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Just Listed--This Week
See the latest "Short-Sale" Listings & Bank-Owned Listed Homes in the
Northern Virginia area & Prince William County.
The source is MRIS.
Contact Dan if You Would Like More Details ...
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If you have a lawn of tall fescue grass (cool season variety) and may be preparing for some amount of renovation, you may want to review the "basics".
Basic Lawn Renovation Notes:
1-Lime(pelletized): Do not assume you need lime for your lawn each year. Soil test first. Objective: pH of 6.2-6.5. If you apply lime when your lawn pH is in the mid 6s range, you'll have a problem later when the lime becomes activated in the soil some weeks thereafter.
2-Fertilizer: Quality is everything. Look for a high WIN number (water insoluble nitrogen) in the product description. Also, avoid fertilizers with salt. You do not necessarily need a "starter" fertilizer
(those with a higher phosphorous content).
3-Do Not Apply Lime & Fertilizer in the Same Application. Not compatible. Reduced effectiveness in fertilization.
4-Grass Seed: Quality - Quality - Quality. Don't skimp on quality. Do your own research. Look at the award winning varieties for tall fescue. Certified seed is a must. Look for minimum weed content.
Also, don't over-apply. Too much is not better.
5-De-Thatch First: Remove thatch, if you did not de-thatch last fall or this past spring. Cut the lawn to a heighth of 1 inch to 1-1/2 inches for de-thatching.
6-Core Aeration is a Must: The soil condition is highly improved and "breathes''when a core aeration is performed (core of soil is pulled). Do this after de-thatching.
See Dan's Post of September 15, 2008 for more helpful advice.
(Article content solely that of Dan Bonner, horticulurist and garden enthusiast, 2009.)
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The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates):
30 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 5.24%
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 4.58 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 6.74%
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates):
30 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 5.15%
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 4.52 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 6.66%
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
Mid-August and less than a month before some serious yard activities...that's if you have a lawn with a tall fescue, cool season grass variety. If you do not know the quality of your grass, then you have more "home work".
Nonetheless, your local full-service garden center can help.
The purpose of this column is to suggest the need to conduct a lawn soil test. Doing a soil test now may allow you time to properly amend your soil before you start into the fall lawn renovation in September.
If you are not familiar with pH matters, as it relates to lawns, soils, shrubs, trees, plants, etc., log on to the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service web site and explore.
The site is one you will want to frequently use. Virginia residents can have soil samples analyzed for a small fee. There is a procedure to follow, and information is linked here.
Should you wish to invest in quality testing products, consider the Kelway pH tester (see picture).
[I have no affiliation, by the way, with any of the companies, nor products.]
Also, the Cole Palmer Company has a major product line of scientific testing products, including the Oakton pHTestr 20.
Clearly, the purpose is to learn, as accurately as possible, the pH of several locations throughout your lawn/yard. Simply, identify by section: front, rear, left, right, etc.
Step #1 in having an above-average quality lawn: Establish a pH setting of 6.0 to 6.5.
If you have tested your lawn's pH and the reading is less than 6.0, you will want to add peletized lime to amend your soil. This is done, properly, not in conjunction with fertilization.
Some sources have suggested to regularly (once, annually) add 20-pounds of lime to your lawn to correct the lawn's pH. Yet, the best practice is to test first. Oversupplying your lawn with lime will create an extra problem. Additionally, higher pH lawns may have advanced fungus issues during hot and humid weather.
In summary, having a mostly accurate reading of your lawn's pH (throughout your property), and establishing the optimum of 6.0 to 6.5 will ensure that all the other applications (fall fertilization) you make will, chemically, work effectively.
(Article content solely that of Dan Bonner, horticulurist and garden enthusiast, 2009.)
Subscribe to this blog's feed. You'll always get the "latest" content.
It's E-A-S-Y.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates):
30 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 5.38%
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 4.71 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 6.71%
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
Just Listed--This Week
See the latest "Short-Sale" Listings & Bank-Owned Listed Homes in the
Northern Virginia area & Prince William County.
The source is MRIS.
Contact Dan if You Would Like More Details ...
Subscribe to this blog's feed. You'll always get the "latest" content.
It's E-A-S-Y.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates):
30 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 5.17 %
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 4.60 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 6.67%
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
