The first step to planning your vegetable garden is to figure out what and how much vegetables you would like to grow. For example, if you like tomatoes or cucumbers make sure to plant enough for you, your friends, and your neighbors because everybody loves homegrown vegetables!

 

The next step is to plan your garden out on paper.  You will need to make sure you do not plant your vegetables too close together or too close to your garden fence. You will want to be able to move around them to weed and pick your harvest.

 

Step number three will be deciding whether you will buy already grown little seedlings or start your garden from seeds. If it is early in the season you can start your vegetables from seeds. When you choose your seeds make sure to check the planting zone on the back of the seed packet. You can purchase seed packets in many different stores including garden centers, grocery stores, and home centers.  

 

If you decide to start your garden indoor from seeds, you can use small paper cups and some potting soil. Following the directions on the seed packets will get you off to a good start. It will take several days for the seeds to germinate, but soon you will see little leaves and stems start to poke out of the dirt and develop.

 

Whether you purchase seedlings or seeds you will need to wait until all danger of frost is gone for your area to start planting your seedlings into your garden. Make sure to check the spacing of the plants from the seed packets or the plant tabs. You may also want to attach the empty seed packet or plant tab to the area of the plants you have planted. This will help you remember what plants have been planted where.

 

If you follow these steps you are on your way to a productive, healthy garden.

Mowing your lawn correctly will lead to a healthier, nicer looking lawn that will help you cut down on your watering, fertilizing and weed control.

Here are some tips to help you mow your lawn properly.

 

Keep mower blades sharp.

Sharpen your lawn mower blades regularly. Dull blades will rip and tear the grass leaving frayed tips. Sharp blades will give the grass a cleaner cut and will help the lawn resist disease and stress. Inspect the mower blade frequently.
 
Wait for lawn to dry before mowing.

Wet grass can stick to lawn mower blades,
preventing blades from making sharp cuts.
Mowing wet grass also encourages disease.

 

Change your mowing pattern.

Cut your lawn in a different direction each time you mow. Changing your mowing pattern will help keep your grass to grow straighter and help prevent the grass from matting down. For example: mow your lawn east to west one week then north to south the next.

 
Don’t cut your lawn too short

Don’t cut more than one-third of the grass height in any one mowing. Taller grass has more area on the leaves to gather energy from the sun and will develop a deeper healthy root system. It will also shade the ground keeping the soil cooler and prevent weed seeds from germinating. If you mow your lawn too short, more light will reach the soil giving the weed seeds a chance to sprout. When your lawn is too short, it will be less drought tolerant. 

 
Leave grass clippings on the lawn.

If you have a mulching blade on your lawn mower leave the grass clippings on the lawn.
The grass clippings will slowly breakdown adding nutrients to the soil and reducing the need for fertilizer. Clumps of clippings will need to be raked to thin them out or you can mow over that section again to distribute the clippings evenly. Leaving your grass clippings on the lawn should not contribute to thatch buildup. 

 
Watering your lawn.

The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning. The wind and heat are usually less in the morning and the most water will reach your lawn and get soaked in to the ground instead of evaporating. Watering your lawn late in the day or evening will not harm your grass but might increase the chance of disease because your grass may remain wet all night.

Watering your lawn for a longer period of time and letting the soil dry out between watering will encourage the grass roots to grow deeply. Deep rooted grass has a better chance of withstanding a dry spell. Since weeds are usually at the surface of the soil this will prevent the weed seeds from germinating.

 
Mowing your grass properly is an important part of maintaining a healthy beautiful lawn. Make sure to read and follow all the manufactures operation safety tips for your mower.