Gardening

Mulch Calculator

Agway Mulch Calculator

Depth
SqFt.

The Agway Mulch Calculator
Click on the image to use our convenient mulch calculator.Determine how many bags of mulch you need to do the job right.

Just enter the depth you want your mulch to be.
Hit calculate
See how many bags of mulch you should buy.

The Benefits of mulch include:

Mulches decompose over time. This adds nutrients to the top layer of the soil, eventually creating a layer of rich, fertile humus.
Mulch protects the soil from compaction due to heavy rains or harsh sun.
It helps retain oxygen in the soil.
A good layer of mulch helps to prevent erosion by absorbing rainfall and preventing water runoff.
Soil stays damp longer after watering or rainfall because mulch helps prevent evaporation. This aids in water conservation during dry periods.
Mulch shelters beneficial organisms such as earthworms and ground dwelling spiders that help to control harmful insect populations.
Some mulches have scents which help to deter rodent and feline pests.
A circle of mulch around trees and woody shrubs helps to protect plant roots near the soil surface from injury due to string trimmers and lawnmower blades.
Mulches help to protect the soil from temperature extremes that can damage root systems and cause bulbs to be pulled out of the ground.

How to apply mulch...
Mulch should be laid in a layer no more than 2 or 3 inches deep or it will block air and moisture from reaching the soil causing the roots of plants to come to the soil's surface.

If the mulch layer is less than 2 inches thick, the moisture retaining benefits are reduced so put down a 2 to 3 inch layer and add to it yearly.

Summer Mulch
A summer mulch should be applied to the bare soil areas of your property after the soil has warmed in the spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Winter Mulch
A winter mulch should be put down in late fall or early winter after the soil has cooled but before it has frozen. This will keep the soil evenly cool and prevent heaving.

There are many colors and types of mulch. Your local Agway Dealer can help you choose the right mulch to help you get the most from your landscaping and yard.

Radius Tools

Radius Tools

Wet and Forget

Wet & Forget

Wet and Forget has a unique combination of biodegradable selective surfactants for moss, mold and mildew stain removal on any exterior surface. When diluted with water and applied, it immediately penetrates the unsightly stain. Each time it rains, this safe, cleansing combination reactivates to gently lift the moss, mold and mildew stain without damaging the surface. Wet and Forget is an EPA approved one step process that requires no scrubbing or rinsing. It is non-acidic, non-caustic and contains no bleach. Be patient, Wet and Forget's gentle cleaning action takes time depending on how heavy the stain is and results are visible over time. Remember good things take time, and Wet and Forget continues to clean for up to a year. No special equipment is required. Just apply Wet and Forget with a pump-up garden sprayer. After the first application simply reapply Wet and Forget at the first sign of moss, mold and mildew stains returning. Wet and Forget can be used on any outdoor surface. Some examples of these surfaces are: asphalt (blacktop), Astroturf, aluminum siding, awnings, brick pavers, composite decking, concrete, driveways, docks, fiberglass boats, fiberglass shingles, fiberglass hulls/topsides, green houses, gutters, inflatable dinghies, limestone, marble, marinas, natural stone, outdoor furniture, outdoor planters, paint surfaces, patios, patio furniture, plastic houses, recreational vehicles, retaining walls, sails, sandstone, shade sails, sidewalks, stucco, tennis courts, teak decks, textured finishes, tiles, tombstones, umbrellas (outdoor), vinyl siding, wood.

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy

Introduction

One of the hazards of working or playing in the outdoors is contact with poison ivy and having to endure the discomfort of the allergic reaction associated with the plant. Therefore, it is important to recognize poison ivy so that such contact may be avoided, or appropriate measures be taken to eliminate the plant from the home landscape.

How to Recognize Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy “Leaflets three, let it be.” That old saying sums up the most easily identified characteristic of poison ivy - its three leaflets. The middle leaflet of the three tends to be larger than the two on either side, but each measures from 2 to 4 inches in length. At maturity, the leaflets are dull or glossy green. New leaf shoots in spring tend to be droopy and reddish green in color while in fall, the leaflets turn a vivid orange or red color. The edges of a leaflet may be irregularly toothed, smooth, or lobed.

Poison ivy is a perennial plant and can be found in different forms. It may grow as a low, spreading shrub with fine stems. It may also grow as an upright, three foot tall shrub, or it may grow as a woody vine. Vines attach to tree trunks by way of aerial roots that make the vine look like a fuzzy rope.

In spring, poison ivy produces clusters of small yellow-green flowers that originate in the axils of leaves. Later in the season, small (three-sixteenths inch diameter) gray to white berries appear. The berries are eaten by birds and other animals who help disperse the seed.

