BEDFORD, Mich., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Officials with a Michigan school said vandals used grass killer to carve the image of male genitals into a football field, causing four games to be canceled.

Bedford Schools Superintendent Mark Kleinhans said landscapers are using sod to repair the estimated $15,000 to $20,000 worth of damage done to the Bedford High School football field by vandals who used grass killer to put a giant image of male genitalia on the field.

Kleinhans said four games have been canceled as a result of the vandalism and officials are hoping the situation will be corrected in time for the upcoming varsity homecoming game.

Police said they are seeking warrants against two teenage suspects accused of carrying out the vandalism with the help of a 50-year-old mother.

2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Read the original:
Penis-shaped football field graffiti cancels games

I heard that sod worms are especially bad this year destroying a lot of lawns. Is there a reason its worse this year? And what can be done to get rid of them?

The mild winter, wet spring and warm weather have been prime for many different species of turf insects, said Tony McCammon, area horticulture educator for the University of Idaho extension office. This year, I have seen some of the worst outbreaks in my tenure with the University of Idaho; insects such as of bluegrass billbug, armyworms and sod webworms. Many lawns in the Magic Valley are completely ruined and need to be

replaced.

Idaho ranks first nationally and accounts for 50 percent of U.S. Kentucky bluegrass seed production, reports the UI College of Agricultural and Life

Sciences.

Sod webworms, commonly called lawn moths, are a serious pest. Larvae feed on and particularly damage bluegrass. They feed at night, chewing off leaves and stems just above grass crowns and reside in silken burrows during the day. Adults are typically inactive during the day and fly at night, scattering their eggs into the grass. Eggs hatch in about one week; the first generation larvae feed until midsummer. A second generation occurs during the remainder of summer. Generations may overlap with all stages present by late summer. Damage to lawn is most obvious in spring and fall.

Insects are easy to control chemically, if pesticides are applied in the proper part of their developmental stages. When the damage is found, its already too late. Insectides wont work. Effective monitoring is key to control.

Many of the local nursery and landscape companies offer control options to protect your lawns from pests, McCammon said. For 7-in-10 years, winters are harsh enough to kill most overwintering larvae and adults. So the populations leave little damage, and control measures might not be needed. These insects have many natural enemies include other insects, bacteria and fungi that target them specifically.

Sod webworm moths are easy to identify with their pointy snouts. They are also seen at dusk flying in a zigzag pattern across the top of your lawn. They lay their eggs in late spring and just as the temperatures increase. This causes your lawn to immediately show the signs of stress, and in lawns with high populations of webworms, the lawn can die in large patches, said McCammon.

Larval damage is observed as brown patches up to the size of a baseball. Webworm larvae can feed in an area of 4 to 6 square feet. Brown patches can be punctured with pencil-sized holes as a result of birds searching for the burrows. Another good indicator of fresh webworm larval feeding is the presence of moist, green fecal pellets in the lawn.

View original post here:
Curious Mind: Stopping Hungry Sod Worms

Albuquerque has sod laid out and some paving work finished at a new landing spot for Balloon Fiesta pilots -- the city hopes to have the park finished by Oct. 4.

On the north side of Vista Del Norte Park -- off Osuna Road -- theres a patch of dirt where grass needs to go. However, its one of the last open spaces south of Balloon Fiesta Park.

A city spokesman said there are about 6 acres of sod that should be available in time for balloonists. The city has spent months preparing the land, hauling in dirt back in June.

The city admits its behind schedule with laying sod, and cites monsoon rains for the delay.

Were optimistic were going to meet that deadline of being ready for Balloon Fiesta, city spokesman Keith Reed said.

The dirt to the east of the park will remain intact, as the city doesnt have the money to develop it. In addition to the sod, crews need to finish installing sprinklers.

The project will cost about $1.3 million. The city needs $1.6 million to complete the projects second phase.

Mobile users: Tap for video

Read the original:
City hopes to finish landing strip for Balloon Fiesta

Asheville, NC (PRWEB) August 28, 2014

Super-Sod's new product, Drivable Grass, an environmentally friendly, permeable alternative to concrete, will be featured in their booth at the upcoming 2014 Water Education Summit in Asheville, NC, September 8-10. Discussions will include: conserving water locally, climate change, and watershed planning. Super-Sod brings Drivable Grass to the discussion as a beautiful, easy, and durable option for conserving water, reducing runoff, and mitigating Heat Island Effect.

Drivable Grass is a simple solution for water resource management using living material (turfgrass) to capture and process pollutants without giving up the area to unsightly detention basins or filtration ponds. Turfgrass is a natural bio-filter. Storm-water storage is increased and runoff is minimized when turfgrass is used in conjunction with Drivable Grass to filter, collect, and store run-off underground, underneath a Drivable Grass infrastructure that can be designed to have an attractive, modern look and to allow people and vehicles to use the space in a functional way.

