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lawnstarterinc-blog · 5 years ago

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Lawn Aeration

Your Guide to Lawn Aeration: Why, When, How

You picked the perfect grass. You’ve mowed and watered correctly and taken care of those grubs and ants. It’s a healthy lawn, but you’re still struggling to take your lawn to that next level of perfection.

You need to aerate.

Almost all lawns will benefit from aeration, but a great lawn demands it. Any lawn seeing high traffic, excessive thatch or heavy soils will benefit most from a good round of aeration.

If you haven’t done it before, poking a bunch of holes in that lovely grass cover can be a scary prospect.

So here’s what you need to know about aeration, how to know if you need to aerate, when and how to do it, and whether you may be better off calling in the pros.

Relieving Compacted Soil

Over the years, especially for a well-trod-upon lawn, the soil underneath the grass will compact. Time and trampling reduce pore space between soil particles, says Timothy Daly with the University of Georgia Extension in Gwinnett County.

In compacted soil, water, nutrients and air have a tougher time making it through to your grass roots. Clay soils are especially susceptible to compaction, he said.

So give your soil some elbow room. Aerating your lawn encourages root growth, relieving that pressure and lessening soil compaction. That means water and nutrients can permeate your root zone and keep your lawn healthy and happy.

Other Aeration Benefits

Benefits of aeration go beyond opening up access your soil.

Aeration invigorates roots and stimulates growth.

It reduces thatch accumulation.

It enhances water and nutrient movement through your soil and even smooths out bumpy lawns.

It helps with weed control, as a healthier lawn will crowd out weeds.

It’s especially important if you’re trying to establish a new lawn.

Sodded lawns should be aerated annually for the first six to eight years, according to NDSU.

Coring Aerator Versus Spiking Aerator

Soil plugs left behind by core aeration. Credit: Flickr

Lawn aeration comes in two basic flavors: coring and spiking.

The consensus among experts is that coring is best. It removes plugs of soil from your yard. That frees up space and gives the soil room to decompress.

Hollow-tine core aeration is the preferred method, Daly says. Actually removing soil and distributing that over the surface goes a long way in loosening up compacted soil, while the cores break down and provide nutrients

Core aeration also creates a system of large pores for moisture and plant nutrients to be taken into the soil.

Plugs should be ½ to ¾ inches in diameter, 2-6 inches apart and 2-4 inches deep, according to the University of Maryland Extension Service. Because soil compaction occurs primarily in a thin surface layer, penetrating 2-4 inches easily penetrates the compacted top layer.

Spike aeration — simply using spikes to poke holes in the lawn — is an option but it’s usually not recommended. The spikes create holes for water and nutrients, but do so by pushing aside soil. That means the spikes actually compact the soil further around the holes.

When to Aerate

Don’t just run out to the rental store and fire up the aerator. Your lawn will need time to recover, and that means time to grow.

The best time to aerate depends on your grass type and when it’s growing its strongest.

Only aerate when the lawn is growing vigorously, says the Maryland Extension. That mostly means early spring and fall for cool-season grasses and late spring or summer for warm-season grasses.

Warm-season turfgrass species such as Bermuda, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustine and Centipede grass should be aerated during their active growing season of May to September, Daly says.

Cool-season varieties of grass such as tall fescue, he says, should be aerated between September and November or March and April.

How Often to Aerate

Time of year isn’t the only timing consideration you need to take into account either. You need to think about frequency.

If your lawn receives heavy foot traffic, aerate every one to two years. Otherwise, every two to four years should be sufficient.

Daly says that the average homeowner’s lawn needs to be aerated every three to four years, but aerating every year doesn’t hurt anything.

At the other extreme, heavy usage areas including as ball fields or grassy areas where vehicles drive or park need it two or three times a year, he says.

How to Tell When Your Lawn Needs Aeration

So how do you know when your lawn is compacted and in need of aeration?

Virginia Tech recommends removing a square foot section of lawn and checking the roots if you’re in doubt. If those roots only extend into the first couple inches of soil, it’s time to aerate.

Virginia Tech lists a few other reasons, too: lawns that are frequently used or driven on, lawns with heavy clay soil or more than ½ inch of lawn thatch.

Thatch is the layer of plant material that builds up between the soil and the green blades of grass. Some more aggressive-growing grass species such as Kentucky bluegrass build up a thatch layer more quickly. If that's the case, it can increase how frequently you aerate.

Before Aerating, Water

So it’s time to aerate. You know your grass type and you’ve marked the day on your calendar. Your soil is hard and your turfgrass is suffering.

But it’s still not quite time to fire up the aerator. First, water your lawn a few days before you plan to aerate. “Make sure it’s watered,” Daly emphasizes.

Aerating an unwatered lawn, he added, especially one with clay soils can be like trying to aerate concrete. He knows from experience.

