Soil by the Month

Plant Nutrition January: Understanding Fertilizers February: Erosion Control March: Enhance Your Lawn Health April: Tilling the Soil May: Fertilizing Your Vegetable Garden June: Irrigation

July: Reducing the Effects of Drought August: Improving Your Soil September: Protecting Soil in the Winter October: Test Your Soil November: Uses for Leaves December: Winterizing Trees and Shrubs Nutrient Management Its Impact on Water Quality

Plant Nutrition

Macronutrients	Deficiencies	Remarks
Nitrogen (N) - Part of proteins, enzymes, chlorophyll, and growth regulators.	Reduced growth, yellowing (chlorosis), reds and purples may intensify with some plants, reduced lateral breaks.	Excess will yield all leaf and stem growth, with little fruit.
Phosphorus (P) - Role in fat, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen metabolism; respiration and photosynthesis.	Reduced growth, color may intensify, foliage turning brown or purple in some plants; thin stems, loss of lower leaves, reduced flowering.	In very acid or alkaline soils, phosphorus will be unavailable.
Potassium (K) - Important in starch formation, sugar translocation, water relations, disease resistance, chlorophyll development, and tuber formation.	Reduced growth, shortened internodes, marginal burn or brown leaf edges, dead spots in the leaf, reduction of lateral breaks, and tendency to wilt readily.	Large amounts of potash are needed by most plants.
Magnesium (Mg) - Part of chlorophyll, enzyme activator; important in energy utilization.	Reduction in growth; yellowing between veins, also can occur with middle or lower leaves; reduction in seed production.	Interferes with calcium uptake if used in excess.
Calcium (Ca) - Important in cell wall structure, cell division, enzymes, and as an enzyme activator.	Inhibition of bud growth, death of root tips, cupping of mature leaves, weak growth.	Too much calcium will result in high pH, causing many of the micronutrients to become unavailable to the plant.
Sulfur (S) - Part of protein, amino acids, vitamins; important in respiration.	Symptoms are a general yellowing of the affected leaves of the entire plant.	In some places, acid rain discharges 10 pounds of sulfur per acre to the soil each year.

When you're providing those extra nutrients for your plants, be sure to measure fertilizers accurately and apply them safely. Fertilizer run-off ends up in nearby streams and ultimately upsets the water quality in your community.

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January: Understanding Fertilizers

Plant nutrients consist of 17 elements essential to plant growth. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are considered fertilizer macronutrients because plants require them in larger quantity for maximum growth.

Fertilizer Analysis

A fertilizer is said to be complete when it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Examples of commonly used fertilizers are 10-10-10, 16-16-16, 20-10-5. An incomplete fertilizer will be missing one of the major components.

Slow-release fertilizers release nutrients (make them available to the plant) over an extended period. Caution is needed when slow release fertilizers are applied around trees or shrubs, as the later nutrient release may keep the plants growing into the fall when they should be hardening off for the winter.

Cottonseed meal, blood meal, bone meal, hoof and horn meal, fish emulsion and all manures are examples of organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers usually contain relatively low concentrations of actual nutrients, but they perform other important functions which the synthetic formulations do not. These functions include: increasing organic content of the soil, improving physical structure of the soil, and increasing bacterial and fungal activity.

Effects of Over-Fertilizing

It is important to apply fertilizer according to instructions at the proper time and rate to prevent water quality problems. Avoid getting fertilizer on sidewalks and driveways where it can easily wash into storm drains and, eventually, into creeks, streams, and rivers. Nutrients, particularly nitrogen, become a water quality problem through leaching or run-off. Leaching is the effect of nutrients being washed through the lower soil layers and into the groundwater supply. Leaching and run-off not only rob your soil of nutrients, but also lead to erosion. Provide your soil with holding power by planting groundcovers in bare spots.

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February: Erosion Control

The erosion process is initiated when the impact of falling raindrops or irrigation water detaches soil particles. When there is too much water to soak into the soil, it fills surface depressions and begins to flow. With sufficient velocity, this shallow surface run-off carries away the detached soil particles.

Signs of Erosion

• Tree roots, small stones or rocks becoming exposed.

• Small rills or gullies beginning to show.

• Build-up of silt in certain low areas.

• Soil splashed on windows and outside walls.

• The widening or deepening of stream channels.

