Provided By: National Gardening Association

Dorling Kindersley Limited 2011

Turfgrasses are broadly grouped as warm- or cool-season, based upon their optimum temperatures for growth. Generally it's best to use warm-season grasses such as Bermuda grass, centipede grass, St. Augustine grass and zoysia in southern areas (their best growth occurs above 80 degrees F). Use cool-season grasses such as fescues, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye grass, in northern areas (their best growth happens between 60 degrees and 75 degrees F). Choose grasses that require less water, such as Bermuda grass, buffalo grass and the improved tall fescues, for dry-climate lawns. Tip: For an attractive winter lawn while the permanent grasses are dormant, overseed warm-season Bermuda grass or zoysia lawns with fast-germinating perennial rye grass seed in mid-October.

Before seeding, spread a 2- to 3-inch-layer of compost, either dolomitic limestone or sulfur, to adjust pH as necessary, and organic or slow-release fertilizer. Use the results of a soil test to determine the correct amount of limestone or sulfur to apply. Mix these amendments into the soil with a rototiller.

Rake and level the tilled soil, adjusting the soil level to eliminate high and low spots and to slope soil away from buildings. Roll with a heavy water-filled lawn roller to make a firm bed for planting the seed.

Adjust spreader to apply seeds at one-half the recommended rate on the package. Sow seed by walking back and forth across the lawn, overlapping rows by an inch or two. Then, walk at right angles to the first sowing to apply the second half of the seed. Roll the seedbed again.

Cover lightly with mulch, such as chopped straw, to maintain soil moisture and deter birds from eating sprouted seed. Avoid hay mulch that contains weed seeds. Water with a sprinkler as needed to keep the soil uniformly moist until seeds germinate and become firmly established. Begin mowing with a sharp-bladed lawnmower when grass is about 1/3 taller than the desired lawn height. Caution: Avoid using weed-and-feed fertilizer because it may damage newly sprouting grass.

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Seeding a Lawn - HGTV Gardens Design Ideas, Expert ...

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. A big truck, strength and knowledge of a job site. Thats what deputies say someone had to have in order to make off with more than 1,200 pounds of grass and wildflower seed, meant to complete a roadside project at the Interstate 35-Homestead Lane interchange.

Rick Clark is a superintendent with RFB Construction. He told FOX4s Megan Dillard hes in charge of the seeding for this project. He said, in the 18 years hes done this type of work, hes never had anything stolen like that off of a job site.

Shock, disappointment. It affects everything. The equipment, anything we have to profit, goes back into the company, along with guys raises, bonuses, is now shot on this job, Clark explained.

Johnson County deputies say someone stole nearly $30,000 worth of seed. Someone took 16 bags of grass seed and sixbags of wildflower seed from the job site, sometime between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Each bag weighed nearly 60 pounds, and come at a heavy cost as well.

The highway department mixes those together, puts them out here on the interchange, grass down for erosion control. That seed is specially formulated. Its very expensive,Detective Brett Wilson explained.

Clark explained how he learned something on the job site went wrong.

One of the workers came over and told me. I sent him over to get the seed this morning so we could finish up here and on the other side, and he said that it was gone, he said.

Clark says the seed blend is specific to certain job sites, making it a waste for someone to steal the seed.

It was more or less a waste for someone else to use it, unless it was some individual seeding their house or something like that, which if they did, they got a lot of seed, Clark said. Everything that weve got is certified for this job. Our search has to match. Everything we do is certified, all our seeds are, everything has to be tested. If anyone went to resell it or use it, theyd have to have paperwork to do anything with the state.

Police want to remind the public, it is taxpayer money that funds these projects.

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Almost $30,000 worth of taxpayer money in grass, wildflower seed stolen

Wayland, MA (PRWEB) May 06, 2014

If you ask most mothers what they really want for Mothers Day, many will surprise you and say "help around the house, more free time and a safer healthier environment for my children, the family and our little furry dog." Well the solution to what Mom and our Mother Earth wants maybe outside the house in the grass seed and front yard.

Give Mom the gift of a green lawn with Pearls Premium, a new ultra low maintenance grass seed mixture that is very heat and drought tolerant. Pearls Premium super "green" healthy, lush, barefoot soft, deep green lawn saves dramatic amounts of time, money, water and can be used to plant a new lawn or over seed an existing lawn.

