Apps for the Yard.

3-5-11 SHORT HILLS: Yesterday was in the thirties with a sharp breeze, but sunny. I spread lime, Ca and Mg Carbonate—just like OsCal and Tums, but cheaper by the big bag. I put 80 pounds on what passes for lawn. Then I did the Holly-Tone to all the acidophilic plants, over 100 pounds, but came up a bit short. After four hours, I came in with cold hands and feet.

Today, sixties and partly sunny, feels like, what’s that word—oh yeah, Spring. I did fertilizing of the non-acidophilic shrubs and plants, so far using about 50 pounds of generic 10-10-10. By mid-afternoon today, viburnum buds were getting green. I did more clean-up of dead fall in trees and shrubs and starting pruning winter kill. Heavy rain predicted for tomorrow should help all the fertilizer and lime soak in. I put out the rain gauge.

Little by little the shrubs around the driveway are freeing themselves from the icy grip of the plow piles. There are lots of broken branches, but the shrubs will probably end up fine.


Snowdrop. That yellow-green ball in the center is what becomes the new bulb.

Snowdrops are popping up all over the yard.