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.

Read more from the original source:
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.

Read more from the original source:
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).

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

You can imagine that Elaine Sanderson chats to her plants when shes gardening, just as she chats to guests laughingly admonishing herself, musing out loud and occasionally cursing the natural elements she battles with at her coastal Taranaki property. The garden, with its winding paths, colour, strong foliage and features inspired by overseas travel, reflects her personality. She modestly refers to the garden as higgledy piggledy or just a hotchpotch but the exuberant character-filled property is certainly a delight. Its a regular participant in the Taranaki Garden Festival and is featured on the New Zealand Gardens Trust circuit.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

Elaine Sanderson, who gardens full-time with the help of family and her neighbour, ensures there's colour year round at her Taranaki property, either with flowers or foliage; this old wheelbarrow is full of purple and white flowering lobelia interspersed with pink geraniums.

Elaine and husband John moved onto their tkeho farm, 30km along the coast from Hwera, when they married. Eldest daughter Natalie was born in 1988 around the same time the garden started sprouting.

READ MORE:* This magnificent Taumarunui garden is full of unexpected surprises* There's so much more to this Tauranga garden than structure and simplicity* Creative thinking took this Auckland garden from damp to dreamy

When you have kids you dont want to be in the house with them they love being outside. So she gardened while the kids played. There are now three grown daughters and a son.

Like many rural gardeners, Elaine started with a ledger of positives and negatives. On one side of the ledger was flat land unfettered by fences. On the debit side was a lack of natural shelter and strong coastal wind. Salt spray was a particular irritation and it took years to get the shelter right, she says.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

A Pyrus salicifolia pendula (weeping silver pear) tree surrounded by corokia and lavender grow where cows once grazed; in the foreground mounds of Buxus microphylla 'Koreana' and a climbing wisteria disguise an old farm gate.

In the early 90s it was a cottage-style garden as the style was at the time. Then I planted a whole lot of natives. They got too big and many were removed, however, the plants that stayed combined with other established vegetation to provide structure.

Thats when I really started to have fun. I had the overhead shelter by then and could create micro-environments underneath. Id figured out what grew so well here things were self-seeding so I could shift them around.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

A potted heuchera picks up the colours of the bright orange and brown cushions; the garden furniture was made from railway sleepers on-site by a builder.

Nowadays Elaine is a full-time gardener. She used to do about 1200 hours a year. Now its about 2000 hours a year, says John, grinning when asked if he keeps a timesheet. Elaine agrees: I dont go to town very often. Online shopping suits me just fine.

Her mother was a keen floral artist and her granddad grew roses, however it was good friend Jenny Oakley who inspired her. She got me into it. Our kids grew up together. She was the one who encouraged me to try this and try that. I could get plants from my mum in Taup so Id bring them over.

John has played his part, building new fences and installing features, however daughter Natalie and retired neighbour Dave Agnew are her trusty assistants. Natalies a ball of energy. Its like she cracks the whip you have to get this done Mum.

Another influence is overseas travel, which Elaine loves, visiting places like Tibet, Nepal, Turkey and South America. If she spies interesting objects along the way, she will ask a friend who used to import goods to find her replicas or commission their creation. There are urns from Myanmar, statues inspired by Nepalese temples, three Pompeii-style pillars, a sphinx and colourful Mexican talavera pots, as well as rusting farm paraphernalia skilfully repurposed as garden sculptures.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

The trio of Pompeii-style pillars were inspired by a trip to Turkey and are made of fibreglass attached to internal posts to stabilise them.

The hardware as Elaine calls it enhances the natural layering of her rambling property, notable for its twists and turns, and gardens within a garden. In many places you cant see the house for the dense planting. Elaine loves foliage even more than flowers and says the advantage of the propertys size is the constant dividing and replanting that can be done.

The latest change around is the removal of a creeper and the division of clivia to make way for Chinese guardian lions to be mounted on stands below a giant beam. Shes waiting for them to arrive. Its always a bigger job than what I expected, sighs Elaine, confessing that she often wonders what shes started when midway through a project.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

The five figurines on the posts are replicas of those from the Bronze Age Cycladic culture found throughout the islands of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea around 3200BC.

Some changes happened unexpectedly. Early on, cows traipsed through the front of the property on their way to the milking shed but when the layout of the road changed, the path moved and Elaine scored more garden. A hedge was added along with trees such as silk trees, cherries and weeping silver pears.