The EPA says that the average homeowner spends 40 hours per summer dealing with the home lawn grass. What if you could have an ultra low maintenance grass, with deep root, that was much more drought tolerant, to save 3/4 of that lawn time or 30 hours per summer not mowing, watering or chemically fertilizing the lawn? Rather, you could spend more of those 30 hours saved helping Mom. She would be tickled pink, or maybe tickled green in this case. In the past it has traditionally been the man of the house that mows the lawn grass. But, now a growing number of women are the household lawn person in our evolving society, riding the mower or pushing the hand reel mower or guiding the electric mower. And women and men want a safer and softer lawn for children and pets.

Above Pearl's Premium Grass, has been installed by homeowner Cynthia Y, who said "it was easy to do and I love the low maintenance of it all, because I now cut the grass only once a month, instead of every week to look like this. I have better things to do with my time than cutting the grass and want to save our precious and limited drinking water."

Cynthia has figured out how to have that perfect lawn for summer that takes a fraction of her precious time, far less water and does not break the bank. She found that you can plant right over your existing lawn to create a new lawn that will look good in spite of heat and water bans this summer. She and others have an increasing concern over chemicals in the environment and its effects on health.

From a number of studies, some of these lawn chemicals have been linked to increased risk of learning and behavioral problems for children, as well as increased risk for Asthma, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, Sexual Dysfunction, Cancer and Leukemia, according to Dr. Alex Lu of the Harvard School of Public Health.

What to do? The secret to great grass for you to spend more time with mom or mom spend less time mowing the grass is when and what to plant along with a few other best management tips. Tips like mowing 3.5 inches tall, leave the clippings, always use a sharp blade, deeply and infrequently water and use a better deep root seed. Some say, starting with the right seed is one of the most important parts of a good lawn. The right seed can help address global health and lessen climate change with extreme deep roots to sequester carbon out of the air to make Mother Earth happy.

Timing: Plant in the next three weeks for warm climates and for the next 6 weeks in cooler climates. Plant longer using the Hydro-seeding method. There is a new game changing, breakthrough grass that recently won a National Award for innovation. It turns out that you can easily and dramatically improve your lawn after the most intense two years of weather droughts and floods in recorded history for 60% of US.

Pearl's Premium mowed tall and planted thickly, out competes most weeds. It has received over 300 rave and favorable reviews from the experts, including home improvement guru Bob Vila, plus "Popular Science", "This Old House" magazines and was recently mentioned in the Boston Globe Magazine.

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Pearls Premium Grass Seed The Mothers Day Gift That Keeps on Growing

According to the Becker County Master Gardeners, May is the time that most flowering annuals are available as sturdy seedlings at garden center and nurseries but many will grow just as well or even better when you seed them directly into the garden.

Zinnias, cosmos, bachelors buttons, California poppies and marigolds are good examples of annuals that grow rapidly from seed. But if you want annuals for containers, buy well developed transplants that will look good the minute you pot them up.

Early May is a good time to plant grass seed, but for good results you need to rough up the soil first. Unfortunately, this exposes crabgrass and other weed seeds that will sprout right along with your new grass.

To stop most weed seeds, apply a specially formulated version of pre-emergence herbicide right after seeding. The label must state clearly that its meant for newly seeded lawns, otherwise it will kill desired grass seeds, too.

Attract butterflies to your yard by planting many good nectar-producing flowers. Include coneflowers, Russian sage, Joe-Pye weed, butterfly weed (Asclepsias), beebalm, catmint, Mexican sunflower, and single or semi-double zinnias.

Though butterfly larvae (caterpillars) may feed on your plants, dont use any insecticides in the garden. And dont put up butterfly houses unless you enjoy them as garden art butterflies will never inhabit them.

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May is good time to plant seedlings, grass

The national government has intensified cloud-seeding operations and allotted P1.3 billion for the construction of small-scale irrigation systems in the face of the dry weather expected to hit the country starting next month, Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said yesterday.

Authorities recently cautioned the public to brace for the El Nio dry weather phenomenon which may last until the first quarter of 2015. The weather phenomenon, characterized by reduced rainfall, may dry up farmlands, reservoirs, and waterways around the country.