The Drivable Grass system is used for storm drains, detention basins, ditches, filtration systems, bio-swale reinforcement, culvert outlets, fire lanes, and parking lot rainwater capture, just to name a few applications.

Landscape professionals, builders, planners, architects, educators, activists, and anyone in the public sphere interested in learning more about water conservation or Drivable Grass can attend the educational event. A link to The Summit's website can be found on Super-Sod's event & lawn tip calendar.

Super-Sod is a family-run business that employs experts in turf and horticulture. One of their most popular products has been their Soil3 organic compost, delivered in a cubic yard BigYellowBag, which they make partially from composted grass clippings from their sod production. Super-Sod continues to develop new garden products, foster gardening and landscaping, and always seeks to improve their farming practices, technology, environmental stewardship, and employee knowledge. Super-Sod Outlets serve Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Florida, and into Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Original post:
With Drivable Grass in hand, Super-Sod is Sponsoring The 2014 Water Education Summit this September in Asheville, NC

LAKE GEORGE -- Two events scheduled for Charles R. Wood Park in the coming weeks will be held on the newly turfed site as organizers took steps Thursday to minimize potential damage to the new grass.

Warren County leaders had expressed concern earlier this week, because sod placed on the park was put in three weeks later than planned.

The delay means the grass is susceptible to damage when the Shrine Circus and American Music Festival for the Lake take place next month, which prompted talk of moving the events.

Lake George Mayor Robert Blais and county officials discussed the issue Thursday, and agreed to take precautions and use certain parts of Charles R. Wood Park that will allow the events to be held there as scheduled.

Blais said truck traffic will be limited during both the circus and concert, and a stage for the concert will be placed to limit issues with the grass.

Blais said more than 1,000 people are expected for the three-day music festival, which is growing as more acts commit to perform.

He had looked into moving the circus to state-owned Battlefield Park if the grass was not ready at Charles R. Wood Park, but the state would not allow it, Blais said. And no alternative site is available that is big enough for the concert.

Warren County Public Works Superintendent Jeff Tennyson said county officials were satisfied with the steps that would be taken during the events to limit traffic on the grass.

Were confident we can get them on the site without any problems, Tennyson said. The grass is getting green and growing well.

The rest is here:
Despite late grass, events at park will go on

After only one preseason game at Levi's Stadium, the failing sod had to be ripped up and torn out last week after 49ers players began slipping and sliding during a practice.

Now, after another game on the new turf, the sod has to be replaced again. As you can see in the photo below, which Instagram user hundreddollarman, via the San Jose Mercury News, says he snapped on Monday afternoon.

This apparently was snapped at Levi's Stadium on Monday afternoon. (@hundreddollarman)

So, um, what's up?

According to the Mercury News, the team only installed the sod for last weekend's preseason game vs. the Chargers to be used temporarily and now will install a new field this weekend.

That turf should be ready for the 49ers home opener vs. the Bears on Sept. 14 (and the Sept. 6 Chile-Mexico soccer match).

For all you grass buffs out there, the team and its consultants are deciding whether it should continue to use Bandera Bermuda sod or switch to a Tifway grass that the paper says is used by more NFL squads.

Original post:
Passing grass: 49ers rip out stadium sod again

Jan 27, 2012: In this file photo, United States' Kelly O'Hara (5) fights for control of the ball with Costa Rica's Daniela Cruz (8) during the first half of CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer game action at B.C. Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.AP

Even actor Tom Hanks has an opinion about whether the athletes at the 2015 Women's World Cup should play on artificial turf or grass.

A group of players from the U.S. women's national team, who will vie for a spot in the World Cup in October qualifying, have joined with several international players in protesting the turf surfaces for next summer's big event in Canada. And they're getting rapidly growing support from the sport's fans, including Hanks.

Last week Hanks, a big soccer fan, voiced his support on Twitter: "Opinion: Women's World Cup is the best Soccer of the year. Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod. Hanx."

The athletes say that it's not just a safety issue because turf is less forgiving than natural grass, it's about equity. They argue the men weren't asked to play soccer's top international tournament on a fake surface.

"It really goes down to this: The men would never play a World Cup on turf, so why should the women? It's the same tournament. It's the World Cup," U.S. forward Sydney Leroux said. "It's the biggest thing that we have for soccer. Why would we play on something that's not real?"

The athletes have formally joined in a letter of protest penned to FIFA, the sport's international governing body, and the Canadian Soccer Association. If they don't hear back soon, legal action could be taken in Canada based on that country's laws against gender-based discrimination.

