Your Lawn’s Ecosystem Services From Turfgrass Producers International

(HIT) - Ecosystem services is a term that we will hear more of in the future. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines ecosystem services as the many life-sustaining benefits we receive from nature. We receive many ecosystem services from our lawns as they:

• Cool the air
• Produce oxygen
• Filter air and reduce pollution
• Capture and suppress dust
• Recharge and filter groundwater supply
• Reduce storm water runoff
• Control soil erosion
• Retain and sequester carbon
• Assist decomposition of pollutants
• Restore soil quality

	Turfgrass has long been a “green cleaner.” Photo: Jim Novak

Turfgrass has long been a green cleaner. For example, it traps pollutants and removes carbon dioxide, ozone, hydrogen fluoride and perosyzacetyle nitrate from the air. In fact, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service has reported that turfgrass removes about six tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year from the atmosphere. Turfgrass helps filter oil and debris from highways and streets, and therefore, is also helpful in cleaning the roadside environment.
With its network of leaves, shoots and stems, turfgrass removes dust and dirt from the air. The University of California-Riverside Turfgrass Research Facility reports that perennial turfgrasses offer one of the most-cost effective methods to control wind erosion of soil, thus reducing dust around homes, schools and businesses.

Photo courtesy of Jim Novak

While lawns are criticized because of grass clippings that are disposed in landfills, you need not remove grass clippings from your lawn because they biodegrade quickly when returned to lawns after mowing. This is assuming that you regularly mow your lawns and not cut more than one-third of the leaf blades, reports the University of Illinois Extension’s Lawn Challenge publication (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/lawnchallenge/lesson5.html).
Moreover, when appropriate rates of fertilizers and pesticides are applied to a dense stand of grass, there is very little runoff or leaching. University of Minnesota studies indicate that nitrogen carried in runoff from turf areas is very low. This is because turf is comprised of many closely spaced plants forming a relatively closed canopy over the soil surface.
Turfgrass also helps reduce flooding. It is frequently used in storm water retention areas to sow the rate of runoff. Sod-covered aeas absorb rainfall droplet energy and reduce the velocity of runoff flow at the soil surface.
These are just some of your lawn’s ecosystem services. To learn more, visit www.thelawninstitute.org.
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

Fall: The Best Time To Rejuvenate Your Lawn From Turfgrass Producers International

(HIT) - Horticultural experts generally agree that proper lawn care in the Fall has greater impact than similar efforts in the Spring or any other season for rejuvenating a lawn throughout the year. Fall is the season when turfgrass growth begins to slow. According to the Lawn Institute, a Chicago-based non-profit group, it is also a good time to help your grass develop the stamina it will need to survive the stress of Winter and get a head start for the coming Spring.

Photo courtesy of The Lawn Institute

Early October is generally the right time to focus additional attention for cool-season (northern U.S.) grasses, while the latter part of the month is best for warm-season varieties found in the more southern locations.



To achieve maximum benefit for year-round results, Fall lawn care requires a number of different efforts, including mowing, removal or mulching lawn debris, aerating, fertilizing and watering. The sequence of these efforts is as important as how they are performed.

Mowing

In addition to the immediate beauty of a freshly cut lawn, mowing in accordance with the following guidelines can help generate and maintain healthier turfgrass plants.

• Make sure the mower blade is sharp—the ragged cut made by a dull blade tends to shred the grass blade tips, exposing a larger surface area to disease, pest and water loss.
  
• Set the proper cutting height—the higher cutting height used during the Summer (when the photosynthetic processes in the leaf tissues are at their peak) should have progressed to a lower cutting height late in the Fall when the plant begins to store food reserves. The lower cutting height, without scalping, helps harden and strengthen the plants’ roots and crown with increased nutrients that would otherwise have been used by longer grass blades.
  
• Lawn debris—up to one inch of leaves can be mulched to serve as a protective cover during the coming cold season. However, clumps or large leaves, such as often accumulate in low spots, could trap dampness and become a breeding spot for diseases and pests. If in doubt, remove the debris with a mulching mower and dump it the compost bin for recycling into nutrient-rich soil for future garden use.
  

