Living in New England not only means amazing sunsets and some of the best seafood in the country, but it also means living with tick season. From spring to winter being outside near brush, tall grass, or woodpiles poses a risk of coming home with unwanted pests attached to you or your clothing. In the past, ticks were a bit of a nuisance but in recent years they have increasingly become a source of disease causing illness and even death in pets and people.

Pest Pros in Pocasset are experts when it comes to ticks prevention. Theyve been serving Cape Cod and the South Coast since 1999. From assessing yards to staying up to date with treatments to rid your property from ticks and prevent them from entering. 70% of us are pet owners and rightfully concerned about the health and safety of our furry friends. Pest Pros see that reflected in calls they receive especially with the recent invasion of Lone Star Ticks and Deer Ticks on Cape Cod. We definitely get a lot more calls about spraying for ticks. Part of the reason is how effective the treatment is. They know it will work. But mainly its health. We see people more concerned about diseases now. It is a real health concern, said Kenny Hermenegildo, General Manager of Pest Pros. In fact, cases of Lyme disease have tripled in the US since the late 1990s. Staying safe is more important than ever.

With ticks, it is no longer just Lyme disease. Experts warn of the increase in tick-borne Powassan virus, which was found in Eastern Connecticut this past November, when a previously healthy male infant of just 5 months developed fever and vomiting. This potentially life-threatening virus is carried and transmitted by three types of ticks, including the deer tick that transmits Lyme disease.

Prevention

If you know youre going to be in a wooded area or an area with tall grass, its important to do what you can to prevent tick bites. Wear long trousers and closed toed shoes. By reducing the amount of skin available youll reduce the chances of a tick finding its way onto you. Ensure that your pet has a tick repellent such as a collar, drops, or medication.

Check Yourself

I always stress check your yourself, check your clothes, and check your pet before you even come in the door. Make sure you didnt pick up anything while you were out, said Hermenegildo. One South Coast woman took her dog for a walk and before coming in found 10 ticks on the dog after less than an hour outside. The threat is real and we cant stress enough you have to be mindful of them, said Hermenegildo.

Make Your Yard Unattractive

There are certain conditions that are condusive to ticks. You can do your part to ensure that your pet has a home that is not a tick friendly zone. We always recommend that customers make their yard as unattractive as possible. Remove litter, clear tall grass, mow the lawn frequently, remove clutter of any kind such as trash, wood piles, and yard debris, discourage unwelcome animals such as skunks, deer, etc, and finally place a 3 foot barrier of wood chips or gravel around the perimeter, said Hermenegildo.

Treat your yard for Ticks Pest Pros are leaders in treating yards for ticks and mosquitos. Treating a yard for ticks involves spraying a fine particle treatment into the tall grass and brush around the edges of the lawn. This creates a barrier that will stop ticks from entering your lawn. This makes it a very popular service at Pest Pros. The number one reason people call us for tick treatment is concern for health. Its no longer just a nuisance issue. Theres a real desire to keep yourself and your pets safe, said Hermenegildo. The treatment is fast and pet friendly. Your pet will be able to be outside as soon as its dry usually within an hour.

If youre part of the 70% who own a pet, its more important than ever to keep your pet safe from what could be a deadly tick bite. Spraying your yard is easy and effective. Contact Pest Pros today for an absolutely free home visit and inspection. They are more than happy to access your yard and help keep your pet safe from ticks this summer.

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Chris Lehourites, Ap Sports Writer

Djokovic considers a break from tennis after Wimbledon loss

LONDON (AP) Novak Djokovic is considering a break from tennis, with surgery on his injured right elbow now a possibility.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion, who has won three Wimbledon titles, retired from his quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych at the All England Club on Wednesday. He said his elbow has been giving him problems for a year and a half.

"It's not a time and place for me to talk about the details," Djokovic said after pulling out while trailing 7-6 (2), 2-0. "I'm just going to talk with specialists, as I have done in the last year or so, try to figure out what's the best way to treat it and to solve it, to find a long-term solution."

At the end of his news conference, speaking in Serbian and translated through an interpreter, Djokovic alluded to the fact he could end up taking a long break.

That would be a first for Djokovic, who has been one of the best players on tour for about a decade. He won the first of his six Australian Open titles in 2008, and won four straight majors from the 2015 Wimbledon tournament through last year's French Open.

He hasn't won one since.

