The Name-Brand Grass Seed You Can Buy From Costco (And If It Can Help You Save)  Yahoo Life

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The Name-Brand Grass Seed You Can Buy From Costco (And If It Can Help You Save) - Yahoo Life

How to Plant Grass Seed in the Fall  Men's Journal

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How to Plant Grass Seed in the Fall - Men's Journal

Expert on how to use tin foil and old CDs to keep birds off your new grass  Nottinghamshire Live

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Expert on how to use tin foil and old CDs to keep birds off your new grass - Nottinghamshire Live

Have a lousy lawn? Nows the time to fix it: This Weekend in the Garden  PennLive

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Have a lousy lawn? Nows the time to fix it: This Weekend in the Garden - PennLive

England: Work on the turf at Everton Stadium and new partner  StadiumDB.com

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Want a killer lawn next year? Now is the time to set it up - Therogersvillereview

Greg Amundson, Gilby, North Dakota, had been sitting on the fence about making a full switch to no-till. Hed experimented with it and was growing cover crops to protect his soil from erosion. Still, switching to an all no-till system seemed risky for his location in eastern North Dakotas Red River Valley, where the soil is heavy and slow to warm in the spring.

Wind erosion is a constant threat in the valleys flat terrain. Cover crops keep Amundsons soil mostly protected from the wind, but neighboring tilled fields are left exposed to wind. While plowing snow off a road bordering such a field, Amundson hit a large snirt drift that was so hardened by dirt mixed with snow that it tossed the heavy machine crossways in the road.

Hitting that hard drift of snow mixed with dirt blown across the road from the field just changed my mind about no-till, says Amundson. I came home and told my dad, Thats it! Were doing this. Im going to make no-till work on all my land.

With twin goals of eliminating soil erosion and reducing labor, Amundson began learning more about how to fully transition to no-till. He found that his most formidable foe was a mental roadblock.

My biggest hurdle was a mental one, says Amundson. It was hard not to think about the things Id heard other area farmers say over the years: No-till wont work in the valley; itll never work.

Nevertheless, Amundson dove in to fully transitioning to no-till across all his acres. To seed sunflowers, corn, soybeans, and small grains Amundson used the no-till drill hed recently updated and the row crop planter hed tweaked so that it could handle larger amounts of residue. We upgraded the fixed row cleaners on the planter to row cleaners that we can adjust from the tractor cab, he says.

While Amundson experimented with transitioning to no-till, a local effort was underway to help farmers like him shoulder the risk of trying the new practices that would better safeguard soil against erosion.

Soil erosion occurs from both wind and water in the Red River Valley because of the tillage practices farmers use to deal with the heavy soilsin an effort to dry them out and warm them up in the spring, says Lorilie Atkinson, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil conservationist with the Grand Forks, North Dakota, field office. Some of these soils are also saline, and when exposed by tillage, they get powdery and are easily moved by wind and water.

Northern Cover Crops

Greg Amundsons years of growing cover crops in northeastern North Dakota have shown him that cover crops can indeed thrive that far north.

I have seeded cereal rye as late as the end of October and even the first of November and was able to get the cover crop started, he says. Depending on the weather, it can still grow a couple of inches when seeded that late. Even if it just germinates, itll grow readily in the spring.

When interseeding into standing corn during the growing season, Amundson likes to include flax and buckwheat in the mix. I really like flax because of the way it holds the snow, he says. By growing those two cover crop species, were also trying to release nutrients in the soil that dont necessarily show up in a soil test.

To help farmers implement conservation practices, the NRCS engaged several partners to launch in 2019 the Grand Forks County Prairie Project. Partnering with the NRCS are the:

The Prairie Project secured funding through the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The funds originate from the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers cost-sharing to farmers across the country who are willing to adopt conservation practices such as no-till and growing cover crops.

In part, the Prairie Project RCPP funding is earmarked to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers planning to implement conservation practices.

Our main goal is to help farmers get a cover on the soil and to build soil structure, says Atkinson. Adopting no-till and planting cover crops are key to that process. The concern farmers have about switching to no-till is that were so far north that the soil wont dry out and be ready for seeding in the spring.

But when cover crops are combined with no-till, the cover crops use moisture in both fall and spring, helping the soil to dry out for seeding, she says. The roots of the cover crop build soil health and structure, giving the soil better trafficability for farm implements in spring and fall, or after heavy rains.

The funding provided by the Prairie Project to qualifying applicants is dispersed as a per-acre payment. The payments are intended to reduce the risk involved when farmers adopt a new practice or system, says Atkinson.

