Get Your Spring Garden Ready to Enjoy Summer Veggies

It’s safe to say that the cold weather is finally behind us which means it’s time to start preparing for a spring garden. This past week’s rain has given us a great boost, and with the temperatures climbing, there are plenty of vegetables that are ready to go in the ground for a summer harvest.

Before we get into planting, it’s important to prep your garden beds. Start by removing the top layer of leaves, sticks, rocks, and any debris that has fallen and hardened over the soil. You’ll also want to remove any old plant debris if you didn’t get around to it last fall.

Once the ground is clear, it’s a good idea to break it up. Winter can be very tough and the ice and snow from the season will have compacted the soil, making it rock hard. Use a shovel or pitchfork to turn the soil, which is much easier and more efficient when the ground is dry. Breaking up the garden area allows the soil to soften, but it also enables oxygen to get into the ground, which is one of the most important elements your garden will need to grow. If your garden is already established, you might want to skip this step to avoid breaking up the root system that has already developed.

Next, be sure to topsoil the beds using compost or manure, but only do this when the ground is very dry. Adding compost will give the garden a nutrient kickstart and all of that goodness that you add to the top layer will slowly make its way down into the soil as time passes. This is also a good time to test the pH level of your soil and add any additional elements, such as lime, to ensure your garden is ready for planting.

Many of my favorite vegetables are ready to go into the soil by the end of April or early May. You can check The Old Farmer’s Almanac website to choose which veggies to plant, but some that I love which are ready for the ground at this time of year include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, peas, radishes, and spinach. Starting plants in the garden from their seeds is hard, so we often begin growing our seeds indoors and then transplant them into the garden, but you can also buy seedlings from the nursery when you are ready to plant.

If you like the same veggies I do, getting them into the ground in the next few weeks will result in a ready to pick garden by late June and early July, which means delicious fresh salads and perfect side dishes for the barbecue. Who is ready for summer? I know I am!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Get Rid of That Funky Roof Mold

Have patterns of strange, streaky stains appeared on your roof this spring? My phone rings off the hook for roof cleanings this time of year, and as I drive around town, I see so many houses decorated with unsightly roof residue, which frequently emerges during the April rainy season. But what are the stains, why have they suddenly popped up, and what can you do to get rid of it? They are all good questions, so let’s get you some answers.

Stains on the roof are generally algae, which gets carried by wind or birds from roof to roof, and may not be visible until they have enough moisture, heat, and humidity to grow and spread. The manifestation of an algae problem is those black streaks that you see. Now don’t be too alarmed, algae isn’t necessarily going to ruin your roof immediately, but it does affect the curb appeal of your home and the problem could end up damaging and pulling up your shingles if not dealt with for a long period of time.

An interesting fact is that copper, zinc, and lead are toxic to algae, and many newer roof shingles contain copper granules, which act as a barrier against any mold growth. Homes with older roofs won’t benefit from this technology, but it explains why you won’t see algae where metal flashing has been installed. If you’re susceptible to algae and in the market for a new roof, be sure to inquire about this type of shingle.

So now that we know what it is, how do we get rid of it? The easiest way to rid your roof of algae is a good cleaning solution, which can be picked up at the hardware store, applied using a pump sprayer and rinsed with the garden hose. One tip is to give any plants below the roof a good drink of water beforehand so they don’t absorb the solution. If you’re not comfortable on a ladder, call a professional to help you complete this task. A clean roof isn’t worth a trip to the hospital, and a local area home improvement specialist will be able to complete the job in just a few hours.

Once the roof has been cleaned, you might want to do something to prevent the mold from coming back again. As I mentioned, copper, zinc and lead-coated sheet metal are toxic to algae, so installing a strip of flashing will help stop that nasty fungus in its tracks. Choose a strip that’s at least six inches wide, and have it installed at the roof peak to ensure that the metal molecules wash down with the rain and protect the roof from mold build up.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Spring Lawn Care Tips During a Drought

This week’s short patch of warmer weather probably had you thinking about your lawn and wondering what you can do prepare it for summer while the city is still under mandatory water restrictions. Our drought status isn’t likely to be updated until at least May, so in the meantime, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a few tips on how you can try to preserve your grass as we continue through this dry spell.

Of course, grass needs water to grow, but outdoor watering right now is not possible, so first let’s focus on the soil. Healthy soil is key for root systems to grow and with proper aeration and management, soil can actually retain moisture incredibly well. When water is scarce, roots will dig deep to find the nutrients that they need. If they can’t find what they are looking for due to compaction, low pH levels, or layers of dead materials, the roots will start to die off and you’ll find yourself with a brown lawn. However, if your soil is in good shape, you don’t need to water your lawn as much, regardless of our drought status. Here are most common methods of maintaining good soil.

Topdressing is the application of a thin layer of compost to your lawn. The nutrient-rich composition of organic matter in compost can give your lawn the biology boost it needs to stay strong during drought conditions.

Aerating is a method by which a homeowner uses a machine to punch small holes into the lawn, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of the lawn easier. This is an excellent practice during drought times as it allows what little precipitation we may get to reach the most important part of the lawn faster.

Dethatching is the process that removes old and dead organic materials such as leaves from your lawn. The long winter generally kills anything that isn’t attached to roots, and these materials can get compacted into your lawn, placing a barrier between your grass and the sun, air, and water it needs to grow. Removing the thatch is key to let the new, living material get to the surface.

Once your soil is in tip-top shape, you can decide whether to try and preserve the grass you have or look for a drought tolerant alternative. If you’d like to try and keep your grass until the drought lets up, mow it as infrequently as possible and cut it at the highest setting on your lawn mower.

For those who are interested in drought-tolerant grasses, some of the most popular warm season varieties include Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, and Buffalo grass, but each variety performs differently depending on the amount of sun and traffic they get, as well as the soil composition.

Hopefully, we won’t need to worry about drought tolerant lawn care in the near future, but if you are looking to make a major change with your landscaping, always consult with a professional who can help you choose which solution is right for your needs.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.