It was often considered the bad toupee of the landscaping world by people who observed the glaringly fake grass that started appearing in the 1960s. Back then, it could even give football players the equivalent of rug burns if they were tackled on the stuff.

Though scoffing might still be a frequent response today when the topic comes up, the artificial turf industry has quietly reinvented itself and has been winning converts among residential and commercial customers fed up with planting, watering, mowing, edging, feeding, weeding, aerating, patching and all the other tasks of nurturing a real lawn.

"I had an area in the front with a large tree, and I couldn't get the grass to grow," says Clarence Parkison, of Livermore, who recently had faux turf installed. Now, it not only looks good -- "nice and green, trimmed," he says -- but current water restrictions might have doomed a real lawn, or at least have turned it brown.

Morgan Hill resident Helena Lowe says, "All my neighbors' grass is dead," alluding to irrigation restrictions put in place because of the drought. "It's just horrific. And mine is beautiful and green. Everyone always asks me, 'Who's taking care of your lawn?' "

Both Lowe and Parkison opted for higher-end, domestic-made ersatz turf, from one of several regional installers that get glowing comments on social media.

More aesthetically pleasing to many than a dry xeriscape of colored rocks, today's startlingly realistic artificial grass has come a long way in both quality and practicality. Many U.S.-made products are nonflammable, lead-free and nontoxic, making them fine for kids and pets. And they can be recycled.

But they're not cheap. "The initial outlay is expensive," says Burlingame resident Maureen Supanich. "But when you come down to it, it's really reasonable," she says, considering the costs of caring for a lawn yourself or paying a gardener to do that if pushing a mower isn't your thing.

According to Lance Schepps of South San Francisco's Onelawn, which manufactured and installed Supanich's turf, "For a residential application, you're looking at between $10 and $15 a square foot, installed." He contrasts that to natural turf prices starting at $2 a square foot for the base option and going up to $6 per square foot or more if irrigation is being added.

"You may spend 50 to 60 percent more for an artificial turf system than natural grass because sod's very cheap," says Brad Borgman of Heavenly Greens, a San Jose artificial turf installer. "The payback, if you're going with artificial, is anywhere from three to six years, depending on your water consumption and how you're using the surface."

While mock grass doesn't require a lot of attention, it's actually low-maintenance, rather than no-maintenance. According to Gabriel Hernandez of the Bay Area installer Better Than Real Artificial Grass, the homeowner with faux turf will need to "remove yard debris (and), depending on foot traffic, brush the blades up. That's pretty much it," he says. "If they have a dog, we advise they rinse off the lawn once a week."

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Removing a lawn? Check out synthetic turf

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -

The University of Minnesota's stadium is getting a grassy makeover in preparation for an international soccer match.

The university is covering the artificial turf in TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis with real grass for a Saturday match between England's Manchester City club and Greece's Olympiacos club. An assistant athletics director tells WCCO-TV it takes 30 trucks and 10,000 square yards of sod to do the job, which began Tuesday. The sod comes from a North Branch farm.

The match is part of the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament being played in the U.S. and Canada. A tournament spokesman tells the Star Tribune that running on real grass is better for players' legs.

The sod will be removed by Tuesday so the field can be painted before a Minnesota Vikings game.

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Minnesota stadium installs grass for soccer match

Published: Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 3:15 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, July 28, 2014 at 3:26 p.m.

Don Bramblett of Spartanburg was riding on South Pine Street when he spotted what looked like a patch of grass several feet across, and his first thought was, Oh, Lord, the state Department of Transportation has completely run out of funds for road repair and is now repairing potholes and resurfacing with sections of grass sod! Upon closer inspection, Mr. Bramblett realized it was just a loose square of sod that had probably fallen from a landscaper truck. But for a moment, he says, I thought they were road patches. I wouldn't be surprised if sodding roadways is the next step in road repair for the cash-strapped DOT. Are we going back to dirt roads due to stingy taxpayers? I would add that our governor may need a hearing aid. She keeps talking about a roads funding plan in which she would shift millions of dollars from other state agencies and give it to the DOT for road repair. She talks about $100 million in shifted dough. She obviously is hard of hearing because the DOT has been yelling for three years that it needs about $1.5 billion per year to fix the roads. That is 15 times what she is proposing, and we are already $4.5 billion behind in what the DOT needs.

