>>are there problems with mixing too many different seed types in a lawn? If you match color and growth rates, not really. Yes, they'll compete. That's actually a good thing--the one that does best in a given area will dominate. If the colors are the same, and they grow at the same rate, you'll notice--but you won't care. :) My initial lawn, from the builder, was a tri-mix of KBG, fescue (several kinds) and rye. Over time, the KBG dominated due to my care regimen and the fact that the lawn is pretty much full sun all the time. It was never obvious that there was competition going on, and never a problem. >>Are there any organic fertilizers you would recommend for helping to change soil structure compacted soils? Like Yardtractor said, ALL organics will help change the soil structure over time. Without exception. However, some are better than others because you can drop more of them without experiencing problems like the reek of decay. Soybean meal is a great feeding for the lawn, requiring about 15 pounds per thousand square feet four times per year to give a perfect feeding. However, dropping sixty pounds per year isn't going to change the soil at any fantastic rate. The equivalent feeding using cracked corn or corn meal (I prefer cracked corn as it flows through my broadcast spreader more easily) is 60 pounds per thousand square feet. At 240 pounds per thousand per year, it'll change the soil profile much faster. Corn is one of those things you can also pour on, unlike most other organics. One huge source of (frequently ignored) organic material is mulch-mowing all fall leaves. I don't get so many, so I import them from known-good lawns without problems to the tune of 100 pounds per thousand square feet per year. You have leaves in plenty right there. My top flight year (year 2 of organics, after the soil had built up bacteria and fungi to support rapid decay) was over 1,300 pounds per thousand square feet, for a grand total of 37 pounds of nitrogen equivalent per thousand that year. Do that with synthetics and you just sterilized the soil--probably for at least a year. Organically? The lawn flourished, as did the gardens, everything was deep green and grew like mad. Doing that took me from an organically tapped soil in 2005 to a soil with 14% organic matter this year--and most years featured nowhere near the application that one year did!

Thanks for the Horticultural Myths link, I have saved it for more thorough reading.. I can get alfalfa pellets and just scatter them, and then turn the hose on them and later use my hand cultivator to scratch them into the mulch, they seem to break down prety fast, and I do this when I can no longer see the remains of the last scattering....I also scatter Milorganite and Black Hen and Black Cow, and mulch, so it all becomes a mush of stuff.....I have used Fish Meal also, but can no longer obtain it so have switched to Fish Emulsion, and think I will pour some in a large pail of water and throw it around the beds.... I have a problem with Rheumatoid Arthritis so have to limit the labor involved, seeking the easiest path.... sally

Positano, I'm hoping one day I'll be able to have lots of cut flowers for the house. This is the 2nd year on my new flower bed which has a bit of everything. Is that a blue Hydrangea on your table? I bought a new Hydrangea the other day and it's full of blue blooms, but I know once I get it in the ground they'll turn pink. But thta's okay!

These are the only seeds I now have that need a new home. I'm looking for annuals and certain vegetables. Alyssum- Carpet of Snow-- 1 trade left Antirrhinum majus (Rocket Snapdragon) - mix Aquilegia (Columbine) - tall, single, deep purple Balloon flower- purple/blue Balsam impatiens- mix Blanketflower Calico Aster (Trade) Canterbury bells (campanula) -mix Cardinal Climber (Trade) Cosmos- purple and orange (unnamed) Dahlia- Mignon dwarf/rainbow mix Dwarf Dahlia- mix Gaillardia- Arizona Sun Hollyhock- maroon? (it’s a deep purple-y red) ****will have black, pink, and purple again in fall**** Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate (Persicaria orientalis) (20 seeds) Lion’s Tail (Leonotis Nepetifolia) (20 seeds) Love Lies Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) Lunaria (money/dollar plant)- purple- 1 trade left Marigold- Bonanza Harmony (Trade) Marigold- yellow boy and boy o' boy mix Morning Glory- Scarlett O Hara (15 seeds) Rose of Sharon bush- purple or white Zinnia- giant double mix *All seeds (that require it) are kept in the fridge *All seeds will be 25+ count unless otherwise noted