Aerating The Soil

After a year of a being trampled upon by various activities that tend to pack the soil, the grass roots need a breath of fresh air (oxygen) for respiration that only proper aeration can provide. This helps the root systems better establish themselves for the coming Winter. Aeration should take place approximately two weeks before applying the year’s final fertilizer, or five to six weeks before the first frost. The most effective aerator has hollow tines that penetrate the ground and remove core plugs of soil that are expelled as each successive plug is removed, leaving a vent for true aeration. Although a freshly aerated lawn appears a bit unsightly with numerous plugs laying all over it, they will eventually dissolve, returning nutrients to the soil for use by the grass. The unsightly appearance can be reduced and the plug dissolving process speeded up by mowing with a low-cutting blade. Be sure to remove the grass clipping bag and then mow the entire lawn in a left-to-right pattern, followed by an up-and-down pattern to assure even break-up and spreading of the aeration plugs. After mowing, watering the lawn further helps dissolve the aeration plugs.

Fertilizing/Weed Control

The Fall application of a weed-and-feed type fertilizer provides longer lasting benefits to a lawn than that of any other time of the year, according to the Lawn Institute. Fertilizer should be timed about one month before the first frost. It is very important to read, understand and follow instructions on the fertilizer label. The following information should take the mystery out of how much and which type to fertilizer to buy, and how to apply it efficiently.

• How much—The fertilizer bag label advises how many square feet the product will cover (see sidebar for calculating square feet of lawn area); any portion not used will be just as effective next year, if stored in a dry area.
  
• Which type—Any reputable lawn and garden retailer will be able to recommend the best fertilizer mixture for a particular time of the year. In the Fall, turfgrass needs less nitrogen (N) but higher ratios of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to encourage root growth and harden the grass plants for the coming Winter.
  
• Proper application—To assure uniform coverage with either a broadcast spreader or a drop spreader, follow these simple steps:
  

1. Adjust the spreader application dial to one-half of the fertilizer bag’s recommended setting and make the first application in an up-and-down pattern, covering the entire lawn.
   
2. Begin the second application immediately, in a left-to-right pattern, and continue over the entire lawn. (HINT: Use two small flags to mark the beginning and end of each row as you apply the fertilizer—small, brightly colored flags with stiff wire shafts work best.)
   

How To Determine Net Square Footage

To calculate your actual lawn area, use the following formulas to determine the total square footage of your property and subtract from that figure the total square footage of your house, garden, driveway, patio, etc. that is not covered by grass.
For more information and recommendations on lawn care, visit the following websites: http://www.TurfGrassSod.org or LawnInstitute.com. Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

How Turfgrass Affects The Environment From Turfgrass Producers International

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

Courtesy of The Lawn Institute

But we can help restore this precious eart 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 n the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating the head 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 your 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 percdent 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 absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and releases 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 or air conditioning. That’s amazing when the average home has an air conditioner with just a three or four ton capacity. the cooling effects 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 surgafe of turfgrass is the safest and least expensive place to play.
• For backyard ball games of 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.
• 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.
• Turfgrass … a continuing source of oxygen and cool air … a cleansing answer to our environment. … a source of beauty and comfort.

Courtesy of The Turfgrass Producers International.
About Turfgrass Producers International:
TPI has over 1,000 members in 45 countries comprised of turfgrass sod and seed producers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and various individuals involved in education and/or turf-related research.
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

What Every Homeowner Should Know About His/Her Roof From Certainteed Corporation

(HIT) - Harsh winter weather and inevitable spring storms wreak havoc on roofs, a home’s first line of defense against Mother Nature. Snow, driving rain, hail and even exposure to direct sunlight are hard on roofs. The National Roofing Contractors’ Association (NRCA) recommends that homeowners conduct seasonal roof inspections and be aware of their material options in case their roofs ever require repair or replacement. Following are tips from CertainTeed, a leader in the roofing industry, to help your readers keep a discerning eye on their biggest asset overhead:

• The NRCA says that each spring and fall, homeowners should clear debris from their gutters, check roof shingles for damage, inspect the areas around chimneys and pipes, and check walls and ceilings inside the home for water damage.
  
• Shingles that are buckled, curled, blistered or missing an excessive amount of granules are likely at the end of their lives. CertainTeed recommends homeowners avoid potential falls from the rooftop and use a pair of binoculars to inspect from the ground for missing, torn or worn shingles, or better yet, consult a professional roofing contractor.
  
• Heightened frequency of severe weather patterns has popularized weather-resistant roofing shingles. Several designer shingles and products by CertainTeed are available with wind warranty coverage up to 110 miles per hour (mph).
  