This destructive process can be controlled by reducing the quantity and velocity of run-off through the use of groundcovers. Groundcovers include any plant material that covers the ground surface so that the soil cannot be seen from above and rain does not strike directly upon it. Turfgrass is one important type of groundcover, but many other low-growing plants are used this way. These include herbaceous perennial plants and low shrubs. Besides controlling erosion on slopes, the groundcovers fulfill other important functions as follows:

• Conserve soil moisture and lower soil temperatures during periods of extreme heat.

• Utilize nutrients in the soil for plant growth, which otherwise could be lost to erosion and leaching.

• Reduce lawn maintenance and fill narrow, odd shaped areas where mowing and edging might be difficult.

• Obstructing foot traffic without impeding view.

• Producing interesting patterns with variation in height, texture, and color.

Significant maintenance is necessary for the first one to three years until the groundcover becomes established. Provide regular cultivation, use organic mulch to control weeds, and fertilize to encourage vigorous growth for good cover; irrigate in times of drought; and provide disease and pest control.

Sod is the most common groundcover. The fibrous roots of turf grasses firmly hold the surface soil and absorb water. Sod also benefits the soil by adding organic matter to improve soil structure and infiltration of water and air.

Newly cut banks and any slopes greater than 12% are best treated with groundcover plantings other than sod, to reduce maintenance. Around buildings, ground covers are superior to paving or structural controls for reducing heat, glare, noise and dust.

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March: Enhance Your Lawn Health

Soil Test

Mow Regularly

Fertilize in the Fall

Water as Needed

By following these guidelines, homeowners can expect to save money on fertilizer as well as plastic trash bags. Annual homeowner savings for a typical quarter-acre lot amount to $20 to $45 in fertilizer costs and $20 to $40 for plastic bags. In addition, you will help your local government keep a lid on refuse disposal costs. A typical quarter-acre lot generates 3,500 to 4,000 pounds of grass clippings a year. Disposing of them costs the homeowner $50 to $90 a year in public service charges, private collector fees, or taxes.

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April: Tilling the Soil

Gardeners often wonder whether to do the plowing or tilling in the spring or in the fall. Working the soil in fall is far more beneficial than traditional spring plowing. It allows earlier spring planting, since the basic soil preparation is already done when spring arrives. The turning under of large amounts of organic matter is likely to result in better decomposition when done in the fall, since autumn temperatures are higher than those of early spring, and there is more time for this process to take place. Insects, disease organisms, and perennial weeds may be reduced by killing or inactivating them through burial or root exposure to harsh winter weather. Also, snow is trapped between the hills of roughly-plowed soil, so more moisture is retained than on flat, bare ground. Incorporation of limestone or rock fertilizers in the fall gives them time to interact chemically with the soil and influence spring plant growth.

Fall plowing alone is not recommended for hillside or steep garden plots, since soil is left exposed all winter, subject to erosion when spring rains come. For these areas, a winter cover crop is grown to improve soil and prevent erosion. Till in the fall to prepare the soil for seed, and in the spring turn under the green manure. Spring plowing is better for sandy soils and those where shallow tilling is practiced. Generally, most gardens must be lightly tilled in the spring to kill weeds and smooth the soil for planting.

An alternative to standard procedures is minimum-till gardening, also known as conservation tillage. This method is ideal for transplants to the vegetable garden.

1. In the fall, prepare the soil for cover crop seed by tilling under summer crop wastes. Remove tomato vines and corn stalks to make tilling easier.

2. Plant a combination cover crop of rye-hairy vetch (2 lbs. of winter rye grain and 3/4 lb. of hairy vetch per 1000 square feet). The rye, a non-legume, provides the mulch for spring planting. Hairy vetch, a legume, contributes beneficial nitrogen to the soil. The vetch seed must be coated with a Rhizobium inoculant prior to seeding to insure nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

3. In the spring, use a scythe or string-line trimmer to cut the crop cover to a manageable level. Rake the cover crop to the side of the area to be planted and save. Use a lawn mower to completely trim to the ground.

4. A week later, mow the area again. Now your area is ready for planting. Dig a hole for each plant, large enough to accommodate for root spread. Pull weeds in the surrounding area including cover crop roots. Water in the plants with a water-soluble fertilizer according to directions or, if available, put a quart of compost in each hole with the plant. Mulch the entire area between plants with the clippings reserved from the week before. Leave 6 to 8 inches of space around the base of plants to allow the soil to warm up.