The fountain was another project. Elaine spotted it in a Whanganui nursery, brought it home and then waited for its completion for some years. It was more expensive putting the pond in than the fountain. You do things in slow steps if your husband is not a gardener.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

Many parts of the gardens are edged in Buxus microphylla 'Koreana' including here where it fringes the fountain along with mondo grass.

Tucked in among the established trees are many salvias, chinese lanterns (abutilon), clivias, ligularia, hostas, and ornamental grasses like hakone, euphorbia and miscanthus. Red foliage from the likes of the strappy Cordyline Red Fountain, maples or Cercis canadensis Forest Pansy complements the glossy green leaves of other plants.

Elaine isnt just a steward of the family property; she and John have planted 8km of native shrubs alongside streams, helping to protect waterways in their South Taranaki area. Work never stops. Thats the thing in a garden. You dont panic because you are never on top of it. My garden is not the style where you are on top of things.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

Elaine's love of foliage is evident in this sweep of the garden combining deep red maples and ligularia with green horsetail restio (Elegia capensis) in the background.

Q&A with Elaine Sanderson

Favourite plant combination: Japanese maples and hybrid clematis.

Most-used tools: The lawnmower and leaf blower.

Best and worst garden job: My favourite is weeding; the least favourite is hedge trimming.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

The climbing rose 'Alberic Barbier' sits atop the exit arch of the rose garden; while the garden has to deal with salt spray and southerly winds, trees and mature shrubs are a buffer for what grows underneath; Elaine says the garden's lushness is most evident in spring: "I cut back things really hard in the autumn and then through the winter."

Most-used part of the garden: The swing seat in a hidden corner of the garden.

Plants that grow well here: Ligularias, grasses and salvias.

Best tip for other gardeners: Take your own cuttings from plants that do well in your garden. I love taking cuttings and filling up empty spots with them, and then watching them grow.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

The garden nudges up against the house, almost disguising it.

The thing Ive learned about gardening over the years is: Patience.

Best edible crop: Strawberries.

I love this part of New Zealand because: It has a temperate climate. I like that it doesnt get too hot in summer or too cold in winter which means I can garden all year round.

Jane Dove Juneau/NZ House & Garden

A sphinx greets visitors at the garden's entrance.

Favourite season in the garden: Spring, because of the vibrant colours you get with all the new growth.

Soil type: Sandy silt loam.

Hours spent in the garden: 40 hours a week.

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Rambling Taranaki garden alive with colour and fun - Stuff

You can plant grass seed anytime during the growing season, but doing so in fall takes advantage of cooler temperatures and milder sun.

How many plants are in your yard? If you have a lawn, the answer is: Too many to count. The average quarter-acre lawn contains millions of grass plants.

Fortunately, these plants start easily from seed. Grass is one of the most common plants on the planet, and one of the easiest to germinate. Still, timing and technique are important. Read on to learn more about sowing grass seed in the fall.

Yes to both! Fall is best for starting lawns in the North, while spring is better in the South. However, fall is the time for overseeding Southern lawns with a cool-season grass variety so they stay green in winter. So fall seeding has its place in both regions.

That depends on where you live and what kind of grass youre growing. Cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass) thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall, while warm-season grasses (Bermudagrass, centipede grass, bahiagrass and zoysia grass) peak in late spring and early summer.

Those are optimum times for growth, and consequently the optimum times to sow grass seed for the respective cool- or warm-season grass. If sowing in fall, do it at least 45 days before your expected first frost date. That could be late September in Minnesota, or early November in Oklahoma.

Heres how to ensure your fall grass seed sprouts easily and effectively.

As with any garden bed, the time to improve the soil is before planting. Its especially important for compacted soils or those with primarily heavy clay.

Compacted soils should be loosened; you can do small patches with a spade fork or an entire bed with a tiller. If the soil is poor (say, impervious clay or sieve-like sand), spread a couple of inches of compost and mix it in. Compost helps clay soil drain better and sandy soil retain moisture and nutrients. Plus it adds nutrients and beneficial microbes.

Choose a seed mix suited to your climate and conditions. Many bagged grass seeds include more than one grass species, or a blend of more than one variety. This helps ensure resistance to environmental factors like drought or heavy foot traffic, and promotes genetic diversity.