Where Poison Ivy Grows

Poison ivy can be found throughout Massachusetts. It grows along roadways, fence lines, stone walls, woodlands and stream banks and may even appear among shrubs and perennials in the home landscape. It is adapted to a wide range of soil and moisture conditions.

Reactions to Poison Ivy

The “poison” in poison ivy is an oil called urushiol. Found in resin ducts in all parts of the plant, urushiol is released whenever the plant is crushed or bruised. When the oil contacts skin, it can cause an allergic reaction, ranging from reddening and swelling, to blistering or open sores. Reactions will vary depending upon the sensitivity of the individual to urushiol.

Contrary to popular belief, the rash caused by poison ivy, is not spread by contact with open sores. However, the tacky oil is persistent and can be spread indirectly by contact with pets, garden tools, garden gloves, shoes, golf balls, or any other object that has come in contact with a bruised poison ivy plant.

Furthermore, the oil persists in dormant and dead plants. Poison ivy should never be burned since the smoke can carry the oil and cause problems to anyone inhaling the smoke. Wood cutters using a chain saw to cut logs with attached poison ivy vines have been known to suffer serious allergic reactions when inhaling urushiol that was volatilized during the cutting process. After contacting poison ivy, the affected area of skin should be washed immediately with soap and cool water - warm water may hasten skin penetration of the oil. Consult a physician or te ointment or medication if the allergic reaction is severe.

Controlling Poison Ivy

There are several options for controlling poison ivy in the home landscape. Grubbing or pulling up the plant is easiest in spring or fall when soils are moist. Gloves should always be worn - and handled carefully afterwards - when grubbing. It is important to pull up the entire root since the plant can regrow from segments of root remaining in the ground. Wash gloves and clothing thoroughly after handling poison ivy plants.

Herbicides containing either glyphosate or triclopyr are commonly used for chemical control of poison ivy. Garden centers are a good source for brands or formulations with these herbicides. Check the label carefully to be sure poison ivy is listed among the plants to be controlled and follow the label directions carefully when applying the product.

Typically, an herbicide is applied to actively growing poison ivy, beginning in early summer after the leaves have fully expanded. Thorough coverage of the plant foliage is essential. Where poison ivy is growing among ornamental plants, it is advisable to apply the herbicide to poison ivy leaves using a wick applicator so that the chemical is not inadvertently applied to surrounding plants.

Poison ivy may not be controlled with just one herbicide application. Repeat applications may be necessary.

Ron Kujawski
UMass Extension Educator
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Did You Know?

Did You Know?

A vegetable is considered to be edible roots, tubers, stems, leaves, fruits, seeds, flower clusters and other softer plant parts.
A grain is described as the dry fruit of a cereal grass, such as buckwheat. So grain is also a fruit!
To avoid tears when cutting onions, try cutting them under cold running water or placing them in the freezer briefly before cutting.
Fresh lemon will remove the onion scent from your hands.
Timing is everything when combating grubs. They are very small in August and more susceptible to the chemical you are using. There are many products on the market, regardless of what you use, as with any pesticide, READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY! Grubs cannot be completely eliminated.
Bulbs can be planted anytime in September until the ground freezes. They need at least 4 weeks in the soil before a really deep frost sets in to develop a solid root system.
Moss does not develop in healthy lawns. Lack of fertility, soil compaction, poor drainage, shade and poor soil aeration are the most common causes of moss in lawns.
Adding a rain sensor to you sprinkler system that automatically shuts of when it rains saves you water. Also installing a rain gauge near your garden bed will also help you keep track of how much watering is needed.
Houseplants need a healthy diet, and you can help by giving them clean water. Fill just with tap water, and leave the caps off for at least forty-eight hours. Some chlorine will evaporate, leaving purer water. As a result, plants will absorb nutrients more easily.
Echinacea, the popular herbal remedy for the common cold and the flu, is extracted from the purple coneflower.
Early Romans developed the first trellis by planting birch trees near grapevines, which enabled the plant to climb rather than spread over the ground.
Most Asian greens are brassicas, and the rule with brassicas is simple: Grow them fast and cool for the best flavor and resistance to bolting. Direct-sow seeds outdoors once the soil can be worked for spring crops.
Nasturtium flowers add brilliant flashes of color-and spice- to salads. The buds are also edible. Once the seeds are ripe, they can be ground and used in place of black pepper.
Earthworms were wiped out by the last Ice Age in North America, but they made a comeback in the 1600’s and 1700’s as stowaways in the soil of plants brought over by European settlers. When the pioneers moved West, so did the earthworms, their cocoons attaching to wagons and horses’ hooves.