Aeration Costs

When it comes to aeration equipment, you can spend as little or as much as you want.

Simple hand-operated options, just a pole with the spikes or cores on the bottom and handles on the top, can cost as little as $25. Though spikes aren't as good as core aerators, they’re fine for small areas of lawns.

But heavy drums to pull behind a riding mower, and motorized push-corers can run as high as $350. Stand-alone motorized core aerators can cost $3,000 or more.

Between those two extremes are nonmotorized walk-behind options that spin spikes or cores on a drum, and can run around $100.

If you’re not looking to permanently add one of these to your arsenal, stores such as Lowe’s will rent them out. Costs range around $62 per four-hour minimum or $88 for one day.

Not willing to do it yourself? Lawn care services companies will provide lawn aeration.

Aeration Tips

Heavily compacted lawns may need two passes to make sure the entire lawn is covered.

The machine will pull those cores of soil up and deposit them on your lawn surface. Don’t worry about cleaning up those soil plugs. You can either mow them into the lawn, or just leave them. They will eventually break down due to watering and mowing and return to the lawn as a topdressing material.

After aeration, fertilize and irrigate as needed. “Aerated lawns respond well to fertilization or overseeding; this can be done immediately after aerating,” says the North Dakota State University “Lawn and Garden Report.”

If you plan on topdressing with something other than the soil plugs themselves, Daly recommends avoiding sand. Sand can interfere with water infiltration and cause the soil to harden, undoing all that work you just completed.

Apply a light covering of an organic soil amendment mixture, he said, and you should be good to go.

#Lawn Aeration #Lawn Aeration Austin #Lawn TX Services #Austin Lawn Aeration

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clickwish2-blog · 6 years ago

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Our 12 Best Tools to Help You Eat Better in January and Beyond

They say it takes a certain amount of willpower and the right mindset in order to eat better in the new year and the full 364 days that follow. We agree. You’ll need both of those things—and you’ll also need the right tools. After all, you can’t very well, say, eat more fruits and veggies if you don’t have the proper gadgets to prep or cook them in first place, right? We’ve got you covered, though, with the best tools to help you throughout the year. If you’re hoping to eat better in 2019, this list is for you.

January: Chef’n Citrus Juicer, $25

Believe it or not, winter is when most citrus fruits are the sweetest and juiciest. And a squeeze of lemon or lime can do oh-so-much to flavor your food. This juicer can help you wring out every last drop of juice. Use it to splash citrus over roasted vegetables, fresh salads (instead of store-bought dressings), fish, and more.

February: Williams Sonoma Avocado Slicer & Cuber, $13

February is the start of avocado season. It’s also the Super Bowl. So while your friends are scarfing down mediocre “hot” wings, stick to the guacamole, which you can easily make using this slicer and cuber. The tool helps you easily get out all of the flesh and it also creates uniform pieces—long slices or square cubes—so you can use it to make a salad or sandwich, too.

March: All-Clad 7-Quart Gourmet Slow Cooker, $280

If you don’t already have a slow cooker (or an Instant Pot), March is your month to get one. It’s still pretty darn cold in most of the country so you’ll want to use it to make all the soups and stews. Plus, there are plenty of Spring- and Summer-worthy things you can make in a slow cooker. Our Summer Minestrone comes to mind, for example.

April: OXO Pressure Cooker Silicone Egg Rack, $12

Got that Instant Pot handy? Good, because hard-boiled eggs made in the Instant Pot are some of the creamiest you’ll ever have. Whether you’re making a bunch for Easter or you just like hard-boiled eggs for breakfast, you’ll find this egg rack to be a must-have. It holds nine eggs (or 18 if you get two racks and stack them) in an upright position to make sure the insides cook evenly all the way through.

May: Microplane Herb Mill, $20

Fresh herbs, like lemons and limes (see: January), are another great way to add flavor to otherwise boring dishes. Grilled chicken? Scrambled eggs? Salads? They all benefit from herbs. And this herb mill makes it incredibly easy to add to them to and dish. Use the built-in stripper to remove the herbs from their stems and then use the mill part to evenly mince things up without pulling out your chef’s knife.

June: OXO Stainless-Steel Salad Spinner, $50

We have two words for you: farmers markets. With the bounty of fresh produce that’s about to be headed your way, you’re going to be in Salad Heaven soon. Every kitchen needs a salad spinner and we like this one because it’s sturdy, does its job in no time flat, and is extra easy to operate.

July: Watermelon Pop Slicer, $10

Have you ever seen anything more fun than this watermelon cutter? It instantly turns a slice of watermelon into a treat and will make you forget all about that ice cream cone you’ve been thinking about. We speak from experience when we say that kids AND adults love this thing.

