We’ve all been there. The temperature dropped to below freezing during the night and you wake up to icy steps and a frozen walkway, both aimed to give you an impromptu tumbling lesson. Unfortunately, you’ve got to get to work and the thought of slipping on ice doesn’t sound so fun. If you’re in need of a quick fix to your icy dilemma, then you’re in luck!

Here are just a couple ways to keep your walkways dry and your feet on the ground!

The Rock Salt Way
The most common method to de-ice surfaces is a spread of rock salt. Rock salt can be purchased from just about any hardware store. Deicing with rock salt is simple. Liberally spread the salt across the surface of your walkway. This is fine to do before or after freezing as the salt will prevent any ice refreezing after melting.

Please note that while a common deicer, rock salt is a messy thing that will track into your house. In addition, rock salt may cause damage to concrete surfaces.

The Cleaner Way
The next solution is a tad less simple and requires a little mixing. The advantage though is that you already have all of the required ingredients sitting in your cabinets!

All you need is:

• 1 Teaspoon of Dawn Dish Detergent
• 1 Tablespoon of Rubbing Alcohol
• A Half Gallon of warm water

As soon as you start to notice the temperature dropping, go ahead and mix the ingredients together. Once you do, spread it liberally across your steps and walkways. The soap, like the rock salt, will keep ice from forming again.

The soap mix has two clear bonuses compared to the rock salt. First, you can’t track soap back into your house as easily. Second, the soap mix isn’t going to eat away at your concrete.

The Many Other Ways
Of course, it goes without saying that the above methods aren’t the only ones that work. You’d be surprised at how many home deicing remedies have been created in a pinch. Personally speaking, if it keeps you from slipping on ice, than we’ll call that a win in our book. If you’ve found any additional recipes or deicing solutions that worked for you, feel free to leave a comment and share it with us!

With the cold weather already upon us, you’re not the only one who’s left shivering. Your lawn is left to brave the sheer cold, but unlike you, your lawn has no way of keeping itself warm. You may be wondering “What’s going to happen to my grass during the winter?”

Keep reading to learn what happens to your grass during the winter.

The Grass is Alive
You’d think that by being in weather that prevents it from prospering, the grass would die. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, more often than not, the grass survives all winter long. Sure, the grass may not always be greener, but that’s just because the roots are frozen, which prevents it from absorbing moisture and causes it to turn brown.

But keep in mind that it can only hold out for so long. To keep your lawn from being destroyed by the cold weather, use a fertilizer that’s geared toward fall, mow the grass until it’s about three inches long and get rid of any leaves. The leaves can cut off any remaining oxygen your grass has, so be sure to thorough. You can use a rake or a leaf blower to get the job done.

Winterizing Your Lawn
Now that you know the grass on your lawn doesn’t perish immediately, it’s up to you to keep it that way. It may seem odd to tend to your garden while it’s cold out, but it’s what will ultimately keep it alive. Winterizing your lawn is pretty simple. In fact, it’s no different than tending to your lawn as if it were warm out.

The first thing to do is to aerate your lawn. Aerating your lawn means providing it with extra oxygen. Once that’s done, apply the right type of fertilizer to give the lawn the necessary nutrients. After you’ve finished, be sure to rake it first before watering it.

Your grass may have to endure the frigid weather, but if you take proper care of it, it will survive. However, it falls to you to keep it alive. If you refrain from maintaining it at least once a week, then your lawn will eventually succumb to the wrath of Old Man Winter. If this is your first time maintaining your lawn while it’s cold out, remember to follow the tips above.

Does your hair stand on end when thinking about what you should do to your lawn before winter. Do I cut the lawn, should I fertilize? The list goes on and on until we freak ourselves out and end up doing very little or nothing at all. Well fear no more, we have a few tips to get yard ready.

1. Most of us mow are lawn before winter but do not think about all the weed seeds we are scattering about to come back the next year. Do we want all those beautiful dandelions in our yard, I don’t think so. The only ones who love them are little children who pick them and are so proud of giving their parents a flower. We all remember that right? You will want to mow your lawn with a bag attached to catch all those seeds. When you are going to mow for the last time take it off. It will allow the grass cuttings to insulate the ground.
2. Make sure to clean up the leaves in your yard. It is tempting to just leave them there but it is not a good idea. Leaves will smother your lawn and you don’t want to kill your lawn.
3. Make sure to clean your tools like your weed whacker or your pruning shears because they could hold on to something that may hurt your lawn the next year. You do not want your yard to get hold of a disease.
4. Pick up any yard debris that could kill off patches of grass in your yard. Just like leaves, it can smother that area of grass.
5. To get ready for winter you will need to change your fertilizer. Make sure to get a fertilizer with a low first number and high second and third numbers.