The government is taking concerted action to ensure food security for our citizens and to mitigate the possible effects of the projected onset of the El Nio weather phenomenon in the country, Coloma said.

Coloma said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is coordinating with the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to intensify cloud-seeding operations to induce rain in major watersheds and drought-affected farming communities.

So far, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management has undertaken 15 such operation over the rain-deprived municipalities of Aglipay, Maddela, and Nagtipunan, and the Magat Watershed areas in Isabela, to save some 4,155 hectares of corn farms in the province.

The DA is setting up small water impounding facilities and building and repairing irrigation systems. It is also providing shallow tube wells and drought-tolerant crop varieties to the farmers.

On concerns that food prices may rise during the dry season, Coloma said the Department of Trade and Industry will be monitoring the prices and prevent any market violations.

Meantime, Malacaang reminded the public to conserve not only water but electricity as well. Government agencies should implement energy conservation measures, including limiting the use of aircondition units in offices, Coloma said.

Water saving ideas

Meanwhile, an environmental group, the Ecowaste Coalition, urged the public to heed the governments call to cut down on water consumption to avoid a possible water crisis.

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Govt steps up cloud-seeding, building irrigation systems

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will be among the top seeds at this year's tournament despite having slipped down the ATP world ranking to eighth, organisers announced yesterday.

"We have a surfaced-based seeding system here at Wimbledon," All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) chairman Philip Brook told a press conference at the tournament venue in south London.

"So we take the ranking points of each player, and add to that the ranking points they hypothetically received last year on grass, and we add to that 75 percent of the best-performing tournament in the previous year.

"So to put it into context for Andy Murray, as winner of Queen's last year and winner here last year, and a finalist here in 2012, there will be a significant impact on him.

"There will also be quite a significant impact on (Roger) Federer and (Novak) Djokovic. There will be some adjustment."

Murray, who became the first British man to win the men's singles at the grasscourt Grand Slam for 77 years last July when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final, has sunk low in the ATP rankings.

However, Wimbledon's seeding system, which takes into account past performances on the grass surface, means it is unlikely Murray would find himself outside the top four seeds even if his world ranking does not improve.

Seedings at Wimbledon are generally based on ATP rankings but the fact that Murray was unbeaten on grass last year and reached the Wimbledon final in 2012 as well will count in his favour, according to Brook.

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Wimbledon seedings boost for champion Murray

All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) chairman Philip Brook said reigning Wimbledon champion Murray's strong two-year grass court record will keep him among the top seeds.

High-calibre grass exponents like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic can also expect to benefit from Wimbledon's seeding system.

Wimbledon bosses also defended hiking prize money for first-round losers by nearly 15 per cent to 27,000.

Total prize money for Wimbledon has risen by 10.8 per cent from last year to 25million, with the winners of the men's singles and women's singles each taking 1.76million, up from last year's 1.6million.

Brook said current champion Murray is likely to remain among the tournament's top seeds, despite battling for form after persistent back trouble.

"We have a surfaced-based seeding system here at Wimbledon," said Brook.

"So we take the ranking points of each player, and add to that the ranking points they hypothetically received last year on grass, and we add to that 75 per cent of the best-performing tournament in the previous year.

"So to put it into context for Andy Murray, as winner of Queen's last year and winner here last year, and a finalist here in 2012, there will be a significant impact on him.

"There will also be quite a significant impact on Federer and Djokovic; there will be some adjustment."

AELTC chief executive Richard Lewis said any Wimbledon qualifier ranks among the sport's world elite and merits increased reward.

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Wimbledon bosses: Murray slipping to eight in world rankings will not dent his seeding at tournament

Wimbledon. Click here to bet.

All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) chairman Philip Brook said reigning Wimbledon champion Murray's strong two-year grass court record will keep him among the top seeds.

High-calibre grass exponents like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic can also expect to benefit from Wimbledon's seeding system.

Wimbledon bosses also defended hiking prize money for first-round losers by nearly 15 per cent to 27,000.

Total prize money for Wimbledon has risen by 10.8 per cent from last year to 25million, with the winners of the men's singles and women's singles each taking 1.76million, up from last year's 1.6million.

