Green Garden, Green Home newsletter

Welcome gardeners 

After a small hiatus the Green Garden, Green Home newsletter is back. We are excited to announce that WSU-Snohomish County Extension Master Gardeners will be taking the helm and giving some great gardening advice with a natural yard care focus. The goal of this seasonal newsletter is to inspire and expand your gardening knowledge, all while taking into account the important role we play in the health of our local environment and waterways.

Seasonal garden tip
moss covered area
Embrace moss - it can be beautiful!

Moss - hint of a bigger problem

Once more, we are at the tail end of winter, almost upon the cusp of spring. It’s when gardeners begin to chomp at the bit, ready for another fruitful year. Stores are full of a variety of seeds, garden tools, fertilizers, and products, some of which claim to miraculously remove moss from lawns for good.

Is that possible?! Here in Washington, with winter temperatures postponing new grass growth, moss can seem an indomitable force within our environments and lawns. Come spring, many have moss on their mind, avid about its removal. But before you take a trip to the store for that miracle moss-be-gone, remember: moss tends to hint at deeper-rooted problems in your lawn that a single product cannot remedy. Knowing the determining factors of who-what-when-where-and-why moss has chosen your location is a powerful tool, one that can help dictate the most useful course of action.

Survey the location and make observations. A great first question to ask is how much sunlight does the area receive on a daily basis. Is it overshadowed by towering trees, or shaded by your neighbor’s house? Despite the fact that some mosses can survive in full sun, the vast majority thrive in more shaded areas. Likewise, most grasses need a certain amount of sunlight to thrive, and without it, can be easily outgrown.

Does the site have  good infiltration? Areas that tend to hold moisture encourage moss since it requires water to germinate and spread. Turf grasses, however, are not as well adapted. Grass waterlogged for too long will suffer from root rot. Poor drainage is caused by many different factors: compacted soil, a natural slope or dip in the land causing water to accumulate, or accidental over-watering.

Get a soil test. Moss isn’t picky, being quite comfortable growing atop nutrient-poor, acidic soil, which causes the deterioration of turf. A soil test can reveal details about soil pH and nutrient deficiencies, allowing a more targeted approach. Some soil tests even offer amendment suggestions. Contact Snohomish County Master Gardeners for more information about soil tests.

What to do next? Steps can be made to make your location less suitable for moss, and more suitable for turf: trees can be trimmed to allow in more daily light, the soil can be amended to be more grass-friendly. Select grass seed more suited for the area; sun-and-shade mixes, for example, will produce a turf more tolerant of your less-than-sunny patches of lawn. Moss must be manually extracted after moss killer is applied. 

Sometimes things cannot be so easily remedied. You can’t remove your neighbor’s house that shades part of your yard, or perhaps the problem area is at the base of a slope where rain collects. What then? Some areas just aren't suited for turf — and that’s okay! If your plot cannot be amended to be turf-friendly, there are many options available that aren’t moss. Gaining popularity are ground covers well-suited for spaces where grass struggles to take hold. Another option worth looking into is installing a rain garden — an option that supports native species and absorbs hard surface runoff. Everett has a rebate program for homeowners. everettwa.gov/raingardens


Article by Jill Oberg, Snohomish County Master Gardener

The Usual Suspects
snail on flower
Daffodils, a slug favorite
crushed snails
Carcass trap 
snail eggs
Snail eggs

Ring the dinner bell for slugs and snails

It’s that exciting time of year when all the signs of life in the garden start appearing – buds popping, bulbs pushing through the soil, birds returning, slugs and snails start sliming your plants. Wait, WHAT?!?
 
Yes, indeed. Slugs and snails, known collectively as gastropods, don’t die off in the winter. They hibernate. Now that spring is upon us, they’re waking up and they’re HUNGRY! The good news is, this is a great time to use some control techniques that will significantly reduce your slug and snail populations for the rest of the season. Just follow these three simple steps.
 
Step 1: While out in the garden pulling weeds and tidying up winter debris, be on the lookout for snails. You won’t find slugs because they burrow into the soil to hibernate until warmer weather. Snails, however, seek shelter from the winter chill in and under plants and debris. They hide in wood piles and plant pots, under garden tarps or burlap sacks, in rock walls, under low hanging shrubs and evergreens, such as heucheras and junipers, and in leaf litter under trees and shrubs. Always be on the lookout for nests of eggs and destroy them. Collect the snails that you find, we have a use for them.
 
Step 2: When gastropods first wake up, there’s not much for them to eat. One of their favorite foods at this time is daffodils. Even if you’re not a fan of daffodils, you might want to plant a few clumps because they attract all the snails in your yard. Check them at least once a day and pick off all the ‘diners’. Be sure to inspect all the way to the ground since they can burrow into the base. Again, collect what you find.
 