To make it easier for the consumer, manufacturers label some grass seed mixes specifically for problem situations, such as shade or heavy traffic. These mixes contain the varieties best suited to the situation.

A popular mix might include Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and perennial ryegrass. Each brings something different to the table. Kentucky bluegrass forms a thick, lush carpet, fine fescue takes shade, and perennial ryegrass withstands heavy foot traffic, so together they make a formidable team. Moreover, quick-sprouting fine fescue gives protective cover to the slow-out-of-the-gate Kentucky bluegrass.

Once the soil is prepared, spread the grass seed. Small batches can be sown by hand, but a handheld spreader will distribute the seed more evenly. Larger areas can be done with a drop spreader, which deposits the seed beneath it, or a broadcast spreader, which fans the seed out in a circular motion.

Once youve spread the seed, use a garden rake to lightly work the seed no more than 1/4-inch into the soil. If sowing an entire lawn, consider renting a lawn roller, which will flatten the soil and ensure better seed-to-soil contact.

After that, mulch with straw or a biodegradable seed-starter made with paper, an adhering agent and seed-starting fertilizer. Mulch helps discourage bird browsing while keeping seeds moist for germination.

Although mulch helps prevent the sun from baking the seedbed, you still need to water. The key is to keep seeds (and later tender seedlings) moist but not soggy. A mulched bed needs daily watering in the morning. An unmulched bed needs two or three light waterings each day.

Grass seed germination takes from five days to three weeks, depending on the species. After grass seedlings begin to grow, you can taper off watering. Transition gradually, going from daily to every other day to every three or four days and finally to weekly.

If youre wondering if grass seed grows in the winter, the answer depends on where you live and the type of seed. Be sure to plant grass seed early enough to become established before the ground freezes. Grass can take a couple of months to become established, and an entire growing season to be ready for extended foot traffic. When seedlings are up about an inch, check to see if there are any bare spots that need to be re-seeded. You can begin mowing when new grass is about three inches tall a milestone that might not be met until spring.

More:
Tips for Planting Grass Seed in Fall | The Family Handyman

Now is the time to renovate hay fields and pastures.

Late summer and early fall are optimal times to evaluate hay fields and pastures to determine next steps and potential improvements.

A careful assessment will allow you to determine if a full burndown and reseeding is necessary or if some more basic remediation practices can be done to try and improve the field.

Extension agronomist Leanna Duppstadt explains forage seedings in Pennsylvania are most successful in mid-August to early September due to cool evenings and early fall rains that provide ideal conditions for our cool-season grasses.

Weather is an important planting consideration, as late summer can still be hot and dry, so in certain years planting may need pushed back to ensure adequate moisture, but never any later than six weeks before a killing frost.

A popular choice for fall planting of forages is a no-till drill. It can be used to overseed existing pastures and hay fields or do a full reseeding after a burndown application.

A full burndown has its pros and cons, so careful stand assessment is important. For more discussion on stand evaluation and determining whether to restore or renovate your fields, use the Penn State Extension resources on Seeding Perennial Foragesand Fall Management for Pastures.

Managing soil fertility is a key component of improving a pasture or hay field. Collecting a soil sample should always be the first step.

Knowing the fertility of the soil will allow you to make the necessary fertilizer applications before attempting to incorporate a new seeding or come through with any weed control.

Key point: If you are trying to improve your fields, you need to first understand why the improvement was necessary.

Yes, the field may be old and in need of a new seeding, but a majority of the time, the problem is fertility- or pH-related. Improving the fertility first will improve your chance of success.

In times of high prices (even outside of that, but especially then), adjusting soil pH and making lime applications can be the most effective and economical way to improve forage growth.

The biggest improvements will be seen when pH is well outside the preferred range for grass growth, which is around 6.5 to 7.

If a soil test shows a pH of 5.8 and another shows a pH of 6.1, you will see a greater overall improvement of the grasses when adding lime at the soil pH of 5.8 because the change is more dramatic.

Regardless, it is important to have the pH in the optimal range before seeding; otherwise poor germination could occur. Lime is also an excellent source of calcium and is the most economical way to make magnesium applications.

One ton of grass hay typically removes about 50 pounds of nitrogen, 15 to 20 pounds of phosphorus, and 45 to 60 pounds of potassium (potash). Fall is an excellent time to replace phosphorus and potassium.

