HOMEOWNERS RECOGNIZE VALUE OF EXPERIENCED LAWN CARE SERVICE
Lawns provide benefits to the environment. There is an anti lawn movement being created by special interest groups across Canada. Many organizations concerned about fertilizer inputs and other plant health care practices have done their best to change the perception that Canadians have about their lawns and other recreational turfgrass areas.
The truth is that the attempts by these groups to vilify lawns, golf courses and other turf areas in general in an effort to convince people to switch to alternative landscapes could actually be harmful to the environment. Before you begin to dig up your lawn and pave it over or switch to an alternative landscape, you should consider some of the benefits provided by lawns.
The benefits of healthy turfgrass areas are similar to the benefits of trees and have been well documented by Dr. James Beard of Texas A&M, and other turf researchers across North America.
Some of the benefits associated with healthy turfgrass include:
- Healthy turf areas are prolific oxygen producers and help to sequester carbon dioxide. Grass and other plants convert carbon dioxide into clean oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Thick healthy turf verses thin, dormant or weed infested turf is more efficient and effective in providing this benefit.
- Healthy turf helps to filter and improve air quality. Healthy turf traps and absorbs dust and pollutants from the air helping us to breathe a little easier.
- Healthy turfgrass further helps to clean water that enters the ground. The dense root mass and thatch layer (a thin layer of living and decomposing organic matter between the soil surface and the grass plants) and foliage acts as a natural filter helping to purify water. Water that passes through healthy turf is generally much cleaner than before it enters.
- Healthy turfgrass also helps to moderate air and surface temperature on a hot summer day by as much as 5 degrees C. Turf provides tremendous cooling effect through evapotranspiration or water loss through the leaves helping to moderate temperatures and reduce air conditioning needs significantly in urban environments.
- Turfgrass areas can also help to absorb and reduce noise by as much as 20-30%.
- Healthy turf provides a safe and comfortable playing surface for sports and leisure activities.
- Well kept turf reduces nuisance pests such as snakes, mice, moles and rats.
- Lawns that are well kept generally do not have as many weeds that can contribute to allergies such as ragweed.
- Healthy turfgrass areas are deeply rooted and help to stabilize soil, thus providing effective soil erosion control.
The benefits associated with healthy turf enhance our quality of life and far out weigh the benefits of weak, neglected weed infested turf or alternative landscapes.
There is a misperception in society that lawns are monocultures and that we should do more to promote more diverse landscapes. Lawns are not monocultures. They are usually made up of 2 - 3 species (i.e., Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescues) of turfgrass which incorporate different varieties or cultivars within the species. Even lawns that are sodded with 100% Kentucky bluegrass, generally contain three to four different varieties of bluegrass selected for their tolerances to environmental conditions and stress and their ability to grow under adverse conditions.
Although it is a matter of choice whether you prefer the aesthetics of a lawn or an alternative ground cover or landscape (i.e., rocks or pavement), the choice should not be made on the misconception that lawns are bad for the environment. In fact, the opposite is true in that lawns provide tremendous benefits to our environment.
Article written by Darcy Olds, Bayer Environment Sciences
Turf Talk Volume 1 Issue 6 Fall/Winter 2007
Friday, January 29, 2010
HOMEOWNERS RECOGNIZE VALUE OF EXPERIENCED LAWN CARE SERVICE
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
BENEFITS of NATURAL ORGANIC FERTILIZER
Organic matter is derived from the decomposition of plant and animal residues such as harvested agricultural crops; plant vegetation like grass clippings and leaves; animal manures; or even human food residues such as garbage. Organic decomposition, carried out by billions of micro-organisms, is all part of nature’s own recycling process.
The result of decomposition is humus, the primary component of soil organic matter. Humus is a rich source of essential nutrients. The nutrients are made available slowly as required by plants for vigorous growth, without loss or wastage into the environment. Humus also contributes to soil quality by improving its physical structure, and its water and nutrient holding capacity.
Soil biological activity requires humus to continue the process of decomposition and recycling of valuable nutrients. When soil is biologically healthy, it also contributes to the suppression of plant and soil disease.
Because organic matter (humus) is consumed during the growing season to produce lawns, gardens, landscaping and agricultural crops, it must be systematically renewed, hence, the reason for natural organic fertilizers.
Organic matter cannot be manufactured synthetically. Synthesized fertilizers supply nutrients. Organic fertilizers not only supply nutrients, they benefit the soil.
The benefits from natural organic fertilizers in plant response are greater than its value in terms of plant nutrients alone. Long term effects on soil fertility, physical conditions and soil biology account for the added value attributed to the organic matter.
Adapted from www.bradfieldturf.ca
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
From Flower Islands to Artificial Turf
The City of Hamilton used to put in a lot of traffic island flower gardens. The program started under Mayor Wade, I believe in the 1990's. Recent budget cutbacks have seen a number of them disappear in spite of the corporate sponsorship program. A couple of years ago, a few were filled with decorative gravel.
Earlier this summer someone from the Public Works department called to ask if there were any products that could be used on the traffic islands. This person said that the city had tried weed whacking the weeds. The hot water machine worked reasonably well, but the equipment was no longer usable.
Today while driving, I was struck by an island of green. Whoa, that's artificial turf!
