There are one million acres of lawn across the country. Many homeowners aspire to having a lush, green lawn as the showcase of their properties. The front lawn can make a statement and indicate to passersby the property owners personalities and design preferences.

Lawn care takes some dedication and hard work, but there are certain ways to cut down on the amount of effort required to maintain a landscape. By employing a few different shortcuts, you can have a healthy, lush lawn without spending all of your free time cutting the grass or pruning the trees.

Stop weeds at the start. Weeding is one of the most time-consuming parts of maintaining a lawn. Weeds can proliferate throughout the lawn if not addressed in a timely manner. Once weeds take root they can become a nuisance, so its best to treat weeds before they even have a chance to sprout. Apply a preemergent weed control product as soon as possible in the spring and then reapply it about three months later to ensure weeds are eradicated. That equates to much less tedious lawn maintenance during the season.

Plant a urine-resistant grass. Having a dog and maintaining a lush lawn has always been a particular conundrum for homeowners. Dog urine is high in nitrogen. While nitrogen, when applied in the correct ratio, can be a lawn-growth stimulant, in the large concentration that occurs in pet urine, it causes the grass to dry up and burn, resulting in bare spots. Replanting with urine-resistant grasses can help cut down on the level of damage to the lawn from your own pet or pets that happen to make potty stops on your property. The grasses most resistant to urine tend to be perennial ryegrasses and fescues.

Wake up and water. Watering in the early mornings saves time and energy in the long run by fostering a tougher, more drought-resistant lawn. If you water early in the day, less water will be lost to evaporation. Limit watering to a few times per week, and less if you have had adequate rain. Avoid watering at night, which can expose the lawn to bacteria and attract insects.

Mow when the lawn is dry. Its not adviseable to mow the lawn when it is wet. Slippery conditions can not only make it more dangerous to push a mower, but also slow down the time it can take to tackle the chore. The mower blades can become clogged and coated with wet grass clippings, necessitating stopping and starting the task. Another thing to consider is lawn diseases spread more readily through wet clippings. Stick to mowing when the lawn is completely dry.

Let clippings fly. Mulching mowers, or those that just distribute clippings on the lawn as you go, can be healthier for the grass. They will serve as fertilizer and redistribute nutrients to the lawn as they breakdown into the soil. According to The Organic Lawn Care Manual, leaving clippings on the lawn will fulfill about 25 percent of fertilizer requirements. Plus, you save time bagging up clippings.

Dont cut corners. Adjusting a landscape design to have arches and curves can reduce the time it takes to mow and edge a property. Hard corners in a landscape will require more time to keep straight and pristine.

Getting your lawn mower ready: Check the Blade, Spark Plugs and Filter

Youll get longer and better performance out of your lawn equipment if you

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Shortcuts to a lush lawn

Got Moles? | GreenLeaf can help | Tulsa Metro
Got Moles? Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. If...

By: josh mathias

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Got Moles? | GreenLeaf can help | Tulsa Metro - Video

The process is called aquifer storage and recovery, and it involves capturing water during times of plenty, storing it underground and pulling it out later when its needed. Its a strategy used a lot in the western and southeastern parts of the country, where drought and water shortages are common. There are hundreds of these storage wells operating in the United States; the project in St. Michael is the first in Minnesota.

This is the first year where the project has been fully up and running, said Kelly Daleiden, project manager for Veolia Water, which operates the well and other joint water efforts for the three cities. The water will be pumped out of the aquifer this summer, when residents want it for lawn watering and drinking. Its interesting, she said. The water comes out just like it went in for the most part.

People across the country are managing groundwater differently as drought, contamination and other factors cause supplies to dwindle. Even in Minnesota, where aquifers were once thought to be limitless in their bounty, cities and regulators are bumping up against limitations and, by necessity, developing new systems.

In St. Michael, Albertville and Hanover, the problem wasnt a strained aquifer, but rather a strained water-treatment plant. In the winter, water demand is just over a million gallons a day. But during the summer lawn-watering season, demand spikes to between 6 and 8 million gallons, near the limit of what the plant can produce. City leaders looked at their rapidly growing communities the population in St. Michael rose 80 percent between 2000 and 2010 to 16,000 and considered building an additional plant.

But then they talked with a consulting company with offices in Iowa, a state with several underground storage systems, and realized that instead of spending $5 million or more on a new treatment plant and related wells and tower, the cities could spend just around $2 million to build a system that would store treated water in a bubble underground.

When we were looking at the best bang for our buck, building another treatment plant to sprinkle lawns didnt seem like the logical thing to do, said St. Michael city administrator Steve Bot. Thats whats great about (underground storage). We already have a plant that can produce well above our winter usage. We have all this extra capacity in the plant you are only using during the summertime. Now, we are able to use that capacity.