New farming practices supported by the Prairie Project include no-till residue management, the planting of a cover crop or a conservation cover, and forage and biomass planting. The Prairie Project also supports conservation practices for livestock producers.

Through the Prairie Project Amundson received an RCPP contract to use no-till to convert back to crop production land that was being retired from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This was the first time Id done that, and the RCPP helped me stomach the risk of doing it, he says.

Amundsonterminated the old Conservation Reserve Program grass stand with herbicide in the fall and no-till planted soybeans into the residue the next spring.

He terminated the old CRP grass stand with herbicide in the fall and no-till planted soybeans into the residue the next spring. The following spring, he no-tilled sunflowers into the soybean stubble. He was satisfied with both crops.

The RCPP contract helped me over the mental hurdle of wondering whether or not no-till would work in that conversion, he says. Now I would do it again, no questions asked.

A second RCPP contract is supporting Amundsons efforts to build soil structure, organic matter, and trafficability on a new quarter of land thats been prone to wind erosion, he says. The financial assistance through the program has helped me try to grow a cover crop on land thats high risk.

After acquiring the new land, he no-till planted corn. When the corn reached the V4 leaf stage, he used a home-built interseeder to plant a cover crop mix of cereal rye, flax, buckwheat, and radishes. After harvesting the corn, the cover crop grew vigorously.

In his fields that have a longer history of both no-till and cover crops, Amundson has seen benefits multiply.

Trafficability is improving, he says. Weve had success in wet springs with getting our crops seeded, and weve had good emergence. Some of our yields might be lower than they would be with tillage, but I know our profitability per acre has improved.

This is a constantly changing system that we tweak every year, and our soil structure is still improving, he says. This is a journey, but theres no turning back for me. I wont go back to full tillage."

Greg Amundson218/791-2009amundsonfarms@polarcomm.comtwitter: @ndrockfarmer

Lorilie Atkinson701/765-3680lorilie.atkinson@usda.gov

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No-till and cover crops yield success in a northern setting - Successful Farming

These guidelines are very general and broad in scope. Some species of wildflowers may require additional research prior to planting. You may find our listing of wildflower planting dates and interactive regional seed list helpful.

Some wildflower seed suppliers can provide seed mixtures consisting of a number of different species. You have the option of such a mixture or obtaining the species of your choice and making a mixture or planting your selections individually.

After your selection is determined, a planting rate based on pure live seed and the number of seeds per square foot can be calculated. PLS is simply the percent of purity multiplied by the percent of germination which should be available from the supplier and as required by the Texas Department of Agriculture under the seed law.

These rates should be more accurately determined by the mature size of the plants and the effect you desire. The Soil Conservation Service recommends planting twenty seeds per square foot. For highway plantings, seeding is recommended in pounds per acre with the rate dependent on the type of seed used.

Soil preparation is not necessary since most wildflower seeds can be broadcast over undisturbed soil, although some delay in germination may result. However, seed to soil contact is essential. When sowing wildflower seed in turf areas make sure to scalp the grass as low as possible with a mower. Next, sow the seed.

After sowing, drag the sowed area with a weighted section of chain link fence or other rough flat object to better obtain soil-seed contact. Water the area thoroughly but gently. Follow the first watering with additional short waterings every three days for about three weeks. Some seeds will germinate 10 to 20 days after planting, others will germinate in early spring.

A method of application should be determined by the size of the area. Small areas can be sown by hand or a mechanical hand device. Large areas require a seed drill or other mechanical means that can be calibrated for the seeding rate.

Another key factor to successful planting is to understand the characteristics under which each species thrives. By and large, most Texas wildflowers should be planted in late summer or early fall, especially Bluebonnets.

LocationLocation is also important. Plant sun-loving plants in areas that receive adequate sun. Shade-loving plants, which will survive in full sunlight under special conditions, will thrive best in shady areas.

Soil typesMost wildflowers have a wide tolerance of soil and pH conditions. Bluebonnets prefer a well drained, calcareous, alkaline soil such as that of Central Texas and the Hill Country.

DrainageAll wildflower seeds need moisture for germination and growth, but it is important to provide proper drainage, which will vary with the species.

FertilizerA low nitrogen fertilizer can be used at the time of planting if the soil lacks nutrients. However, fertilizing after plants are established will result in larger amounts of foliage at the expense of blooms.

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Planting wildflowers - Texas Department of Transportation

Bluebonnets grow best in soils that are alkaline, moderate in fertility, and, most important of all, well drained. Full sun is also required for best growth. Seed may be planted September 1 through December 15 of each year. For best results, plant seeds no later than mid-November.

This allows seed time to germinate and grow throughout the winter months, during which time a heavy root system and a sturdy plant is developed to produce an abundance of spring flowers.