'DEDICATED': Ted Hayes of Woodruff says he can appreciate Norman Parr's gratitude for the repairmen who came to his rescue and went the extra miles when his air conditioner failed. I recently had a very similar situation. My air conditioner went out late on a Saturday afternoon, and my wife had planned a lunch event for the next day. It was too late to reschedule. I called Jody Lamb at Lamb's Heating and Air in Woodruff, and Jody said he had several service calls ahead of me but would be here if he could. He arrived around midnight, and he stayed almost an hour. He had our unit running, and we had cool air that night, and my wife had her Sunday event as planned, says a grateful Mr. Hayes. A couple of years before that, when we had cooling problems, Jody went to Charlotte to get a part and came again in the dark of night to fix it. These service representatives many times exceed our expectations of them, but they are dedicated to serving their customers, and, like Mr. Parr, I appreciate them.

QUIPS WILLIAM McDONALD of Spartanburg: The major media are so in the tank for President Barack Obama that if he were to eat a puppy on live TV it would be reported as Obama making the world safer for cats.

OPEN, PLEASE: What time does the library open? the man on the phone asked. Nine a.m., came the reply. And what's the idea of calling me at home in the middle of the night to ask a question like that? Not until 9 a.m.? the man asked in a disappointed voice. No, not till 9 a.m.! the librarian said. Why do you want to get in before 9 a.m.? Who said I wanted to get in? the man sighed sadly. I want to get out.

ODDS AND ENDS: Artisans of all types, from jewelry makers to woodworkers to painters and potters, are invited to the Boiling Springs Art Market that will take place Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Boiling Springs Community Park's Venue Center at 182 Rainbow Lake Road, behind Lowe's. The market will continue on the first Saturday of every month. Display space is available by calling 809-7726.

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The Stroller: Road repair?

by MBJ Staff

Published: July 28,2014

Tags: agriculture, armyworm, Blake Layton, crabgrass, Dennis Reginelli, farm, farming, forage, grass, hay, herbicide, Jay McCurdy, Mississippi State University Extension Service, pesticide, pink snow mold, rain, stem maggot, turf, Weather

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI Turf and forage producers in Mississippi need fewer clouds and more sunshine.

In 2014, forage producers raised an estimated 600,000 acres of hay across the state. There are about 60 farms producing sod for sale in the state.

Turf production

The unusually harsh winter melted into a cool, wet spring and summer, which slowed spring growth and intensified diseases and last falls herbicide injury in sod, said Jay McCurdy, turf grass specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

The northern part of the state fared the worst this season, with temperatures dipping below 10 degrees in many areas, said McCurdy, who is also an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Even coastal areas experienced temperatures in the teens. In shaded areas and on north-facing slopes, we lost a lot of grass.

Disease pressure increased and fungi, such as pink snow mold, were prominent this spring. Pink snow mold is caused by Microdochium nivale, which thrives in cool temperatures and damp conditions.

Delayed crabgrass germination reduced pre-emergence herbicide effectiveness, McCurdy said.

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Weather, armyworms challenge turf and forage producers

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Companies that manufacture or install artificial lawns are experiencing a boom in business, due to the drought-like conditions and watering restrictions in many North Texas cities.

But the synthetic lawns today arent the same plastic AstroTurf made popular in the 1970s. The products on the market now, are not just used for putting greens and football fields either.

Scott Armstrong, owner of the company Texas Turf Solutions, and gets calls every day from homeowners inquiring about artificial grass.

If you were to talk to the turf manufacturers, thats a big thing they notice. As soon as there are drought restrictions, watering restrictions, or an ordinance like the City of Dallas two-days a week restriction, it really just makes this industry explode, said Armstrong.

Todays synthetic lawns are made to stay cool underfoot, drain rain water, and last for 10-15 years. The products come in different shades of green, different textures, and mimic different varieties of natural grass.

Choosing artificial can be expensive upfront: prices range from $7.50 to $15 a square foot.

Homeowner Mike Corwin installed artificial grass in his front yard, and says the investment was worth it.