If you follow these steps you will have a lawn that will thank you with a lush green carpet for the next season.

Summer can be cruel to lawns. The heat can fry it, or the kids decide to dig for treasure, or there’s one vole that took an intense liking to your yard, even though it had plenty to pick from. Usually it’s all three. When summer ends, the yard could use some patching.

But can you plant grass seeds in the fall? Flowers are planted in the spring, after all. What if the grass doesn’t like the cooler temperatures? What if the frost gets it? What if all the effort you put in just leaves you with two little blades poking up?

Relax. Grass loves the cooler weather of fall. Planting in the spring is actually harder. Fall is the perfect time to seed because the sun isn’t as intense, and the weeds that are competing for the same space are slowing down. The best window for planting is mid-August through September. Your soil will be able to hold moisture better, and the seeds should be established in time to survive the winter.

The area where you seed should be mostly level with a slight slope away from your house or any building. A steep slope will wash the seed away before it gets the chance to take root. Clear the area of debris and loosen the soil if its been compacted so the seeds can dig in. You may want to lay down some compost or peat moss to give the seed a boost. Feeding them isn’t necessary when you plant in the fall. What seed you should buy really depends on your area. Your local garden center can give you recommendations.

Even if you don’t have any bare spots, you might want to grab a bag of seed. Over seeding (when you spread seed on an already established lawn) can help it stay dense and lush. Late summer and fall is great time for this, too.

With time and careful watering, your lawn should be looking good by the end of the season. Just in time for that treasure hunt to start up again.

Do you want a beautiful yard in the spring? There are things you can do in the fall that will ensure that your lawn looks its best in the spring. It is just as important to put some work into your lawn in the fall as it is for spring and summer. Below are some tips to help you have a lush green yard in the spring.

1. When the leaves start falling you may consider leaving them on your lawn. This is something that may be fun to play in but not good for your yard. Leaves block out sunlight and make your yard retain too much moisture which can damage your lawn. Rake or use a blower to get the leaves off your lawn and it will love you for it.
2. Keep your yard mowed to around 2 to 3 inches till the last frost. If you cut it shorter it can damage the root system and if it is too long it can get fungi from the snow. It also gets rid of any leftover leaves and turns them to mulch which is good for your lawn.
3. Don’t stop watering your lawn. You may think that it doesn’t need it but your lawn could get dried out and damage the roots. The dew that gets on your lawn is not enough to keep your grass in good shape.
4. Use an aerator to make sure your lawn is not too compacted. This can keep nutrients from reaching down into the soil. A core aerator will put tiny holes in your lawn so that fertilizer can get to the roots of your grass. You can help your lawn get the nutrients it needs to be green and lush.
5. In the fall you should fertilize your yard with a 20-0-10 slow release fertilizer. It will give your grass the energy it needs to come back nice and full in the spring.
6. Rent a slit seeder which will make sure the seeds get to the soil so that it can germinate. This will fill in any thin spots and will make it harder for weeds to come up. Do this in early fall so that the seeds have time to establish themselves before winter. This will give you a much more dense lawn.

Having a thick lush lawn can be a lot of work in the fall, but https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/7-lawn-care-musts-your-fall-yard will show you how to make it easier. There will be less weeds and your yard will be green and lush.

We all want the greenest healthiest grass in the neighborhood because it says a lot about us and it makes our properties look nicer, so stop envying your neighbor’s lawn and let’s get to how yours can be even better. The step that will get you to the point of having the most luxurious-looking lawn on the block can be found in answering the commonly asked question, “When is the best time to water my lawn?”

So really, when is the best time of day to water my lawn?

Lawn-care experts recommend watering your lawn in the early morning. Watering your lawn just as the sun is rising or has risen gives you the perfect opportunity to nourish your lawn with fresh water without overdoing it or leaving the grass stripped of most of the water you’ve just laid down on it. To further explain, watering your grass in the afternoon can waste your time and efforts because a significant amount of the water you’ve just used to hydrate the grass will be evaporated by the strong sun. Thus, your grass will be deprived of some of the water you intended for it to soak up. This routine of watering your lawn in the afternoon can leave your lawn looking dry and brittle. Watering your lawn in the evening is also suggested against because the water left overnight can oversaturate the lawn and cause the lawn to suffer from diseases. Therefore, watering your lawn in the morning is the way to go because the cooler morning temperatures provide the perfect balance for the grass to thrive as it is absorbing and processing the water it’s being fed.