"The specialists that I've talked with, they haven't been really too clear, mentioning also surgery, mentioning different options. Nobody was very clear in what needs to be done," Djokovic said. "Yeah, I guess the break is something that I will have to consider right now."

Djokovic had a relatively easy run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year. His opening match ended early when his opponent, Martin Klizan, retired with an injury. He then won his next three matches in straight sets. But in the fourth-round win over Adrian Mannarino, Djokovic called for a trainer during the final set.

And after the first set against Berdych, he again called for a trainer to check his right arm.

"I was able to perform up to this stage. But as I've said, it was only getting worse," Djokovic said. "Unfortunately today was the worst day. Probably the fact that I played yesterday, kind of days adding up, as I've said before, it wasn't helping at all."

Djokovic complained about the schedule on Tuesday after playing his match against Mannarino a day after it was originally scheduled. Playing two days in a row certainly didn't help, but Djokovic said he did everything he could to get ready for Wednesday's match.

"I spend probably about two hours, 2 hours today, on the table in between the warmup and match, trying to do everything I possibly could to make me fit," Djokovic said. "But it wasn't to be."

___

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Smart Talk

Smart Talk is a daily, live, interactive program featuring conversations with newsmakers and experts in a variety of fields and exploring a wide range of issues and ideas, including the economy, politics, health care, education, culture, and the environment. Smart Talk airs live every week day at 9 a.m. on WITFs 89.5 and 93.3.

Listen to Smart Talk live online from 9-10 a.m. weekdays and at 7 p.m. (Repeat of 9 a.m. program)

Host: Scott LaMar

Like the flap of a butterfly's wing generating a typhoon a half a world away, a warmer than average winter has led to a seemingly random consequence. Warmer winters allowed oak trees to generate more acorns which allowed more mice to produce bigger litters in the spring, more mice carry more ticks. And more ticks create a broader vector for Lyme disease.

7,351 Pennsylvanians had confirmed cases of Lyme though the CDC estimates the actual number to be nearly 10 times higher. The disease is caused by a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks. Symptoms include fever, rash, lethargy, muscle pain and loss of sensation and movement. If left untreated, the infection can linger for months leading to chronic motor and sensory impairment, physical pain and mental distress.

While Lyme disease has a presence throughout the entirety of the United States, 99% of reported cases occur in the Northeast with Pennsylvania being the epicenter. Between the lush forests of the Commonwealth and the draw of outdoor activities, ticks have an abundance of hosts to choose from - both feral and human.

On the Monday edition of WITF's Smart Talk, we discuss Lyme disease with a young woman who contracted it and has been battling its effects for two and a half years. Samantha Perry was sidelined her freshman year at Penn State when the infection overwhelmed her with pain and exhaustion. She and her mother, Carrie, joined Project Lyme to spread awareness of the disease.

Samantha and Carrie Perry - Project Lyme

We'll also speak with Dr. Loren Robinson, Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Pennsylvania Department of Health about the state's efforts at vector control and prevention. Dr. Chris Turnpaugh, founder of the Turnpaugh Health and Wellness Center in Mechanicsburg, will parse out the signs and symptoms of the disease as well as treatment techniques.

Dr. Loren Robinson - Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Pennsylvania Department of Health / Dr. Chris Turnpaugh - Founder, Turnpaugh Health and Wellness Center

emails

- I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. I am among the lucky folks. But I was diagnosed early because of my dog-YukiOnna. She was limping one day one paw second day another paw and so forth for over a week.

So being confused went to Vet. It is called "ghost pawing" and a classic sign of Lyme in dogs. Vet put her on medication. So I then went to my doctor as I had a bite mark-itchy but not bullseye. I was tested positive.

Went on medication and till this day no serious consequences-VERY LUCKY. I do believe that because I was diagnosed very early-due to my dog I came out on the lucky side.

Just an interesting aside that those who have pets need to also keep eye on their pets. - Sabina

-Has there been any thought given to bringing back the Lymrix vaccine discontinued in the late 90's? Some people had problems with it, but I got the series of three shots and experienced no long term effects.. - Art, Harrisburg

-One of your guests said there was no spray for ticks. I get a lawn treatment for fleas and ticks. Does this mean that this treatment is not effective? - Ken, Camp Hill

-On the angle of patients not being listened to, and we as the patient or the parent having to often do our own research and find out what's going on FOR the doctors, I'm curious to know how the medical community responds to us having to do this for them? Having special needs kids, I have to do this all the time. I have a daughter that I am fairly convinced has Lyme. I have all the backing of my own research, but I can't get a doctor to believe me because I don't have an MD behind my name, and I don't have the means to seek the help of a private lab. How do we get the medical community to start listening to us and working with us instead of against us? - Valerie, Lancaster

-What is in place for families who have loved ones suffering with the many facets of this disease, but do not have the financial resources to seek the additional services that would bring them better health? Some families are barely able to put food on the table and meet the basic needs of the family, much less cover the "out of pocket" costs needed to bring back good health. - Jan, Hershey

-I am very surprised you had some ineffective Lyme information on the program. Lyme disease is full of quack treatments, such as massage, homeopathic medications, and so forth.

