The Landscape Design Site Landscaping Blog

Among all the other Fall and Winter gardening tasks we’ve been discussing here in the blog, we can include treating and eliminating Winter weeds from our lawns and gardens. While it may require you to drag the lawn mower out one more time, you can also add pre-emergents, and post-emergents to your weeding plan. In the following article, Woods Houghton goes more into detail regarding post and pre-emergent herbicides to treat and eliminate Winter weed problems.

The fall season brings winter weeds. They germinate in the fall, grow through the winter and spring, and then die in the late spring. Most people think that when the grass slows it’s growth that there is no more to do to the lawn, however, fall is the second best time to control weeds using the pre-emergent method described later. The only drawback is that you cannot seed and apply a pre-emergent weed control at the same time.

These weeds can be controlled with proper methods. The two methods used are pre-emergent, and post-emergent. The pre-emergent method is the most effective because the weeds are controlled before they emerge this way the lawn looks cleaner because you never see the weeds.

A pre-emergent herbicide is used to prevent weeds such as; Crabgrass, Goosegrass, Quackgrass, Henbit, Chickweed, Plantain, and some 30 to 40 other weeds. The timing is critical on applying pre-emergent herbicides. If you put it down to early, you miss the late summer weeds, if you wait to long to apply, you’ll miss the crabgrass. Usually the weather in your area will dictate the proper timing. When Forsythia starts to bloom in your area is a good clue as to when to apply.

Using chemicals to control weeds is a tricky matter. Used correctly, they pose no problem.(Contrary to many beliefs)More harm is done to the environment each year by homeowners trying to do something that they don’t understand than by all of the professional applicators put together. Just be careful, read the label, AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

The second method of weed control is Post-Emergent control. This involves spraying the weeds after they are already up and showing. Commonly this is called broadleaf weed control because usually the weeds controlled are broadleaved. Dandelion, plantain, chickweed, oxalis, wood sorrel, wild onion and garlic, purslane, and clover are all examples of broadleaves. These have to be controlled by applying the herbicide to the leaves or to the soil as to reach the root zone of the plant.

There are many sprays available and granulated products also. The granules may be easier to apply if you’re not good with a sprayer. Sprays work much faster because you don’t have to wait for a rain or irrigate to activate the chemical. Check at your garden center or discount store for available broadleaf herbicides. Just be careful around your shrubs and flowers, they are also broadleaves and it is not hard to kill them inadvertently. I see this every year.

Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

The resources on this page should leave you with very few if any questions on how to build your own retaining walls. From gathering your first design ideas to drainage issues to finishing your wall, we’ve tried to cover all the bases.

Retaining walls have found their place as one of the most common additions and inclusions in both professional and do it yourself landscaping projects. For creating raised beds, retaining slopes, creating focal points, and a list of other landscaping applications, the concrete retaining wall block is an easy to install cost effective element.

Besides being easy to install, pre fab concrete retaining wall blocks are available in a variety of colors and styles that will go with the exterior and style of most homes. And while the styles and mechanics of blocks will vary by manufacturer, the basics of installation and construction are pretty much the same for all of them.

Retaining Wall Ideas And applications

Most applications of retaining walls have a purpose such as terracing a slope or creating raised planting beds. And while building a wall for such a purpose seems pretty straight forward, there are endless creative ways to do it. The first directory of retaining wall ideas and pictures that we created has hundreds of pictures of retaining wall projects designed by some of the most talented landscaping contractors and designers in the business.

See Retaining Wall Ideas.

Excavation And Preparation

Taking an assessment of your work site, digging your footing, and preparing your base might require a little thought and simple engineering to ensure your walls are stable and level. The following videos will lead you through the steps while also making some good points for thought in your landscaping project.

Again, while these videos may be from specific manufacturers of varied types of wall blocks, the principles of construction are basically the same. And regardless of many variations in block types, they all have basically the same shape and mechanisms for locking together. Keep that in mind while watching the videos.

Designing
Planning
Retaining Walls Building Materials
Project Preparation And Layout
Creating A Level Base Course

Construction

This first video is of a complete raised flower bed project from start to finish using the type of retaining wall blocks that are most commonly found at your do it yourself or home center. While the other videos in this directory cover a lot of details, this video shows how to build walls in its simplest form. It may be the only tutorial you need. See How To Install Retaining Walls.

Another one of our earlier directories is a collection of step by step instructions for building walls and raised planter beds. See step by step wall building instructions to get a good education on the basics of building and construction. And along another path but worth mentioning here is the option of building walls from natural stone. See Rock Garden Walls if you may be interested in creating a retainer from natural stone.

Additional Support

Using Geogrid For Added Wall Support

Backfill And Finish

Back Filling And Compacting

It’s almost time for that much deserved long Winter rest. However, there may still be a few things left to do on your fall gardening checklist. And usually because mowing the yard one last time is the last chore, the lawn mower is one of the last tools to be put up for the Winter. Make sure you maintain it right in the Fall and it will serve you well for years to come. In the following article, Woods Houghton give a few good tips and advice for putting your lawn mower up for the Winter.

Well you have mowed your lawn for the last time this year and it time to put it to bed for the winter. A few simple steps, before putting it and other summer use small engines to bed for winter, helps ensure starting up and good performance for seasons to come.

The first winterizing step is caring for the engine’s fuel system. The best way to do this is to run the engine out of fuel until the engine dies. This removes all the gasoline from the carburetor and prevents gum deposits. A gasoline stabilizer may be added to the fuel tank instead, but if you chose to use a stabilizer you need to run the engine for about 5 minutes to get the stabilizer in the total system. The remaining fuel can be left in the tank over winter.

The next step is to change the engine oil, even if the oil in the engine has not reached the 50-hour service mark. Remove the spark plug while the oil is draining. Pour about a tablespoon of engine oil into the spark plug hole and pull the starter cord two or three times. Replace the spark plug and add new oil to the engines crankcase. The engine is ready for long-term storage.

I also recommend cleaning caked on grass from the underside of the deck. This prevents the deck form rusting and makes it last longer. Also, do not store the clipping bag with clippings. They will mildew and rot.

Put the machine where it will be dry and out of the weather. A shop rag or old towel over the top of engine helps keep out blowing dust and dirt. Do not use a plastic cover because plastic acts as a vapor barrier causing condensation under the cover that can oxidize ignition parts and make starting difficult in the spring.