5. Some additional mulch may be needed for proper weed control. Use grass clippings or leaves saved from the previous fall. If weeds appear, pull them by hand. If hoeing is needed, try to keep the blade underneath the mulch layer and disturb as little as possible.

6. This process is repeated the following fall to continue minimum-till gardening. You may want to experiment with small plots rather than your entire garden.

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May: Fertilizing Your Vegetable Garden

Timing of Fertilizer Application

Proper use of nutrients can control rate and character of plant growth. Nitrogen is the most critical nutrient in this regard. If tomatoes are fertilized heavily with a nitrogen fertilizer into the summer, the plants may be all vine and no fruit. This is also the case with potatoes, which will show excess vining and poor tuber formation. If slow-release fertilizers or heavy amounts of manure are used on crops that form fruit or vegetables, the plant will keep producing leaf or vine growth, and fruit or vegetable development will occur very late in the season.

Remember that a nitrogen application will have its greatest effect for three to four weeks after application. If tomatoes are fertilized heavily on June 1, there may be no flower production until July 1, which will delay fruit ripening in late August. For this reason, it is important to plant crops with similar fertilizer needs close together to avoid improper rates of application.

Application Methods

Banding. Narrow bands of fertilizer are applied in furrows 2 to 3 inches from the garden seeds, and 1 to 2 inches deeper than the seeds or plants that are to be planted. If the fertilizer band is placed too close to the seeds, it will burn the roots of the seedlings. For plants widely spaced, such as tomatoes, fertilizers can be placed in bands 6 inches long for each plant, or in a circle around the plant. Place the bands 4 inches from the plant base. Banding is one way to satisfy the needs of many plants (especially tomatoes) for phosphorus as the first roots develop. When fertilizers are broadcast and worked into the soil, much of the phosphorus is locked up by the soil and is not immediately available to the plant. By concentrating the phosphorus in the band, the plant is given what it needs, even though much of the phosphorus stays locked up.

Side Dressing. Dry fertilizer is applied as a side dressing after plants are up and growing. Scatter fertilizer on both sides of the row, 6 to 8 inches from the plants. Rake it into the soil and water thoroughly.

Foliar Feeding. Nutrients applied to foliage are absorbed and used by the plant quite rapidly. Absorption begins within minutes after application, and with most nutrients, it is completed within 1 to 2 days. Foliar feeding is best when your soil is too cold for the plants to extract the dry fertilizer. Foliar nutrition can be a supplement at a critical time for the plant, but cannot replace soil fertilization.

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June: Irrigation

There are several options for applying water to plants. These include: a watering can, a garden hose with a fan nozzle or spray attachment for containers, small gardens or individual plants and portable lawn sprinklers, a perforated plastic soaker hose, drip or trickle irrigation, or a semi-automatic drip system for lawns and gardens.

Your careful use of irrigation techniques will help local streams and will ultimately benefit larger bodies of water in your surrounding area by reducing fertilizer and pesticide(if you find yourself using it even with the best of intentions!) run-off and by conserving water.

Some Basic Techniques and Principles for Watering

• Adjust the flow or rate of water application to about one-half inch per hour to avoid causing run-off. To determine the rate for a sprinkler, place small tin cans at various places within the sprinkler's reach, and check the level of water in the cans at 15-minute intervals.

• When using the oscillating type of lawn sprinkler, place the sprinkler on a platform higher than the crop to prevent water from being diverted by plant leaves. Try to keep the watering pattern even by frequently moving the sprinkler and overlapping about one half of each pattern.

• Do not sprinkle foliage in the evening. Wet foliage overnight may encourage disease. Morning watering is preferred.

• Perforated plastic hoses or soaker hoses should be placed with holes down (if there are holes), along one side of the crop row or underneath mulch. Water will slowly soak into the soil.

• Frequent, light waterings will only encourage shallow rooting, causing plants to suffer more quickly during drought periods, especially if mulches are not used. On the other hand, too much water, especially in poorly drained soils, can be as damaging to plant growth as too little water.

Your lawn can use an inch or more of water per week in hot, dry weather. The lawn should be watered when the soil begins to dry out, but before the grass actually wilts. Loss of resilience can be observed; footprints will make a long-lasting imprint instead of bouncing right back.

