You think you've got lawn challenges.

Do you have a nearly thousand-pound equine mascot galloping across your turf to stop on a dime? A couple dozen boot-wearing dancers spinning and kicking on it? Cleat-wearing, millions-earning athletes twisting, charging and crashing on it?

Ross Kurcab has all of that. And multiple millions of spectators ogling it, in person or on TV.

The Denver Broncos turf manager and his team of 13 grass gurus are responsible for making sure this field of dreams is up to scratch. If he does his job right, he's certain some sportscaster, somewhere, will say, "The field looks great today!"

Which makes him inwardly groan, just a tiny bit.

"It's not for looking at," he said. "The question is, how's it gonna play?"

The play's the thing

Homeowner, cut yourself some slack. The high-profile swath of emerald at Sports Authority Field at Mile High is not like your lawn. Repeat: Not anything like it.

Recall, if you will, the dun- brown field at Lambeau last weekend in Green Bay in which the 49ers squashed the Packers.

That grass wasn't dead. It was "fully dormant," said Kurcab. That means the plants had basically hibernated for a time, waiting for warmer temperatures (something above zero, perhaps) and longer days to send up new green shoots.

Read more:
Denver Broncos are as obsessed about their turf as their players

Jan. 11, 2014, midnight

Culph also into semis, but junior hopefuls all out

Alburys Brandon Vescio has received a free pass into the semi-finals of the Victorian Grasscourt Championships after his opponent Matthew Hicks was forced to withdraw from the match due to injury.

Vescio was leading in the third set, with the score at 1-6 7-5 2-1, when Hicks decided it was best he quit the match before doing himself any further injury.

Its pretty disappointing, Hicks said.

At one point I just landed on my knee really badly and I knew straight away that was it.

I wanted to play on because when it happened I was already up in the second set.

I thought maybe if I could just keep holding serve Id be all right, but after Brandon broke me I couldnt do anything off my left knee.

After six matches in three days, it begins to tally up.

Whats really annoying is that I first hurt it here last year, so Im starting to think this competition is a bad omen for me, Hicks said wryly.

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VICTORIAN GRASSCOURT CHAMPIONSHIPS: Injury gives Brandon free pass

First: Decide if you will till the soil (kill the existing plants by plowing up your site!) or just plant within the existing grass.

I will NOT TILL my site - I want to overseed my existing lawn.

(1) Mow the area low in spring or fall, remove the excess plant material - Then Sow (broadcast) your Centipede grass seeds, either last of fall or preferably in the spring on the area to be planted. However you may want to seed in the LATE fall at the same time you use a cover crop such as ryegrass. The Centipede seed will start germinating the following spring.

(2) Rake the area sowed with a hand rake so that scratch marks in the soil between plants allow some seeds to fall into these valleys and become covered by soil over time (from your rake action and later from rains). Centipede seeds must have a thin soil covering to germinate (1/4 inch ideal) - They DO NOT germinate when thrown on top of the ground. Use the correct rate of seed for Centipede grass lawns.

(3) Follow your normal water, fertilizing and mowing practices for the area you have planted on a regular basis. That's all! Eventually - (After several months of growing season time has gone bye)- you should have an improved, more lush and thick Centipede grass lawn.

How much seed do I need to plant? For Centipedegrass Lawns:Seeding Rate: Plant 1/4 to 1 lb. per 1000 sq. ft.Visit our http://www.lawngrasses.com for more about seeding rates and choices for grasses.

BUY YOUR CENTIPEDEGRASSSEED DIRECT FROM SEEDLAND.com

(1) Till the area to be planted. This can be done with either a garden tiller or a tractor harrow/tiller (Or even a shovel if you have a good back!). Once the area is returned to soil, level the ground by raking or dragging something over the surface until it is smooth and level. Now is the time to remove hills and depressions so that you have a nice smooth lawn. This is an important step with Centipede lawns since they will be mowed at lower heights for a warm season grass.

