FoxFarm Blog

Be Good To Your Worms

You’ve learned how to manage your annuals and perennials.  You’re on top of irrigation.  You’re at peace with your bugs.  But what about your worms? What have you done for them lately?

Earthworms do more than plough the soil.  They also devour harmful, disease-causing bacteria, encourage beneficial microbes to flourish, and help deliver nutrients to the root zone.  Earthworm castings are extraordinarily high in helpful bacteria and fungi that attach to plant roots, transforming nutrients into a form that’s easier for them to use and expanding the effective root area.

Earthworms prefer a damp, rich soil. Adding organic matter—compost, aged manure, mulch, and organic fertilizers—will give them something to munch on while they’re keeping your plants healthy.

If you till or double-dig your garden, you’ll discourage earthworms. They like undisturbed soil.  Instead, try smothering weeds with newspaper or cardboard, piling compost, mulch, dried leaves, grass clippings, and aged manure on top, and letting that settle for a few months.  Then plant right into it.  No digging required!

Fill unused beds with cover crops like fava, vetch, and rye.  Earthworms are attracted to the roots, and the crops make a great “green manure.”  The roots help hold soil in place during heavy rains, and in spring, you can cut the crops down or pull them out and add them right to your compost pile.

Avoid harsh chemicals like high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers or any chemical designed to kill nematodes and grubs.  They’ll also hurt earthworm populations.  For natural, healthy lawns, we’re partial to our Peace of Mind Premium Lawn Organic Fertilizer.  It works.

Water Smart

Watering a plant does more than keep it hydrated.  Plants need water to help them absorb nutrients in the soil and fight off disease and pest damage.  But too much water, especially overhead watering, can spread disease, keep roots from getting the air they need, and even lead to runoff of valuable soil nutrients.  Some tips for keeping your garden watered on hot summer days:

• Water in the evening or early morning to prevent evaporation and plant stress
• Avoid overhead watering.
• Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation whenever possible.
• Give plants one long, deep drink of water once or twice a week as opposed to shallow, daily waterings.
• Container plants dry out quickly and may need daily watering.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch!  Try our Happy Frog Soil Conditioner as a top dressing to give plant roots extra nutrients, while keeping them cool and damp.

Green It Up

Keeping your lawn green isn’t just about the color.  We’re always getting calls from people who want to ditch the chemical lawn service and really “go green.”  We’re all in favor of organic lawns at FoxFarm.  Here’s how we do it:

• Peace of Mind Premium Lawn Fertilizer gives your lawn the nutrition and microbes it needs to handle climate changes and put down healthy roots.  For moderate climate grasses like bluegrass and fescue, feed in March, May, July, and October.  For tropical grasses like Bermuda and St. Augustine, do monthly applications from April through August.  Apply 4 pounds per 150 square feet, using a garden spreader, and rake gently into soil and water immediately.  Never feed during the heat of the day.
• When you mow, allow grass clippings to remain on the lawn to add nitrogen, stimulate beneficial microbial activity, and reduce thatch build-up.
• Keep mower blades sharp to prevent disease.  Set the blade at three to four inches to allow for a taller lawn that crowds out weeds and conserves water.  Never cut more than one third the length of the grass at a time. 
• Over time, lawns can become dense and compacted.  Aerate your lawn at least once a year to prevent thatch build-up.  Rake in a thin layer of Fox Farm Organic Planting Mix or Happy Frog Soil Conditioner each fall to recharge the soil.

Heat Stress

Most of the country is sweltering under record-breaking heat right now, and many parts of the country are facing water restrictions.  We’re on the phone every day with garden centers who are trying to help their customers keep their gardens alive through the hottest days of summer.  Here are some of our water-wise tips:

• Beneficial microbes extend the effective root area of your plants, allowing them to reach moisture and nutrients in the soil.  Our Peace of Mind dry organic fertilizers all contain mycorrhizae to help strengthen the root system during times of stress.
• Many plants benefit more from a deep soak once a week than from more frequent, shallower waterings.  Use an organic mulch like our Happy Frog soil conditioner to help hold in moisture.
• If you’re going on vacation, keep your container plants alive by using a drip irrigation system set on a timer, or set smaller plants in tubs of water and let them absorb water through the base of the container.  Our Ocean Forest Potting Soil is a premium potting soil designed to help retain moisture and give container plants the extra support they need.