2016 Reflections and
Plans
Last year
was one that I’m mostly glad is past. My brother had a stroke at 55 years old,
my nephew has a stroke and heart valve replacement surgery at 40 and my mom
died.
It hasn’t all been bad, as my children both graduated from college and
got great jobs in Kansas City so they are close, I celebrated 9 years of
sobriety, lost about 50 pounds (put a few back on) and celebrated at the
marriage of my niece Allison. My mom wouldn’t want me whining, so I’m going
back to the glass being half FULL!
Recent
rains/floods shouldn’t any effect on our lawns (unless you are in the flood
areas of course). The warm weather and lack of snow gives us the opportunity to
do the following:
*Take a soil
test (1” cubes about 4-5” deep from 15-20 spots in the lawn). Mix together and
bring it to me or the Botanical Gardens or mail off to the Extension Service at
University of Missouri. Fixing the pH or nutrient needs is best done over the
winter months.
*Blow or
rake up leaves to prevent “pockets” of dead grass where weeds are sure to grow
soon.
*If it’s
above 45 degrees you can spray Turflon Ester on any weeds you see. Chick weed,
Henbit and dandelions are out in my neighborhood.
*Make sure
your lawn mower is “winterized” so it’s ready to go in couple of months (or
weeks)?
*You can
still apply fall fertilizer if you haven’t done so.
Staying
positive, working with others and staying physically fit are my main goals in
2016. I’ll hope this finds you in a positive state of mind and gives you some
ideas to share with your loved ones. I say a quote the other day in a newspaper
that went like this…”choose words that make you smart”. I liked that and will
work on that as well!