For hay fields, manure makes an excellent fertilizer, except where legumes are present, and can be applied as a topdress before or after no-till seeding.

Potassium is directly related to winter survival and minimizing winter kill.

In pastures, it is important to understand that the continuous supply of manure from livestock will not be enough to feed the grasses. Additional fertilizer applications will need to be applied for optimal forage production.

Check out Extension's Soil Fertility resource for more information.

There are many factors that should go into selecting forages that will suit your needs, but thankfully many single species or species mixes will check multiple boxes.

Select species that are best adapted to your area, soil type, management practices and livestock species. Consider end use, intended markets, desired yields and forage quality.

Consult Extension's resources on selecting correct foragesand pasture species selectionfor more information.

Fall is when perennial forages are starting to store energy in their roots to overwinter. It is typically recommended to leave taller than average stubble or residue in the late summer and fall to ensure plants are able to store enough nutrients, survive winter, and have a jump start in the spring.

Overgrazing or mowing too short inhibits root systems, doesnt allow for proper carbohydrate storage, and increases plants susceptibility to stress.

Generally, a stubble height of 3 to 4 inches is recommended during any point in the season but especially in the fall, with 4 to 5 inches being more ideal.

This may mean pulling livestock off fields in the late summer (sometimes earlier than usual), feeding stored forages and allowing pasture forages to regrow, particularly in dry summers.

Consider the cost of heavily overgrazing the pasture and requiring a full reseeding in the spring compared to using stored forages.

Clipping or mowing before overseeding or a full burndown and planting a new seeding will help with weed control and allow increased light penetration, which will aid in the germination and growth of the new seedlings.

Be sure to mow weeds prior to them setting seed to avoid further spreading.

Chemical control of existing weeds prior to overseeding can be difficult because certain products have a 30-day planting restriction. Such products include 2,4-D and dicamba, which are the most common herbicides used for broadleaf weed control in grasses.

Glyphosate is usually used for burndown because it is nonselective, highly effective, and amenable to reseeding immediately after application.

For more information on fall weed control, check out Extension's resource on the matter.

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What to Consider When Renovating Pastures in Late Summer and Early Fall - Lancaster Farming

One hundred miles north of Philadelphia, the Billion Oyster Project has been restoring the bivalves in New York Harbor since 2010, engaging more than 10,000 volunteers and 6,000 students in the project. Oyster nurseries are being installed in Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland, where until recently they were believed to have been extinct for a century. And a hatchery 30 miles west of Chicago has dispersed 25,000 mussels into area waterways, boosting the populations of common freshwater mussel species.

Underwater vegetation restoration projects have been underway in the Chesapeake Bay and Tampa Bay for years, and more recently in California where seagrass species are in sharp decline. (Morro Bay, for example, has lost more than 90 percent of its eelgrass beds in the last 15 years.) The California Ocean Protection Councils 2020 Strategic Plan to Protect Californias Coast and Ocean aims to preserve the mere 15,000 acres of known seagrass beds and cultivate 1,000 more acres by 2025.

Scientists stress that these projects must be implemented alongside strategies to continue curbing contaminants, mainly excess nutrients from sewage and fertilizers, flowing into our waterwaysstill the most critical step in improving water quality. After several decades of aquatic vegetation plantings in the Chesapeake Bay, for example, scientists say that the modest increase of plants is largely due to nature restoring itself following a reduction in nutrient pollution.

And any human intervention in a complex ecosystem raises a host of compelling concerns, such as how to ensure sufficient genetic diversity and monitor competition for food and resources. Scientists say that, in many cases, theyre learning as they go.

Still, in areas where the natural environment is improving, bringing back bivalves and aquatic plants can create a lasting foundation for entire ecosystems. And restoration initiatives are an active form of stewardship that connects people to their waterways, helping them understand the ecosystems we depend on for our survival.

Until five years ago, the extent of wild celery grass beds in the Delaware estuary was a bit of a mystery. Many scientists didnt think the water quality was suitable, and since the estuary contains a lot of sediment and roils with the tides, the plants werent visible in aerial imagery.

But in 2017, EPA researchers started surveying by boat to detect submerged vegetation and were surprised to find the plant thriving in parts of a 27-mile stretch of the Delaware River from Palmyra, New Jersey, past Camden and Philadelphia, to Chester, Pennsylvania. Thats the only section of the river designated by the Delaware River Basin Commission as unsafe for primary contact recreationactivities like jet skiing, kayaking, and swimming.