(2) Plant the seeds. You can use a commercial turfgrass planter or sow the seeds by hand. Or just as easy and much preferred, buy a broadcast seeder (hand held models are available for $8-$30) like the one above. Once your seeds are sowed, rake or drag the seeded area, so that as many of the seeds as possible are lightly covered (1/4 inch is ideal covering). Be sure and use the correct rate for seeding Centipede grass.

How much seed to I need to plant? For Centipede grass LawnsSeeding Rate: Plant 1/4 to 1 lb. per 1000 sq. ft.Visit our http://www.lawngrasses.com for more about seeding rates and choices for lawn grasses. Keep in mind that the higher the seeding rate you plant, the faster you will achieve a fully established high plant-density lawn.

Go here to read the rest:
Centipede Grass - Seeding your lawn with centipede seed.

There are many different methods for planting grass seed lawns. All grass seeds have the best results when planted into a freshly prepared, tilled, firm, pure soil -- no plants or weeds present -- seed bed. The key to grass seed germination is to have good "seed to soil" contact. By good soil contact that means that the soil is in direct contact to the surface of the seeds. Ideally the best seed/soil contact is where the seeds are completely surrounded by soil.

Three grass seed planting requirements should be observed when creating good seed to soil contact and thus insuring proper germination of your grass seeds:

There are several methods used to plant grass seed. Each has its own advantages & disadvantages. Listed below are links to information about the more popular methods used in planting grass seeds:

Planting on a prepared seed bed is the best choice. This is because you have removed a lot of competition by killing any existing "adult" weeds or other plants. Seedlings grow better when they don't have to compete for food, water and sunshine that an existing plant would also want and basically take first (being the big bully). Secondly a prepared seed bed has reduced compaction of the soil allowing the roots to push through and grow (find water and nutrients) easier and faster. Third a prepared seed bed usually insures that "seed/soil" contact is better. The only drawbacks are having to till up an existing lawn area (perhaps killing an existing lawn) and the fact that you have bare dirt for a period of time until the new grass can establish.

Planting seeds into an existing lawn is somewhat harder to obtain good germination because seed / soil contact is often less. The key is to somehow increase the seed to soil contact. Cool season grasses usually work better (germinate easier) with this method than will warm season grasses. Aeration (using some type of spike or plug aerator, or a vertical mower to produce slits in soil) prior to seeding helps increase the likelihood of individual seeds falling next to soil and hopefully being slightly covered by soil due to wind / rain action. Most often experts recommend higher seeding rates because a certain percentage of the seedlings are going to fail, either due to competition from existing grass or the inability to properly germinate due to seed / soil contact problems. Even raking the area before or after broadcasting seeds can help increase germination and create better seed / soil contact and/or coverage.

This method is dependent on the amount of seed / soil contact that can occur and also on the type of grass planted (cool season / warm season). Warm season grasses will RARELY germinate if they simply are laying on top of the ground, unless some action (walking, rain, raking, etc.) causes them to become covered by soil. Cool season grasses on the other hand may partially germinate as they will occasionally germinate with less coverage / soil contact... In fact, ryegrasses have the ability to easily germinate with just good contact with the soil. Fescues and Bluegrasses require more contact for good germination to occur. Again, any method used; aeration, raking, covering with top soil, etc helps increase germination. With warm season grasses (Bahia, Bermuda, Zoysia, Buffalo, Centipede), don't expect germination to be very high without good seed / soil coverage at correct depths.

If you decide to plant too early or too late, perhaps weather giving you spring fever prematurely, or waiting too late in the fall to plant.... Don't expect germination to be as good (or perhaps NOT at all). First seeds require specific planting temperatures to germinate. SECONDLY they require a certain amount of growing time at proper temperatures and conditions (rainfall, soil nutrients available, etc.) to grow to a mature enough size to survive any dormancy caused by either high or low temperatures or other weather extremes. Grass seedlings are like babies... you don't put babies outside in temperatures below 55 degrees or above 80 degrees without some additional protection to survive. There are "dormant" seeds in some grasses that are natures way of preserving the species. These seeds lay successfully dormant while waiting for the correct temperatures and weather conditions to occur before beginning germination. Often these seeds are one that are called "un-hulled" seeds. Removing hulls on seeds results in quicker germination, thus breaking natures dormancy protection.