Here is how the process works:

Water is filtered and treated, with manganese and iron removed and fluoride and a type of bleach added. Then the water is injected 500 feet underground, via a stainless-steel tube, into the Mount Simon aquifer, where it displaces existing water and remains pretty much in one place until needed. The sandstone aquifer is akin to a bucket of sand and rocks that have been cemented by time. Water there moves slowly, perhaps only several feet per year. When its pulled back out, all it needs is a little added bleach and its ready for consumption.

Tags: news,minnesota,government

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Minn. cities launch system to treat water underground

AKRON, Ohio Chances are your lawn is looking a bit bedraggled after this rough winter.

Thats not surprising. Between brutally cold temperatures and drying winds, turf took a beating this year.

Probably it will come back just fine, but a little TLC can prevent problems, reverse damage and let your lawn green up faster, lawn care experts Melinda Myers and Joe Rimelspach said.

Heres what they recommend.

Prevent snow mold

Grass in the shade and other places where snow and ice linger is susceptible to snow mold, a fuzzy, pink or gray fungus that can damage or kill grass, said Myers, a horticulturist, garden writer and radio and TV host whose books include The Perfect Wisconsin Lawn and The Ohio Lawn Guide.

Snow mold likes moist environments, she said, so its a good idea to lightly rake grass in those vulnerable areas to fluff it and allow light and air to penetrate. A leaf rake will work fine, Myers said.

The crowns of the grass plants are still alive, so the grass can come back, said Rimelspach, a turf grass disease specialist at Ohio State University. But Myers recommended taking action now, before you see signs of fungus.

Most people notice it when the grass is dead, which is too late, she said.

Repair damage

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Expert tips to help your lawn bounce back

Spring Lawn Care: Recovery Program Step #2
This is Step #2 of my spring lawn care series. This spring lawn fertilizing tip is designed for you guys who already have a healthy lawn. It #39;s 100% organic. ...

By: The Lawn Care Nut

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Spring Lawn Care: Recovery Program Step #2 - Video

Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn has been recognized for excellence in the treatment of stroke patients by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, according to a press release from the hospital.

Christ Medical Center has one of the largest stroke programs in the state of Illinois and is designated a primary stroke center by DNV Healthcare, which works with national health care authorities and health care providers around the world to effectively manage risk and improve health care delivery, according to its website.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has selected the medical center and its Neurosciences Institute for another Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award in recognition of the institutions ongoing commitment to evidence-based stroke-care guidelines under the AHA/ASA Get With The Guidelines program, according to Dr. Melvin Wichter, co-director of the Neurosciences Institute and chair of the medical centers neurology department. Get With The Guidelines provides the most up-to-date, research-based care standards to speed recovery and reduce death and disability among stroke patients, the release said.

To earn the award, the Christ Medical Center stroke team had to meet specific, quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period of time, the release said. The measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, and cholesterol-reducing drugs, and smoking-cessation education.

The medical center has also made the AHA/ASAs Target: Stroke honor roll for following stroke quality measures that reduce the time between a patients arrival at the hospital and the onset of treatment using the clot-buster tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke, according to the release.

People who suffer a stroke and receive tPA within three hours of the start of symptoms may recover more quickly and be less likely to suffer severe disabilities, experts say, according to Christ Medical Center.

With a stroke, time lost is brain lost. The Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award demonstrates Christ Medical Centers commitment to being one of the leading hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care, Dr. Franco Campanella, medical director of the Christ Medical Center stroke program, said in the release. We intend to continue our focus on providing care that has been shown in the scientific literature to treat patients quickly and efficiently with evidence-based protocols.

Advocate Christ Medical Center treats an estimated 1,200 stroke patients annually and offers a variety of advanced treatment options, according to the release.

Staff report

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Christ Medical Center recognized for stroke care

WUNC's Back Porch Music on the Lawn series is getting back to its roots. The series is moving back to the popular spot under the Lucky Strike tower in the heart of the American Tobacco Campus. There will be 8 free concerts on Thursday nights from May to September. The series is part of the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the American Tobacco Campus.

The shows start up at 6 p.m. and most feature two bands. Picnics and coolers are welcome but no glass, please. Food and beverages are available at American Tobacco restaurants that surround the American Tobacco Amphitheater.

Here's the schedule:

May 15 6 p.m. Southern Culture on the Skids The series starts out with a bang with the bards of downward mobility, Southern Culture on the Skids. May 29 6 p.m. Mandolin Orange These Chapel Hill up and comers bring the full band treatment for their first appearance on the Back Porch Stage. June 12 6 p.m. Balsam Range From Western North Carolina, Balsam Range are one of the hottest young bluegrass bands touring today. Their record "Papertown" was named IBMA Record of the Year in 2013.

Balsam Range plays live from the WUNC studio at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh on The State of Things from September 2013

June 26 6 p.m. The Lee Boys with Love Cannon The Lee Boys are a sacred steel, gospel, funk band that will get folks moving. They're paired with Love Cannon, a quirky bunch that re-invent 80s tunes with a bluegrass sound. July 31 6 p.m. Yarn This Grammy-nominated band has built a devoted following with their fresh original songs that are rooted in an Americana sound. August 14 6 p.m. Bombadil with Loamlands Rising indie bands from Durham, NC, team up for a great night on the lawn.

