Successful establishment of a lawn from seed is a critical component of creating a healthy lawn; however, at times good establishment can even be difficult for professionals. The potential of successfully establishing a healthy turf can be increased by paying attention to a few basic principles. Soil testing should be the first step in any […]
A mixture is comprised of more than one species of grass. It is often advantageous to plant a mixture because of the increased range in genetic diversity and adaptive potential that is achieved. For example, in a lawn situation some areas may be shaded and others may receive full sun. Additionally, some areas may have […]
Turfgrass breeders throughout the U.S. have worked very hard to develop cultivars of the common turfgrass species that are well adapted to different regions of the country. In addition there is an excellent program, called the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), partially sponsored by the USDA that tests new and old standard cultivars of the […]
The turfgrasses are divided into cool-season and warm-season species. Cool-season species do better in the cooler times of the year and thrive in temperatures from 65° to 75° F. Warm-season grasses are best adapted to temperatures between 80° and 95° F. The cool-season grasses grow well in the cooler regions of the northern United States […]
When I was small, my parents often told me how, around the time I was born, they had renounced the customary lawn care service because they just didn’t know what those guys were spraying. Later, when I was in high school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my parents noted that three of […]
Spring is the ideal time to teach about weeds, because so many of them are just emerging. Also, because spring features the long missed sight of early blooming flowers, students seem particularly interested in plants. Although my grandmother taught me to be interested in flowers from a young age, I, like most children, was more […]
Just on the other side of the pool parking lot, with no street crossings, is the town community center. I’ve never made much use of this kind of amenity in other locations, but this community center is particularly enticing because it houses a library and offers classes and camps that the kids and I all […]
Mine is, in most respects, a suburban family with all the trimmings. We have two family cars, including a Buick handed down from my husband’s grandfather. My husband and I chose our house three years ago for the good schools and for the yard, but our choice means that we each have a commute that […]
Obviously, the first requirement is something to compost. Then the pile needs air, nitrogen, water, bacteria, and sometimes lime. There are a great many old wives’ tales about what can and cannot be used, but the rule is, in fact, very simple: anything that is entirely organic in origin can be composted, except for a […]
I divide soil management into four phases: the first phase is testing the soil; the second involves the general soil conditioning and replacement of nutrients with organic matter; phase three involves the application of fertilizer; the fourth phase covers more specialized application of fertilizers for specific plant needs. If you have moved into an established […]