Spring Yard Tips!

The first day of spring is tomorrow! Are you all ready? Do you know what it means to be ready? Big Frank is definitely not ready, but he still is determined to get on the move anyway. Anyway, in this part of the country - Eastern Washington, it doesn't matter what the calendar says, spring is NOT here. OK, the marmots are out and the robins are flying around, but the air is still chill and there's still spots of snow on the ground. That's actually good news, because that means that Big Frank, and other procrastinators (you know who you are), still have time to get ready for when the REAL spring comes. So as far as the indoor stuff goes you should clean your carpets, shake out your rugs, replace your filter (air and water), clean your windows, and air out your house! Now for the outdoors - that yard. Big Frank has done a little research and here are some links that he encourages you to take a look at. First of all let's start with Martha Stewart. This is not a real persnickety list - actually a pretty common sense one. She does mention that you check your soil ph with a soil test kit (click on the previous link and you can find one at amazon for $16.99).

Next we have the link to the University of Illinois Extension. This site has lots of good commonsense tips. Everything from how to keep rabbits out, to how to use your old pantyhose for composting, and how you can actually mow ground cover to keep it in line!

Then for those of you interested in moving in the direction that Big Frank is going (starting a meadow) - here's a link on that. Some plants recommended for that include: Black-eyed Susan, liatris, butterfly weed, evening primrose, milkweed, helenium, goldenrod, coneflower, asters, ironweed, obedient plant, and hardy geranium.

Finally, a youtube link on paving - for those of you who are thinking of putting in a brick patio. Now's the time to start getting your act together. Big Frank is all over this one.