Bluebonnets produce large, hard-coated seeds that may cause them to have a low germination rate the first year or two. As the hard seed coats wear down by rain, abrasion, and decay, the seedlings begin to sprout.

Soil preparation is not necessary because the seed can be broadcast over undisturbed soil. However, seed to soil contact is essential. When sowing seed in turf areas, make sure to scalp the grass as low as possible with a mower and rake up any thatch which may prevent the seed from contacting the soil.

Small areas can be sown by hand or with a mechanical hand device. Large areas require a seed drill or other mechanical means that can be calibrated for the seeding rate. For small areas, or places where you want a good display more quickly, seed companies recommend using eight to 10 seeds per square foot. At that rate an ounce will cover approximately 135 square feet, and 1/2 a pound covers 1,000 square feet. An acre will require 20-30 pounds of seeds.

After seeding, it is best to cover the seed with soil no more than one-quarter inch deep. This protects the seed from being eaten by birds or "baked" by the sun. Water thoroughly but gently. Follow the first watering with additional light waterings every three days for about three weeks if rain is not present.

Fertilizing is not recommended as it will produce more leaves but not more blooms. Some seed will begin to sprout in four to 10 days. The germination process can continue over 18 months or more.

Be aware that one of the reasons bluebonnets fail to bloom is the lack of an essential bacterium in the soil. These bacterium, known as rhizobium, form nodules on the roots of the bluebonnet plant and are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen which is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to a form usable by plants. This nitrogen fixation is needed for the bluebonnets to bloom.

Do not soak bluebonnet seed or prick it with pins or in any way disturb the seed coat. Although these methods can speed up germination, they can also damage the seed.

In general, the first flowers open about March 15 in the southern part of the state, and in the more northern part of the state, first flowers may not show before May 1. The length of the flowering period is about a month. Allow two weeks after the full bloom period has passed for the seeds to mature.

As a rule of thumb, when the dead brown foliage offsets the floral color display, the area can be mowed. If it is a large area, it should be mowed to a height of four to six inches. Annual mowing aids in seed dispersal and reduces competition of unwanted weeds and grasses.

If you wish to store the seed, the pods should be harvested before they explode and scatter the seed. The seed should be thoroughly air dried on newspaper. Seeds which are not completely dry prior to storage will contain excessive moisture which will cause mold to grow and damage the seed.

After the seeds are completely dry, store in a water-resistant container. Add a packet of desiccant, which can be found in craft stores, to the seed. This gel will remove any moisture that remains in the storage container after it is sealed. Seed stored under these conditions will remain viable for many years. Seed may be sown at harvest or stored for future planting in the produce section of the refrigerator until the fall.

In brief, it may be said that the most important factors in establishing Bluebonnets are: plant prior to December 15 of every year, plant seed in soil well adapted for Bluebonnets, and make sure there is good seed to soil contact when planting.

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Planting Bluebonnets - Wildflower Program - Texas Department of Transportation

Temporal and spatial distribution of SFTS clusters in China

Between 2011 and 2021, 35 SFTS clusters were reported in China, which involved 118 patients, of which 26 died (CFR=22.0%). The CFR was higher among female patients (31.4%, 16/51) than among male patients (14.9%, 10/67). Moreover, the CFR was higher among patients aged60years (35.3%, 24/68) than among patients aged<60years (4.0%, 2/50).

There was an annual increase in the incidence of SFTS clusters, which was the highest in 2020 (n=9), followed by 2018 and 2021 (n=6). The incidence rates of clusters in April, May, June, July, August, and September were 17.4%, 22.9%, 20.0%, 17.1%, 8.6%, and 11.4%, respectively (Fig.1), which indicated an epidemic seasonality during summer and autumn.

The seasonality of SFTS clusters in China from 2011 to 2021. SFTS, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome

The SFTS clusters were reported in the provinces of Anhui (n=16), Shandong (n=8), Jiangsu (n=4), Zhejiang (n=3), Hubei (n=2), and Hunan (n=2). The number of individuals involved in each cluster ranged from two to twelve persons, with the median number being two. The sex ratio (male/female) of the included patients was 1.311 (67/51). The age range and mean age of the patients were 1884 years and 59.014.2 years, respectively.

The infection routes of the index patients in 14 and 16 clusters were tick bites and suspected tick bites, respectively, with those of the remaining five clusters being unknown. The index patients were exposed to the ticks by picking tea leaves in the tea garden (10.0%, 3/30); farming in the field (10.0%,3/30); weeding and raising livestock in yards or their surroundings (30.0%, 9/30); laboring in the hills (27.0%, 8/30), including hunting, cutting wood, digging trees, picking fruits, and looking for medical herbs; and contact with the blood of a dog infected by tick bites (3.3%, 1/30) or both laboring in the hills and weeding and raising livestock in yards or their surroundings (20.0%, 6/30).

