Look but dont touch will be the rule at Wagner Park after it was announced that the field will remain closed until spring. Sodding work is to be completed this month, but the grounds will need a few undisturbed months before pedestrians can walk through Aspens central park, according to Scott Chism, city of Aspen planning and construction operations manager. The goal-line date for the field to be completely finished is June 1, 2015, he said at a city council work session Tuesday. The city is in the midst of a $900,000 project to upgrade drainage and irrigation systems in the park. Using sod as opposed to seeding is more expensive, but is the best way to reduce the risk of weak or immature turf grass for next spring, said Chism. Aspen Golf Club Director Steve Aitken agreed that sod is the best choice for the field, and that it should be in fine condition this spring. Sod is the best bet this time of year to guarantee great results, said Aitken. Sodding is the best alternative at this point. Chism noted that the sod will cost an additional $53,640, but that the expense has been covered by carry forward funds from projects that came in under budget on Smuggler Mountain and at the Moore Fields at the Aspen School District campus. For now, people and pets must stay off of the new turf. Basically, we need to keep all traffic off [of the field], said Tom Rubel, the citys director of parks and open space. But, news of the delay did not sit well with Mayor Steve Skadron, who believed that the project would be finished this fall. I am a little frustrated by this and I cannot for the life of me recall supporting a motion back on March 24 to close the park to the public until next June, Skadron said. He continued to say that when discussing these type of projects, council needs to know when the entire project will be finished and open to the public, not just when the work will be done.

collin@aspendailynews.com

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Wagner Park closure will stretch until next spring

Kennewick, WA (PRWEB) September 29, 2014

As many homeowners know, fall is no time to rest on ones laurels. During this time of year it is important to take advantage of the cooling weather to patch the lawn, plant grass seed, and engage in a little weed prevention. Senske Services says this is the time to prepare for both winter and spring.

Senske Services advises homeowners to make preparations for growing a new lawn during the fall. But to grow a new lawn, the soil needs to be moist in order for grass seeds to germinate. There are three ways to plant new grass: seeding, laying down sod, and hydro-seeding. Regardless of the method chosen homeowners need to make a smooth seed bed and drain the water away from the home.

Believe it or not fall is also a great time to control broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions. In fact, if they are controlled in the fall, they will not bloom and take over the yard in the spring. Timing is critical when preparing your lawn for both the winter and spring. Early fall is one of the best times of the year to make lasting changes in the care of lawns and shrubs, says Mosley.

This is also a good time for people with irrigation systems to begin scheduling their sprinkler blowouts in preparation for colder weather. These systems are among the more expensive aspects of a lawn, so it is important to have a blowout done properly. Some homeowners take care of it themselves, but a professional lawn care service is more likely to do the job right the first time and save the customer time. In addition, most professional companies dispose of excess materials in a safe manner and guarantee their work.

Overall, fall is a great time of year to take care of the yard work that may have been neglected during the summer. Senske Services is offering a fall lawn special for a full lawn care service program, starting at $39.95 per treatment, for customers in its service area. It is also scheduling sprinkler blowouts for $59.95 up to 8 stations. Find out more by calling Senske Services at (877) 944-4007.

About Senske Services: Senske Services, Inc. is a leading lawn, tree and pest control service provider that is locally owned and operated, with its corporate office based in Kennewick, Washington. It has been a trusted source of lawn, tree and pest control services since 1947 across Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Utah, as well as pest control in Las Vegas, Nevada. To see what Senske Services can do for you, visit http://www.senske.com.

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Senske Services Releases Its Top Lawn Tips for Fall 2014

Fall Grass Seeding and Aerating the Lawn with the Garden Tiller - September 20, 2014
This is a ritual I do each year in September which is to aerate and overseed the lawn with Tall Fescue Grass before the leaves begin to fall. Using Pennington Kentucky 31 Grass seed with Pencote...

By: mountainbikekayak

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Fall Grass Seeding and Aerating the Lawn with the Garden Tiller - September 20, 2014 - Video

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Q: My lawn has several spots that Id like to re-seed. Can I do that job now? R.P., West Side

A: Perhaps. It just depends on what type of grass you have for a lawn.

If you are dealing with warm season grasses like native buffalo, blue grama or bermuda, I doubt the soil will stay warm enough, long enough for the re-seeded spots to gain a foothold.

If your lawn is made of cool season types of grass like Kentucky blue, any of the fescues or rye grasses then, yes, this is a grand time to do the re-seeding! One of the pluses, too, since the weather is cooling, is your chances of growing a crop of weeds at the same time is lessened.

First, youll want to scratch away any dead thatch out of the area down to dirt. If you need to bring the soil level up to grade, then spread top soil on the spots. Dampen it just a bit and spread the seed, then tamp it down firmly. You want the spots dampened so the seed is more apt to grabbing hold and sitting still, so to speak.

After tamping, cover the area with a slight -to -inch layer of top soil. Thatll keep the seed in place, assist in keeping the seed moist, and out of view of hungry birds!