Step 3: Using your collected snails, create a ‘carcass trap’. Slugs and snails eat decomposing material in the wild. Let's use that natural habit against them. Find a flat, solid spot near your daffodils or a paver, your driveway or even a piece of board. Place your collected snails on this surface and smash them. That’s it – trap’s set. At least once a day, check your carcass trap to find more snails (and as the weather warms up, slugs) eating their deceased brethren. Smash those to add to the ‘feast’.
 
As the season progresses, you can move your ‘carcass trap’ closer to other attractive plants as they appear; think hostas and bearded iris, to name a few. The carcass trap becomes less effective as the season progresses because there are so many other plants on which to feed. If you work these techniques consistently early in the season, you will significantly reduce your slug and snail population without the use of chemicals.


Sheila McKinnon has been a Master Gardener since 2004.   

Stormwater and You
cute dog at beach

Dog waste and Earth Day

Love heading outdoors when the weather gets nicer, especially with your furry friends? Our chocolate lab loves to get out and explore local gardens, parks, neighborhoods and natural areas with us.

Earth Day is April 22. This year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth,” with a focus on restoring environmental damage around the globe. Puget Sound is one area suffering from pollution in the form of harmful bacteria, E. coli. These bacteria contaminate shellfish and spread sickness to humans and animals, and levels are currently high. And sadly, our furry friends are partly to blame. These bacteria mostly originate from human and animal waste that wash directly to the Puget Sound via stormwater runoff when it rains. This runoff originates from lawns, fields, pavement and parks - really from almost everywhere it rains and flows untreated down street drains directly to local waterways. On top of polluting our water, fresh droppings contain germs and parasites immediately harmful to people and dogs, particularly children and puppies. Aged feces contaminate soil with parasite eggs and other harmful organisms that can remain for years. 

Wildlife also contributes waste to our environment, but at rates that nature can adequately handle. It’s in densely populated areas where this becomes a bigger problem. Snohomish County’s estimated 177,000 dogs generate well over 100,000 tons of pet waste annually, far more than the natural environment can handle. Hence, it is our responsibility.

How can I make a difference?

  • Prevent your dog from pooping near water, storm drains, or ditches.
  • Pick up after your dog, wherever it defecates, take the bag and place it in a trash can, every time.
  • Be a hero! Consider picking up pet waste left by others.

These small steps can make big improvements in water quality. If you already handle your dog’s waste responsibly, thank you. Keep it up! Every little bit you do multiplies, making an impact on global Earth Day efforts.


Article by Sherry Lawrence, Snohomish County Master Gardener

In the News
stream

Forest bathing - the newest trend

Shrinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is the hottest nature trend that states taking a contemplative stroll in the woods can improve your health. As highlighted in a 2019 Seattle Times article, “Recent studies indicate that Shinrin-yoku can significantly reduce blood pressure and stress hormones, even after you leave the forest. Others indicate that forest bathing allows you to absorb airborne oils emitted from conifer trees, known as phytoncides, and that these oils can be beneficial to your immune system.” Read the full Seattle Times article. 

Looking for a local forest? Check out South Everett Forest Preserve, Forest Park or Johnston Kelly Park in Everett. 

Upcoming Programs
rain and flower

Month of April 2021 - Rain garden tour

Make a date to tour north Everett rain gardens. Once registered, receive a map of local rain gardens to visit at your convenience. These gardens do all the work in your yard by collecting, absorbing and filtering the rain that runs off your roof. Register to receive a rain garden tour map at everett.eventbrite.com
 
April 9, 9:30 a.m. 
Plants and fungi: a match made in heaven

The popular Snohomish Master Gardener Winter Speaker Series continues via webinar on April 9. This will be the last presentation for this year’s series. Jairul Rahaman will be presenting on “Plants and fungi: a match made in heaven.”  Click here to get tickets. 

 
April 22, 6 p.m. - Spring garden design  
Stop fretting about what you haven’t done in your garden and learn tangible ways to start. Emily Bishton, a local garden expert, will share ideas to take your lawn from yawn to great! Explore options for landscaping with native plants, growing your own food, stormwater runoff prevention and creating more backyard wildlife habitat. Get inspired and then garden at your own pace.
 
Register to receive a link to the online workshop at everett.eventbrite.com
 
April 27, 6 p.m. - Smart watering
Did you know that watering too much or too little is the cause of many common plant problems? Ladd Smith, In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes, will show you how to have healthier plants, save money on water bills, reduce runoff and conserve precious water by learning to give your lawn and garden just what they need, and no more.
 
Register to receive a link to the online workshop at everett.eventbrite.com
 
April 29, noon - Rain garden rebate
Rain gardens are a great, low-maintenance alternative to a lawn. They can be shaped and sized to fit your yard, provide habitat for local wildlife and pollinators, recharge groundwater and assist with issues that you may experience on your property. Interested in learning more about how to qualify for a City of Everett rain garden rebate? Join us for a virtual lunchtime chat to explore rain gardens and if they might be a good fit for your yard.

Register to receive a link to the online workshop at everett.eventbrite.com

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