There were 17 clusters that resulted in secondary patients through the index patients via human-to-human transmission. Among them, four occurred in hospitals, three occurred in homes, and the other ten occurred in both hospitals and patients homes. The secondary patients included the primary cases family members, relatives, doctors and nurses, and even fellow villagers. The exposure routes comprised blood contact (i.e. contact with blood or bloody fluids and secretions from the patients) and non-blood contact (i.e. contact with patients fluids or secretions other than blood or inhalation of Brucella-containing aerosol) while providing care for the index patients, transferring dying patients with hemorrhagic clinical manifestation, or during burial preparations. Nosocomial infection occurred in two clusters, which involved one doctor and one nurse in each cluster. The doctor was exposed while performing a sputum suction operation without a closed sputum suction tube and/or touching the patients blood without personal equipment protection (PEP). The nurse was infected while changing sheets contaminated with fresh blood from the same patient; however, she wore gloves without wearing mask, indicating possible infection by aerosol inhalation. Another doctor and nurse were infected through non-blood contact while providing medical care without any PEP to another patient. The transmission routes of two clusters that involved eleven and seven secondary patients with nosocomial infection are illustrated in Fig.2A and B, respectively.

A Transmission routes for one SFTS cluster in Anji County, Zhejiang Province, 2014. B Transmission routes for one SFTS cluster in Hanshan County, Anhui Province, 2020. A Patient A was the index patient and died of massive bleeding while being transferred from hospital to home. The patient had infected 11 secondary patients (Patient BPatient L); among them, nine patients were infected by blood contact while the other two patients were infected through inhalation of Brucella-containing aerosol in a confined mourning room, without direct contact with the patient or other possible exposure. All the secondary patients did not wear personal protection equipment during the exposure. The index patient had been exposed to a tick bite while picking tea leaves on the tea garden. The serum positive detection rates of SFTSV IgG were 1.6% and 2.0% in healthy people and ducks, respectively, living in the village where the index patient lived. B The index patient (A) was a 51-year-old male farmer who was infected through contact with the blood of a dead dog that had been bitten by ticks. He had infected seven secondary cases. Specifically, five family members and relatives were infected through blood contact while a nurse and a doctor were infected through non-blood contact. SFTS severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, SFTSV severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

Among the remaining 18 clusters that caused no human-to-human transmission, eleven, six, and one occurred in the village living environment, fields, and tea garden, respectively. Further details are provided in Table 1.

The median numbers of infected individuals among the clusters with and without secondary human-to-human transmission were 2.0 (2.02.0) and 3.0 (2.06.0), respectively (U=71.00, P=0.003). The transmission model of SFTS clusters with and without secondary human-to-human transmission are summarized in Fig.3.

Transmission model and risk of different human-to-human transmission modes among SFTS in China. Note: The left picture describes the 30 index patients exposure ways to SFTSV. All were exposed during their routine laboring related with agriculture. There are six index patients exposed to confirmed or suspected tick bites during both laboring in the hills and weeding and raising livestock in yards or their surroundings. SFTS severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, SFTSV Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, SAR the secondary attack rate

Infection through blood contact showed a higher SAR than infection through non-blood contact [50.6% vs 3.0%, RR=16.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.2326.67, P<0.05]. Infection through contact with a bleeding corpse showed a higher SAR than infection through blood contact during hospital care (i.e., contact with a living patients blood, bodily fluids, or secretions) (66.7% vs 34.5%, RR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.113.37, P<0.05), as shown in Table 2 and Fig.3.

Univariate analysis of risk factors revealed that longer time interval between onset and diagnosis (U=796; P<0.05), higher sex ratio (male/female) (2=4.56; P<0.05), and older age (t=6.09, P<0.05) were observed in the group with dead patients than in that with cured patients. There was a significant between-group difference in the infection routes (2=11.51, P<0.05) but not in occupation (2=0.04, P>0.05). Further details are provided in Table 3.

Statistically significant variables in the univariate analysis were included in the binary logistic regression model as independent variables. This model showed that the time interval from onset to diagnosis [odds ratio (OR)=1.385; 95% CI: 1.0831.722, P=0.009] and old age (OR=1.095; 95% CI: 1.0311.163, P=0.003) were mortality risk factors in these clusters. Specifically, the interval from onset to diagnosis and age were positively correlated with the mortality risk (Table 4).

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Transmission and mortality risk assessment of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in China: results from 11-years' study - Infectious Diseases...