Ohio based Scotts Co. has been targeting not only consumers with a laundry list of things to do to their lawns this spring, but they also have their sights on shutting down Georgia based Pennington Seed Inc.

Scotts departed from their long standing brand of beautiful families on beautiful lawns putting down a beautiful product, to featuring a Scottish-like actor named Scott giving advice to hapless neighbors.

Pennington has been targeting  Scotts brand “Turf Builder Grass Seed®” as being half filler, while Scotts has been characterizing their Pennington rival’s product as made from “ground-up paper.”

In 2009 mutual law suits were filed by the rivals against each other and were eventually settled out of court.

Razor-Sharp Lawn Care LLC
7461 Sunset Avenue
Jenison, Michigan 49428
616-457-2488

www.razorsharplawncare.com

In 2010 the EPA upped the stakes by proposing that regulation be included in the Green Construction Code. As more communities blindly adopted this regulation, without consideration for the amount of rainfall received, efforts were ramping up across the country in opposition. Those efforts appear to have had some success.

This month the EPA announced a “Notice of Intent” to remove the 40 percent turfgrass restriction from the Watersense single-family new home specification to accommodate varying regional climate conditions. It is believed this was done in part because of the widespread opposition to the EPAs decision and efforts by Ohio Congressman, Steve Stivers. Congressman Stivers successfully tacked on an amendment to HR 2594 that denied funding for any enforcement of the controversial 40 percent guideline.

In a statement read on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman Stivers stated:

I am proposing this amendment because I am concerned about a component of EPA’s WaterSense program that seeks to limit the amount of turf grass in landscapes as part of its specification for new single-family homes.

Created in 2006 by the EPA, the WaterSense program is a voluntary public-private partnership program that seeks to enhance the market for nonagricultural, water-efficient products and services. It includes labeling initiatives, landscape irrigation professional services, and landscape irrigation products. The landscape irrigation professional labeling program affords certified irrigation contractors the ability to promote themselves as EPA WaterSense partners, through the use of the WaterSense label.

While I support the promotion of water efficient products and services, I am deeply concerned about a WaterSense initiative that arbitrarily limits the amount of turf in landscapes around new homes. On December 10, 2009, EPA’s WaterSense program released the final specification for single-family new homes.  New homes that incorporate the specification’s criteria will be eligible to be labeled as “water efficient” under the WaterSense program.

In order to meet the water efficiency requirements, the home’s landscape must adhere to one of two options regarding outdoor landscape design. One option is to use a clearly defined water budget tool.  The second option is to uniformly restrict a new home’s turfgrass footprint to only 40 percent of the home’s landscapable area, regardless of the location’s climate and geography.

It is unreasonable to arbitrarily limit the amount of turf in a landscape.  In addition to providing a safe surface for families to play, turf grass filters ground water, prevents erosion and runoff, traps and removes dust and dirt from the air, absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen.  Lawns also have a tremendous cooling effect.  On a hot summer day, lawns will be 30 degrees cooler than asphalt and 14 degrees cooler than bare soil.

EPA should recognize the benefits association with turf rather than promoting a “one-size fits-all” turfgrass restriction.  I believe that EPA needs to preserve a water budget tool as a viable option for determining the water efficiency associated with a landscape. A water budget tool is driven by local needs and data, and truly promotes the advancements of irrigation efficiencies and technologies.  EPA must abandon the arbitrary 40% limitation on turfgrass.

DuPont announced on August 4, 2011 that it was voluntarily suspending the sale of Imprelis and would be offering customer refunds and a recall for the product. DuPont also said that Imprelis went through over 400 trials before the EPA approved the product in all states except California and New York. The EPA is studying complaints and investigating reports of tree damage to determine whether the damage was caused by the product, or misuse of the product or combination of these along with any other factors that may have contributed to the damage.

Southeastern United States first saw the infamous “Kudzu Bug” in 2009 when it began appearing in Georgia. Since then it has been increasing in numbers and range with this year’s infestation expected to be readily seen in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina and most probably in Tennessee.