The initial cost is expensive, but its already paid for itself over the four years. Not having to re-sod it, not having to water. The yard guys[come less often]. So its more than paid for itself, said Corwin.

Read more from the original source:
Artificial Lawn Popularity Grows During Drought

Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 10:05 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 10:05 p.m.

LAKEWOOD RANCH - No patch of grass is safe from Floridas soggy summers, even the well-manicured fields of Lakewood Ranch Park.

Now, construction crews are working on storm-water retention ponds and a drainage system to pump rainwater from the fields, which are on 130 acres about a mile north of State Road 70 on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Tom Yarger, a Manatee County construction services manager working on the $300,000 project, said the project is the first step in realizing the countys general development plan for the park, which features new pavilions, playgrounds, parking spaces, concession stands, locker rooms and a press box.

Weve had the general development plan for a couple of years, Yarger said. Our parks and natural resources department prioritized the project.

But before the new amenities begin to take shape, crews will spend the summer constructing pipes and ditches to help drain waterlogged fields into an already existing retention pond and the new, acre-and-a-half sized retention pond now under construction.

They also are digging just west of the softball fields, where additional parking will be built.

Yarger said the construction will not interfere with the fields or team practices and should be finished by the end of September.

All the fields are already established, Yarger said. We wont do anything on the fields aside from repair irrigation, sod, fencing when its needed.

After the storm-water improvements are made and more funding becomes available, Yarger said thats when construction on the new amenities will begin.

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Work to improve drainage at Lakewood Ranch Park

The grass at Roman Forest City Park looks a lot greener these days thanks to a donation of sod from Double T Tree Service.

The idea of beautifying the park was recently pitched to the council by representatives of the business, after which council was on board to see what improvements needed to be made.

[Double T Tree Services owner Dennis Rands] essentially adopted the city park, said Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle. That means that he intends to keep all of the trees in the park trimmed and keep the park looking good.

Some of the immediate work included the trimming of dangerous limbs that were hanging over park equipment. This also cleared the way to let the sunlight in.

It all looks like a little fairy tale land since the work has been done, said City Secretary Liz Mullane. Once the turf went down, it just looks very green and soft and new.

The process of laying the sod down took approximately two days to roll it out and get it set. Once the process was finished, the city maintenance crew made the decision to have the sprinkler system run above the new sod.

Weve noticed several residents coming into the park to look at the grass and just commenting on how beautiful it looks, said Mullane.

Roman Forest Mayor Ray Ricks is equally happy with the work that has been done, issuing a special thank you to Rands and his employees.

Mullane anticipates that there will be many more improvements on the park.

We have been approved for an East Montgomery County Community Development Grant from EMCID (East Montgomery County Improvement District), Miller Homes and the city, said Mullane. We intend on taking that grant and trying to get funding from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, as well. We are definitely going to continue to try to improve.

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Business helps beautify Roman Forest

It seems that they come earlier and earlier each year, but armyworms are back. The most common type that we are seeing now are Fall armyworms and they love grass crops. In this past week, I have observed armyworms in soybeans, hayfields, pastures, and in a bermuda grass lawn. Armyworms are a really bad pest because they have the ability to devour a lawn, pasture or hay field in a very short period of time. Many times they go unnoticed, as they cause most of the damage at night.

Hay producers and homeowners are sometimes given a warning that armyworms are in a field by the presence of white cow birds or a cluster of birds. But hay producers that are applying high levels of fertilizers to grow a quality crop should scout their fields every other day to make sure these destructive pests are not eating their hay crop. Scouting for Fall armyworms requires a hay producer to go into the field, push back the grass and look for worms.

Homeowners should be observant of brown patches of bermuda grass that rapidly spread and enlarge. If you see this, start looking for armyworms. The caterpillars feed at night, so the culprit of the damage is not noticeable at first. Scouting for homeowners can be a little different. To inspect your lawn for armyworms, simply mix about two tablespoons of a lemon-scented dishwashing detergent in one gallon of water and pour it over a one square foot area of the lawn. If armyworms are present, they will quickly come to the top of the sod.

Fall armyworms will eat many kinds of grass, but their favorite is bermuda grass that is well fertilized and watered. Homeowners frequently notice them after their grass starts to thin.

