“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face…” because we think you sham-ROCK!
Lawn Care
Are all the corned beef and cabbage fans getting excited? St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and here at F.C. Tucker Emge REALTORS®, we’re getting visions of green in our heads…specifically the green of those beautifully manicured lawns! You know those lawns…the kind so lush that you just want to bare your feet and dance the jig or relax and enjoy a pint of gat?
We will all be frolicking in the joy of spring in a few days which means it’s not too early to start thinking about your yard care plan for the coming warm months. The entire states of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky are in Grass Zone 1, and this schedule, found on ThisOldHouse.com, will take your lawn from drab to fab!
March
– Rake up the debris and leaves left behind from old man winter.
April
– Mow the grass 3 inches high, but leave the clippings on your lawn.
– Apply the first dose of fertilizer.
– Treat for crabgrass with pre-emergent herbicide or eco-friendly corn gluten.
May
– Pull or spot-treat dandelions or treat the whole lawn with post-emergent weed control or lime.
– Fertilize six to eight weeks after the first dose of dandelion treatment.
June–July
– Water if the rainfall is below 1 inch a week.
– Treat for grubs using beneficial nematodes.
Late August–September
– Dethatch and aerate with a core aerator when the rains resume and the ground softens.
– Fertilize and seed.
– Spread weed-and-feed over the entire lawn or spot-spray with lime juice and vinegar.
October–November
– Rake the leaves.
– Fertilize six to eight weeks after the last feeding.
– At final cut, after a few frosts, mow just 2 inches high.
(Source: ThisOldHouse.com)
Four Leaf Clover
Since we’re on the subject of green foliage, we would be remiss without mentioning the four-leaf clover, not to be confused with the 3-leaf shamrock. Shamrocks are the kind of clover we’re used to seeing and are considered lucky, but the elusive four-leaf clover is an even greater sign of good fortune, so if you find one, hang on to it for long-term luck.
Preserving Your Four-Leaf Clover
If you don’t have a flower press, you can use an old, heavy book. Place the clover in between the pages. The pages will soak up the moisture. If you don’t want to damage your book, you can use other pieces of paper and tuck them inside the pages. Wrap the book with strong and tight rubber bands to hold it closed. Leave it to dry for about one week. When you open the book again, and the clover is green and completely flat, consider it successfully pressed.
To preserve your lucky treasure, encase it in packing tape or laminate it. Make sure you do this within 1-2 days after pressing to help the clover retain its beautiful green color. Once your amulet is preserved, stick it in your wallet or purse and go in search of your pot-of-gold!
Irish Potato Salad
And now, here’s a little something blasta (“yummy” in Irish) for your St. Patrick’s Day table from our very own Annette McDonald! There are several variations on Irish Potato Salad…some are cream based and some are vinegar based, like this one. While this recipe resembles a German Potato Salad, we’re calling it Irish in March. It can go back to being German in April if it wants. ☘
Boil 6-8 baking potatoes, drain, let them cool and then peel. Cut into bite size pieces. Boil 8-12 eggs (to your liking). Let them cool, peel and add to cut potatoes. Cook 8-10 slices of bacon, crumble and add to potatoes and eggs. Add some red onion too, if you wish.
For the dressing, bring 3/4 cup cider vinegar and 3/4 cup water to a boil. While bringing the vinegar and water to a boil, mix two eggs, 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Slowly add the hot mixture to the eggs sugar and cornstarch and bring to a boil stirring until thick. Add the dressing mix to the potatoes, onion and bacon. It’s great hot or cold!
If you prefer to have your potatoes mashed and fried instead, check out this popular recipe for Irish Potato Cakes from the Food Network!
“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.” (Irish blessing)
For all of the latest information on our local real estate market in Southwestern Indiana, you can always trust the professionals at F.C. Tucker Emge. Our agents have superior training and resources at their disposal so they can better educate you about the road to homeownership. Even if you are 6-12 months (or more!) out from making a change, there is a lot to learn about the home buying process, and our agents can help you learn what you need to know so that you can be confident in your decision and have a smooth experience when the time comes. Let’s Talk!
