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Savvy Gardeners Understand Climate and Weather
Savvy gardeners keep one eye on the sky and the other on their plant beds. They give nature a nudge by understanding the climate, learning how to read the weather and then creating a landscape that fits.
"It's interesting to know what the weather is doing, why it's doing it and what it will do next," said Michael Allaby, author of "The Gardener's Guide to Weather & Climate" (Timber Press, 2015). "If you go with your climate and soil, your garden will be much more successful, and if you choose the appropriate plants and tend them well, you'll save money because there'll be fewer failures."
Learning how to read clues about upcoming weather can result in a more productive garden.
"You can predict whether there will be a frost by noting the temperature and the rate it changes at dusk," Allaby said. "You can predict whether dew will form. Calculate the atmospheric humidity, and you'll know how likely it is to rain or snow. Watch the clouds for approaching weather fronts and gathering storms."
Soil and climate are closely linked, Allaby said. At the extremes, desert soils are sandy while tundra soils are low in nutrients because vegetation is so limited.
"The more sand you have, the faster it will drain, so you might need to irrigate," he said. "Clay retains water and is very fertile, but because it stays wet it tends to be cold in spring, so you can't work it or plant it early in the year.
"Silt is very fertile. Loamy soil, which is best of all, has approximately equal parts of clay, sand and silt."
Then there are microclimates, which can vary depending on the size and shape of your property.
"Lower terrain may have lower temperatures than higher terrain," said Gretchen Voyle, a consumer horticulture educator with Michigan State University Extension. "Exposure to sun and wind can create a dry microclimate even in areas with adequate rainfall."
"When you have a few days of unexpected 65-degree weather, people may think they can plant. But nature has a way of getting even," she said. "It's best to stay with the tried and true. Things aren't what they used to be, but nobody's sure what we're moving toward."
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Americans Spend Record $60B Keeping Pets Healthy and Happy
Americans spent just over $60 billion on their pets last year, a record fueled by a big jump in what owners shelled out for services like grooming, boarding and training.
Two age groups drove the increase: millennials, because of their lifestyle, and baby boomers, because of their age, said Bob Vetere, President and CEO of the American Pet Products Association. Those groups in particular often look to others to keep their pets exercised and looking and feeling good. They also tend to hire pet-sitters and use boarding services.
Americans spent $5.4 billion on such pet services last year, up nearly 12 percent from 2014, according to the association's annual report. Here are some of its other findings:
The spike in service spending is expected to moderate in 2016 but still increase nearly 6 percent, more than any other area of pet spending.
The spending report found people are turning more to pharmacies, pet stores and food supplement stores for products to increase their animals' health and longevity. Medications are being refined and mass marketed, increasing their quality and availability.
Spending on pet supplies and medication increased nearly 4 percent, compared with a 2.5 percent hike for veterinary services.
Americans are spending more to take care of their pets, but they aren't buying as many pets.
People in the U.S. spent about $2.1 billion on animals last year, down 1.4 percent from 2014. It was the second year in a row that sales fell, and a third dip is expected in 2016, though the decline should moderate.
Reasons for the drop: Pets are living longer. The oldest baby boomers are reaching 70 and not replacing their animal companions.
Also, a growing number of cities across the country have banned the sale of dogs in pet stores in efforts to put puppy mills out of business.
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