For the next several weeks you will need to keep those spots sprinkled. Water at least twice a day and, maybe if the afternoon temperatures stay toasty, more often. Your goal is to not let those spots dry out. Within 10 to 15 days, the seed should have germinated and youll be seeing green.

Now, I will suggest you do not fertilize the lawn, spots and all, with a high-nitrogen content established lawn fertilizer. The young grass is still far too tender to deal with a full-strength feeding. If you feel the need and the established lawn would love it invest in a starter-style fertilizer making sure that it has a high level of phosphorus.

Its the phosphorus, the middle number of the fertilizer calculation, which is used by plantlife to feed and create healthy root. With cooler temperatures, adequate water and loving care from you, its a great time to re-seed your cool season grass style lawn.

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Seeding time depends on type of your grass

Photos: Urban meadows

One urban meadow runs along Whitney Avenue near Science Hill. (Photo by Michael Marsland)

Walt Debboli, a supervisor of grounds maintenance, leads a team of faculty, staff, and students from the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies as they plant wildflowers in the berm along Whitney Avenue. (Photo by Amber Garrard)

Another view along Whitney Avenue. (Photo by Ryan Laemel)

In this spot near Betts House, the ground was cleared to make way for the meadow. (Photo by Walt Debboli)

Another meadow brings color and wildlife diversity to the Yale Farm. (Photo by Walt Debboli)

More views from the farm ... (Photo by Ryan Laemel)

(Photo by Ryan Laemel)

(Photo by Ryan Laemel)

The urban meadow at the Divinity School. (Photo by Amber Garrard)

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Yales urban meadows are having a growth spurt

PGA National Resort & Spas acclaimed Champion Coursethe Jack Nicklaus-designed host of the PGA Tours Honda Classic and home of the famous Bear Traphas reopened after a major re-grassing with cutting-edge Celebration Bermuda, and renovation of the 14th hole.

Celebration Bermuda grass is now on fairways, green surrounds and tees of the Champion Course, making the popular layout even more eye-catching and playable. The new turf should be embraced by the worlds best golfers who annually play in The Honda Classicone of the top events in professional golfas well as the thousands of resort guests who play the course.

In addition to hosting seven Honda Classic tournaments, the Champion Course has been home to the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, and 18 Senior PGA Championships, and this year will host the final stage of the Web.com Tours Q-school.

The Celebration Bermuda will provide us with major-like conditions, said Lukus Harvey, PGA National Resort & Spas Director of Agronomy. The Honda Classic field is perennially on par with golfs four majors, and now we have the turf to provide similar conditions. Our resort guests and club members will love it because it provides a better year-around product, including upgraded irrigation. The grass is so dense you wont get a bad lie.

With the new turf, The Champion Course will no longer require over-seeding during the off-season, allowing for faster, firmer conditions that golfers enjoy.

We can all use an extra 20 yards of roll, Harvey added.

Four of The Champions greensNos. 1, 9, 15 and 17have been expanded to their original size, creating more exciting pin locations for the event that kicks off the PGA Tours Florida Swing. The greens remain TifEagle, one of the worlds truest putting surfaces.

The Bear Trap Evolves

The Champion is well known as home to the legendary Bear Trap. The daunting 15th, 16th and 17th holes are considered one of the more challenging three-hole stretches in the game, with water prominently in play on each hole. USA Today called The Bear Trap one of the toughest stretches in golf.

As part of the renovation, Nicklaus moved the green on the 14th hole, which leads into the feared Bear Trap, 17 yards to the right, bringing water into play on the approach shot. The tee also was moved back 10 yards, and bunkers were built in front and behind the green to further strengthen the 465-yard hole.

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PGA National reopens Nicklaus-renovated Champion Course

Personally I cant muster much sympathy for the owners of 2 million homes even though that wont buy you a mansion anywhere in this city, as Miliband, owner of an NW5 house worth well over that, can himself testify. I doubt Labours plan will lose the votes of many Londoners who wouldnt already be voting Tory.

Still, Labour and the Lib-Dems reliance on this wheeze is testimony to politicians fundamental cowardice in dealing with the real problem: our completely broken system of local taxes.

Its right that there should be progressive taxation of homes, the main expression of most peoples wealth and one which is difficult to hide from the taxman. That is one original, theoretical principle of council tax, like the old system before it of local rates based on homes notional rentable values.

The problem is that council tax is still based on property values in 1991, the baseline year for when the tax was first introduced in 1993. The idea was to revalue properties every 10 years: it never happened. In September 2005 Labour postponed the exercise until after the next election, a move the minister responsible, David Miliband, cheerfully admitted was a vaulting, 180-degree, full U-turn. In 2010 the Tories followed suit, ruling out any revaluation in this Parliament.

This means illogicalities such as homes built since 1991 being given notional 1991 values. Much more serious, it locks us into a system incapable of registering the wild divergence of property values over the past two decades let alone of helping put a brake on soaring prices.

You can judge how big a cumulative tax cut the present system has handed the rich by considering that in 1990, the last year of the old system, the biggest London homes were paying rates of up to 10,000 a year (worth 21,700 today). Westminsters band H council tax this year? Just 1,353.48 (its nearer 3,000 in most boroughs.)

