Ramsey County

April 15, 2005

Howdy!!!!!!!! 
It sure feels like summer has gotten here and completely overlooked spring.  The temperature for today could reach near 80 degrees.  “WHOA”  It sure is fun to see people out walking, doing yard work, “planting garden along with farm equipment starting to show up in the country side.  I do know of three pieces of ground that was planted last week.

I was also very busy this past weekend which included tilling up our front yard.  My wife was very impressed!!!!!!!!!  I think she has finally realized that this little venture might be in the best interest of our landscape design.  I got the yard tilled, leveled and ready for the planting of grass.  I am still deciding on type of grass seed to plant.  Local vendors have a wide selection of grass seeds available for you to choose from.  I will explain the differences a little later in this article.  I also planted potatoes, onions, peas and chalets.  Does everyone know what chalet is?  I feel today like I have been in a gym for a week the way my body feels.

Lawn Grass Seed?????????? 
There are many different lawn grass seeds available from the local vendors.  Some of which include Red Creeping Fescue, Kentucky Blue grass and Perennial Rye grass.  There are different purposes for all of these grasses and should be planted to your own specific use.  The above mentioned grasses are very attractive and grow very vigorously during the cooler months of spring and fall.  Blends of the mentioned grasses would make the best choice with Kentucky blue and Red Fescue making the largest percentage of the mix.  Avoid the bargain mixes, as you will notice the difference for years to come. 

Kentucky bluegrass is the most adaptable, cold hardy, cool season grass species to use for home lawns.  It is very competitive and will recuperate from many different stresses very nicely.  Red Fescue is another grass that adds an additional different monoculture to lawn seed.  Red Fescue is a fairly drought tolerant grass and indications might say that Red Fescue shows an allopathy towards dandelions (doesn’t like to grow around this grass).  Perennial Ryegrass is not as cold hardy as the others mentioned.  When selecting grass varieties, always check on winter hardiness.

Chalets???????
I was told by a older gentleman from Lisbon that is onion type tuber originated from France.  It is a member of the onion family producing small clustered mild flavored bulbs used primarily for seasoning.  This fine gentleman offered me a half dozen of these bulbs to try this spring, so will be interesting to see how they turn out.

 Calendar Dates!!!!!!    

            April 19            Horticulture Class (Annuals & Perennials)
            April 23            4-H Project Days
            April 27            Livestock Ethics Video (Armory)
            April 30            First Annual Equine Spring Fling
            May 3              “Extreme Makeover”
            June 7,8,9         Tractor Safety School

524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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