizer comes next.$"/>$"/>City of Pointe Claire horticulturist Jason Laframboise, who is also getting ready for the busy season, says people have already been calling to complain about damaged lawns.
Top drawer: Landscape makeovers
Makeover fans with a weakness for plants and flowers will love the DIY Network's new series, "Desperate Landscapes," that begins 10 p.m. Thursday. Landscaping, carpentry and remodeling expert Jason Cameron visits homeowners chosen because they have the worst front yards on the block, and helps them make dramatic changes in just one day. From planting beds, fencing, new big trees to fresh paint, it's all about going from helpless to beautiful and making the neighbors happy and surprised. .
Spring Fair has gardening exhibits
If your own garden has left you yearning for some actual plant life, get to the Puyallup Spring Fair, starting Thursday. Sure, they have the usual vendors and exhibits, but here are some can't-miss gardening events and exhibits. Rhodies galore: If you're looking for inspiration, don't miss the more than 800 rhododendron plants in the annual rhody show. Big ones, little ones, wild ones – with 800 to chose from, there's a rhody for everyone. Playshops: When you're learning how to be a beekeeper or remodel your garden, is it really a "work"shop? We think not. From author Mary Robson to host Ciscoe Morris to Marianne Binetti, there's something for everyone. Display gardens: Nearly three-quarters of an acre of exhibits, from new products to plants and bulbs. You probably won't leave empty-handed.
Gretchen Voyle: Make lawn fertilizing a pain-free process
Q: I have a lawn and want to spend as little money and time as possible on it. Do I have to fertilize? If I decide to fertilize, when should it be done? I've got one neighbor that was pushing his spreader when it was snowing. A: The term that you're striving for here is "low maintenance," not "poor quality." .
Accessorize outside: Liven up your landscape without plants
The prime gardening season is almost here. Some gardeners already may have purchased seeds and potted plants in preparation for their landscape masterpieces.
But what about the anti-gardener? People who can't even get weeds to grow can make a yard look great without getting down in the dirt. All it takes is a little creativity and sense of style. The first step to giving a yard a chlorophyll-free makeover is to figure out the reason for doing so.
"In general, more baby boomers are retiring and spending more time at home," says Nate Burke, co-owner of outdoordecor.com, an online distributor of exterior accents with headquarters in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla. "People aren't moving as much as before. So you have to think, why are you doing this? For show or to build relationships?" Types of exterior accents for a home should depend on whether or not the yard will be for looks or for play, Burke says.
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