The discovery of healthy grass beds was exciting, says the EPA Mid-Atlantic regions senior watershed coordinator Kelly Somers, because the plant is an indicator of water quality. The EPAs research, accessible via online maps, has been especially helpful for the Upstream Alliances restoration work, says founder and president Don Baugh, because most of the research on wild celery grass is from other placesprimarily the Chesapeake Bay. The restoration of wild celery and other aquatic plant species has been underway there for more than 30 years.

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How Scientists Are Cleaning Up Rivers Using Grasses and Oysters - WIRED

Anderson CountySeal coat operations will be taking place at the following locations:

Anderson County construction projects updates:

US 79 Super 2 Project

The contractor is scheduled to continue work on final cleanup. Project consists of widening for a Super 2, including sub-grade work, surface treatment, base and surface hot mix asphalt, widening structures, bridge rail, MBGF, signage and permanent striping.

SH 155 Overlay Project

The contractor is scheduled to work on driveways and drainage structures on SH 155 in Anderson County. The speed limit is scheduled to be reduced to 60 mph throughout the project limits. Motorists should use caution when traveling through the project and expect lane closures and delays. It consists of OCST, PFC surface, shoulder texturing, edge treatment and pavement markings.

SH 175 Widening Project

The contractor is scheduled to work on drainage structures on US 175. Motorists should use caution when traveling through the project and expect lane closures and delays. Project consists of grading, subbase work, HMAC, drainage, structures, pavement markings and signing.

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Cherokee CountyJacksonville and Rusk crews will be removing encroachments and repairing potholes in various locations throughout the county.

Also, striping operations will take place at the following locations:

Cherokee County construction projects updates:

SH 204 Super-2 Widening Project

No work is scheduled this week. The project adds passing lanes and incorporates safety upgrades.

US 84 Widening

The contractor is scheduled to fill pavement edges and temporary seeding. Lane closures will be in place. Expect delays on this corridor when construction is in progress. The project will widen and resurface the roadway, along with adding safety upgrades.

FM 22 Safety Widening and Bridge Replacement Project

The contractor is scheduled to begin paving the final surface. Lane closures are anticipated. The bridge is now open to traffic. The project will widen the existing roadway, replace three bridges and incorporate safety upgrades.

SH 21 Resurfacing Project

The contractor is scheduled to continue road work construction on driveway upgrades and structure extensions. No lane closures are expected. The project will consist of pavement resurfacing.

SH 135 Bridge Replacements

The contractor has placed message boards to inform the public. The project will begin Sept. 6. All birds have finished nesting. The project consists of the replacement of the bridge at Mud Creek and Mud Creek Relief.

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Gregg CountyLongview maintenance will be clearing trees from the right-of-way on FM 1845 and FM 3053. Crews will also be cutting high edges on FM 2207, from FM 1252 to SH 135 N. Expect flaggers controlling traffic.

Gregg County construction projects updates:

SH 135 Kilgore Traffic Circle

This project consists of completely rebuilding the traffic circle and full width of roadway to the Rusk County line. It will consist of removing existing concrete paving, reconstructing subgrade, constructing concrete paving, storm sewer installation, lighting, and striping. The traffic will be reduced to one lane in the southbound direction for the duration of the project. A detour will be set up for northbound traffic to follow SH 42. This will allow the contractor to build half of the roadway. Traffic will be switched to the newly constructed lanes later to allow completion of the other half of the highway. Expect delays.

SLP 281 Mill and Inlay

The project consists of performing mill and inlay all lanes with hot mix in both directions, including the center turn lane. Work will be performed at night. There will be alternating lane closures. Expect delays. Estimated completion is August 2022.

Spur 63/McCann Road Bridge Project

This project is part of the City of Longview Guthrie Creek Trail project. It will consist of building a bridge over Guthrie Creek to allow bicyclist and pedestrians to travel under Spur 63. The traffic will be reduced to two lanes, one northbound lane and one south bound lane to allow the contractor to build half of the bridge. Traffic will be switched later to allow completion of the bridge construction. Expect delays.

FM 2206/Harrison Road

This project consists of widening a two-lane road to four lanes with a center turn lane. This includes drainage structures, new bridge, flexible base, hot mix and pavement markings. Contractor will be extending culverts and constructing detours. There will be daytime lane closures. Expect delays.