• Many shingles are now engineered for impact resistance and can withstand the impact of a 2-inch steel ball dropped from a height of 20 feet without cracking. Because of this durability, homeowners who have impact-resistant shingles installed may be eligible for insurance premium reductions depending on the location of their properties and their insurer. CertainTeed offers the most extensive selection of impact-resistant roofing products in the industry.
  
• Go to certainteed.com for more information or to find a qualified CertainTeed-credentialed roofing contractor in your area.
  

Roof images, product samples and industry comment are available upon request. To speak to a roofing expert, contact Mike Loughery of CertainTeed Corporation at mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com or 610-341-7328.
About CertainTeed:
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.



A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2009 and 2010, CertainTeed, which is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a national award that recognizes environmentally responsible corporations. The group had total sales of approximately $3 billion in 2009.


Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

NARI Offers Tips To Natural Disaster Victims To Avoid Home Repair Scams From National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Dealing with disasters using insurance restoration requires special attention from homeowners

	(Before) Photo courtesy of Carl Krueger Construction, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis

(HIT) - Weather and other disasters are unpredictable, and that's why it's important for homeowners to be aware of their options when disasters strike. Whether that disaster is wind-, water- or snow-related damage, negotiating with insurance companies, contractors and state officials can be difficult. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is offering tips for homeowners affected by disasters to get their home back in shape and avoid home restoration scams.

(After) Photo courtesy of Carl Krueger Construction, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis

The first step is for homeowners to call their insurance provider right away. This will initiate the claims process, which can include assessment of the damage and negotiations. Assuming that others in your community are dealing with similar issues, this process can get backed up easily. "The key is to act fast-as many homes can be saved or have less devastating effects once the home is cleared," says Diane Ausavich, CR, of Carl Krueger Construction Inc., and member of NARI's board of directors. If the homeowner doesn't call restoration experts right away, there could be a waiting list, and having to wait could impact how much of your home can be saved.

	(Before) Photo courtesy of Carl Krueger Construction, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis

Depending on the condition of your home, the next most important step is to secure the property to keep belongings safe and to ensure that no one enters the property. That way, homeowners can protect themselves from lawsuits if someone gets hurt while trespassing on their property. "Most of the time police step in and secure the area when it's beyond normal security," Ausavich says.


Once a homeowner is ready to find a restoration contractor to work on their homes, they need to be careful of scam artists. "These days being approached by a scam artist after a disaster is pretty commonplace," Ausavich says. "Especially in large disasters in dense populations because it is easier for them to blend in compared with individual communities with heightened awareness."

(After) Photo courtesy of Carl Krueger Construction, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis

Typically homeowners are bombarded with people offering assistance who don't necessarily have the credentials to be working in that state or doing that type of work. Con artists often show up at a homeowner's door after a disaster, offering an array of services and demanding a hefty down payment upfront. They might offer a "great deal," based on using materials left over from a neighbor's job, but homeowners should remember that a "great deal" isn't always what it seems. Frequently, these fly-by-night operators drive vehicles with out-of-state license plates or set up temporary offices from which they can vacate quickly once authorities start looking for them.


Working with an unlicensed contractor can jeopardize a homeowner's compensation from their insurance company as the work must be priced within the insurance company's standards. "Companies must have proper licensing to work in a state," Ausavich says. She adds that although it is common for out-of-state companies to work in disaster zones temporarily, they must apply for licensing within that state before work begins.


Before writing that check, and especially before allowing any unknown individual into your home, NARI suggests that a homeowner:

• Get the name and address of the company that person allegedly represents.
• Get all details of the offer in writing and carefully review it. Be sure you understand everything in the contract and that any promises made verbally are included in the contract.
• Determine how long the company has been in business and call organizations with which the contractor is affiliated, such as NARI or other trade associations, to determine the firm's legitimacy.
• Ask for references and contact each one.
• Remember, any legitimate company that wants your business will be more than willing to allow you the time to do your homework. Don't fall prey to high-pressure tactics such as "this is the only chance you have" or "by tomorrow the extra materials will be gone."