Brook said current champion Murray is likely to remain among the tournament's top seeds, despite battling for form after persistent back trouble.

"We have a surfaced-based seeding system here at Wimbledon," said Brook.

"So we take the ranking points of each player, and add to that the ranking points they hypothetically received last year on grass, and we add to that 75 per cent of the best-performing tournament in the previous year.

"So to put it into context for Andy Murray, as winner of Queen's last year and winner here last year, and a finalist here in 2012, there will be a significant impact on him.

"There will also be quite a significant impact on Federer and Djokovic; there will be some adjustment."

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Murray assured of lofty seeding

Philip Brook, the chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, has confirmed the reigning Wimbledon champion's strong two-year grass court record will keep him among the top seeds in the competition. Players such as former champions Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic can also expect to benefit from Wimbledon's seeding system.

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Officials also defended an increase in prize money for players defeated in the first round, with the total having been raised by nearly 15% to 27,000. Total prize money for Wimbledon has risen by 10.8% from last year to 25m, with the winners of the men's singles and women's singles each taking 1.76m. Last year's prize was 1.6m. The purse for runners-up and semi-finalists has also risen by 10% and for quarter-finalists by 10.2%.

"We have a surfaced-based seeding system here at Wimbledon," said Brook, when asked about Murray's form. "So we take the ranking points of each player and add to that the ranking points they hypothetically received last year on grass, and we add 75% of the best-performing tournament in the previous year.

"To put it into context for Andy Murray, as winner of Queen's last year and winner here last year, and a finalist here in 2012, there will be a significant impact on him. There will also be quite a significant impact on Federer and Djokovic; there will be some adjustment."

Richard Lewis, the AELTC chief executive, said that any Wimbledon qualifier ranks among the sport's world elite and merits increased reward. He dismissed the notion that players would be content simply to take the increased pay cheques for losing in the first round rather than battling to progress.

"The players have worked hard to get there, either they have have got into the championships through their ranking, so that's 12 months of play before. Or there are some wild cards," he said. "So to portray it as 27,000 for turning up and doing nothing . . . I don't think that's valid."

The finishing touches are being put to the planning application to build a roof on No.1 Court. With the application due to be submitted later this year, the aim is to complete the work in time for the 2019 tournament. The alterations will add 900 extra seats - taking the capacity to 12,400.

Wimbledon will be played on 17 courts this year, with renovations to courts 14 and 15 are completed. A host of players complained of injuries because of slippery courts last year but Lewis was adamant that there is no need to make alterations.

"There was an anecdotal problem over a couple of days. Only one or two players took issue with it. We don't feel there are any issues to address on that," he added.

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Murray to retain place among the top seeds at Wimbledon

The seeds will be planted this spring and fall, but the prairie at Benson Park isnt expected to flourish for two years.

Perhaps sixty types of grass and flowers should grow here after herbicides and fire eliminate the weeds that now dominate the 20-acre site. Once its roots run deep, a prairie can take care of itself, but invasive weeds like Reed canary grass and Canada thistle can cast a deadly shadow over a nascent prairie.

This will be the second attempt at establishing a prairie in Benson Park, which saw its first seeding in 2010. In the years since, the prairie plants lost the tug-of-war that theyve lost so many times before since invasive species appeared here.

By last summer, the invasive perennial Canada thistle had taken over the park.

Its not clear why, though a request from the North Mankato City Council to reduce the use of herbicide on the park may have played a role in the thistles dominance. Chemicals were applied to the weeds in places, but it apparently was not enough.

Whatever the cause, so few prairie plants remained from the original planting that a Department of Natural Resources expert recommends starting over.

In 2010, the city paid a private contractor, Monarch Wildlife Systems, at least $14,336 in local sales tax funding to do the plantings and some of the weed control.

The company is apparently out of business, and its Secretary of State filings expired in 2011. Its former owner or manager, Jeff Henry, didnt return multiple voicemails.

The DNR prairie expert, Randy Schindle, has helped establish more than a thousand acres of prairie around the state. He said the prairies failure doesnt necessarily mean that Monarch made a mistake.

Every prairie is different and even an experienced ecological engineer can watch a fledgling prairie go out of control, Schindle said.

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Benson Park prairie effort went to the weeds