Is this a new sponsorship deal? Or is this the new beautification program? No water, no fertilizer, no mowing, no weeds? Personally, my guess is that the weeds will eventually creep into the edges and seams, but who knows.
BUT, then, driving a little further down the street, another section of the road had another green facelift. Several islands that had been full of flowers earlier this year were not sprouting real grass.
Now the real grass looked fairly new. Not all of it has filled in. And it looked like it needed a trim. Maybe this was just a fall cover crop? Or is this the other side of the new traffic island program?
Really uneven and too long. A little lawn care is needed here.
If you
have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF
GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call
us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
If you
would like more information, please Contact us
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us on Twitter http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen
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Copyright 2009
Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.
Flowering Cabbage
Royal purples and pinks add to the autumn palette of colour.
Flowering cabbage (pictured above) and flowering kale are not really flowers. Perhaps the term "ornamental cabbage" or "ornamental kale" would be better names.
In either case, these fall classics can brighten up your fall landscape in intriguing ways. Not only do they add a bright spot in the garden, they will last long after a heavy frost has taken out most of the other annual flowers. Flowering kale and cabbage need full sun and do best in the cooler temperatures of fall.
If you
have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF
GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call
us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
If you
would like more information, please Contact us
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us on Twitter http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen
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Copyright 2009
Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.
Portulcaria Bonsai- In Review
Portulacaria are easy to grow bonsais for beginners. Here are a few photos of my largest specimen over the last several years.
November 2009- as it is now
Brought this Portulacaria bonsai in about a month ago. Still growing in response to the warmer temperatures inside. Sometimes it will drop a lot of foliage due to the lower light levels indoors compared to on the patio during the summer.
Here is a shot of it about 5 years ago, (July 2004) when I put it into a larger bonsai pot. This plant had been around for about15 years, just growing but cut back heavily.
By October 2007, the foliage has filled in a lot. Later on I lifted it up in the pot, and exposed some of the roots. The bottom area was cleaned up when I removed some of the "brush" at the base to make it more tree-like.
If you
have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF
GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call
us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
If you
would like more information, please Contact us
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us on Twitter http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen
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Copyright 2009
Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Is it still Summer? Leave me Hanging.
Why do leaves turn colour in the autumn? Is it the cooler nights, the date on the calendar or what?
While some may think it is the cooler weather or just the changing seasons, it's really the "photoperiod."
The photoperiod is considered to be the environmental trigger that causes fall leaf colouring, senescence and leaf drop. The pigment phytochrome senses the photoperiod. Photoperiod is often thought to be the length of the daylight period.
In actuality it is not the length of the daylight time, but the length of the night.
Plants that respond to photoperiodism, do not measure the length of the daylight but rather the length of the dark period. For these maple leaves, their night has been shortened by the rays of the street lamp. I'm sure at some point they will respond as the rest of the tree has done. My speculation is that the other leaves will create enough of the hormones that trigger the autumn responses to eventually cause all the leaves to colour and fall.
If you
have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF
GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call
us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
If you
would like more information, please Contact us
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us on Twitter http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen
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Copyright 2009
Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.
Thank You -Hamilton Spectator - Readers' Choice - Favourite Lawn Care
The awards local companies and individuals who go above and beyond the expectations of the readers of the Hamilton Spectator.
Turf King Hamilton embraces the use of high quality fertilization products to provide long lasting nutrients to the lawns of their clients. Every effort is made to use products and practices that keep lawns healthy and to also keep them safe for pets and children.
“I am honored to be selected for the Gold Level Award. Our goal is to provide the best Lawn Care in this area,” said Gerry Okimi, owner of Turf King Hamilton Lawn Care in Hamilton
“Turf King Hamilton would like to thank the community for voting them as the GOLD Readers' Choice winner in the Lawn Care Service Category. Your votes are truly appreciated. This is a great honour and we are grateful for your confidence in our services.
About Turf King Hamilton:
Turf King Hamilton Lawn Care is Hamilton
If you
have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF
GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call
us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
If you
would like more information, please Contact us
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us on Twitter http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen
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Copyright 2009
Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.
Fall Colours
The sheer volume of colour in the leaves of a tree are overwhelming. And more so in the autumn. During the time the leaves are green, there is a lot more green around in the other plants, trees and lawns. In the fall, the other plants are less noticeable. Only the evergreens have a presence. The lawn is still green, but is often blanketed by the same palette of fall colours from the fallen leaves.
In some cases, the variation in the colours can create a stunning contrast- red, yellow, green.
The leaves of trees can be a detriment to the lawn in several ways. During the spring and summer, they restrict the amount of sunlight that reaches the lawn. This means we have to resort to special measure to be able to maintain a healthy lawn in the shade.
Once the leaves have decided to leave their lofty heights, they can also be a bit of a nuisance. If they are left on the lawn over the winter they will damage the lawn. That means the leaves must be dealt with somehow. One way is to rake, rake rake.
Lawns can be an important visual component of a landscape. Maintaining their health is important to keep them looking their best and able to function as efficiently as possible.
If you
have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF
GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call
us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
If you
would like more information, please Contact us
Follow
us on Twitter http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen
Join our
Facebook page
Copyright 2009
Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.
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