Boies, Schiller & Flexner, the law firm involved in the recent lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon against the NCAA, drafted the letter on behalf of the players and is prepared to go to court.

"I think it resonates with a lot of people," said Boise Schiller & Flexner attorney Hampton Dellinger. "It's important in and of itself, but it's also important on a symbolic level, that if some of the world's greatest athletes can be treated this way, it's a real setback for gender equity in sports. It should have never gotten to this point, but it's not too late for Canadian soccer and FIFA to do the right thing."

In an email to The Associated Press, FIFA acknowledged receipt of the letter, but declined further comment. The Canadian Soccer Association deferred to FIFA for reaction.

See the original post here:
Safety cited in Women's World Cup turf war

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer

Even actor Tom Hanks has an opinion about whether the athletes at the 2015 Women's World Cup should play on artificial turf or grass.

A group of players from the U.S. women's national team, who will vie for a spot in the World Cup in October qualifying, have joined with several international players in protesting the turf surfaces for next summer's big event in Canada. And they're getting rapidly growing support from the sport's fans, including Hanks.

Last week Hanks, a big soccer fan, voiced his support on Twitter: "Opinion: Women's World Cup is the best Soccer of the year. Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod. Hanx."

The athletes say that it's not just a safety issue because turf is less forgiving than natural grass, it's about equity. They argue the men weren't asked to play soccer's top international tournament on a fake surface.

"It really goes down to this: The men would never play a World Cup on turf, so why should the women? It's the same tournament. It's the World Cup," U.S. forward Sydney Leroux said. "It's the biggest thing that we have for soccer. Why would we play on something that's not real?"

The athletes have formally joined in a letter of protest penned to FIFA, the sport's international governing body, and the Canadian Soccer Association. If they don't hear back soon, legal action could be taken in Canada based on that country's laws against gender-based discrimination.

Boies, Schiller & Flexner, the law firm involved in the recent lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon against the NCAA, drafted the letter on behalf of the players and is prepared to go to court.

"I think it resonates with a lot of people," said Boise Schiller & Flexner attorney Hampton Dellinger. "It's important in and of itself, but it's also important on a symbolic level, that if some of the world's greatest athletes can be treated this way, it's a real setback for gender equity in sports. It should have never gotten to this point, but it's not too late for Canadian soccer and FIFA to do the right thing."

In an email to The Associated Press, FIFA acknowledged receipt of the letter, but declined further comment. The Canadian Soccer Association deferred to FIFA for reaction.

View post:
Women's World Cup turf war heats up - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

TORONTO Tom Hanks takes his soccer seriously. And when the Women's World Cup comes to Canada in 2015, he wants the games played on grass fields.

The actor is adding his voice to those protesting the use of artificial turf for the six Canadian venues. On Friday, Hanks tweeted: "Opinion: Women's World Cup is the best Soccer of the year. Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod."

Forty international players recently wrote to FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association threatening legal action. They say requiring women to play on artificial turf is discriminatory.

In Toronto this month, FIFA President Sepp Blatter lauded the quality of today's artificial turf. Still, the players in the letter say the risk for injury remains greater than on grass surfaces.

Hanks is a fan of the English Premier League club Aston Villa.

Go here to read the rest:
No act: Tom Hanks wants sod for Women's World Cup

The San Francisco 49ers re-sodded the field at Levis Stadium from goal line to goal line and sideline to sideline with longer grass Friday and they expect no problems for Sundays preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.

I just felt like there was too much slipping going on, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said in a press briefing at the stadium Friday.

Harbaugh added that the 49ers grounds crews were working on a more permanent solution to fix the grass field in time for Sundays preseason home game against the San Diego Chargers, Harbaugh said.

Were refitting, regrouping, retooling and the new field is going in, he said.

Once again, its our organization, we can count on them to always do things at the highest level and thats whats in process now and (we) look forward to playing the game on Sunday, the coach said.

Im sure the field is going to be good and playable, he said.

In answer to reporters who asked if he were an expert on grass, Harbaugh answered, I am not. I am not.

After a journalist inquired again about the field, Harbaugh, sounding frustrated, answered that, Itll be right. We have total confidence in that. What more is there to whittle away at here?

49ers Chief Operating Officer Al Guido said the team, league officials and other experts and consultants are working to solve the issue and determine why the initial sod laid in April failed to hold up at least well into the regular season as was expected. There had been plans to re-sod at some point this season when it was deemed necessary.

What we knew is the sod wasnt going to hold up for an NFL game. Obviously we didnt want to do it this early, Guido said. Its unfortunate. In the circles of the NFL world, this wasnt big news. Its big in the fact we never planned to take it up this early.

See the article here:
Good and playable: New, longer grass laid at 49ers Levis Stadium