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The Late Anchor, PO Box 217, North Dighton, MA (2026)

07/09/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
DAY 46 of 60: TESTING SOIL pH 🧪OPTIONS

🤠Quick Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ In Zone 6b, the best time to do this is late fall or early spring, giving you time to make early amendments.
2️⃣ Don't take soil from one spot. Dig small amounts from 5–10 different locations in a single garden bed, mix them in a clean plastic bucket, and test the mixture. This gives you the "average" pH of the whole area.
3️⃣ Scrape away the top inch of mulch or grass. Take your samples from about 4–6 inches deep, which is where most plant roots actually live.
4️⃣ Don't take samples from right next to a concrete foundation (which leaches lime and raises pH) or where you recently added fertilizer or wood ash.
5️⃣ To test for alkalinity, put 2 tablespoons of soil in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of white vinegar. If it fizzes, your soil is alkaline (pH > 7.0).
6️⃣ To test for acidity, put 2 tablespoons of soil in a bowl, moisten with water, and add 1/2 cup of baking soda. If it fizzes, your soil is acidic (pH < 7.0).
7️⃣ If you are using a store-bought kit or probe, always mix your soil with distilled water. Tap water is often treated with minerals that can skew your results by 0.5 points or more.
8️⃣ If using a metal probe tester, use a piece of fine sandpaper or a green scouring pad to lightly buff the metal tip before each use. Oxidation on the metal can cause "frozen" or incorrect readings.
9️⃣ Most garden vegetables and flowers prefer a slightly acidic to neutral range of 6.0 to 7.0.
1️⃣0️⃣ Some plants thrive in the extremes. Blueberries and Azaleas want very acidic soil (4.5–5.5), while Asparagus and Clematis prefer it more neutral to slightly alkaline (7.0+).
1️⃣1️⃣ If your plants are struggling despite a "neutral" home test, send a sample to a local university extension (like UMass Amherst for your area). For a small fee, they provide a professional analysis that includes nutrient levels and lead testing.

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅ Check back tomorrow for DAY 47 where we will go over COMPOST & GARDEN BEDS

NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎

⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

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07/08/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
DAY 45 of 60: CLEANING OUT YOUR GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS 💦

🤠Quick Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ Never lean your ladder directly against the gutters. A "stand-off" bracket used can keep the ladder weight against the house wall instead.
2️⃣ Always have a spotter with a ladder. They can also hand you tools.
3️⃣ Wear thick gloves and safety glasses to block splashes and flying twigs. You know how I feel about gloves.
4️⃣ Start cleaning from the middle of a gutter run and work toward the corners. This prevents you from accidentally pushing a massive clog into the downspout while you're scooping.
5️⃣ Instead of throwing wet muck onto your landscaping, spread a tarp on the ground below your workspace. You can slide the tarp along as you move the ladder for easy cleanup.
6️⃣ Avoid metal trowels, which can scratch the protective coating inside the gutter and lead to rust. A flexible plastic gutter scoop (or even a cut-up milk jug) conforms to the shape of the trough.
7️⃣ Before cleaning the gutters, use a leaf blower or broom to clear debris off the roof shingles. Otherwise, the very next rain will wash all that "new" debris right back into your clean gutters.
8️⃣ After scooping out the gutters, insert a garden hose into the top of the downspout. Have a partner turn the water on full blast. If the water backs up, you have a clog.
9️⃣ If water won't break the clog, use a handheld plumbing snake or a stiff "fishtape" to reach through the elbows and break up the compacted leaves.
1️⃣0️⃣ If you have a leaf blower with an extension, you can sometimes blow the clog out from the bottom up. This is often more effective than pushing it further down into a bend.
1️⃣1️⃣ Ensure your downspouts discharge at least 3 to 5 feet away from your foundation. If they dump water right at the base of the house, the cleaning was for nothing!