The time of day in which you water your lawn is as important as the frequency in which you water your lawn and for how long each time. The frequency and duration of watering your lawn can come down to personal preference because it depends on how much you want your grass to grow in a given time. In general, however, it is recommended that lawns be watered 2-3 times a week, to provide just enough hydration for the lawn to grow at a healthy rate. It is also suggested that the grass be watered for about 20 minutes at a time, which is perfect because that gives you just enough time to count all your toes, sing a lovely tune or two, and practice the latest dance move you keep seeing on the internet.

Making the effort to water your lawn in the mornings a few times a week should have your neighbors’ heads turning as they drive past your home, so here’s to having the nicest lawn around!

Toronto’s gardening season is short but sweet. Whether you’re looking forward to homegrown vegetables or just want a fun outdoor activity to keep you busy, these summer garden tips will help you grow something amazing during the sunniest months of the year.

1. Plan for a Short Growth Cycle
It’s not too late to start planting in the summer, but remember that your plants won’t have as long to grow. Determine how long it takes for each of your crops to produce a harvest. Onions, beets, and leafy greens like lettuce or kale are usually ready to harvest in less than 60 days. For other vegetables that take more time, visit a nursery to get one that’s already been started.

2. Know Which Plants Love Heat and Which Love Shade
Summers in Toronto can get extremely hot. Some plants, like tomatoes, do extremely well with direct sun exposure; other plants, like kale, need to be kept in the shade to flourish.

Walk through your garden and determine which areas get the most sun exposure. Organize your plants so that the vegetables that want sunlight get plenty of it.

3. Check Soil Moisture Daily
Once your plants are seeded and taken root, you might not need to water every day. Watering too often can actually wash away important foundational soil and hurt your plants. On the other hand, the summer heat might dry up your water faster than it soaks into the ground.

The solution is to check your soil moisture. Use your finger or a small stick to make sure that the soil holds water at least two inches deep. You want the dirt in your plant beds to be soft and damp, but don’t add so much water that it becomes muddy. You can also invest in a moisture probe to get exact levels.

Remember to water beneath your plants, not on top of them. Spraying water directly on the leaves can lead to rot or other harmful conditions.

4. Take Advantage of the Late Growing Season
In Toronto, the growing season is typically from late May to early October. Most of the summer is too hot to start delicate spring vegetables like sweet peas. But right after school starts in August, the weather is usually cool enough to grow some of these crops. To maximize your growing potential, start your cool-weather vegetables indoors towards the end of July.

5. Experiment with Flowers and Decorative Plants
Summer gardens aren’t just for vegetables. Sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, and other brilliant blooms do just fine in the summer heat. If you started your garden late or just want to branch out a little, these colorful plants are an attractive and sweet-smelling solution.

No set of garden tips will prepare you for the changing weather of a Toronto summer. Keep a careful eye on your plants; you don’t want them to receive too much or too little sunlight. If you know your schedule and plant wisely, you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious harvest at the end of the season.

Growing a lawn in Canada is one of the most difficult gardening tasks you can undertake. Our climate, particularly in the Toronto area is not usually conducive to the growth of many types of grass seed as they struggle to cope with the cold winters of Ontario. There are many different types of grass seed to choose from, but only a few have the characteristics needed to survive and thrive in the extreme conditions of Toronto. If you are choosing to grow grass from seed instead of sod, the best choice is usually a blend of seeds combining their characteristics.

Let’s start with the basis for your lawn, which the majority of gardeners agree should be the formidable Kentucky Bluegrass. Most blends of seed include between 60 and 75 percent of Kentucky Bluegrass seed as it is hardy but not drought resistant to allow it to withstand the tough Toronto winters. Kentucky Bluegrass is a fine textured grass but manages to stand up to the high traffic usually passing over your lawn in the summer months. Like most of us, your lawn will be used by family and friends when the warmer months of the year roll around.

In most blends, Kentucky Bluegrass is mixed with Fine Fescues which offer many of the same characteristics as the dominant seed in the blend. As we all know, the climate of Toronto is not always the best for growing plants and grasses, but the choice of Fine Fescues is a good one for keeping often used areas covered. As we know all too well, the problem of a lack of sunshine is a common one for much of the year, which is why Fine Fescues are often chosen as they grow well in shaded areas.

The Toronto Star recommends sowing grass seed in the Fall when the conditions reach their peak for fast germination and growth. Adding a grass seed capable of grabbing hold of the soil in just a few days is vital as the climate here is very changeable. Perennial Ryegrass and Tall Fescues are often chosen as they have long roots extending up to six feet into the ground to compliment Kentucky Bluegrass and Fine Fescues.

