In The Garden This Week: It Is Time to Get Your Soil Tested
It is now time to start thinking about our home garden and lawn care and all the fun we are going to have as spring begins o slowly appear.First a few Don'ts:
1. Do not plant grass seed until the soil temperature is a sustained 50 degrees, that means consistent day/night temperatures of 50+ degrees.
2. Do not rake your lawn if it is still wet. Allow it to dry out; otherwise you will be raking out good grass.
3. Do not prune hydrangeas at this time, other than to carefully cut off dead flowers.
And a few Do's:
1. This is an excellent time to prune trees and bushes to get rid of deadwood or to shape perennials.
2. The following are some of the vegetables that can be planted now: peas, potatoes, spinach, followed soon by lettuce. These are cold crops; others should wait for about another month.
SOIL TESTING:
URI Master Gardeners have once again established their FREE Soil Testing and Gardening Information Kiosk at Paradise Valley Park in Middletown. We will be there from 11-1 every Saturday (rain or shine) from this Saturday, 12 April until October. Paradise Valley Park is on the grounds of the Middletown Historical Society's Museum and 8-vaned windmill at the corner of Paradise and Prospect Avenues. Turn left off Aquidneck Avenue on Prospect Avenue and go 1/2 mile. Come see us with a soil test, a weed, insect or plant identification or any gardening questions.
URI Master Gardeners, led by Lucy Huggins and Jim Garman will return for their third year at the kiosk. The have accumulated a total of more than 7,000 volunteer hours as Master Gardeners.
For the homeowner as well as the gardeners in the family a soil test is essential to provide a base for lawn care, flower gardens and vegetable gardens. The soil test will enable the homeowner to make timely adjustments to improve the quality of their soil.
How To Take a Soil Sample:
1. Using a clean trowel, take a sample at root level (3-4" for lawn, 5-8" for vegetables.
2. Do not sample recently fertilized, limed or very wet soil.
3. Dig a sample (or 2 or 3) of approximately one cup of soil. Allow it to dry overnight on newspaper.
4. Put the soil in a paper/plastic bag and label it.
Normally, because most RI soil is acidic it will be necessary to add lime to improve the quality of the soil. Improved soil will enhance the lawn and provide more nutrients for vegetables and flowers. Most soils and gardens prefer a pH level of 6.0-6.8. Some crops require a lower pH. Each plant requires a specific range of pH and the soil testers will provide you with the proper pH requirements for what you are growing.
Many factors can affect the health of your lawn:low pH, soil compaction, insufficient (and too much) moisture, too much sun or shade can all affect the quality of your lawn.
Bring your questions for us to answer and we will try to help. You can also e-mail us at gardeninginformationri@gmail.com.
TREE SEEDLING GIVEAWAY:
The Portsmouth Tree Commission will be having its tree seedling giveaway this Saturday, 12 April from 9-12 at the Town Hall parking lot. The following small seedlings will be available as long as the supply lasts: red bud, pitch pine, post oak, red oak, sassafras and flowering dogwood. It'll be first come, first serve, so get their early.