H is the highest of the eight council tax bands: politicians of all parties refusal to revisit the tax means that there can be no new bands added. They probably fret that higher property taxes might drive the rich away. Inexplicably, that isnt what New Yorks far higher, annually reassessed property taxes have done.

Instead, were offered a mansion tax. It isnt bold or radical. Its a sign of politicians impotence.

There was a symbolism to the Rockefeller Brothers Fund promising this week to phase out its holdings in fossil fuels: the family fortune was made by John D Rockefeller, founder of the oil company whose descendant is Exxon. The announcement was timed for yesterdays meeting of world leaders in New York to discuss climate change: more than 300,000 people marched in the city to demand action.

President Obama does now seem (fairly) serious about it though thats what people said when David Cameron cuddled huskies on the Svalbard ice in 2006. Since then, Cameron has junked even token environmental commitments, while the ice has shrunk: this week Cambridge Universitys professor of ocean physics said that the Arctic ice cap is in a death spiral. I dont want to get all apocalyptic like David Mitchell in his new novel, The Bone Clocks, with its nightmare vision of the 2040s post climate change. But time is running out.

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Andrew Neather: A mansion tax isnt radical its impotent

MANGHAM, La. - Press Release Cattle producers drove as far as 100 miles to get the latest research-based information that included pharmaceutical best management practices, buying and retaining replacement heifers and pasture weed control at the second annual northeast Louisiana beef and forage field day at the Goldmine Plantation.

LSU AgCenter agent Keith Collins from Richland Parish, who helped coordinate the event, said the county agents job is to get the information to the people who need it, and the field day is a great way to do that.

Goldmine Plantation is just a great place to have a beef cattle field day, Collins said. Ive worked with them for a long time, so they let us do things that give producers practical, hands-on experience.

The attendees heard about factors influencing calving difficulties from Rayville veterinarian Lyle Bennett.

The breed of the bull and the breed of the cow are two of the top issues involved, he said. Calving time is another issue he discussed, maintaining that late fall is the best time to calve in Louisiana.

LSU AgCenter forage specialist Wink Alison opened the program with a talk on the impact of ryegrass planting methods on production.

Tillage can have the most impact, Alison said. You can plant ryegrass from straight onto a pasture through having a totally prepared seedbed. For early season production, the prepared seedbed is better.

Alison also discussed the importance of a heavier seeding rate early in the fall for better early production.

LSU AgCenter beef specialist Karl Harborth discussed the importance of proper bull selection to improve herds.

Weve found through research that it is typically best to breed a non-Brahman bull on Brahman cows, Harborth said. This normally gives the best chance for calving ease and lower birth weights.

Continued here:
Field Day Features Cattle Management, Weed Control

INVERNESS As the golf world salivates over the promise of a round or two on Cape Breton's latest signature course, its operators proudly report the last round of seeding has been completed.

The Par 3 No. 16 hole at Cabot Cliffs is shown. All 18 holes of the Inverness course have been seeded and will be available for golf in July. Photo submitted by Cabot Cliffs

Hole No. 7, which features a pond and an elevated fairway according to Golf Advisor, carries the distinction of being the final Cabot Cliffs hole to be seeded.

The focus now shifts to things like finalizing bunker edges throughout the fall as preparations continue to move toward a summer 2015 opening.

"What we will do is go from construction to growing in which we literally call grown-in when the grass comes in through the fall," said Ben Cowan-Dewar, managing partner for Cabot Links.

"It is sort of a slow transition and will be almost entirely transitioned in the next week or so to grow in and basically the other holes are being mowed and maintained."

Cowan-Dewar said an aggressive construction schedule, an exceptional construction crew and co-operation from Mother Nature allowed the course to get to this point.

And because construction is going well, he said all 18 holes of the new course will open for preview play in July.

"The idea of preview play is that the greens will probably be a little slower, we'll limit the number of rounds basically just to let that young turf grow in and then we'll have a grand opening in 2016."

Even though the number of rounds per day will be limited, he said people can still book to play the course from July through October.

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Final seeding on Cabot Cliffs; course to open in July

Fears developers are failing to keep promises to provide community services when building neighbourhoods have been raised by councillors.

Great Hollands North councillors Mary Temperton and Michael Gbadebo claim Jennetts Park developers are not carrying out their obligations.

During a meeting between Bracknell Forest Council and the Jennetts Park Consortium, which built the development in Peacock Farm, on Wednesday, September 3, it was concluded none of the outstanding developer contribution requirements had been met.

Health and safety fears close Jennett's Park playground three weeks after opening

Shop negotiations finally underway in Jennett's Park

Councillor says "enough is enough" over lack of playground and shops at Jennett's Park

Cllr Gbadebo said: The council outlined its disappointment with the speed at which everything is happening.

There have been a number of broken promises from the developers as well as a failure to develop certain things on time. We, as a council, need to do more we need to see some action.

When planning applications are approved by the council, developers are given a list of agreed contributions which they must provide.

These obligations range from providing community centres and schools to roads and recycling areas to ensure the council does not have to pay out for infrastructure to support new developments.

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Fears raised over Jennett's Park developers failing to keep promises