FM 2206/Harrison Road

This project consists of widening a two-lane road to four lanes with a center turn lane. This includes drainage structures, flexible base, curb and gutter, sidewalks, hot mix and pavement markings. Contractor will be extending culverts and constructing detours. There will be daytime lane closures. Expect delays.

Pentecost Rd. Bridge Replacement

The project consists of replacing the bridge structure on Big Head Creek. Pentecost Road will be closed to through traffic. Only local traffic will be allowed. Through traffic needs to select an alternate route.

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Henderson CountyAthens maintenance is scheduled to repair edges and patch potholes on various roads throughout the county. This will be a slow-moving operation using a TMA. Expect delays.

Henderson County construction projects updates:

SH 198 Bridge Project

The contractor is scheduled to work on the new northbound bridge and roadway elements. Motorists should be prepared for lane closures and delays. The speed limit has been reduced to 50 mph throughout the project. The project consists of the construction of replacing bridges, approaches, grading, structures, asphalt concrete pavement (ACP) base, ACP surface, retaining walls, curb & gutter, MBGF, and pavement markings.

BUS 175 Safety Improvement Project

The contractor is scheduled to work on roadway elements. Motorists should be prepared for lane closures and delays. The project includes traffic signals, curb ramps and pavement markings.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Resurface Project

The contractor is scheduled to work on the final cleanup of the parking areas in the fishery and intersection with FM 2495 in Henderson County. The project consists of OCST and pavement markings.

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Rusk CountyCrews will be digging various ditches and cleaning culverts in various locations throughout the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A second crew will be performing edging on US 259. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic.

Also, striping operations will be taking place at these locations:

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Smith CountyTyler Maintenance will be performing ditch maintenance in various locations throughout the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A sweeper and herbicide unit will also be in various locations throughout the county.

Smith County construction projects updates:

Sidewalks at Various Locations in Smith County

The contractor is scheduled to complete punch list items. Lane closures are anticipated. The project consists of sidewalk construction along SH 64 west in Tyler, SH 110 west in Troup and SH 135 north in Troup.

FM 344, etc., Safety Improvements

No work is scheduled this week. The project consists of improving drainage, culvert work, and guardrail upgrades.

SH 155 Resurfacing Project

The contractor is scheduled to continue seal coat. Anticipate lane closures while work is in progress. When in progress, hours will be from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. Expect delays. The project will resurface the roadway, upgrade drainage structures, and repair bridge joints.

SH 64 Bridge Maintenance

The contractor is scheduled to complete punch list items. Lane closures are anticipated. The project consists of bridge maintenance and repair.

Tyler State Park Bridge and Resurfacing Project

No work is scheduled this week. The project consists of bridge and pavement resurfacing.

SH 110 & FM 346 Landscape Project

No work is scheduled this week. The project consists of landscape development.

Whittle Street, CR 2110 and CR 289 Bridge Replacement Project

The contractor is scheduled to begin construction on Whittle Street at West Mud Creek Tributary. The road is closed to through traffic. The project replaces the existing bridge with a new structure.

The contractor is scheduled to continue construction on the CR 2110 bridge at Kickapoo Creek. The road is closed to through traffic. The project replaces the existing bridge with a new structure.

No work is scheduled this week on the CR 289 bridge at Prairie Creek. The road is open to traffic. The project replaces the existing bridge with a new structure. The contractor will complete one bridge at a time.

IH 20 Mill and Inlay

No work is scheduled this week. When in progress, work will be done at night, Sundays from 9 PM to 5 AM and Monday-Thursday 8 PM to 5 AM. Expect delays on this corridor when construction is in progress. Project consists of an overlay with TBPFC surface, ACP surface, planing, shoulder texturing and pavement markings.

US 271 Rehab, Turn Lanes, and Pavement Overlay

Crews will be paving shoulder level-up on the southbound inside lane and rehabbing southbound left-turn lane. Traffic control will consist of daily southbound inside lane closures managed by signs and channelizing devices. The project consists of paving, structures, MBGF, and pavement markings from I-20 north to the Gregg County line. The portion from I-20 to FM 16 also includes turn lanes and pavement rehabilitation.

IH 20 at Barber Road

This project consists of widening on ramps and exit ramps, culverts, drainage upgrades, new metal beam guard fence and bridge rails on the Barber Road overpass, and asphalt overlay. No work this week on this project.

