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Current conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Temperature: 73° F
Wind: 12 mph
Feels like: 73° F
Humidity: 73%
Visibility: 10 mi
Pressure: 29.98 in
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Sunset: 8:06 pm
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Lawn Care Headlines
ForceFlex Safety Eyewear for eye protection during lawn maintenance
Your eyes are arguably the most important part of your body to protect while performing lawn care routines. Flying dust and debris can irritate the eyes and flying objects can cause more serious injury like blindness. ForceFlex Safety Eyewear by 3M's TEKK Protection brand are geared towards homeowners who are into DIY projects but don't necessarily use adequate safety gear.
...Grass Stitcher Lawn Repair System
The makers of the Grass Stitcher have added a complete lawn restoration program to their line-up of Grass Stitcher items. The Grass Stitcher Lawn Repair System comes with the Grass Stitcher, either 10 inch wide or 20 inch, and enough premium grass seed and starter fertilizer to repair 1000 square feet of bare or thin turf.
...Getting to know your soil.
I'm a big fan of getting to know the soil that a lawn is growing in. Certainly have it tested so you can determine the pH and nutrient content, but you should also dig it up, get your hands dirty and analyze the soil profile.
...What do you do with your lawn clippings?
Clippings can either be removed while mowing, dispersed out the side of the mower, or mulched back into the lawn with special mulching blades.
My preferred method is mulching the clippings. Contrary to popular belief, returning the clippings to the lawn does not promote thatch build up. The clippings are 90% water so there is very little organic matter left behind. Mulched clippings account for up to 1lb of nitrogen returned to the soil over the course of a season, reducing the amount of fertilizer needed. Mulching also saves time because you're not dealing with bagged clippings.
...Be on the lookout for poison ivy
After a run in with poison ivy a couple of years ago, I'm more cautious than ever about this nasty plant. I used to think I was immune to the stuff until my luck ran out and it quickly spread throughout my arms and legs causing about three weeks worth of discomfort. I started treatment with Benadryl and Ivy Dry, and ultimately progressed to prednisone and Ivarest.
...Clover as a lawn alternative
Clover is often thought of as a nuisance weed but it can be a great lawn alternative or even included amongst a grass lawn. Clover was used as a part of lawn seed blends up until the introduction and widespread use of broad leaf herbicides after WWII. Although clover is actually a desirable plant to have intermingled with lawn grasses, it got lumped in with dandelions and other weeds because it simply could not survive the herbicides. Before long clover was as hated as the others and the quest for the perfect lawn was on.
...Book Review! Tag, Toss & Run - 40 Classic Lawn Games by Paul Tukey & Victoria Rowell
Tag, Toss & Run - 40 Classic Lawn Games by Paul Tukey and Victoria Rowell is a fun book featuring 40 classic lawn games from the past, with the intent of keeping them around in the age of video games. The book even coincides with the 40th anniversary of the first video game. Tag, Toss & Run is almost a dare to the video game generation to get off their butts and have some outdoor fun.
...3M Rolls out TEKK Protection safety line featuring WorkTunes radio equipped earmuffs
I recently reviewed WorkTunes earmuffs for 3M, a part of their new TEKK Protection line of safety equipement aimed at the DIY crowd. An easy review since I have used the product in the past although it did not have the TEKK Protection brand, it was a 3M product and virtually indistinguishable from the current model. I tend to like radio equipped ear protection but as a supervisor it's important for me not to encourage their use among employees. I'm a strict believer in the need for all of your senses when operating machinery, including your ears. A slight change in the sound of a machine can detect a problem before it becomes too serious. However, as a homeowner operating a lawn tractor or push mower, WorkTunes can help make a tedious job a little easier while protecting your hearing at the same time.
...Using sod to resurface your lawn
It's a great time of the year for lawn projects, especially lawn renovations. Using sod instead of seed is costlier and more labor intensive, but the benefits are dramatic. Nothing beats having an instant lawn as opposed to waiting weeks for seed to sprout and fill in.
...10 Common Lawn Care Mistakes
Sometimes it's more effective to remind people what they should do by pointing out first what they shouldn't do. I've compiled a list of what I consider the ten most common lawn care mistakes. Most lawn care mistakes are a result of over-doing things rather than negligence or ignorance.
...How to take care of your lawn in a drought
Many parts of the country have been experiencing extended periods of drought and water restrictions that have caused us to rethink our use of water for everything from washing our beloved cars to watering our beloved lawns. Faced with shrinking reservoirs and a lack of rainfall, municipalities have enacted water restrictions and all out bans on domestic water usage for non-essential reasons.
...Don't fall for greenwashing
The "green" revolution is a wonderful thing. A bold step forward for the sake of humanity and the future. With so many products going natural, organic, and sustainable though, it can become difficult to decipher what's what. Is that product really green, or is the label referring simply to a color? Be on the lookout for greenwashing.
...Time to start thinking about the sprinkler system
Last season I didn't fire up the system until late May but this spring is off to a brutally dry start. Ponds are low, the ground is dry, and an early growth spurt seems to have ground to a halt without any rain to keep things going.
...Spring is the time to get your soil tested
It's the same thing every year. Spring arrives and everyone's raring to get going on their lawn, but do you know what's in your soil? Do you know the pH of your soil? Have you had your soil tested in the last three years?
...Does your lawn need lime this spring?
Does your soil need lime? That is the question. The best way to find out is by having your soil tested. To get your soil tested, contact your local cooperative extension office.
...Lawn safety is serious - don't become a statistic
Every year I have the grim task of searching through my lawn care news feed and discovering the latest batch of lawn mower injuries. More often than not the injured are children and an alarming amount are accidents that occur in the presence of an adult - in scenarios where the adult is unaware of the presence of the child or worse yet, giving the child an introduction to mowing the lawn. The heartbreaking aspect is not only the horrific damage theses types of injuries inflict (they are called dirty shark bites in the ER), but that they are preventable.
...No love for the dandelion?
There is no more despised plant in the world of lawn care than the dandelion. Not even crabgrass can raise the ire of a homeowner like a dandelion can. They seem to appear overnite and reproduce even quicker with their floaty little seeds blowing easily from one lawn to the next. Just ask the Canadians who are without their beloved weed-n-feed how much they like like dandelions and, well... it ain't pretty. I've blogged about the weed-n-feed bans and they don't go over well, especially with people who have relied on the product to deal with their dandelions.
...String trimmer safety - Awareness and proper equipment are key to safe operation
String trimmers can be extremely dangerous if not taking the appropriate precautions, not only to the operator but to onlookers and surrounding property. The action of the rapidly spinning trimmer head is extremely dangerous if it were to come in contact with people and it can also cause harm by sending rocks and dust flying potentially hurting people and even breaking windows. String trimmer safety is as an important part of a lawn care program as lawn mower safety.
...Spring Cleaning Starts Now!
Everyone here at About.com Home & Garden are officially in spring cleaning mode. With temperatures in the 70's here in New England, I must admit, it's a fine time to start - as long as it's outdoors.
...Will warm weather mean early crabgrass control?
As spring continues to creep forward it may seem like it's time for crabgrass control but don't rush into it without looking for the cues. The weather has been relatively warm where I live and the soil temperatures continue to slowly rise, but don't do anything until the forsythia are flowering. Following a regimen of spring weed control now, can ease the weed pressure for the rest of the season.
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