Critical watering periods for selected vegetables are:

Asparagus	Spear production, fern development
Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower	Head development
Beans, Peas	Pod filling
Carrot	Seed emergence, root development
Corn	Silking, tasseling, ear development
Eggplant, Tomato	Flowering, fruiting
Cucumber, Melon	Flowering, fruit development
Lettuce	Head development; moisture should be constant

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July: Reducing the Effects of Drought

What happens to soil nutrients during a drought? The good news is - nothing. It does not change soil composition or structure. The nutrients are not lost or evaporated from the soil.

But heavy rainfall after a dry period can wash away heavy clay, and with the clay go your valuable nutrients and topsoil. This is not caused by the drought, but by the structure of clay soil; it is made up of very small particles which are easily dispersed by water. This leads to erosion and nutrient loss. There are several ways to hold on to your soil and improve nutrient quality:

• Incorporate organic matter into clays and other soil types to improve soil structure.

• Mulch to conserve moisture and control soil splashing.

• Use trickle irrigation near the base of plants to reduce run-off.

Watering

The best watering time is early morning, when humidity is high and moisture loss is minimal.

Afternoon watering should be avoided. Irrigating during the day results in a 20-25% loss of water through heat and evaporation, and if foliage is watered, it can create a magnifying-glass effect that will burn leaf tissue. If a plant shows signs of drought stress in the afternoon, do apply water, but at the base of the stem.

Watering in the evening conserves water as well, but it increases the risk of fungal disease and damage from nocturnal insects searching for water.

Dormancy or Death

Restrict the use of herbicides because it tends to stress the lawn as it tries to detoxify the chemical. And when a lawn becomes brown during a dry spell, the last thing that is needed is fertilizer. Application of fertilizer at this time can kill your lawn. It's like telling someone who has just finished running a full marathon to run another ten miles.

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August: Improving Your Soil

Any addition to the soil which improves its physical or chemical condition is considered a soil amendment. Many types of amendments are available to the gardener.

Amendments to Change pH and Nutrient Levels

Amending the soil with wood ashes raises soil pH, but you must apply twice as much ash as limestone for the same effect. Spread it in a thin layer and incorporate it into the soil. Check pH yearly if you use wood ashes. Never use coal ashes or large amounts of wood ash (no more than 20 pounds per 1000 square feet), as toxicity problems may occur.

Other amendments are added specifically to improve soil nutrient levels. Greensand and granite meal are sources of potassium. Granite meal is finely ground granite rock which releases its potassium slowly. Greensand is relatively low in potassium, which is readily dissolved. Other nutritional amendments that can be purchased for garden use include cottonseed meal, kelp meal, leather meal, and worm castings, as well as an array of synthetic fertilizers.

Amendments to Improve Soil Qualities

Animal manures are commonly used as a garden soil amendment. Fresh horse, sheep, rabbit, and poultry manures are quite high in nitrogen and may burn plants if applied directly to a growing garden. They are best applied in the fall and tilled under.

The use of compost is one way to get around tying up nitrogen during decomposition. Compost is usually made by the gardener from plant wastes. Correct composting can result in a valuable nutrient and humus source for any garden. The basis of the process is the microbial decomposition of mixed, raw, organic materials into humus - a dark, fluffy product resembling rich soil - which is then spread and incorporated into the garden soil. Check Here for information about building a compost pile.

Remember, your soil is alive and constantly changing. By keeping it fertile and rich, many gardening problems may be diminished. Soil is the base for plant growth, and much attention should be paid to getting and keeping it in the best condition.

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September: Protecting Soil in the Winter

Turning under vegetation in the fall allows earlier planting in the spring and is especially good for heavy soils, since they are exposed to the freezing and thawing that takes place during the winter. This helps to improve soil structure. A cover crop's roots hold the soil, decreasing erosion during the winter. Tilling under the cover crop in the spring adds organic material to the soil, improving its structure and porosity and adding valuable nutrients. Winter cover crops can be planted from September 1 through November 1 (optimum planting is September 1 to October 15). Where you have fall crops growing, you can sow cover crop seed between rows a month or less before expected harvest. This way the cover crop gets a good start but will not interfere with vegetable plant growth.

Some cover crops suitable for winter use are legumes such as crimson clover, fava beans, or hairy vetch. Non-legume cover crops such as barley, winter rye, or winter wheat may also be used with good results. Mixtures of legumes and non-legumes are effective as well. Ask at the seed store or your local Extension office what the best type of cover crop for your area is, and at what rate (pounds per 100 square feet) to plant it.