Same goes for your "baby" grass seedlings. Plant at the right time of year for your type of grass (Early Spring / Early Fall for cool season grasses / Late Spring / Early Summer for warm season grasses.) and plant when temperatures and weather is appropriate. You can in some instance plant outside normal times, but just be aware that the risks are higher. Either rot of seeds from excess cold / moist soil can occur... or freeze / frost kill by late cold temperatures after seeds germinate due to an early warm up.

Cool season grasses (Perennial Ryegrasses, Fescues, Bluegrasses) can be successfully planted on top of snow for winter planting. What happens is that the seeds are carried downward to soil level by melting snow in the spring. At that times cracks are present in the soil from the freezing temps of winter that the seeds can be "melted" into. This provides for reasonable seed / soil contact. The disadvantages are the same as for planting out of season above... a higher risk that this method may have some failures.

Seeds can be covered by "erosion mats" that help prevent erosion. However for best results, the seeds still need to have good seed / soil contact for germination to occur. Simply covering the seeds with an erosion matting material does NOT insure better germination. The mats are to help prevent erosion (and thus washing away of seeds). Not to increase actual germination.

Continue reading here:
How To Plant Grass Seed|Methods For Planting Grass Seed ...

Carlstadt, NJ (PRWEB) January 02, 2014

The dining scene in New Jersey is ever-changing, but as food trends come and go innovative chefs are embracing the move toward green cuisine that is, cuisine with a focus on local sourcing of ingredients, environmental sustainability and nutrition. At Carlstadt-based Terre Terre, Chef Todd Villani works with farmers, artisan food producers, food distributors and purveyors within a 300-mile radius to deliver a local dining experience.

Increasingly, farm-to-table is taking on a whole new meaning, says Villani. For those in the New York and New Jersey area, it means the farm is in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania or a bordering state and is not some farm clear across the country. Thats important because it helps reduce our carbon footprint and ensures that were eating fresh foods. But moving product from our farms to the dining table takes hard work and a willingness to collaborate with those who produce our food in a way that hasnt been done before, observes Villani.

While New Jersey doesnt have some of the established infrastructure necessary to move product from farm to table at least relative to some of the neighboring States its clear these visionary chefs and restaurateurs like Villani have their fingers on the pulse of what people want. According to its newly released culinary forecast, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) predicts that sustainable food is poised to hit the mainstream in a major way.

http://www.restaurant.org/News-Research/News/What-s-Hot-in-2014-culinary-forecast-confirms-sour

But just as sustainability grows in momentum, New Jersey still ranks among the lowest in the country in its consumption of locally produced foods. As the Garden State, we have the opportunity to change the way we eat by supporting and preserving sustainable, local food production. Throughout the region we have a committed group of farmers, food artisans and distributors who are making locally sourced cuisine a reality.

Terre Terre works with a number of visionary farmers and food producers paving the way for a more sustainable local food system. Here is a small sampling of those farms and producers Terre Terre has worked with in 2013.

Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse

Bobolink owners Nina and Jonathan White, who run the Hunterdon County farm, have been not-to-quietly raising grass-fed beef, pork and suckled veal in addition to a nice selection of cheeses. They have been featured in Gourmet magazine; Anthony Bourdain taped an episode of "No Reservations" on their farm; and food activist and author Michael Pollan served their cheeses at his book party for The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Blue Moon Acres Farm

See the rest here:
Farm-to-Table Restaurant in Carlstadt Keeps Pace with 2014 Culinary Trends, Terre à Terre Sources Food from Local ...

BROOKSVILLE --

A fertilizer ordinance is now in effect in Hernando County.

The ordinance includes a limited application season from Jan. 1 through March 31 of each year. During this time, only professionals who are trained, certified and registered with the county may apply fertilizer.