✅Come back tomorrow for DAY 46 where we will go over TESTING SOIL pH 🧪
NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎

⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

👉Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏻, SHARE 🤳, AND FOLLOW 🗺️

07/07/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
DAY 44 of 60: REPAIRING FENCES AND GATES 🏡

🤠Quick Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ For sagging gates, a wooden gate should have a diagonal cross-brace. For the best support, the brace should go from the bottom hinge corner up to the top latch corner.
2️⃣ Buying a simple turnbuckle and cable kit allows you to slowly tension the gate back into a perfect square.
3️⃣ Try replacing standard screws with 3-inch or 4-inch exterior lag screws to bite deep.
4️⃣ If the gate is hitting the post at the top but has a gap at the bottom, try placing a thin "shim" (like a piece of cedar shake or plastic) behind the bottom hinge to tilt the gate back up.
5️⃣ To strengthen the fence posts, stand at one end of your fence and look down the row. If one post is out of line, it's likely rotted at the base. Fix it early.
6️⃣ If a post is snapped at ground level but the rest of it is fine, you don't have to dig it out. Drive a metal post mender (a heavy-duty steel stake) into the ground next to it and screw it to the good wood above.
7️⃣ The hardware and finish should never include indoor screws or nails. They will rust and leave "black streaks" down your wood within months. Always look for Hot-Dipped Galvanized or Stainless Steel fasteners.
8️⃣ Treat your gate hinges and latches like a car. Spray them with a dry Teflon or silicone lubricant once a year to prevent the metal-on-metal grinding that leads to hardware failure.
9️⃣ If you replace a single picket or rail, paint or stain the bottom edge (the cut end). This "end grain" acts like a straw and sucks up ground moisture, which is why most fences rot from the bottom up.

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅Come back tomorrow for DAY 45 where we will go over CLEANING OUT YOUR GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS 💦

NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎

📱 508-722-4200 📱

⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️

👉Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏻, SHARE 🤳, AND FOLLOW 🗺️

07/06/2026

60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
DAY 43 of 60: PRUNING DORMANT TREES AND SHRUBS 🌳

🤠Pro Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ First off, February to March is prime time around Dighton to trim and prune most plants. Too early can cause harm to the plant.
2️⃣ Watch the plant, and prune just before the buds bulge. Prune Roses, Crepe Myrtle, and any summer bloomers around now.
3️⃣ Beware of cutting back lilacs, azaleas, or forsythia in the spring. Wait to trim these plants after they bloom.
4️⃣ Always start with snipping anything dead, damaged, or brittle. Also, anything with fungus needs to be cut-off.
5️⃣ Use a 45° angle when just above the bud that is facing the center of the plant. This encourages growth outward, not inward.
6️⃣ Never remove more than 30% of the plant’s total mass each year.
7️⃣ Focus on removing branches that rub. This opens up to light and air, which prevent fungus.
8️⃣ Don’t forget to sanitize the shears with ISO between plants.
9️⃣For apples and pears, focus on thinning out the center of the tree.

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅Come back tomorrow for DAY 44 for QUICK TIPS ON REPAIRING FENCES AND GATES 🏡

🚜 DIGHTON - NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎
⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

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07/05/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
DAY 42 of 60: REFILLING BIRD FEEDER SUPPLIES 🐦🪺

🤠Quick Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ In winter, birds need calories immediately after dawn to recover from the freezing night. Try to refill your feeders first thing in the morning.
2️⃣ Don't just pour new seed on top of old. Every few refills, empty the feeder completely to ensure that damp, clumped seed at the bottom isn't turning into a moldy "plug" that blocks the ports.
3️⃣ During wet or snowy weather, only put out as much seed as the birds can eat in a day or two. This prevents your expensive seed from becoming a soggy, fermented mess.
4️⃣ Even in winter, feeders get grimy with bacteria. Every two weeks, soak them in a 1:9 bleach-to-water solution, scrub thoroughly, and—crucially—let them dry 100% before refilling to prevent seed rot.
5️⃣ Use a broom or rake to clear away seed hulls and "mush" from under the feeder once a week. Rotting debris on the ground can spread salmonella and attract rodents.
6️⃣ After a snowfall, stomp down a flat area of snow beneath the feeder. This makes it easier for ground-feeding birds (like Juncos and Sparrows) to find the "spillover" seed.
7️⃣ Store your bulk seed in galvanized metal trash cans with tight-fitting lids. In Zone 6b, squirrels and mice can chew through plastic bins in a single night if they smell the high-fat seeds inside.
8️⃣ If you have extra space in a chest freezer, storing suet cakes or high-fat "no-waste" blends there will keep the oils from going rancid and prevent "pantry moths" from hatching in the bag.
9️⃣ Switch to Black Oil Sunflower seeds or Suet during the coldest months. These have a much higher oil/fat content than cheap "filler" mixes (which are mostly millet and milo), providing the birds with the energy they need to stay warm.