Prepare the soil for cover crop seed by tilling under plant wastes from the summer. Broadcast the seed, preferably before a rain, and rake it evenly into the soil. Spring planting may be delayed somewhat by the practice of cover cropping, since time must be allowed for the green manure cover crop to break down. If you have crops that need to be planted very early, you may prefer to cover a section of the garden with mulch.

Other Practices

Another alternative is the use of a living sod, mowed regularly, which has many of the benefits of no-till and does not necessitate the use of herbicides. This practice works best with raised beds, so that only the paths need to be mowed.

Dr. John Luna at Virginia Tech reports success using a combination of winter rye and hairy vetch as a fall-sown cover crop, harvesting it with a scythe in the spring, planting through the stubble, then using the top material as a mulch as the season progresses. Also, this option does not require herbicides.

The use of cover crops over several seasons or years in a particularly weedy section of the garden is particularly useful in reducing weed problems and water demand.

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October: Test Your Soil

The purpose of a soil test is to supply you with enough information to make a wise fertilizer and soil amendment choice. A soil test will provide information on pH, available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Soluble salts are run on request. The results of the soil test are mailed to you with recommendations as to what kind of fertilizer or amendment should be applied for economical growth of the desired crop or specific plant. A soil test need not be performed more often than every three to four years. Submit your sample in the fall, prior to planting or tilling, so that needed lime or other soil amendments can be changing the pH over the winter. Fertilizers should be incorporated the next spring.

Soil test kits are available for checking soil at home. For best results, carefully follow the instructions given for the soil test. Private companies also do soil testing; these give detailed reports and recommendations in many cases, but may be expensive ($30 is not unusual).

The accuracy of the test is a reflection of the soil sample taken. Be sure your sample is representative of the area to be treated. Sample the soil from 10 random areas to the depth at which you till the garden. Avoid sampling unusual areas such as those near gravel roads, manure or compost spots, brush piles, or under eaves. Place the samples in a clean pail or container and mix the soil thoroughly, then transfer one cup of mixed soil to a container and take it to your local Extension Office. The results will be mailed to you with recommendations for correcting any deficiencies or other problems that may exist.

Soils range greatly in their properties and in their suitability for different uses. Many of the differences in soils relate to the geologic parent materials and the local topography.

The main soil types are sand, clay, silt, and loam. Sandy soil feels very coarse and grainy. Water drains through it very quickly. As a result, sandy soil dries out rapidly.

Clay soil is very thick, like putty. It holds water like a sponge. Clay soil does not dry out as fast as sandy soils, but when it does dry out, it becomes hard and very solid, making it quite difficult to break the soil surface with a shovel.

Silty soil is between sandy and clay soil. It holds water well but does not dry into a hard, solid mass.

Loam is the ideal mixture of sand, clay, and silt. Through the addition of organic amendments, loam can become the perfect soil for your vegetable garden.

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November: Uses for Leaves

This year, try a different strategy. Instead of turning those leaves into garbage, turn them into a beneficial soil amendment for next year's flower and vegetable beds. Autumn leaves can be added to the home compost pile or used as mulch.

A compost pile need not take up a large part of your lawn or garden. Nor does a properly maintained compost pile have offensive odors. To contain the compost, use a 3- or 4-sided structure made of wood or wire meshing. Add any vegetable matter to it, such as kitchen discards and the autumn leaves. It's a good idea to add an occasional layer of soil and some ground limestone to aid the decomposition process. Turn the compost occasionally. By next gardening season, you'll have rich, dark compost that makes an excellent amendment to soil.

If you need only a small amount of compost, you can use a plastic trash bag to compost relatively fine material such as shredded leaves, lawn clippings, or chopped garden refuse. Make layers as in a compost pile, or mix all materials together. Add 2 quarts of water to dry material (1 quart if it is quite moist or succulent). Tie the bag and turn it over monthly to aerate the material and distribute the moisture.

A lawn mower can be used to shred leaves. Pile the leaves a few inches high and go over them several times with the mower. Shred leaves when they are dry, to prevent blades from clogging. Shredded leaves are great to incorporate with other materials for compost making, but less effective for mulching purposes as they decompose too quickly.