Under the ordinance, the only kind of nitrogen fertilizer that may be applied are those that are labeled as slow- or controlled-release.

The ordinance was passed in an effort to protect the environment, as researchers say excess nutrients from fertilizer wash off lawns into nearby bodies of water, which in turn causes excessive algae growth and harms aquatic life.

Researchers say nitrogen from inappropriate use of fertilizer is the primary cause of water quality problems at Weeki Wachee Springs and the Weeki Wachee River.

Officials released a list of tips to help homeowners comply with the ordinance:

For more information, contact the Hernando County UF/IFAS Extension office at (352) 754-4433.

If you are a professional applicator who needs to register with the county, contact the Hernando County Permitting office at (352) 754-4050.

View original post here:
Fertilizer ordinance goes into effect in Hernando County

Grass Seeding 2013
Sowing grass seeds in Co. Carlow, Ireland June 2013, with a Fendt 716 + Vaderstad Carrier 500 and John Deere 7820 + Horsch Pronto 4DC drill. Sorry about the ...

By: David Thornton

Read this article:
Grass Seeding 2013 - Video

STATE GUIDE | TURF HELP | GRASS CHOICES | CLIMATE ZONE | HOME

Seedland.com brings to you a convenient source for purchasing your lawn grass seed directly online. We also provide planting information and choices. Here you will find a state by state guide for lawn grasses. We also provide a planting guide for grass seed in the menu to the right, on various species. Quality seeds at a reasonable price is a good start for creating a beautiful lawn. Please look around our collection of web sites, containing volumes of pages of information about your particular grass...

Lawns: Choices | States| Diseases | Fertilizers | Irrigation | Mowing| Pests | Weeds

SELECT YOUR LAWN CHOICE FOR YOUR LOCATION LAWNS BY STATE

Seedland can help you determine the best grass for your lawn & location. Our sites can help guide you through the planning and site preparation stages, and assist in finding the correct variety to plant for your specific lawn application and location. Deciding what choice of grass is best for your needs is not always easy. If you still need more help you can also visit http://www.LawnGrasses.com to help in the selection process.

If you already know the type of grass you are going to plant, or perhaps just want more information about the varieties, seeds, grass plugs maintenance or planting and growing information about your grass Check out our information pages on the various grasses listed at the right of this page under LAWN VARIETIES.

Puerto Rico | Virgin Islands | Guam

Climatic and soil differences play a big factor in your lawn selection. What will grow in one state, may not survive in another. You can always consult your state agricultural extension agent on what grasses grow well your in climate zone.

YOU CAN BUY YOUR LAWN SEED

ONLINE FROM SEEDLAND.COM

Read more from the original source:
Grass Seed Lawn Help By State|State Guide For Grass Seed ...

Bermudagrass.com - An Informational Website From Seedland.com

Bermuda grass pasture seed produces the most commonly used pasture grass for livestock grazing and hay production throughout the southern and central USA. Improved bermuda pasture grass seed varieties produce excellent quality hay for all grazing animals and have a high production yield. These improved seeded forage varieties also exhibit more frost resistance than hybrid or sprigged varieties

Pasture: Bermuda grass is a perennial, tropical and sub-tropical forage (warm season grass) and should not be grown in the cooler areas because of winter kill although there have been newer forage bermuda grass varieties such as Mohawk. Wrangler and Cheyenne II that are developed for use further north in the upper transition zone.

Newer forage varieties such as Wrangler Bermuda Grass, Mohawk & Cheyenne II Bermuda Grass have more cold tolerance for use in cooler climate areas.

Bermuda grass is a warm season, perennial grass that has been found growing in many native forms all over the world. Bermuda grass is a drought tolerant, fast growing, full sun grass and can grow on soils of low fertility as long as they are well draining. This is a tenacious grass and in one form or another is found growing in approximately one third of the USA at this time (warmer areas).