The snow’s almost gone. The temps are climbing, and you can feel that spring energy reinvigorating your life again. Before you head off to see The Jays’ home opener, you’ve got to do some yard clean up.

Your yard serves you well and deserves some sprucing up for the summer. Even though some early warm weather might trick you, you know in your heart when the time is to start cleaning up from the winter.

You also know when you’re just trying to delay the day when you’ve got to get those yard tools out of winter storage and put them to good use.

Before you start work, though, check out these five great tips to help you get your yard into shape for the summer.

1. Get rid of the debris
You’d think that with all that snow nothing would have accumulated in your yard over the winter, but you’d be wrong. Grab your rake and get rid of all the leaves, sticks, branches, and anything deposited on your yard from your pets.

Your rake is your best friend for this task. Put all those dead leaves, pine cones, and other debris into a central location to make bagging and hauling easier. Raking the leaves is important because this helps to minimize the risk of fungus or bacteria.

2. Work on your flower and garden beds
Clean the excess debris from your flower beds. If you grow annuals, remove last year’s dead plants. They’re not coming back again. If you got perennials, trim these down to 10 or 12 centimeters.

After you finish these tasks; aerate and fertilize the soil to make your garden ready for planting after you’re sure the frost is not coming back.

3. Re-rake your lawn
The first go-round was to remove the debris from your yard, this time you’re raking to get rid of any tenacious dead grass and to reveal any bald spots.

Only rake when all the snow is gone and your yard is dry; otherwise, you risk pulling up perfectly good grass and creating even more bald spots.

You’ll probably spend the most time getting your lawn ready, but maintaining a beautiful yard through the summer starts with getting it ready in the spring.

4. Cure those bald spots
The bald spots on your head will probably have to stay, but the ones on your lawn are simpler to cure. After you’ve raked and cleared out any dead turf, spread a couple of centimeters of compost over the bare ground.

Raking will help prepare the soil ahead of seeding time which will help increase your germination rate.

5. Prepare for battle against weeds
Spring is a great time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide, especially for a culprit like crabgrass. Later on, you can take care of any broadleaf issues you might have, but this is the right time to get a headstart on those weeds.

Yard clean up is a necessary part of spring cleaning. When you do it right by following these simple tips, you’ll save yourself a lot of work later on and have much more time to enjoy the outdoors this summer.

If you were to Google “when is the best time for planting lawn seed?” you will get a mirage of results describing why fall is ultimately the best time to spruce up your lawn with some extra seeds. While they’re not wrong, you may not be getting the whole story. We’ll cover the top reasons fall really is the best time to plant your lawn seed below, and as an added bonus, we’ll also divulge the top-secret truly best time for planting lawn seed.

Why fall is the optimal time for planting lawn seed?

Scourchingly hot summer temperatures are over

The hot, hot temperatures of summer are grass seeds’ kryptonite. The seeds simply will not thrive as well. Summertime also brings on a natural onslaught of abuse to your newly spread grass seed such as heavier traffic as the kids (and adults) play, mowing, insects, weeds, and diseases. So, summer is out as the optimal season.

Isn’t spring when your garden grows best?
While this may be the case for those gorgeous flowers and scrumptious vegetables, spring isn’t the optimal time for planting lawn seed. With springtime comes cooler soil temperatures which can prevent lawn seed from properly germinating. Springtime soil is also likely to be too wet, due to melted snow and heavier rain, and yeild a higher amount of weeds which can deter your attempts at a strong and healthy lawn.

What about winter?
This one’s pretty self explanatory, but to thoroughly present fall as the most optimal season, we must sucessfully explain the faults within all of the other seasons. Frankly, winter is cold. The ground is frozen. Other than planting ourselves in front of a warm fire place with a cup of hot cocoa, no other planting is a wise idea.

Fall is the optimal season, but why?
Fall time is the easiest time of year to keep your soil moist during the germination period. The majority of weeds, insects, and diseases are gone due to those brisk fall nights. (Chemicals used to kill weeds and plant diseases cannot be sprayed on new grass without killing the grass itself.) The newly planted grass will have all of fall and spring to mature to its full potential before battling the stresses of summertime.

Okay, fall time is best, so what’s this big secret you were talking about?
While fall truly is the optimal time for planting lawn seed, the success of your lawn lies heavily on the amount of care you put into it. If you’re reading this right now, it’s likely that you are highly motivated to improve the look of your lawn. The more motivated you are, the more likely you will diligently care for your new seedlings. Why put off for tomorrow what can be accomplished today.

For more tips, tricks, and hidden gems for perfectly planting your lawn seed, check out The Garden Counselor!