Can you compost or mulch with leaves that carry disease or insects? The answer is a qualified yes. Diseased or insect-infested leaves should be used as a mulch for flowers or shrubs, not other trees. This way, even if the leaves carry disease, they won't damage other trees. If the leaves seem very infected, it may be wiser to compost them, since this can destroy many harmful organisms.

Other Valuable Uses

• In the fall, collect leaves in bins or large piles. In spring, dig into the pile to get the matted clumps of partially decomposed leaves. Use as a mulch to keep moisture and nutrients accessible to the plant.

• Fill the paths between raised beds now, for fewer weeds next spring.

• Till into the soil in fall to break down by spring.

• Fill bags with leaves and use as insulation for cold frames.

• Use as a winter mulch on bare ground to reduce erosion.

Leaves are an excellent source of organic matter and other nutrients. The more you can add to a compost pile or use as a mulch, the less goes into an already over-used landfill. Mulching can also make the soil more workable, aid rainwater penetration, and improve moisture retention near plant roots.

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December: Winterizing Trees and Shrubs

It is often necessary to give a little extra attention to plants in the fall to help them make it through winter and start spring in peak condition. Utilize cultural practices that will help you reduce winter damage of ornamentals.

Select hardy plants. Grow plant materials that are native or are known to be winter-hardy in your area.

Select an appropriate site. Some varieties of rhododendron, azalea, camellia, daphne, and holly need a location on the north, northeast, or eastern side of a building or other barrier where they will be protected from prevailing winds and intense winter sun.

Avoid poorly drained soil, low spots that create frost pockets, and sites that are likely to experience rapid fluctuations in temperature.

Practice late fall fertilization. Fertilize after plants are dormant but before soil temperature drops below 45^o F. to help prevent winter damage. Avoid late summer or early fall fertilization while plants are still active, as this stimulates late fall growth which is easily killed by freezing.

Prune at the right times. Proper pruning at appropriate times throughout the year is effective in reducing damage by ice and snow. Avoid late summer pruning, which stimulates new, tender growth and reduces the supply of nutrients available to the plant through the winter.

Be sure your plants have enough water. Proper watering can be a critical factor in winterizing. If autumn rains have been insufficient, give plants a deep soaking that will supply water to the entire root system before the ground freezes. This practice is especially important for evergreens. Watering during January, February, and March, when there are warm days, is also important.

Mulch to control erosion, soil temperature, and loss of water. A 2-inch layer of mulch material such as fir bark, pine needles, or wood chips will reduce water loss and help maintain uniform soil moisture around roots. Mulching also reduces freezing and thawing of the soil which heaves some shallow-rooted plants, causing significant winter damage.

Remove snow that is collecting on branches with a broom. Always sweep upward with the broom to lift snow off. When the branches are frozen and brittle, avoid disturbing them. Wait until a warmer day.

Protect newly planted trees. Bark splitting, especially dangerous on young trees, is caused by the extreme fluctuations in temperature. The afternoon sun on exposed trunks raises the temperature much higher than the air and the sudden drop at dark causes splits and cracks. It can be prevented by wrapping trunks with burlap strips or a commercial tree wrap or shading the southwest side.

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Nutrient Management and Its Impact on Water Quality

Don't bag those clippings! Returning clippings will return nutrients to your lawn.

Build a compost pile and you convert trash to treasure. Such throwaways as leaves, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable scraps decompose into priceless organic matter.

Mulch to conserve water; during a drought, it can mean the difference between life and death to your plants.

Control erosion with the use of cover crops and groundcovers.

Use proper irrigation equipment, such as soaker hoses and water timers, to reduce water consumption.

Test soil for accurate nutrient formulation for a specific plant. The test will provide you with information on pH, available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Use correct tilling procedures to lessen erosion. Tilling in the fall allows earlier spring planting, better decomposition of organic matter, and less chance for diseases, insects, and weeds since turning the soil over exposes these pests to harsh winter weather.

Mow at the proper height to protect the grass plant from stress and to preserve moisture. A good "rule of thumb" is to cut off no more than one-third of the grass plant at any mowing.

Using these and other methods from this calendar will provide:

• Reduced costs for you

• Reduced landfill dumping

• Reduced maintenance time

• Increased water quality

Active use of these methods enables you to become an expert in your own environs and steward of clean water. For more information, contact your local Extension office for slide and video programs and publications available on nutrient management and its impact on water quality.

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