How Turfgrass affects the Environment

Posted By developer at 3/31/2009 12:00:00 AM

OUR PRECIOUS PLANET
 

Being A True Environmentalist Begins Right Under Our Feet
Turfgrass -- Functional, Recreational & Aesthetic
The earth has been good to us, but we haven't always been good to it.

While industry and technology have provided jobs and goods to make life easier, the effect on the environment has been substantial.

But we can help restore this precious earth with something as simple as turfgrass -- the earth's living skin.

The U.S. Congress has acknowledged these positive benefits to our environment.

"Turfgrass sod in urban areas and communities can aid in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating the heat island effect, reducing energy consumption and contributing to efforts to reduce global warming trends."

Scientific research has documented the many benefits of turfgrass to our environment. Our turfgrass lawns, parks and open areas:

• Provide a natural, comfortable, and safe setting for fun and games.
• Release oxygen and cool the air.
• Control pollution and reduce soil erosion.
• Purify and replenish our water supply.

Our Environment
The satisfaction of creating beauty within the landscape can be rewarding for you and the environment. With turfgrass sod, the rewards are practically immediate.

• A well maintained lawn and landscape can enhance the "curb appeal" adding as much as 15 percent to the value of a home.

Pollution Control
Today's improved turfgrass varieties are very effective in reducing pollution.

• Turfgrass traps and removes dust and dirt from the air.
• 2,500 square feet of lawn absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe.

Nature's Air Conditioner
Another benefit that everyone enjoys, usually without notice, is turfgrass' tremendous cooling effect.

• On a hot summer day, lawns will be 30 degrees cooler than asphalt and 14 degrees cooler than bare soil.
• The front lawns of eight houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning. That's amazing when the average home has an air conditioner with just a three or four ton capacity.
• The cooling effect of irrigated turf reduces the amount of fuel that must be burned to provide the electricity which powers the air conditioners.
• Watered when the grass plant needs it, turfgrass will very efficiently and effectively use almost every drop.

A Natural Filter
Runoff water in urban areas carries many pollutants.

• Turfgrass acts as a natural filter, reducing pollution by purifying the water passing through its root zone.

Soil Erosion
The clean gentle strength of turfgrass is the most cost-effective method for controlling wind and water erosion.

• A healthy sodded lawn absorbs rainfall six times more effectively than a wheat field and four times better than a hay field.
• A sodded lawn will absorb greater amounts of rain than a seeded lawn; even after three years of growth.

Fun & Games
The soft resilient surface of turfgrass is the safest and least expensive place to play.

• For backyard ball games or the Super Bowl, athletes of all sizes prefer the green cushion of turfgrass.
• Turfgrass is the only place for putting, picnics or just plain relaxing.

Our Mental Health
Turfgrass quietly adds to the beauty of our lives and even our mental and physical health.

• Doctors have shown that people recover faster in a hospital when given a landscape view, rather than seeing only the walls of adjoining buildings.

Turfgrass
. . . a continuing source of oxygen and cool air.
. . . a cleansing answer to our environment.
. . . a source of beauty and comfort.

With the benefits of turfgrass working their wonders for us, we will be able to share a beautiful and healthy planet with our future generations.

Installing Turfgrass Sod

What are the basic steps to installing sod?

Prepare the soil as if you were seeding; measure the area to be sodded to calculate the quantity you’ll need to order; lay the first piece along a straight line such as a driveway or sidewalk; install all additional pieces so the seams create a brick-like pattern; apply at least one inch of water on the new sod, beginning within 30 minutes of laying down the first piece; keep the base soil moist with daily (or more frequent) watering for the next two weeks.

Are there any "tricks of the trade" to make the installation better?

Sodding is simple, but it can be made easier by:

1. Leveling the soil approximately one-inch below any hard surfaces such as patios, sidewalks and driveways so that when the sod is installed it won’t be higher or lower than the hard surface.
2. Asking the delivery driver to place the pallets of sod across the yard, approximating how much each pallet will cover...this will reduce the time and distance you’ll might have to otherwise carry each piece.
3. If there’s any slope, begin sodding at the bottom and work your way up the slope to keep the seam and joints tightly together. If the slope is quite steep, run the pieces across the direction of the slope.
4. To make sure you are applying enough water, lift a corner of any piece of sod and insert a screwdriver or other sharp probe into the underlying soil. If it’s hard to push in or the soil’s not moist, keep watering. For more information call us at Sunbelt Turf Farm and we will guide you through it.

Establishing A Lawn

When’s the best time to establish a lawn?

Turfgrass sod can be installed year-round, even on frozen ground, if sod is available; however, sodding during the heat of summer will require more water than during cooler periods. Seeding or sprigging is best attempted in the Fall in most areas, with Spring being the second best time. Winter and Summer planting of seed or sprigs is strongly discouraged.

Can a homeowner install turfgrass sod?

If you can understand "Green Side Up," you can successfully install sod. Because turfgrass sod can be heavy, the help of a few friends is recommended. For more information click to "Turf Installation Guide."

Is seeding cheaper than sodding?

A big bag of grass seed will cost less than a pallet of sod, but that is like comparing the cost of raw wool to a fine sweater. Turfgrass sod is a finished product that will provide nearly instant use, beauty and environmental benefits, whereas seed is an unknown that requires two or more years of on-going time, attention, water, fertilizer and pesticides to reach a maturity equal to sod on its first day.

What is Thatch?

Thatch accumulates on the surface of your soil just below the grass line and usually out of sight. Thatch is a layer of grass stems, roots, clippings, and debris that settle on the ground and either slowly decompose and/or accumulate over time. Thatch buildup is commonly found in lawns where grass has grown tall, mulch is frequently left, and lawns that have never been aerated. Thatch is most common in warm-weather and with creeping grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysia. If you have these grasses, you will usually have to de-thatch more often than with other grasses. De-thatching is the process of removing thatch from your lawn.

Taking Care of Bermuda Grass

Taking proper care of your Bermuda grass with proper mowing and watering will help it grow strong and healthy and moreover it will help the grass to sustain heavy traffic or difficult weather conditions with ease so that it remains green throughout the year. It is a well-known fact that Bermuda grass requires little but timely care. And if you provide it with that then you can bet to have the most beautiful lawn.

You can take care of the Bermuda grass in your lawn using the following helpful tips.

 

* When using a fertilizer in your lawn it is better to use a fertilizer spreader to spread it evenly throughout the lawn. If you apply weed and feed use a drop-type spreader at the edge of flower beds for accurate application. A broadcast spreader can throw weed killer into the planting where it may cause damage.

* You can limit the wear of the lawn in winter when it is dormant. You have to understand that the worn spots usually become prime places for weeds.

* Take care that you never mow too close when Bermuda is not actively growing or you can invite problems with weeds. In case the lawn is experiencing drought, mow less often and raise the mowing height up to 2 inches.

* If more than a 1/2-inch layer of thatch is present (thatch is dead stems and debris that accumulate at the soil's surface), thin and clean your Bermuda with a power rake in spring or early summer after new growth begins. You can have this done professionally or do it yourself with rented equipment.

This is crabgrass.......

GRRRRR. Crabgrass gets its name because it sprawls from a central root low across the ground. It can become a problem quickly because it is able to grow vigorously in hot, dry conditions. Before dying in the fall, a single weed can distribute thousands of seeds which will be ready to germinate in spring. Crabgrass is a problem, but you can rid your lawn of the weeds easily with a good plan. Call us at Sunbelt Turf Farm for more information on how to control this and other pesky weeds.