The Daily News

Editor's note: This is the first story in a four part series about gardening seminars sponsored by St. Catherine's Living Center.

by Erin C. Hevern, Daily News

St. Catherine's Living Center, Wahpeton, was a hub for gardening and lawn maintenance information Thursday night. In the first of four seminars hosted by St. Catherine's, "Remedies for Gardening" led those in attendance to new tips on how to keep their lawn looking fresh and be successful in container gardening.

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Dale Siebert, Richland County Extension agent, spoke on a number of topics including renovating a new lawn, mowing properly, watering and fertilizing.

"If you're putting in a new lawn I'd recommend to wait until the fall," Siebert said.

In the fall growing a new lawn is easier due to warmer soil temperature, weed competition is reduced and cooler fall temperatures causes less stress on what's attempting to grow. Also, precipitation is more dependable.

It's appropriate to place 2-3 pounds of seed mix per 1,000 square feet, Siebert said. Price of grass seed can vary, but "generally price is a good indicator of the quality of the grass seed," Siebert said. A mixture of Bluegrass and rye grass seed is the best to start a new lawn.

"You want a firm seed bed when you start," Siebert said. "Keep it watered and moist and the seed will germinate."

On a new lawn watering three to four times a day is not unusual. Siebert said to water only a 3/4 inch at a time.

"All shallow watering will do, for one thing, is encourage shallow roots and weed growth," Siebert said.

Once a new lawn is in and germinating properly, it's only natural mowing will come next. Two and a half to three inches is the recommended height for a lawn but when it's time to mow take only a half inch off at a time.

Siebert told the crowd if they learn one thing from him, it should be not to collect the clippings after mowing.

"They are about 70 percent water," he said. "They dry up rapidly."

Letting the clippings sit is also good for the environment because they recycle nitrogen into the atmosphere.

Dee Moeller, Pretty Bloomers Garden Club and the flair behind the hanging baskets that line Dakota Avenue in the summer, gave a lesson on growing vegetables in a container.

Moeller, who has 30 years of landscaping and nursery experience, finds gardening in pots a convenient way to go about it.

"This way you can have it on the deck where you're getting six to eight hours of sunshine," Moeller said. "The best thing you can do for vegetables is give them light."

Growing in a five gallon bucket is a must with holes on the bottom and the sides so whatever plant that's chosen can have room to grow.

"The worst thing you can do is drown your poor little guys you put in there," Moeller said.

Water first thing in the morning, because if it's done in the evening Moeller said, "you're just asking for trouble."

"That's just a good invite for diseases," she said. "The earlier off you can water the better off you are."

With the right amount of care and adequate attention, growing a new lawn or vegetables in a container can be a exciting spring, summer or fall project.

Next week, in the basic care dining room at St. Catherine's, 6:30-7:30 p.m. the public is invited to the second seminar "Oh My Aching Back." The seminar will demonstrate correct gardening posture and treating pain one may already have. Tami Sirek will speak at "Sooth Your Summer Skin" on May 29 and Colleen Svingen will be the guest speaker on June 5 at "Enjoy The Fruit Of Your Labor."

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