The actual name of the Kudzu Bug is Megacopta cribraria but it is also known by a number of other names including globular stink bug, which is a pretty descriptive name. However, since its first appearance, the bug has had a yen for eating kudzu, an invasive plant that has overtaken large areas of the south.

The Kudzu Bug has also developed an appetite for soybeans, alfalfa, clover and peanuts. It also has developed a liking to spending the winter months hanging out inside where they remain until outdoor temperatures warm back up.

The stinking bugs can be killed with regular insecticides or just vacuuming them up and then promptly disposing the bag.

Imprelis was touted to provide professionals a method to control hard-to-kill weeds such as ground ivy and wild violets. At the moment it is not clear if the product is at fault, not following proper dilution rates in the field or an unexpected result when the product was combined with other common herbicides typically used in the lawn care industry. All that is known for certain is that trees growing in the area where Imprelis has been applied are being effected.

Michigan State University professor Bert Cregg noted that “On the spruces, what we see is the current year’s growth… newly emerging shoots will brown up or wilt, and then you sometimes get a twisting appearance… “. He added that unlike other known damages effecting spruce trees that only effect a single limb, this current crop of damage is effecting the tree from top to bottom. In locations where the product has been applied to only half the lawn surrounding a tree (i.e. a spruce tree along a fence line) the side being treated is showing damage on just that side of the tree, but from top to bottom.

On June 17, DuPont issued a letter to its commercial customers stating they were investigating the complaints.  It appears that even though the product was typically applied in mid-spring, the results did not show up until high temperatures arrived in early June, so we’re just now becoming aware of the damage. A number of universities are also investigating. At this time it is not clear if the damage is going to cause the demise of the infected trees or just a temporary set back.

Also in DuPont’s June 17 letter, they added that areas where damage is being observed have also experienced environmental conditions over the past few years that have stressed trees, particularly spruces.

“The short green turf grass that blankets the yards there does little to soak up the damp, and most of the water drains into inlets carved in curbs.”

This is exactly my point: grass, lawn, turfgrass, whatever name you want to call it, is an excellent water filter and ground retaining system. Grass does an excellent job of holding rainfall so it DOES NOT run into the gutters. Water running into a street’s sewer grates arrives at that point  mostly from the paved street, driveways, sidewalks and roof gutter systems that empty directly into the road via buried drainage tiles; not from adjacent lawns. I have seen so called naturalized yards planted next to curbs  with neighbors that have thick healthy lawns. During really heavy rains you can see the stream of muddy water pouring over the curb and into the sewer system from the naturalized areas, yet the homeowners with the healthy lawn have no appreciable water off and the little that does coming over the curb is crystal clear. It is that muddy water that is polluting our streams. The muddy color is not just topsoil, but is phosphorus, which is a big pollutant in our streams.

Phosphorus comes from a lot of sources: decaying organic matter such as leaves, wood, and yes, grass clippings can contribute to phosphorus run off. But once that organic matter has decayed, it becomes top soil and if the top soil runs off the land and into the watershed, phosphorus is being added. Another major source of phosphorus pollution comes from goose droppings that have in recent years become major problems in urban areas. Plowed farm fields are another major source, especially if those fields have been fertilized with manure.

Our civilization has become one of the most complex in the history of the world. More people are living on the planet today than ever before. Our watersheds have improved dramatically over the last half century so our culture is learning and adapting. Compared to third-world areas of the world, our streams and rivers are almost pristine. We still have a way to go, but reporters need to consider what they say and not just repeat some mantra they think is eco-friendly. Lawns are a great source for water filtration and soil retention.

Lawn mowing affects the density, texture, color and gives it a uniform look, which are all basically cosmetic. The real benefits of lawn mowing are
Few people understand its real benefits. Even if you water and fertilize your lawn correctly, its overall quality is compromised if you don’t mow it properly.

