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Purple Coneflower: Garden Classic and Natural Healer

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-05-13 00:00
Echinacea purpurea
What defines something as classic? Dictionaries often use phrases like “something of lasting worth”, “timeless quality” or “a perfect example of a particular style” when describing a classic. When I think about classic wildflowers, perhaps no other species comes as close to this description as the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).

Another Reason Not to Purchase Grass Seed From Big-Box Stores

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-05-06 00:00
Other Crop Seed
Big-box stores. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, these behemoth structures have become a common part of our culture. Whether you’re looking for motor oil, toothpaste or a pair of socks, no other place offers such a wide variety of goods in such a centralized area. Low prices along with convenience entice many folks to their cavernous aisles. But is it really a good idea to purchase everything from these superstores? One reason these retailers are able to offer products at such a low cost is because they tend to skimp on quality. This can easily be seen in the garden center of your local big-box store.

Selecting Ground Cover in Orchards and Vineyards

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-04-29 00:00
Grass Ground Cover
When it comes to orchard and vineyard management, the pursuit of efficiency in combination with the principles of sustainably has become an art. Many practices have taken on multiple functions. No longer is the orchard or vineyard looked at as collection of separate, individual elements. Folks are becoming aware of the entire system and how each practice influences every other aspect of the orchard or vineyard. One such management method, the practice of planting ground cover or living mulch between rows, is becoming the norm in many situations.

Helping Your Lawn Recover From Chemical Spills

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-04-15 00:00
Common Cause of Chemical Spills
I’ll never forget the time I was working as a property manager of a seven acre estate. The homeowner, a stickler for perfection, expected nothing less than a flawless lawn. No expense was spared in my management practices. I watched over and cared for that lawn more than some folks probably do for their children. With this in mind, you can probably imagine my devastation the day I showed up for work only to find two large yellow spots in the lawn. To make matters worse, the spots were located in the most noticeable area possible.

Identifying 5 Common Lawn Grass Species

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-04-08 00:00
Grass Lawn
Whether you’re overseeding an existing lawn, thinking about establishing a new lawn or reseeding bare or thinning spots, it’s important to know what kind of grass you currently have growing. For many homeowners there doesn’t appear to be much difference between grass species at first glance. It’s not until they’ve used tall fescue to fill in a bare spot in the middle of their Kentucky bluegrass or overseeded Bermudagrass into their fine fescue lawn do they realize the error of their ways.

Chicory Gaining Popularity in Pastures

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-04-01 00:00
Chicory Flowers
As a young boy I remember playing in the fields and woods surrounding my rural home. Like all children probably do at some point, I recall picking wildflowers to give to my mom. These floral “masterpieces” contained whatever I happened to find in the fields and meadows that day. Dandelions, purple alfalfa blossoms, sunflowers, field bindweed flowers and even the occasional wild geranium were all fair game. But occasionally my arrangements contained an extravagant collection of baby blue flowers that I found growing alongside the roads during the summer months.

A Green, Spongy Menace: Dealing With Moss in Your Lawn

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-03-25 00:00
Yard Covered in Moss
Last week I received a desperate email from a homeowner in northern Idaho who was just about ready to give up on her landscape. She explained how her lawn had literally been taken over by moss. And it wasn’t the first time either. Two years ago she had all the existing grass and moss physically removed, no doubt a very labor intensive process. After filling in the area with new soil and reseeding she thought that would be the end of it. However, after deciding to do a little spring cleanup in her yard last week she noticed the moss had returned, this time with a vengeance.

Does Your Lawn Need Dethatching this Season?

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-03-18 00:00
The Thatch Layer of a Lawn
There are many things dealing with the lawn and garden that are very beneficial in small amounts, but quickly turn detrimental in large quantities. Fertilizer, irrigation and pruning are some good examples of this. The trick is finding the proper balance in everything we do. Another great example of this concept is the thatch layer in lawns, the topic of this week’s blog post. Many homeowners are unsure or unfamiliar with thatch, what impact it has on lawns, when to dethatch and how to go about removing it.


Using Corn Gluten Meal as a Natural Pre-Emergent Herbicide

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-03-04 01:00
Natural Pre-Emergent
Lawns play an important visual and functional role in the landscape especially when partnered with edible and ornamental gardens, trees, shrubs and hardscape. As the “carpet” of our landscapes, lawn grass serves as a play area and unifying element as well as allowing access to different locations within the yard. Lawns are sometimes also blamed for being high maintenance, requiring regular application of chemicals and fertilizers. At Nature’s Finest Seed, we strongly endorse the most responsible, environmentally friendly lawn and garden practices possible.

Tips for Choosing the Right Lawn Mower

Submitted by Skylar Christensen on Mon, 2013-02-25 01:00
Gas Powered
As March quickly approaches, it’s only natural our thoughts begin to dwell on greener things. Green fields, green trees and especially green grass. Soon it will be time dust off the garden tools and fire up the ol’ lawn mower again. Excited? You should be. I recently read an article explaining how Australian researchers have discovered that cut grass releases chemicals that make people feel happy and relaxed. The article also went on to tell how mowing the lawn helps to prevent mental decline.
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