August: Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Blender, $550

August is bound to be scorcher this year, we just know it. Keep your cool with smoothies. Lots and lost of smoothies. There’s no better smoothie machine than the Vitamix. It pulverizes ice and chunks of fruit to make the, um, smoothest smoothies.

September: Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Adjustable Apple Slicer & Corer, $23

What to do with all those apples you’ll be picking? Slice them up, dunk them in some peanut or almond butter, and enjoy a healthy and filling afternoon snack. This slicer has an adjustable dial, which you can set to cut eight or 16 slices. Keep it in your desk drawer at work and if you’ve got a good chunk of time between meetings, set it for 16 slices so you can enjoy a leisurely snack while you check your email. In more of a time crunch? Go with eight slices.

October: Paderno Spiralizer 4-Blade, $50

The weather’s going to turn soon and a giant bowl of pasta is going to start sounding pretty darn perfect. Don’t undo all the good work you’ve done so far this year! Instead of carbo loading for no reason, turn to zoodles. This countertop gadget comes with an angel-hair shredder, chipper, fine shredder and straight blade, plus a bonus accessory to create accordion cuts. And we’ve got a bunch of spiralizer recipes that are sure to hit the spot.

November: Calphalon Elite Nonstick 3-Piece Fry Pan & Sauté Pan Set, $96

Not only is nonstick cookware super easy to clean, it also doesn’t require any extra oil when you cook in it. That means no added calories for butter or olive oil. This three-piece set (including a 10-inch fry pan and a three-quart sauté pan with lid) is one of our favorites and can cook up a meaty main and a vegetable-heavy side dish.

December: Williams Sonoma Touchless Tare Waterproof Scale, from $50

Holiday baked goods get a bad rap. While, yes, it’s entirely possible to eat adorably decorated sugar cookies for dinner. It’s also possible to choose better-for-you treats this time of year. We’re talking crisps and cobblers, banana bread, and oat muffins. The key to any top-notched baked good: a scale instead of a measuring cup. It gives you a more accurate reading, resulting in a better treat. Our touchless, waterproof scale couldn’t be easier to use.

Source: https://blog.williams-sonoma.com/best-tools-gadgets-healthy-eating-williams-sonoma/

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jimcutfro212-blog · 7 years ago

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Money Saving Mom's Daily Deal Round-Up for November 15, 2017

Here is a recap of all the deals posted today!

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Free Printable Holiday Planner

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drusawasthi-blog · 8 years ago

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All You Need To Know About IFFCO And Its CEO

IFFCO or the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited is known to be the largest fertilizer cooperative federation of the world that is based in India. This organization is registered as a Multistate Cooperative Society having 40,000 member cooperatives.

Governing Body of IFFCO

The representative General Body (RGB) is the main body that guides all the functions of IFFCO. The body consists of Members of the Board of Directors, one delegate from each of the member societies who holds shares of Rs. 100 thousand or above.

Functions of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for carrying out all the functions of the Multi-state Cooperative Societies Act/Rules, frame policies, instruct various activities that can lead to the development of the Society. The head of this board is the Chairman. Currently, Mr. Balvinder Singh Nakai is given the responsibility to chair the organization.

The CEO of IFFCO

Another prominent member of the organization is U S Awasthi CEO, IFFCO. He is a chemical engineer belonging to the well-known Banaras Hindu University. He has almost fifty years of experience. He has a greater hand in making IFFCO a global leader in the production of fertilizer. Following his guidance, IFFCO has made much progress in every front. It has diversified into several sectors like Rural Telephony, General insurance, Rural Retail, SEZ and several others. Not only IFFCO he is also associated with many Indian as well as global companies as their board member.

His Achievements

The latest information about MD Dr. U S Awasthi is that IFFCOBAZAR is in the news for taking IFFCO to the journey of helping out four corer member farmers for embracing digital as one of the ways to life.

Dr. US Awasthi is the receiver of several awards and honors for his exemplary achievements and outstanding contributions in the fertilizer and Indian agriculture industry. He is a visiting professor at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), New Delhi. He was honored with the Golden Jubilee Award by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers because of his distinguished leadership and extraordinary contribution to Chemical Industry.

On 11th December 2000 Dr. US Awasthi was awarded CEPM-Dr. Davidson Fraqme Award. He is also the recipient of the Best Chief Executive of the Year 2002 by the Minister of Shipping, GOI. He is a member in IIM Ahmedabad, Center for Management in Agriculture and also in Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering based in New Delhi. He has co-authored the book ‘Fertiliser Industry in India’. In November 1997, the National Cooperative Union of India had honored him.

IFFCO MD Dr. U S Awasthi is the receiver of several awards and honors for his exemplary achievements and outstanding contributions in the fertilizer and Indian agriculture industry.

#U S Awasthi #IFFCO MD #IFFCO CEO #US Awasthi

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