Armyworms are susceptible to cold and are unable to survive even the mildest winters in Georgia. Each year, Fall armyworm moths are carried by air currents from Central and South America. The size and timing of the initial moth flights are two factors that influence the outbreak potential of this pest.

The four stages of development of the fall armyworm are the egg, larvae, pupae and adult. The adult is an ash-gray colored moth. The front wings are mottled and have white or light gray spots near the tips. The back wings are white with a narrow, smoky-brown edge. The female moths lay eggs at night in masses of up to several hundred in grass and on light-colored surfaces. The eggs are light gray and covered with grayish fuzz from the females body. These masses darken with age and the eggs hatch within 2 to 4 days.

The tiny, light-colored, black-headed larvae (caterpillars) spin down to the ground on silken webs and begin to feed. As they grow, their bodies darken and noticeable stripes appear. When fully grown, larvae may be up to 11/2 inches long and vary in color from light green to almost black with several stripes along the body. The face is marked with a light colored inverted Y. Development from egg to fully grown larva requires about 2 to 3 weeks.

Once the caterpillar reaches maximum size it burrows into the soil and forms a pupa. The moths emerge in about 10 to 14 days. Three to four generations can occur in southeast Georgia.

Fall armyworm damage often seems to appear suddenly overnight. The young armyworms do not eat very much. Almost all the damage is caused by the older caterpillars which eat more than all the other ages put together. Large fall armyworms will often march into an uninfested area in search of food once an adjacent lawn has been defoliated.

Several insecticides are available to homeowners that will provide effective control of fall armyworms; trichlorfon (Bayer Advanced), carbaryl (Sevin) 50WP, Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel WP) and various pyrethroids. Always be sure to read and follow label directions.

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News from the Farm: Armyworms marching into lawns, pastures, crops

Crime & Safety Headlines More Crime&Safety Crime Stoppers More Crimestoppers Crime Databases More Databases Continuing stories More Ongoing Stories Local Stories from ThisWeek More Articles By Theodore Decker& Allison Manning The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday July 22, 2014 4:19 AM

When the Justice Insider comes across the word turf in the course of a days work, it usually is preceded by gang or followed by war.

Not this time.

A Dublin parks employee told police on July 8 that someone had turfed the lawn by the dumpster at Emerald Field Park, according to a report. Apparently, this is a continuing problem. The parks employee requested extra police patrols after hours.

The Insider will admit to having no idea what turfing is, imagining a diabolically giggling grass thief making off with strips of rolled sod under each arm. But the grass was damaged, not stolen.

The Internet opened our eyes to the practice of turfing, which amounts to trashing a lawn with a vehicle. The Insider knew this practice as doing doughnuts.

Perhaps its a generational thing.

In addition to being a pastime for teenage rapscallions, turfing is British slang for forcing someone to leave a place. As in:

The intoxicated teen, angry to be turfed out of the bar for underage drinking, turfed the establishments lawn.

Originally posted here:
Justice Insider: Parks lawn damage is new turf for some

Boyd Huppert, KARE 6:29 p.m. EDT July 18, 2014

Sod shortage(Photo: KARE)

NORTHBRANCH, Minn. - The contraption lumbering across this Chisago County field is known as Sod Harvester. This year it could also be called a treasure hunter.

"trying to search around for any bit of sod we can possibly cut," says the machine's driver, Harley Johnson.

Johnson is a third generation sod farmer, in business with his father and sister, at HD Sod in Hugo.

The family's product has never been in shorter supply.

"it's been pretty rough," says Harley's father, also named Harley. "We had about 13 inches of rain and that's what really held us back."

That heavy rain flooded out newly seeded fields while keeping harvesters off soggy ground.

"On this side of the field over here, it's still too wet and soft," says the younger Johnson, pointing from the cab of the harvester."It's a good year that there's a lot of people needing sod, but a bad year that we just don't have it."

The seeds for a sod shortage were actually being sowed several years back. During the great recession new home construction waned. With fewer lawns to cover, sod farmers plowed up their grass to plant corn and soybeans, commodities which were rising in price at the time.

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Sod shortage worsens in Twin Cities