Instead research the CDC, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Penn State's urban entomologist, the University of Connecticut, and other science based resources. - Cindy

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PA at center of Lyme disease outbreak - witf.org

Thanks to recent rains, fire ant mounds are popping up in lawns across the state. An Alabama Extension entomologist says what appear to be new mounds have been around for probably several months at least.

"Just because you don't see fire ants doesn't mean they aren't there," said Dr. Kathy Flanders, who is also an Auburn University entomology professor. "When it is hot and dry, colonies don't build the high mounds we are all familiar with.

"But when the rains come, they resume mound building and that's why they seem to pop up overnight."

She adds that understanding fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, is key to managing them. "Usually people work too hard, spend too much money and use too much chemical to control fire ants, but it's really easy to control these things if you understand their biology."

Colony basics

Most fire ants in Alabama live in highly territorial single-queen colonies, which may produce on average about 40 mounds per acre. However, in some portions of Alabama, fire ants live in multiple-queen colonies, which are more tolerant of each other and may produce in excess of 200 or even 300 mounds per acre. A colony contains around 300,000 worker ants. The queen ant lays all eggs, and only queens can perform this function.

"When a queen is in full form and has worker ants to help her, a queen can lay up to a 1,000 eggs per day," Flanders said.

The worker ants forage for food, build mounds and protect the queen. When a queen dies, the entire colony will die because there will be no replacements for older workers.

Fire ant baits

Flanders recommends homeowners use fire ant baits as their primary means of control.

Fire ant baits are small particles that contain both a soybean oil food attractant and active ingredient for ant control. Following the bait packaging instructions, homeowners should spread the bait over their entire lawn. The ants will pick up the bait and bring it back to the nest, passing it between colony members including the queen.

"With this method, you take advantage of the ants' normal behavior because they will be foraging for food anyway," Flanders said.

The bait method usually will control 90 percent of fire ant colonies. It is effective and inexpensive at $10 to $20 per acre. Flanders also said the bait is the safest method for children, pets and the environment.

Many people do not understand fire ant biology and try to control the insects using individual mound treatments. Treating individual mounds can be costly and may not offer good control.

First, not all colonies have a visible mound. This means that homeowners will miss treating some colonies. Also, worker ants will often move the queen ant, eggs and larvae away from danger. Worker ants will move the colony if they perceive a threat to the queen or colony and reestablish in a different area. While individual mound treatments may kill worker ants, they are not as effective as the bait method in killing the queen.

"If we miss the queen, we haven't controlled that colony," Flanders said. "Once we kill the queen, we kill the colony."

Two-step method

Flanders said a two-step method that combines bait treatment of an area with spot treatment of nuisance colonies that move into the bait treated area is an effective control strategy. Learn more at http://www.aces.edu/go/752.

"I don't want you to work too hard to control fire ants," she said. "I don't want you to spend too much money, and I don't want you to use too much insecticide.

"That's why baits work for me."

Information on products currently available to treat fire ants in Alabama can be found at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0175-A/ANR-0175-A.pdf.

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Fire ant mounds popping up after recent rains - Randolph Leader

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Here are some of the most common plants and the pH levels at which they flourish best.

For questions or help regarding your TruGreen service, please call 800.458.4186. Or visit our Customer Support page.

To speak with a TruGreen sales representative, call 800.464.0171.

The more you know about your lawn, the better you can help it. Our videos and blogs are filled with insights from years of experience helping all sorts of lawns and landscape grow healthy and strong.

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We believe the good life begins with a great lawn, and thats why were dedicated to making your yard a place of inspiration and true connection. And its why were committed to improving outdoor spaces in our communities and our environment. We believe life is better outside.