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅Come back for DAY 42 for QUICK TIPS ON PRUNING DORMANT TREES AND SHRUBS

🚜 DIGHTON - NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎
⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

👉Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏻, SHARE 🤳, AND FOLLOW 🗺️

07/04/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
DAY 41 of 60: BUYING STAKES, TIES, AND TRELLISES 🪢

🤠Pro Tips FOR STAKES ✏️📋
1️⃣ Starting with the right materials is most important, depending on the task assigned.
2️⃣ Bamboo will last a couple seasons, hardwood is good for sturdy stakes, and metal or plastic are most durable.
3️⃣ Use stakes that are one foot longer than what you are trying to uphold. This will give proper support to the plants and soil.
4️⃣ For trees, use two stakes, preferably 6”, placed outside of the rootball, to allow for wind sway.

🤠Pro Tips FOR TIES ✏️📋
1️⃣ Avoid thin wire or twine on delicate stems.
2️⃣ Hook-and-Loop Rolls are going to be the best bet for support.
3️⃣ Rubber-coated wire can work well with tomatoes or blackberries.

🤠Pro Tips FOR TRELLIS ✏️📋
1️⃣ Know what your plant intends to do when it climbs. Does it need a thin rung netting or a permanent build?
2️⃣ Wood Structures should be made of Cedar, Redwood, or Pressure-Treated lumber; avoid Pine.
3️⃣ Metal Trellisses should have a “powder-coating” which is typically baked on and won’t rust.

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅Come back for DAY 42 for QUICK TIPS ON REFILLING BIRD FEEDER SUPPLIES 🐦🪺

🚜 DIGHTON - NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎
⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

👉Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏻, SHARE 🤳, AND FOLLOW 🗺️

07/03/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
Day 40 of 60: ORDERING FRESH POTTING SOIL 💐

🤠Pro Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ Start by gauging how much soil you need. If you require more than 20 bags, you’re best off having someone like me come and deliver it for you.
2️⃣ Trust that potting mix for your container will serve better than topsoil. Potting soil helps with drainage and nutrients.
3️⃣ Avoid “Wood Chips” as these can bring chemicals or pests from previous places. Peat Moss, Perlite, and Compost should be the top ingredients in your search.
4️⃣ Depending on the amount of pots you plan to use, knowing that you can account for about 5% less soil than the total capacity of all your containers. This number comes from leaving room for watering, watering, then adding some last bits of soil to top-off.
5️⃣ If you are going to have the soil delivered, I suggest laying a sizable tarp, to protect the cleanliness of your ground and so much easier to clean up the last bit of soil.

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅Come back for DAY 41 for QUICK TIPS ON BUYING STAKES, TIES, AND TRELLISES 🪢

🚜 DIGHTON - NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎
⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

👉Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏻, SHARE 🤳, AND FOLLOW 🗺️

07/02/2026

🪴60 DAYS TO THE PERFECT GARDEN 🪴
Day 39 of 60: CHECKING COMPOST BINS FOR READINESS 🗑️👃

🤠Pro Tips ✏️📋
1️⃣ First, the bin contents should smell like damp soil. If it still smells rotten then it is still too wet.
2️⃣ Next, everything should be unrecognizable before it goes into the garden. Nothing should be recognizable otherwise it is not ready. 🍌
3️⃣ Then, give it a good grab, and as it crumbles easily, falling between the fingers, notice if it is sticky or not. Sticky is not good. Keep “cooking” your bin. 🧑‍🍳
4️⃣ Once you know, check the core temperature. It should reflect the temperature on the exterior of the bin. If it is warmer, the process is not complete.
5️⃣ If the bin begins full, a complete process will yield about 55% or more of the bin, from its original height, once it “cooks” down.
6️⃣ Once at temperature, sift out any chunky leftovers and toss them back in. 🍊
7️⃣ If you are as OCD as me, we have another test- grab a handful of the compost and put in a zip-lock bag for three days. Leave some air in order to give oxygen. No need to put in the sun.
8️⃣ After three days, the bag can be opened and smelled. If it is sour, it’s not ready. 😤

Good luck! 👍🏻☀️

✅Come back for DAY 40 for tips on ORDERING FRESH POTTING SOIL 💐

🚜 DIGHTON - NEED MOWING OR YARD CARE THIS COMING SUMMER? 😎
⏰RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR 2026 CALENDAR 🗓️
📱 508-722-4200 📱

👉Don’t forget to LIKE 👍🏻, SHARE 🤳, AND FOLLOW 🗺️

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