Safety Improvement Project (Van Zandt, Anderson, Smith and Henderson County)

The contractor is scheduled to continue final cleanup on FM 850 in Smith County. Motorists should be prepared for lane closures and delays. The project includes grading, structure work, guard rail replacement and bridge rail upgrades.

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Van Zandt County

Van Zandt County construction projects updates:

I-20 MBGF Improvements (Van Zandt, Smith, and Gregg counties)

Crews will be addressing final punch list items. This project is to construct safety improvements consisting of upgrading metal beam guard fence and mow strip.

SH 19 Super Two Widening & Overlay (South of Canton)

Crews will be laying hot mix on the NB super two lane. Traffic control will consist of a daily northbound shoulder closure managed by flaggers and a pilot car. The project consists of Super 2 work including grading, base repair, treated subgrade, flex base, OCST, PFC surface, structures, signs and pavement markings.

SH 19 Super Two Widening & Overlay (North of US 80)

Crews will be extending drainage structures. Traffic control will consist of a northbound shoulder closure managed by channelizing devices. The project consists of Super 2 work including grading, base repair, treated subgrade, flex base, OCST, PFC surface, structures, signs and pavement markings.

CR 2918, etc. Bridge Replacements

Contractor will be addressing punch list items. All bridges are open to traffic and near final completion. Minimal impact to the traveling public is anticipated. The project consists of removing and replacing four bridges.

IH 20 Mill and Inlay

The project consists of milling and inlaying hot mix on various frontage roads in the area. Estimated completion is August 2022.

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Wood CountyMaintenance crews are scheduled to perform hot mix overlay on SH 11 east of Winnsboro. Expect one lane closure with flaggers and a pilot vehicle controlling traffic. Delays are expected.

Wood County construction projects updates:

SH 37 Road Widening and PFC Overlay

Crews will be paving shoulder level-up northbound and southbound. Traffic control will consist of daily shoulder closures managed by flaggers and a pilot car. The project consists of base repair, level-up, spray paver, permeable friction course surface, structures, bridge rail, metal beam guard fence, and pavement markings.

FM 2088, etc. MBGF Improvements in Wood County

Crews will be replacing MBGF on FM 514 and placing concrete mowstrip at four locations on FM 2966. They also will be placing mowstrip at three locations on FM 17. Traffic control will consist of daily lane closures managed with flaggers. The project is for bridge maintenance consisting of MBGF and bridge retrofit rail.

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I-20 Total Maintenance Contract

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TxDOT Project Updates for the Week of Aug. 29, 2022 - Texas Department of Transportation

Seeding grass is a useful technique for getting a healthy lawn. Lawn aeration is an essential part of lawn health as well. Combine the two and youll get a combination that works together to produce a lawn that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

When soil becomes compacted, the lawn struggles to take in oxygen, water, and critical nutrients needed to grow properly. A well-aerated lawn, on the other hand, gives fresh seeds a better chance to absorb nutrients and develop stronger roots. In the same way that farmer plows and turns over a field every year, your lawn needs to have the soil conditions enhanced through aeration.

Contact your local Lawn Doctor to learn about how your lawn could benefit from combining lawn seeding with lawn aeration services. Lawn Doctor offers core aeration, which when coupled with seeding can multiply the effectiveness of lawn maintenance and let your grass grow thicker and greener than ever.

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Power Seeding for Lawn Grass | Lawn Doctor

Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action Built For Seeding is formulated to help grow new grass and control against weeds while feeding and strengthening grass. Now you don't have to choose how to best care for your lawnyou can maximize growth with one application. Jump start grass seed development so it establishes quicker and thicker, whether you are starting a fresh new lawn or reseeding an existing lawn. Protect your lawn against annoying and bothersome crabgrass, dandelions and other pesky weeds for up to 6 weeks without harming your new grass. It also feeds and strengthens your new grass to protect it against heat and drought.

For best results to grow grass fast apply with Scotts spreader to dry lawn, then water to activate. Works with most grasses including Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and centipedegrass. One 17.2-lb. bag covers up to 4,000 sq. ft. New weeds will sprout white or turn white and quickly die. This product does not contain grass seed, and it will not kill existing weeds.

Pro Tips:

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Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action Built For Seeding | Scotts