Different turf grasses require different mowing heights. Hybrid Bermuda should be mowed every 3 – 4 days to keep it at 1/2″ to  1-1/2″ tall. Centipede grass only needs to be mowed every 5 – 10 days to keep it at 1″ to 1-1/2″.

Other ideal lawn mowing heights and frequency:

• Zoysia:  3/4″ to 2″  every 3 – 7 days
• Common Bermuda: 1 to 2″  every 5 – 7 days
• St. Augustine:  2″ – 3″ every 5 – 7 days

Rainfall, soil moisture and fertilization can drastically change the mowing frequency, but during the growing season, you should really maintain that ideal mowing height and only adjust the frequency to match the environmental conditions. While mowing at the wrong height doesn’t seem like a big thing, the wrong height can harm the turf’s roots, which ultimately affects how the plant grows and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil.

Improper mowing heights can put stress on the entire turfgrass plant meaning which can increase disease infestations, reduce its ability to handle temperature extremes, and be able to handle normal foot traffic.

If you have problems created from improper mowing heights, then you might want to contact a professional to discuss ways to correct the situation. Here are a few Georgia lawn care professionals that might be able to help:

• Magnolia Lawn
• Rollin’s Landscape Co.
• Town and Country Services

Most are aware that there are basically 2 types of grass grown in the United States: Cool and Warm Season Grasses, but many more factors should be considered.

• Prime consideration is the amount of sunlight your lawn receives. This goes a long way in determining your options. Some grass types will simply not survive unless they receive at least 8 hours of sunlight.
• The pH level of the soil should be considered. Some grasses do better in soils that are slightly acidic and others in soils a little more alkaline. This can be determined by having your soil tested with a local county extension office.
• If your lawn is going to be used primarily to look pretty, you can can eliminate the more muscular turf grasses that are typically a bit more coarse. Likewise, if your lawn is going to be used for lots of activity, then you don’t want to put in a finer-bladed turfgrass.
• Maintenance levels should also be considered. Some grass types require more maintenance than others to remain good looking. Also, some lawns do not handle drought conditions and must be irrigated regularly if rainfall is not enough to provide th recommended 1″ per week requirements of most turfgrasses.

Knowing a lawn’s ideal growth characteristics can go a long way in making the right selection. Still not sure which is the best grass for you? Contact a local lawn care provider and they will point you in the right direction.

Homeowners in North Carolina might want to consider these companies:

• Atlantic Lawn and Landscaping — serving the Outer Banks area
• Team Turf — serving homeowners in Charlotte, Weddington, and Matthews
• Green Pro — Winston-Salem area
• Cargle Lawn Care — Lake Norman area

• Use a sharp blade set at its highest mowing height
• Remove mower bag
• Rake up cut grass clippings
• Don’t over-fertilize lawn
• Take lots of caution with slippery slopes

Using a sharp mower blade insures that your turfgrass blade has a smooth shear cut. This cuts down on infectious diseases from entering the turfgrass plant. It also helps wet grass blades from clinging to each other and forming those ugly wet clumps. Mowing at a higher height will cut down on the amount of grass clippings being generated.

You can also remove the bag. Wet clippings will clog up shoots and force you to stop and unplug the shoot. Depending on how wet the lawn is, you can try using the mulching attachment, or at the very minimum, the side discharge. If clumps form, rake those up as soon as possible.

Don’t fertilize the lawn, especially with liquid or fast release fertilizers. Most cool season turfgrasses do not need a spring fertilizer feeding. However, weed preventive products that stop crabgrass are usually combined with nutrients. Never over-do it. With lots of rain, another application of crabgrass preventer may be needed later.

When mowing on slopes with a riding mower, go up and down, not across the slope. With push mowers, go side to side against the slope which will help you maintain your footing. Make sure to wear appropriate foot gear that helps reduce slippage. In a few weeks, the wet spring will probably turn to a hot and dry summer and we’ll be talking about how to handle droughts.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/09/wet-grass-can-be-mowed-with-caution-sharp-blade/