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Pre-Emergent & Targeted Weed Control Fertilization Aeration Grub Prevention and Control Overseeding Learn More

In honor of one of my favorite holidays (Arbor Day, obviously) and one of my favorite yard components (trees), I proudly present... my guide for proper mulching. Enjoy! Mr. Yardley, Official TruGreen Everyman Spokesperson

For questions or help regarding your TruGreen service, please call 800.458.4186. Or visit our Customer Support page.

To speak with a TruGreen sales representative, call 800.464.0171.

The more you know about your lawn, the better you can help it. Our videos and blogs are filled with insights from years of experience helping all sorts of lawns and landscape grow healthy and strong.

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After paying for lawn treatment for more than a year, Angies List member Carol Campbell of San Antonio became suspicious because her lawn's appearance didn't improve. Her technician always came when she was away, and she only knew hed been there after noticing the treatment markers in her yard.

Deciding to set up her own sting operation, she pretended not to be home the next time he came. "The technician rang the doorbell, which I didn't answer, but instead watched as he 'treated' my lawn," she recounted in her 2012 review. "The treatment consisted of the technician walking to the backyard, placing a treatment stake in the yard, and then walking around to the front yard and doing the same. He then got into his truck and drove off. Nothing other than the lawn stake was applied to my lawn."

Campbells review is just one of several that detail negative experiences members have had with lawn fertilization and treatment companies. Unlike with mowing, lawn treatment doesnt produce immediate results, so it can be difficult to monitor the quality of service. In some cases, homeowners went months or even years before realizing they were paying for shoddy service.

Here are four of the top complaints we found in member reviews:

Several members described companies that were eager to take their business, but then avoided them like the plague.

Many cited frustration with trying to file a complaint or dispute a bill. In most cases, the members were unhappy with the quality of service, and when they tried to complain to the company, their calls were never returned or they were told a manager would come out and correct the problem. But as the days turned into weeks, nobody ever returned their calls, and a manager never came to assess their lawns.

"Not only was the fertilizing service poorly done, but when I called to ask them to improve, I never could reach them and they never called me back," wrote Anthony M. of Wexford, Pa., in a September 2012 Angie's List review. "The only time they called me back was to sell me more services." His review noted how he was never able to reach the local office, and all of his complaints were sent to an out-of-state call center.

In another complaint, members said their providers started treatment without first inspecting their lawns.

The members said they hired the company after getting an extremely low quote over the phone. However, when the technician arrived to treat the lawn, they were told there was an unforeseen problem, additional treatments would be needed and, of course, it would cost more money.

Whether a scam was involved or not, many members reported that they paid the extra money out of fear that their lawns would deteriorate. The ones who refused the upcharge were disappointed because they received only partial service.

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Treating Broadleaf Weeds

Broadleaf weeds are the bane of lawn lovers. Dandelions, clover, dollarweed, and others invade quickly and spread relentlessly.

The right time: Treat actively growing weeds; apply granular products on a dewy morning.

Why timing matters: Used properly, broadleaf weed killers are highly effective, but few pest controls fail as readily when conditions aren't optimal. For example, the granules of weed-and-feed products, which are applied with a spreader, must stick to the leaves of the weeds to be effective. That requires moisture. The perfect time to apply, therefore, is an early morning when there's a heavy dew on the lawn -- the heavier the better. If the grass isn't wet, you'll be wasting your time and money.

Whether you use a granular weed-and-feed or spray a liquid broadleaf weed killer, the weeds must be well watered and actively growing for the chemical to work. Thus, treating during a hot, dry spell in summer may yield disappointing results. Spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate and moisture plentiful, are ideal times.

In the market for a new lawn mower? Here's how to find the right one for you.

Pre-emergent herbicides, or weed preventers, control crabgrass and other weeds by stopping their seeds from germinating. An application early in the growing season works wonders; it's like vaccinating your lawn against weeds.

The right time: Apply preventer when forsythia blooms drop.

Why timing matters: Weed preventers are not effective against weeds that have already begun to grow, so you must apply them before germination to gain any benefit. Crabgrass, the primary target of lawn weed preventers, normally germinates just after forsythia blooms, so take your cue from Mother Nature. When you notice forsythia bushes dropping their blossoms (March to May, depending on your region), apply weed preventer, and water as soon as possible to activate it.

Need to reseed? For cool-season grasses, fall is the ideal time; plant warm-season grasses in late spring. But remember: Don't apply crabgrass preventer at the same time that you plant seed; it stops seedlings from growing.