VISIT FARMSEEDS.COM FOR MORE INFO ON PASTURE GRASSES ALSO SEE OUR PAGE ON SEEDING BERMUDA GRASS PASTURES for planting info.

Once established bermuda grass dominates the pasture providing growth in medium fertility and drought areas. If fertilized and irrigated it grows prolifically and needs to be harvested approximately every five weeks for the maximum forage benefit.

The growth area for bermuda is shown in the map to the right and above here.

New pastures can be overseeded with other grasses while the Bermuda is establishing a stand. It grows best in well-drained grounds and high heat and actually needs a lot of sunlight and is not a shade loving grass.

Fertilization usage rates is around 80 LB/A in the beginning of the growth period and increase according to usage -- depending on how many hay cuttings. For haying purposes fertilization should be added after each cutting. Keep in mind that higher fertilization also can increase insect problems. Particular interest should be paid to low lying areas where Bermuda is grown because over fertilizing will result in runoff into water sources and fertilizers should be used conservatively in these areas.

Continue reading here:
Bermuda Pasture Grass Seed|Bermudagrass.com

Bermudagrass.com - An Informational Website From Seedland.com

Bermuda grass is one of the most popular of the warm season grasses. Bermuda grass can be easily planted from grass seed, sod or grass plugs. Bermudagrass is planted for beautiful, durable grass lawns, nutritious and traffic tolerant pastures, sports turf, golf courses, athletic fields, and more. This perennial grass grows in tropical, sub-tropical and the transition zones.

Bermuda grass is one of the few warm season grass varieties that will grow a little further north into the colder climates -- see the adaptation map below. More cold tolerant and high quality Bermuda Grass Seed varieties are being developed constantly -- such as the popular Yukon Bermuda grass seed.

In the warmer tropical south, during average rainfall years, Bermuda will retain a beautiful green color all year round. This grass can be grown on low to high maintenance schedules depending upon the usage. Lawns planted in Bermudagrass can attain full lawn coverage in just one year. It is not uncommon for seeded or plugged Bermuda grass lawns to be established within 60-90 days. Note that when temperatures drop, to the point of frost, bermuda grass will go dormant and turn brown until temperatures rise again in the Spring and growth resumes.

Bermudagrass has long been considered the "South's Grass", a lawn grass favorite due to it's texture and color. With the development of improved and cold tolerant Bermuda Grass Seed, we have seen the adaptation areas of Bermuda grass move further North into the USA Transition Zone.

Newer, more "cold tolerant" Bermuda Grass Seed varieties extend the Bermuda grass planting area further North allowing the choice of a more drought resistant species in the transition zone. Examples of these improved, cold tolerant Bermuda Grass varieties are Yukon, Mohawk and Rivera. Read more about improved Bermuda Grass Seed below.

Bermuda Adaptation* MAP ABOVE SHOWS RANGE OF BERMUDA IN USA Improved varieties with better cold tolerance than basic common bermuda types should be used in areas including Oklahoma, N. Texas, N Arkansas, Tennessee, NC and Virginia.

*MAP NOTE: Bermuda seeded varieties planted in the more Northern areas marked in red on above map should be selected from "cold tolerant" varieties such as Yukon, Riviera or Mohawk to avoid increased risk of winter kill.

NEED TO BUY BERMUDA SEED? Check our Prices At Seedland.com. Save $$ !

Developments in the grassing industry have produced many improved Bermuda Grass Seed varieties that are very popular in sports fields, golf courses as well as commercial and home lawns. The newer Bermuda Grass Seed varieties are now being used extensively for fairways and tee boxes removing the need to plant the more expensive vegetative Bermuda Grass varieties. These new seed varieties are, in many cases, better than the vegetative Bermuda Grasses. Click on the Bermuda Grass picture at right here to compare pictures of seeded and other improved Bermuda grasses. Note: For those that have planted Bermuda Grass seed and need a reference for seedlings please see this Picture of Bermuda Grass Seedling at 21 days old.

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Bermuda Grass Seed For Lawns,Pastures,Sports Fields...