more about: Lawn and Ground Cover

The Grumpy Gardener

Don’t Hate My Lawn! 5 Keys to Responsible Lawn Care

May 19, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (2)

Lawn lovers, we are victorious! Last week, we decisively proved that there are very good reasons to cherish our carpets of green! But with great power comes great responsibility. Here are five ways to become an environmentally sensitive lawn owner.

The Grumpy Gardener

Don’t Hate My Lawn! It’s A Good Thing

May 17, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (17)

Other than having the last name “Monsanto,” nothing is more likely to get you reviled in the blogosphere than to say you like lawns. It just isn’t PC, especially on the Left Coast. Grumpy doesn’t care. He LOVES lawns. And if you live where having a lawn makes sense, here is why you should love them too.

The Grumpy Gardener

Mole Control — Kill Them Critters Dead

March 3, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (7)

From the looks of Grumpy’s mail, Groundhog Day ought to be renamed Mole & Gopher Day. These animal agents of Satan aren’t waiting for spring to start tunneling through lawns and gardens and turning them into sponge cake. They’re partying now. So how can you, the average outraged homeowner, deal with them?

The Grumpy Gardener

Are You Ready For Spring?

January 31, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (9)

Where did winter go? Well, for most of us in the South, it was never here. And with the spring thaw nearly upon us, it’s time to ask yourself — is my garden ready for spring? Surely, no question in the world is more important. The following checklist will get you off to a good start.

The Grumpy Gardener

6 Great Garden Gifts for Christmas

December 16, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (4)

It’s that wonderful time of the year again, when Grumpy the Grinch has stolen all the best garden gifts from Whoville to make them available to you. Here are six great items you’ll want to stuff into every stocking you find. Item #1. Crocus bulb tea light holders (above). This set of three hand-painted steel holders from Gardener’s Supply Company […]

The Grumpy Gardener

9 Things I’m Grateful For This Thanksgiving

November 18, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (10)

Thanksgiving is almost here, the chosen turkey is dead, and all that hard work Peyton Manning and I put in during the offseason has really paid off for Denver. Yet Grumpy has 9 more reasons to give thanks this year. Here they are.

The Grumpy Gardener

Why I Don’t Winterize My Lawn

November 15, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (0)

“Spend Mo Money!” No three words better sum up core American beliefs. To do our patriotic duty, the lawn care industry wants each us to “winterize” our lawns by fertilizing them now in fall. That’s a bad idea for many Southerners. Here’s why.

The Grumpy Gardener

Question of the Week: How Can I Keep Mushrooms from Growing in the Lawn?

August 16, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

Solutions to Matters of Great Import Provided Here Free-of-Charge Q: Big white mushrooms sprout overnight in our lawn after a heavy rain. Is there anything we can put down on the grass to kill them? Fannie Fungi

The Grumpy Gardener

Question of the Week: Why Bother With A Mulching Mower?

August 9, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

Solutions to Matters of Great Import Provided Here Free-of-Charge Q: Why should I use a mulching mower when every time I do it leaves messy clumps of grass clippings all over the yard? Poa Annua

The Grumpy Gardener

Timely Tasks — 3 Things All Intelligent Gardeners Should Do Now

August 7, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (0)

Refrain from cutting the grass in hot, dry weather. Southern lawn grasses like Bermuda, centipede, and Zoysia naturally tolerate drought and will stay green for weeks, unless you oafishly mow them. Grasses needing more frequent watering, like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, also require less water if you don’t mow.

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