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Lawn Care 101 - Better Homes & Gardens

GRUEsome Grass Lawn Care Service and Landscape

GRUEsome Grass Lawn Care and is a full service commercial and residential lawn care service. Our goal is to provide the level of service that simply is not available through your typical Lawn Care Company. We take pride in exceeding the levels of professionalism you expect from a lawn service company.

GRUEsome Grass LLC is located in the Union County area. GRUEsome Grass LLC is a complete lawn maintenance service for all types of properties. GRUEsome Grass LLC understands how important your lawn is to you and feel the same way. We love what we do. This is a fully insured and licensed company so you can rest at ease when work is to be done on your property. We are not a fly by night company, here today gone tomorrow. Companies that do not carry insurance or license, or have illegal employees can cost you more money if an accident occurs. We will be there week after week. Uniformed crews take pride in your account and will listen to what your needs.

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Creating and keeping a healthy lawn unfortunately demands a lot of labor and care. The effort that you put out to put your lawn in now, will determine the quality of your lawn for many years to come. It will also make a major difference in the amount of upkeep and maintainance you will have to perform in the future. Conditioning the Soil to Grow a New Lawn The condition and type of the soil under the grass is the most important element to the overall health of your lawn. In situations where you are putting in a new lawn you will have ample opportunity to prepare the soil before the grass is planted. It is a good idea to have the soil tested before establishing your new lawn. The soil test report gives the type and amount of fertilizer to apply for your lawn. This fertilizer (and lime, if required) should be worked into the top four to six inches of your soil. Once your lawn is established it is hard to do much to improve the soil at the root level. Proper preparation of the soil is the first step in attaining a healthy lawn. The soil should be tilled thoroughly, either by a mechanical tiller or digging down a spades depth over the entire area. If you've added topsoil to your yard, you will want to be certain that it is well mixed in with the soil underneath. Otherwise it is possible that the roots of your lawn may not penetrate the native soil. If the tilth of the soil is very heavy or sandy, organic material such as peat moss, compost, sludge or even sawdust should be added. (If sawdust is added to the soil it is wise to add extra high nitrogen fertilizer to compensate for the nitrogen loss that is caused by the composting of the sawdust.) Test and Adjust Your Soil pH Most lawn grasses do well in mildly acid soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, preferably about 6.5. You need to decide what type of lawn grass you want to grow, according to your climate, soils, and what the lawn will be used for. Your local nurseries or agricultural agency will be able to help you with this decision. Once this choice is made, you can prepare your soil accordingly. If the soil test shows high acidity, ground limestone should be added at a rate of 50-100 pounds for each pH point below 7 per every 1000 sq. ft. of lawn. If the test shows alkaline soil (above pH 8.0) on the other hand, sulfer should be added at a rate of 20 pounds for every 1000 sq. ft. of surface area. Add any other fertilizers which were recommended by the soil test. The soil should then be well tilled again to mix in these added components. The soil is now ready to be raked smooth, filling low spots and removing the humps and breaking up the larger clumps as you go. Phosphorus is slow to be absorbed into the soil, and next to impossible to introduce to the root zone once the lawn is in, so now is the time to mix some superphosphate into the top few inches of the soil. Use a cultivator to mix it in at a rate of 50 pounds per 1000 sq. ft Using a steel garden rake, create a finished grade sloped slightly away from the house. Use this oportunity to create very shallow channels to deal with any runoff problems you are aware of and to move water runoff away from the house. Level the soil to avoid any low spots where water may stand, or high spots that could cause the future lawn to be 'scalped' when you mow. If you are planning to install an automatic sprinkler system, now is your last, best time to get it in place! Roll the entire lawn bed with a roller (available from rental centers) to firm it up, then water it lightly to settle the area. Lawn Grass Varieties and Types Selecting the proper grass seed mixture is important. What you intend to use the lawn area for and the amount of maintenance you're willing to provide, are two important factors which should be considered before making the selection. Normally you will buy a lawn seed mix which has been formulated with different seed types for different needs and different climates. There are mixes which are designed for play areas which are composed of tough and durable grasses, or fine bladed grasses for a lush, immaculate lawn in the sun, or you may need a variety that thrives in the shade. No matter what your needs, there is probably a 'most appropriate' seed blend just for you. Read the seed bag before you buy, to make certain it is the right mix for your needs. Kentucky