Trying to keep your lawn and garden healthy in the heat and drought conditions we are experiencing? The Univ. of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has a website designed to help the homeowner/do-it-yourselfer with this problem. It is: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/duval. Among their suggestions are;
1..Mow grass at the highest cutting height possible. Longer top growth = a longer more extensive root system.

2..Mow often. Remove small amounts of grass blades and try not to cut off more than 1/3 of blade length each time.

4..Water less often but use 3/4 to 1-inch of wateruniformly over area.

5..Early morning is better than after sundown--wet grass overnight encourages fungi. Watering during late morning and afternoon wastes waterand is illegal.

6..Reduce nitrogen fertilizer. This is identified on the bag in the first of three numbers listed. Slow release is best, and one which has aproximately the same ratio of Potassium/nitrogen is most desirable for healthy grass.

7..A good, qualified lawn service knows these things, and mixes their chemicals accordingly.

Good Luck with your Gardens.


By VIC HARROLD