CKE Community Garden
June is a fabulous month for gardeners. It
is warm enough that it is safe to plant everything – tender annuals such as
begonias; tender herbs like basil, and veggies such as tomatoes and squash.
There is plenty of moisture around (hopefully not too much!), so everything
looks lush and green. Growth is at a peak – including your lawn! While lawns
are often targeted as being high maintenance garden elements that require heavy
inputs of resources (water, fertilizer, herbicides, and labour), it is possible
to limit this impact. First, consider the size of your lawn and its function.
Is it larger than you need? How is it used and is it used well? Perhaps there
is another surface that it could be replaced with – a ground cover, gravel, or
mulch are other possibilities. Keep in mind that lawns only need about one inch
of water per week. Pay attention to how much precipitation has fallen as your
lawn may not need any additional watering during certain times of the summer
(i.e. June!). The best weapon against the invasion of weeds such as quack grass
and dandelions is a healthy, vigorous lawn so do consider aerating your lawn
every two to three years; de-thatching once a year (an enthusiastic hand-raking
of the lawn is a good substitute) and applying fertilizers, being careful to
apply only what is needed. Keep your lawn at a healthy length – a good rule of
thumb is one and a half to two inches. Clippings can be left on your lawn, or
if you prefer to remove them, they make great food for your compost pile. Don’t
be a slave to your lawn – spend time tending your vegetable garden (that’s
where you’ll find the members of the CKE Community Garden!) and actually
sitting in your garden to enjoy it! Learn more about the Community Garden on
the website and feel free to drop by and see what’s growing.
Happy gardening!
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