bluegrass germinates in 14 to 28 days. Use 2 to 3 pounds of seed per thousand square feet. Plant in early fall or early spring. Grows well in full sun to part shade. Does not do well in hot exposures. Perennial ryegrasses germinate in 5 to 7 days. Use 4 to 6 pounds of seed per thousand square feet. Best planted in the early fall. Grows well in full sun to part shade. Does not do well in hot exposures. Fine-leaved fescues germinate in 14 to 21 days. Use 8 to 10 pounds of seed per thousand square feet. Plant in early fall or spring. Grows well in full sun to light shade.Slower growing and more water efficient than tall fescue. Tall Fescues germinate in 7 to 10 days. Use 8 to 10 pounds of seed per thousand square feet. Plant in early fall or spring. Grows well in full sun to very light shade. Bermuda grasses germinate in 5 to 7 days. Use 1 to 2 pounds of seed per thousand square feet. Plant in summer in full sun. Durable. There are three common methods for planting your new lawn, seeding sod, and by plugs. The most cost effective method is by seeding, but this is a slow process. If you are looking for an instant lawn, sod is your answer. Planting a New Lawn with Seeds The best time to seed lawns is from late summer until early fall (August 15 to September 20) while the soil is still warm (faster germination), watering will not be as much of a problem, there will be fewer weed problems, and the cool season grasses in the mix will have a better chance of getting established. The best and most even results are usually achieved using a 'whirlybird' hand crank operated seed spreader. Sow of your seed (at the recommended rate) to the entire lawn area. Repeat three more applications like this, each in a different direction. Rake the seed lightly into the surface of the soil using a bamboo or fan rake. (Barely brush the seed under the surface of the soil.) Roll the entire lawn surface with an empty lawn roller to set the seed in good contact with the soil. Water the entire area thoroughly with a fine mist. Once the seed is planted, make sure that the soil is kept evenly moist until germination. After the seeds germinate, you can water more heavily but less frequently. DO NOT OVER WATER and do not use a strong spray. You don't want to drown the seeds, nor do you want to wash them away. Water will continue to be a prime concern for your new lawn. About one inch of water per week (rainfall plus irrigation) will be required until your lawn is well established. You may mow a newly seeded turf when the grass is 2 1/2-3 inches tall. Use a SHARP mower so the grass is cut cleanly, and the plants are not pulled out of the ground. Do not cut the grass too short, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches is a good height for a first cut. After the first mowing you can apply a high nitrogen, turf fertilizer (23-4-6) at one-half the application rate recommended on the bag. Water immediately to prevent possible foliar burn. Planting a New Sod Lawn Sod is quite a bit more expensive than seeding but it does have the big advantage of giving you an instant lawn, with far less headaches. Sod also has the advantage that it can be installed any month of the year. Special care must be taken during the hot months of the summer to insure the new sod lawn receives adequate water! Be certain that the sod you buy is fresh and viable. It should be slightly moist, green, and a minimum of " to an inch thick. Lift up a piece by the end. If the sod is in good condition it will hold together tightly. Prepare the lawn bed as you would for seeding. Scatter a recommended 'pre-plant' fertilizer over entire area to be sodded at a rate of 1 pound per 100 sq. ft. Choose a long, straight line as a starting point to lay the sod. Lay the sod out so that the end seam from one row doesn't line up with the seams in the previous and following rows. Avoid gaps, press the pieces together tightly, to help them knit together. Cut or trim the sod with a sharp knife when needed to fit into odd corners. The cut offs can be used to fill in other spaces. (Avoid small pieces because they dry out too quickly) Don't wait until entire lawn has been installed to begin watering. New sod must be kept moist, so as soon you have layed out your first few rows you should begin watering it in. Roll the sod with a light water roller to make sure the sod has good root contact with the soil and to eliminate air pockets. Water the sod 2 or 3 times a day for at least ten days. During this critical period, the sod must be kept constantly moist. During the first two weeks, heavy traffic should be avoided. After that time, the new sod should have established roots and regular mowing may begin. Planting a Lawn with Plugs and Sprigs Plugs and sprigs are primarily used for planting smaller lawn areas and are commonly used in warmer regions of the country. They are small sections or pieces of container grown grass, usually consisting of hybrid Bermudas, Zoysia or St. Augustine grasses. Prepare the area as you would for a lawn bed or any other perennial planting area. Plant the plugs in the soil spaced about every six to twelve inches apart so that they will spread and fill in to form an entire lawn. Firm the soil around the roots. Water immediately after planting, and then every other day, to ensure that the soil remains moist. The lawn will begin to fill in during the first month and by the end of the second month, you will be ready to mow.

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