My stand on flora initially developed as a hobby, followed by at least 42 years of growing Morgantown. That’s right, just Morgantown, not even Fairmont, so this website works best for Morgantown, West Virginia. Our soil, weather, and conditions — like humidity and temperature — are unique to us. If a lawn or garden technique works somewhere else, super, but I don’t think you will have the same success here.
I have been blessed by the person I think is the world’s most beautiful and supportive wife. If you’re interested in asking, she will tell you I am very opinionated. Diane will also be happy to tell you I love to teach, and she’s the happiest when I teach someone other than her!
So, with these pages, I’m going to give you the answers you need to have a successful garden in our hometown. They come from my many years in your lawns and gardens and working with some of the best mentors Morgantown had to offer.
The answer to the mole problem in your Eden is that it calls for a professional.
I’ll explain the task and go over the minutiae here. After all, moles are the enemy, and it’s good to understand your enemy. The reality, however, is that moles must be killed, and finding where they are isn’t easy. Neither is trapping or poisoning them.
Call me to find out who I’m currently recommending. Success and pricing depend on the technician, and they do change.
Moss in your lawn this time of year can be frustrating, but it is just nature being normal. Moss can be caused by low soil pH, compaction, and/or lack of air flow. However, it’s our experience that the soil is pretty resilient, and if a location favors moss, it will win.
Unless you are growing grass on a golf green there is only one rule to cutting properly. Cut your lawn at 3½ inches or higher and mow when it grows a third higher. If it’s growing wildly, then once a week.
Weather really is just weather, another part of lives over which we have no control. We have become complacent with our nice weather over the last 10 years.
Following are examples of what we should be doing from our old check list. They come to you with a word of warning: It’s probably too late this winter for any of these at this point.
Red thread is here in Morgantown, as it is almost every year. During my 40 plus years, I have learned to manage its damage, and for the most part accept it, just like my 20-plus-year hair style.
Take a moment to look at the video "Why Am I Getting Splotches in My Yard?", and then study the photo to see what we are talking about. (Thank you. Now we are thinking about the same thing.)
If you remember the discussion on how to prepare shrubs for a real winter (see my Wisdom on Preparing for a Real Winter), we are now faced with how to fix that damage.
Best-case scenario, your shrubs are basically OK, just pulled apart some. In many cases, though, like the photo in the Wisdom shows [link to photo if you can], the damage is severe. Not the look we want.
Seeding on bare soil works unless you have some sort of trauma, like urine spots or a chemical burn. In those cases, you really need to give it time or call me for suggestions.
There are many opinions on how to seed bare soil, but, while they can all be right, remember, what I do works in Morgantown.
I want to use the rest of this newsletter to address another 2020 blessing: ticks.
I asked Mike Spiroff, owner of Tri State Exterminating, about ticks because one of my special clients, Jamie Guttman, was having major problems with them on her new puppy. She also had the misfortune of getting bitten. Following is part of my interview with Mike.
I take numerous calls about aeration because some golf courses do it and in other parts of the country, it can be an aid in breaking down soil compaction. First, let me say I don’t believe it can cause harm unless done during drought conditions. So, if it feels good to you, go for it. If you really want to help your lawn and save money at the same time, learn how to mow your lawn properly. In short:
