Live The Magic of Spring - Plant a Lollipop Garden with Your Child

Spring is a magical time. The world is being reborn, the snow is melting away, the Earth is beginning to warm. There is a natural tendency to want to throw open the windows and head outside for your own rebirth.

What better time to establish or build upon a family tradition! Traditions are the habits – large and small – that bring family members together, teach meaningful lessons and build a bond that will last a lifetime – or longer. Outdoor activities are often popular springtime traditions because it's an opportunity to shake off the "cabin fever" of being cooped up indoors through the winter. Spring cleaning, opening day, outdoor exercise and gardening bring families out of their homes, and can be the impetus for the start of new traditions.

A popular new trend is the "planting" of a Dum Dums® Lollipop Garden, often taking place in conjunction with egg hunts and other Easter-related activities. Children plant jellybeans under the watchful supervision of their parents, and in the morning, voila! A Dum Dums Lollipop Garden has grown up in that space. In addition to building a grand new tradition, parents have the opportunity to teach their children the joys of gardening.

"What begins as a fun activity becomes a special moment between parents and their children," said Evan Brock, director of marketing at Spangler Candy Company, the makers of Dum Dums Lollipops. "Planting a Dum Dums Garden is a magical experience, and will be the kind of tradition that will last for generations. In addition, the magic of a Dum Dums Garden can be translated to an appreciation of gardening as a whole. It can be an opportunity for learning about plants and the environment, and the start of a lifelong tradition of gardening."

Kids typically view the garden as a magical place where you can get dirty and watch things grow. Sharing that experience with their parents and other family members can enhance the emotional connection they have – to the tradition as well as to the garden. "The earliest exposure to the garden – whether it's in helping parents to garden or in planting their first Dum Dums Garden – can help them develop a love for helping things to grow," said Brock. "This improves exponentially when kids participate in other gardening activities as they grow up."

Spangler Candy Company is celebrating the Dum Dums Garden this spring, with a full range of opportunities to highlight the efforts of Dum Dums "gardeners." "We are showcasing many of the creative and unique Dum Dums Gardens we have seen through Pinterest and other real-time channels," said Brock. "In addition, we'll be offering tips and guidance to parents, crafters and teachers who want to create their own gardens." Photos, videos, directions for building a unique Dum Dums Garden and all types of gardening tips will be available online; visit http://www.dumdumpops.com/media for more information.

"We want to share the experience of family Dum Dums Gardens," he said. "It's a magical way to welcome spring, an opportunity to build a family tradition, and a way to build a lifelong appreciation of the beauty of gardening."

Food Gardening In The U.S. At The Highest Levels In More Than A Decade According To New Report By The National Gardening Association

- 35% of all households in America, or 42 million households, are growing food at home or in a community garden, up 17% in five years

- Largest increases in participation seen among younger households - up 63% to 13 million since 2008

- 2 million more households community gardening -- up 200% since 2008

WILLISTON, Vt., April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- During the past five years there's been a significant shift toward more Americans growing their own food in home and community gardens, increasing from 36 million households in 2008 to 42 million in 2013. 

That's a 17% increase and represents the highest level of food gardening in more than a decade, according to a special National Gardening Association report, Garden to Table: A 5-Year Look at Food Gardening in America.

The report shows that more young people, particularly millennials (ages 18-34), are the fastest growing population segment of food gardeners.  In 2008 there were 8 million millennial food gardeners.  That figure rose to 13 million in 2013, an increase of 63%.  Millennials also nearly doubled their spending on food gardening, from $632 million in 2008 to $1.2 billion in 2013. 

The report found that more households with children participated in food gardening, increasing participation during the same time period by 25%, from 12 million to 15 million. 

Additionally, there was a 29% increase in food gardening by people living in urban areas, up from 7 million in 2008 to 9 million in 2013.  Two million more households also reported participating in community gardening in 2013 than 2008, a 200% increase in five years.

"This report clearly shows that there truly is a food revolution taking place in America," said Mike Metallo, president and CEO of the National Gardening Association, who will attend the annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden later today. "We are seeing more people, particularly young people, actively engaged in growing their own food.  The growth in just five years is pretty spectacular."

As the nation's leading nonprofit in gardening education, the National Gardening Association has published annual statistics on food gardening in America since 1978. This special report examines data collected from 2008 – 2013, providing an in-depth look at trends, statistics and analytical data about food gardening during that period.  The data collected shows nearly all categories of food gardening with major increases during the past five years.

Additional highlights from the 5-year report include:

• 1 in 3 households are now growing food – the highest overall participation and spending levels seen in a decade.
• Americans spent $3.5 billion on food gardening in 2013 – up from $2.5 billion in 2008 – a 40% increase in five years.
• 76% of all households with a food garden grew vegetables, a 19% increase since 2008.
• From 2008 to 2013 the number of home gardens increased by 4 million to 37 million households, while community gardens tripled from 1 million to 3 million, a 200% increase.
• Households with incomes under $35,000 participating in food gardening grew to 11 million – up 38% from 2008.

The National Gardening Association associates the rise in food gardening to several reasons: An improving economy; strong national leadership, including the launch of the "Let's Move" initiative and White House Kitchen Garden by First Lady Michelle Obama during the time period; action by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase awareness and educational efforts toward food gardening; and more engagement and public-private partnerships through organizations like the National Gardening Association, to promote and build food gardens in communities across the country.

"It's very exciting to see more young people and families involved in growing and eating their own food through food gardening," said Metallo.  "National leadership, particularly from the First Lady, has certainly been an important factor in the rise in these numbers. That consistent message over time makes a tremendous difference and helps fuel more community involvement in gardening."

A complete copy of Garden to Table: A 5-Year Look at Food Gardening in America can be downloaded from the National Gardening Association's website at garden.org.  The information contained in the report was compiled by collecting data through annual surveys conducted by Harris Interactive, surveying a representative sample of U.S. Households. Estimates of the general population proportions are obtained from the most recent supplement to the Current Population Surveys. Results are weighted to the general U.S. adult (18+) household population based on known proportions among this population for education, age and gender, race/ethnicity, region, and income level.

Ten Common Myths About Lawn Care Dispelled

HERNDON, Va. -- April is National Lawn Care Month, and the time of year when homeowners turn to the care and upkeep of their lawns with the goal of seeing their yard and landscape flourish. It's also the time of year when landscape professionals must address some common misconceptions about when and how to tend to the lawn for maximum success.

"Our job as landscape professionals is to help advise and emphasize ways to save time and money on lawn care and, oftentimes, that means we need to dispel some fairly persistent myths," said Glenn Jacobsen, Landscape Industry Certified, president of PLANET. 

PLANET, the national landscape industry association, asked its professional landscape members to name the 10 most common lawn care myths:

1. Myth: The best time to replace the lawn is in the spring, as plants get ready to bloom.  Reality: Sowing seed in the spring sets one up for potential problems, as heat sets in during the summer months and weeds compete for space. The best time to sow seed is in the fall when the temperatures are more consistent and highly competitive weeds, like crabgrass, have gone dormant.
2. Myth: Water new plants every day to prevent them from drying out.Reality: Overwatering kills as many plants as lack of water. It is better to make sure you are wetting the entire root system of your new plant and then allow the soil to dry to the point that it is only moist. 
3. Myth: To have a healthy lawn, dethatch in the spring.Reality: Thatch is a layer of living and dead plant material, including the crown, roots and stems of the turfgrass plant. The brown on the surface at the beginning of the spring will slowly recede into the background all by itself as new leaves emerge. While dethatching is a common and sometimes necessary practice, it should be done only when thatch is excessive.  
4. Myth: It's a good idea to remove clippings after mowing.Reality: There is a misconception that grass clippings contribute significantly to thatch. Grass clippings are mostly water and decompose rapidly, returning significant amounts of fertilizer to the lawn. Research shows that up to one-third of applied fertilizer can be recycled by simply returning clippings.
5. Myth: Golf courses cut their grass short, so it's a good idea to do the same.Reality: Golf courses use incredibly sophisticated and expensive mowers to achieve a short height of cut. Check the appropriate mowing height for your species of grass, but in general, never cut more than one-third of the grass leaf at a time.
6. Myth: Lawns are not "organic."Reality: Sometimes, lawns are thought of as areas that don't provide environmental benefits. However, they are actually highly complex and dynamic organic systems that not only contain turfgrasses, but also earthworms, fungi, soil microbes and other life forms that coexist and make possible the lawns we all enjoy for recreation, sports and aesthetics.
7. Myth: The best time to fertilize your lawn is in early spring.Reality: Different varieties of grass like nutrients at different times of the year. You need to use the right fertilizer source, at theright rate, at the right time, and in the right place. Cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, are usually given nutrients in fall and early spring when it is cooler. Warm-season grasses, like Bermuda grass, usually like nutrients in late spring and early fall when it is warmer.
8. Myth: The products lawn care companies use are dangerous and more powerful than what a homeowner can use.Reality: Most of the products professionals use can be purchased at the garden center, but the difference is that professionals are regulated and, by law, have to use the proper amounts, apply them correctly and dispose of them properly.  
9. Myth: While digging in my lawn, I saw a grub worm. I should apply a grub control application every year.  Reality: Most of the time, grubs don't attack fescue lawns because of their deeper root zone. Grubs in small numbers are not harmful to a lawn; in fact, they are beneficial, as they aerate the soil. It's having too many that can be harmful. Call a professionalto evaluate your lawn.
10. Myth: Watering the lawn with the garden hose saves more money than installing an irrigation system.Reality: Consider installing an irrigation system that uses smart controllers which have sensors that only allow for watering when conditions require it. Smart irrigation can offer a cost savings of approximately 15–20 percent on water bills. Convert irrigation spray nozzles from sprinklers to rotating nozzles which spread heavy droplets of water at a slower pace which makes them more targeted and effective.

For more tips on taking care of your lawn or to hire a landscape professional, visit www.loveyourlandscape.com

Record Snowstorms a Blessing in Disguise for Home Gardeners

WARMINSTER, Pa. -- While multiple winter storms continue to cause widespread disruption across the nation, garden experts at Burpee, one of America's oldest seed and plant companies, predict a silver lining. George Ball, Burpee's chairman, suggests that by providing much needed moisture for springtime plantings, and insulating perennial plants that are dormant in winter, the record snowfall will be a blessing in disguise for home gardeners.

Winter storm Titan, the 20th of the 2013-14 North American winter storm season, affected millions of people across the country earlier this week, with the heaviest snowfall in central Penn. The cold weather has not been confined to the northeast however: winter storms have reached deep into the south and Midwest to deliver significant snowfall in areas that do not normally experience it.

"A few feet of snow provide an 'igloo effect' that insulates plants and shields vulnerable root systems from potentially destructive temperature fluctuations," noted Ball.

According to Ball, a past president of the American Horticultural Society, in Washington, D.C., the deep snow cover actually helps warm hibernating plants, providing a "security blanket" that protects root crowns, and in some species, the upper root system. 

"Under a heavy snow covering, the soil can be 25 degrees warmer than the air temperature," Ball pointed out. "The thick snow covering creates a finely calibrated "drip system" that keeps plant roots underground optimally watered even in frigid conditions."

Ball advised that when the warmer weather arrives, the resulting snow melt will help keep water tables well-supplied for upcoming plantings for the 2014 home gardening season.

Make Lawn Mower Engine Tune-ups a Rite of Spring

MILWAUKEE,- The engine experts at Briggs & Stratton (NYSE: BGG) are making it easier than ever to get your lawn mower ready for spring. From a tune-up kit to an oil evacuation kit to free oil recycling, an engine tune-up for your push lawn mower engine takes only 30 minutes or less. Riding mower engines may require an oil filter or fuel filter, which could add five to 10 minutes to the job.

While many homeowners perform annual tune-ups on their lawn mower engines, there are still many across the country that don't perform this important basic small engine maintenance, putting their equipment at risk.

"Homeowners simply want their lawn mower to start when they need it for that first cut of spring and a simple tune-up can make the difference between a hassle-free start and frustrating trips for service," said Synoilva Shaw, with the Briggs & Stratton marketing department. "While the source of most starting problems is old gasoline, which goes stale in about 30 days, a tune-up can help extend the life of the mower engine and keep it running at peak performance."

Lawn Mower Tune-Up in 4 Easy Steps

Briggs & Stratton research shows that tuning up a push mower engine can reduce engine emissions by as much as 30 percent and involves just four easy steps:

1. Changing the mower oil
2. Replacing the air filter
3. Replacing the spark plug
4. Adding fuel preservative to the gasoline

Step-by-step video instructions are available online at http://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/support/videos.

Small Engine Tune-up Kit

A basic push mower engine tune-up kit costs under $12.99 and includes an air filter, spark plug, bottle of oil and a pouch of fuel treatment and stabilizer. A lawn tractor tune-up kit includes the same as a push mower kit with the addition of a fuel and/or oil filter and costs under $39.99. Briggs & Stratton tune-up kits are available for purchase online or at authorized Briggs & Stratton dealers and home improvement stores. 