Take a look at this video we recently produced with UNC-TV. Bombadil as the inspiration for a puppet show.

August 28 6 p.m. Mipso with Victoria Lee This young trio came together as students at UNC-Chapel Hill and have since put out a series of critically acclaimed records. September 4 6 p.m. WUNC helps the American Tobacco Campus celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special surprise musical guest.

How To Get There And Directions - Google Maps

The American Tobacco Campus where the concerts take place is located at 318 Blackwell St Durham, NC. Here's a Google Map:

Link:
Back Porch Music Is Back On The Lawn: 8 Free Concerts In 2014 | WUNC

Adam Mund

Adam Mund is owner of Mund Organic Solutions, a lawn care business that uses an organic fertilizer formula of his own making. Dave Olson / The Forum

Fargo -- Adam Mund minored in microbe biology at Concordia College.

What he learned came in handy a few years ago when Mund, who was working construction jobs at the time, decided to mix up a batch of organic fertilizer for his yard.

The formula worked wonders.

So much so that a relative suggested he turn his organic brew into a business.

Mund did just that and this spring marks the third growing season for his lawn care company, Mund Organic Solutions.

While the company is based in Kindred, many of Munds jobs are in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

The precise formula of his fertilizer is a secret, but Mund said the main ingredient is worm tailings, better known as worm poop.

One advantage of organic fertilizer over synthetic or chemical fertilizer is that it more closely emulates natures processes, Mund said.

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Lawn care goes green: Business touts soil-building benefits of organic fertilizer

Chances are your lawn is looking a bit bedraggled after this rough winter. Thats not surprising. Between brutally cold temperatures and drying winds, turf took a beating this year.

Probably it will come back just fine, but a little TLC can prevent problems, reverse damage and let your lawn green up faster, lawn care experts Melinda Myers and Joe Rimelspach said. Heres what they recommend.

Grass in the shade and other places where snow and ice linger is susceptible to snow mold, a fuzzy, pink or gray fungus that can damage or kill grass, said Myers, a horticulturist, garden writer and radio and TV host.

Snow mold likes moist environments, she said, so its a good idea to lightly rake grass in those vulnerable areas to fluff it and allow light and air to penetrate. A leaf rake will work fine, Myers said.

The crowns of the grass plants are still alive, so the grass can come back, said Rimelspach, a turf grass disease specialist at Ohio State University. But Myers recommended taking action now, before you see signs of fungus.

Most people notice it when the grass is dead, which is too late, she said.

Snowplows, snowblowers and shovels can do a number on grass, especially along driveways and sidewalks.

Those areas may need to be reseeded or sodded, Rimelspach said. He recommended doing that as soon as possible, as long as the soil isnt frozen or very muddy. You want to give the new grass as much time as possible to mature before summer arrives, so it can better weather the stresses of high temperatures and dry spells, he explained.

Because most pre-emergent weed treatments also prevent grass seeds from germinating, you need to be careful about applying crabgrass killer if youre doing a lot of repairs, Myers said. She suggested skipping the crabgrass treatment this year or at least avoiding newly seeded areas.

Deicers are hard on grass. So is dog urine. The two might not seem to have much in common, but both contain salts that can burn grass.

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Tips will help your lawn bounce back

Barrie Advance

Its an unfortunate reality. Where there are lawns, there are insects. These pests can wreak havoc on your lawns, and destroy your plants and flowers. Pest control is an important part of effective lawn maintenance, and its important to deal with any problems, sooner rather than later.

One particularly annoying pest is the grub. Grubs are a problem for many lawns. They burrow deep in your soil for the winter, and return in spring, where they become a source of food for raccoons and skunks. By summer, grub eggs hatch, and the bugs eat the roots of your grass. This will damage your lawn!

However, with new regulations in effect since April 2009, the most common grub treatment, Merit, is no longer allowed to be used in Ontario. A great alternative is Nematodes, which specialize in controlling soil insects. It is less toxic than table salt, and is not harmful to humans, pets, worms, or birds. Typically applied during peak grub season, which is August through October; Nematodes help to control grubs all season, and prevent more eggs from growing. While they may not control 100 per cent of the grub issue, Nematodes are the only option currently allowed by law. Grub treatment is a minimum three year program.

Its also important to repair any damage by overseeding thin areas. Late fall is the best time for overseeding; however it may also be done in the spring. This may be combined with aeration for optimal results. Keep a watchful eye throughout the season, and contact your lawn care provider, such as Turf King as soon as you notice an issue.

For all your lawn, pest control, tree, and shrub needs, contact Turf King. Turf King has been keeping lawns healthy for more than 50 years. With its team of skilled professionals who are dedicated to providing the best in customer service and quality lawn-care, Turf Kings experts can deal with any lawn issues, including grubs and other pests. They are also up-to-date on the latest legislative and regulatory requirements. Visit Turf Kings website for more information.

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Treat grub control problems right away