Homeowners should be especially skeptical if they:

• come to your door unsolicited.
• use high-pressure sales tactics.
• request full payment before completing the work.
• give a post office box without a street address or phone number.
• promise to begin and complete the work more quickly and cheaper than any other company.
• say they just finished work on your neighbor's house and have just enough materials to do repair work on yours. They might say they can give you a better bargain if you let them do the work today since they have the supplies now.
• don't provide you with a preliminary estimation report that details the full scope of work and can be presented to your insurance company for full compensation.

"Ultimately, you have the right to choose who you want to work with," Ausavich says. "If you're not clicking with the person or you're uncomfortable in any way, you should listen to your instincts and either do more research or move on."


Although a fire or a disaster is a devastating experience, it can be turned into a positive one, with the new motivation to renovate your home. Many homeowners find remodeling work a good idea after a disaster because they can put the insurance money toward a more functional home.


NARI can connect you with remodel-ready contractors who will take care of the entire remodeling process. Find a NARI member on www.NARIremodelers.com. For green remodeling information, please visit www.greenremodeling.org.


About NARI:


"The Voice of the Remodeling Industry."™ To locate a local NARI chapter or a remodeling professional, visit NARI's Web site at www.nariremodelers.com, or contact the national headquarters, based in Des Plaines, Illinois, at 800-611-NARI.



Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

Minimize The Risk Of Mold In Your Home From Certainteed Corporation

(HIT)- According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York City Health Department, you can minimize the risk of mold in your home by keeping these tips in mind:

• Fix any water leaks.
  
• Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60 percent) to decrease mold growth.
  
• Clean and dry any damp furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
  
• Clean hard surfaces with water and detergent. Dry completely.
  
• Prevent condensation on cold surfaces (i.e. walls, pipes, roof, floors) by adding fiber glass insulation.
  
• Do not install carpeting in areas where they may be a perpetual moisture problem in a home.
  
• If constructing a new home or building an addition, ask your builder about products to minimize the potential for moisture and mold growth such as MemBrain™, a smart vapor retarder placed inside wall cavities. It allows excess moisture that gets into wall cavities to escape.
  

For additional information on MemBrain, call 1-800-782-8777 for a free brochure. Also, visit us on the Internet at www.certainteed.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

U.S.A. Brings A Lot To The Picnic Table From Home Improvement News and Information Center

By Kathy Moran




(HIT)- One of the greatest social events ever dreamed up, a picnic is a combination of food, family, friends, recreation, entertainment, and merriment. At the first sign of spring, people begin firing up their grills and taking their meals outdoors, and they don't go back inside until the world freezes over once again. In fact, there are some year-round, die-hard barbecuers who won't quit unless someplace much larger and hotter freezes over, too.



The English word "picnic," which comes from the French "pique-nique," dating back to 1692, was introduced in 1748. First meant as a casual potluck gathering, to which everyone brought a dish, it rose to the status of a fashionable social affair in the 19th century, when a group of wealthy Londoners formed The Picnic Society. Its rapid rise in popularity soon led to the invention of the picnic table.



Today, a picnic can be anything from a casual meal on the porch, with paper plates and plastic forks, to a formal picnic lunch, with gourmet food served on good china. Like the picnic itself, the picnic table has undergone many transformations, and AllPicnicTables.com has scores of stunning examples of what good old American ingenuity has done for it.




Of course, they still offer the classic, rustic-looking, hand-crafted cedar, oak, and pine tables we all had in our backyards. However, with porches, decks, and patios becoming more elaborate every year, and backyard gazebos popping up in record numbers, outdoor entertaining has reached new heights. Beyond barbecues, people are hosting dinners, formal parties, and even weddings in their own backyards. For those fancier occasions, they've created elegant dining sets, some of which are made from luscious cherry and teak.



The variety doesn't stop there. You'll find a picnic table in a size, style, shape, color, and material, to fit every occasion, and every budget. The selection includes rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, square, round, and oval tables, with benches attached or detached. They also feature tables that are constructed from virtually indestructible aluminum, thermo-plastic, vinyl, and polywood. These are the tables you'll find lining hospital grounds, industrial parks, office complexes, and college campuses.



Indeed, there are as many versions of picnic tables as there are of picnics. To see the entire range of exciting possibilities, visit www.AllPicnicTables.com, a division of www.CedarStore.com, 5410 Route 8, Gibsonia, PA, 15044. If you don't find the perfect picnic table, they'll be happy to customize one for you! For more information, call 1-888-293-2339, or you can log onto http://www.allpicnictables.com/.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center