Oil Evacuation Kits for Lawn Mowers

Two options are available for oil evacuation kits – one that removes oil only and another that removes both oil and fuel. These kits help eliminate the need for consumers to tip the mower to drain the oil during a tune-up, making it easier to change the oil and reducing the possibility of an oil spill in the garage or driveway. Oil evacuation kits costs between $23 and $31 and are available for purchase online at www.briggsandstratton.com or at authorized Briggs & Stratton dealers and home improvement stores. 

Disposing of Used Engine Oil

Participating Briggs & Stratton dealers nationwide make recycling oil easy and have recycled more than 200,000 gallons of used engine oil to date. Simply drop off your used oil in a closed container and let your dealer take care of the rest.

Look Before You Pump

Certain gasoline blends should never be used in lawn mower engines and other small gas engines. Fuel blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol, like E15 or E85 gasoline, or gasoline containing other alcohol blends can damage small gas engines. Repairs required because of the use of these unapproved gasoline blends are not covered under the Briggs & Stratton engine warranty. Look for the "Look Before You Pump" warning logo on new models or find more information from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute atwww.opei.org.

Home Canning Is Season's Hottest Food Trend; Consumers Preserve The Fresh Flavors Of Summer In Growing Numbers

I've used Ball Jars for lots of things, not just canning. Check out Ball's website for some great jam recipes! 

Home canning is this summer's hottest food trend with Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball® brand fresh preserving products, reporting a 31 percent year over year* sales revenue increase in Ball® Brand glass canning jars, year to date.

"With a growing interest in eating fresh and local foods, it's no surprise consumers are turning to home canning to preserve the summer's delicious fruits and vegetables," said Steve Hungsberg, Sr. Brand Manager of Marketing for Ball® brand fresh preserving products. "Home canning allows consumers to capture the summer's best produce at peak season and preserve it to enjoy year-round."

Younger canners are fueling the trend as innovation and social media are making it easier than ever for new canners to get started. In fact, over 60 percent of the nearly 50,000-strong Ball® Canning and Recipes Facebook community (www.Facebook.com/BallCanning) are under the age of 44. The page connects new canners with seasoned pros who share canning knowledge, tips and recipes.

This spring, Jarden Home Brands released the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker, an innovative appliance that lets consumers create fresh jams and jellies in under 30 minutes. At www.FreshPreserving.com, where web traffic is up 22 percent year over year to date**, consumers can find hundreds of recipes to preserve the summer's best tomatoes, cucumbers, berries and more.

"It's been a strong sales season for us as so many new consumers embrace home canning as they learn to preserve the best seasonal produce," continued Hungsberg. "We're passionate about teaching consumers how simple yet fun and rewarding home canning, freezing and fresh preparation can be."

Beyond fresh preserving, the stylish Ball® brand glass canning jar is setting the table for summer parties nationwide. From weddings to garden parties, consumers are discovering inventive uses for the iconic Ball® brand glass mason jar while entertaining. The Ball® Fresh Preserving Pinterest page (http://pinterest.com/ballcanning/) showcases some of the best summer canning decor as well as recipes, tips and more.

For additional information about Ball® brand fresh preserving products, visit www.FreshPreserving.com.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1lr1V)

Keep Summer Pests at Bay

ATLANTA -- The first day of summer brings warmer temperatures and more time outdoors; unfortunately, that also means you are more likely to get stung by fire ants, bees and wasps and bitten by mosquitoes. As you barbecue with friends or work in your garden, watch out for the following insects that can spoil your outdoor fun.

Mosquitoes

“While fire ants, bees and wasps are dangerous because of their stings, the number one pest to look out for this summer is the mosquito," said Jim Warneke, Orkin's Southeast division technical services manager. "They can carry serious diseases, some of which are fatal."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus, malaria, dengue fever and the virus that causes encephalitis, or swelling of the brain.

"The CDC reported 712 cases of West Nile virus in 2011, and dengue fever rarely occurs in the United States," said Warneke. "Prime mosquito-biting times are dusk and dawn, so be sure to take the proper precautions and spray an EPA-approved insect repellent on exposed skin, and wear long sleeves and socks if possible."

Mosquitoes only need a few ounces of water to breed and survive, making them very hard to control, so Warneke suggests removing any standing water from gutters, birdbaths or flower pots.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are reddish-brown and bite and sting when they are disturbed or feel threatened. They attach themselves with their mandibles to people or animals and inject venom through their stingers. Fire ant stings and bites are very painful and can be fatal, but most victims experience painful red bumps.

Fire ants prefer warm and dry, sunny weather and avoid shady areas. Mounds can grow up to 24 inches in diameter and 18 inches high. They are most common throughout the southern U.S. but have been found as far west as California and as far north as Maryland.

Bees, Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets Flying, stinging insects like bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are found all across the country, and they like to build their nests in inconspicuous places.

"Yellow jackets tend to build their nests in the ground, and paper wasps are notorious for building their nests under a building's eaves and soffits," said Warneke. "They also tend to build nests in ornamental plants and hedges. Bees, on the other hand, will build their nests in many different locations, from inverted, unused flower pots and barbecue grills to inside the walls of homes and buildings. They spend their time around flowering plants, so be careful when you are pruning your roses or other annual flowers."

Bee, wasp, hornet and yellow jacket stings are painful and can cause symptoms ranging from headaches, fever and fatigue to vomiting and convulsions. Stings can also be deadly to those who are allergic to their venom. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, bee, wasp, hornet, yellow jacket and fire ant stings are the cause of about 500,000 allergy-related emergency room visits each year and at least 40 deaths in the U.S. from anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction.

Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, are typical throughout the southeastern U.S., but can be found throughout the country. They, too, are opportunistic when it comes to building nests and will make their home just about anywhere, warns Warneke.

"It is best to stay away from all bees because they are difficult to identify," said Warneke. "All honey bees have a pheromone in their stingers that will attract other honey bees, and that could lead to additional stings."

Warneke recommends the following tips to help prevent flying, stinging insects from being attracted to your home:

Remove all unnecessary food and water sources.

Seal cracks and crevices around doors and windows.

Clean up spilled food and drinks immediately, and keep drinks covered.

Keep gutters clear, and direct water from downspouts away from your home.

Thin vegetation, and do not pile mulch or allow soil to accumulate against your home's siding. This could provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes and access for ants to enter your home.

Source: Orkin via PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1eSMQ)

Five Ways to Ensure a Healthy Lawn and Garden

Gardening is not my first love. I plant perennials like mums which are hardy and come back year after year. But some folks love to dig in the dirt at the first sign of spring. Outdoor power equipment manufacture Troy-Bilt offers these ideas for taking care of your lawn this spring:

Don't plant annuals or fruit- or berry-producing plants early. Annuals and fruit- and berry-producing plants are especially susceptible to being killed off or damaged by frost. If you have these kinds of plants already in the ground, keep them well-watered. If you know the temperature will be dropping dangerously low on a particular night, cover the plants with mesh netting.

Begin pest and insect control earlier than usual. Cold winter temperatures keep pests and diseases in check, but this year many of those pests and diseases may not have died or gone fully dormant. Also, it's possible the warm winter could have thrown off the life-cycles of various insect species, which may mean the good insects we count on to gobble up the bad insects that harm grasses and gardens were born too early to do the job – so keep an eye out for new problems.

Protect ornamental bushes and shrubs that are out of their native range. Ornamental bushes and shrubs that are on the border of growing in their climate zone are usually more susceptible to blooming early at the first sign of warmer weather. If they do and there's a freeze, it's likely they'll lose their flowers for the season or produce fewer flowers this year. Protect them by watering well early in the season.

Begin weed maintenance earlier than usual. Your grass and garden aren't the only things growing sooner this year. Weeds had an early start as well. If you don't get an early start on weeding this year, your lawn or garden may get choked off and not grow as well this season.

Stay off the lawn, and resist the urge to cut the grass too short too early! A growing lawn is more susceptible to freezing than a dormant lawn. Staying off the lawn keeps the stress down on the grass and helps protect it if the temperature suddenly drops. Also, don't cut more than a third of the blade at a time. If you go lower and a freeze comes along, it could shock the grass and stunt its growth.

Once you're ready to pull your lawn mower out of the shed for the first time this year, take some time to tune it up. If you've used your mower for more than a year, it may be time to sharpen or replace your blades. Also add fresh gas and oil. If your mower needs to be replaced, now is the time to start researching and hitting the stores.

Not sure what kind of mower you need? Consider the following choices to find the mower best suited to your needs:

Walk-behind mower – If you have less than an acre of land or many obstacles in your yard, a reel, push or self-propelled walk-behind mower may make the most sense.

Lawn tractor – For larger yards that would be difficult to cover on foot, consider a riding mower.

Source: Troy-Bilt via PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1bEur)