This fully mature perennial bed features Salvia, Agapanthus, Canna Lilies and grasses. The colours may seem disparate, but the cohesiveness and balance are achieved as the tones are of similar vibrancy and the grasses have a muting effect. Bill Brooks photojpg

It felt as though she would never arrive. But at long last, summer officially starts today, June 20 at 3:43 pm MDT. After shivering through a particularly nasty February, a very late and chilly spring and the world seemingly on its knees, the arrival of summer couldnt be more welcome.

By now, annuals should be performing well. Dont forget to deadhead (remove spent blooms) to ensure continuous flowering all season long. Regular fertilizing should be maintained. Perennials (plants that come back every year) should be nearing their peak and its a good idea to make note of those that are working well and those that a disappointment so as not to repeat the laggards next year.

Starting a perennial bed from scratch is almost easier than upgrading an existing bed as often times the latter is looking tired, plant material is not performing as you would like and weeds or unwelcome thugs the likes of Creeping Campanula the bane of gardeners, are making their presence felt.

Say, for example, you want to replace a patch of lawn with a perennial bed or border. Ideally, said site receives at least four to five hours of direct sunlight daily. Shaded areas can work, but the selection of plant material that will thrive in these conditions is more limited than that of full sun to partial shade. If you dont need instant gratification and can wait until next spring to start planting, the easiest and least labour-intensive way to get rid of the lawn is to put layers and layers of newspaper on top of the grass where you want the new bed to be. Water the newspaper and then add a thin layer of manure and finish with a 10- to 15-cm layer of compost. Next spring, all you need to do is dig holes for the new perennials, add some compost to the hole and plant away. Its that easy. If youre fine with a fairly intensive workout and want to go from lawn to border in one season, either rent a sod cutter or dig the grass out, being certain to get all its roots or you will forever be digging out tufts of unwanted grass.

Silver is a great complementary colour to use in a perennial bed. It makes the yellows of the coreopsis shown really pop and it also tones down the brightness of the overall bed. Consider planting Silver Mound Artemisia, lavender, Russian Sage, Lamium or Snow in Summer to add silver to your perennial landscape. But be advised Snow in Summer can be very invasive. Bill Brooks photosjpg

An existing bed can be easily upgraded by adding five- to 15-cm of compost, well-rotted manure or any other organic material. Do not deep-dig in the new soil amendment. Simply leave it on top of the soil or rake it in, being mindful of existing plant material so as not to injure roots. Deep digging is actually detrimental to soil health. Digging and turning over the soil exposes a very delicate ecosystem to the air, which dries it out, and to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, which sterilizes the soil, killing the soil organisms. All the fertilizer in the world is not going to help your plants unless they are located in the proper location for their needs (light requirement being the most important), in healthy soil rich in nutrients.

My personal tastes lean toward an English/cottage garden border and my favourite perennial, the peony, is, unfortunately, taking its time to flower this year. Our harsh winter and unseasonably cool spring are to blame. If you are planting a peony for the first time, remember that the eyes should not be planted more than five cm deep, otherwise it will not flower. They also need at least four to six hours of sun and should be cut back in the fall after hard frosts. And yes, they do come with ants. Its believed the ants eat the sticky sap on the buds, thereby allowing the flowers to appear. Peonies are deer resistant and are fully hardy in our Zone 4 climate and will survive for many years. If you have to divide or move your peony, note that it may sulk for a year or two, so be patient.

Another top pick is the delphinium. These stately spires flower in myriad blues, white or pinks and are best planted in groupings of three to five at the back of the bed or border. They like quite a bit of moisture but are susceptible to delphinium worm, a bright green caterpillar that can wreak havoc on the plant within a matter of weeks. Cutting delphiniums down to 2.5 cm in the fall will minimize the critters re-appearance next summer. If there is limited infestation, hand-pick and squish the worms. If youre squeamish and there are a lot of them, spray with biological insecticide or companion plant lavender, sage or mugwort beside the delphiniums as a caterpillar repellant. Once they have flowered, cut the stalks back by about one-third to one-half and, if the gardening season is long enough before the first killer frost, youll get a second flush of bloom, although not as resplendent as the first. Stake the plants as the stalks are hollow and our windy city is not the place for unsupported delphiniums.

And what would an English border be without the queen of the plant world the rose? I could devote an entire column to the different types of roses, care and so on, but suffice to say, roses like full sun, lots of food and good air circulation. Other great choices for a full-sun bed or border include: black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia); daylilies (Hemerocallis); phlox; coneflower; alyssum; shasta daisy (but be careful on this one as the shasta is a sterile cultivar of oxeye daisy and it can revert to become fertile, as well as cross-breed with oxeye daisy to produce an invasive hybrid); dianthus; salvia; iris; and lilies, to name but a few. A note of caution on lilies. The red lily leaf beetle is a nasty pest that can destroy entire plants in a very short period of time. This brute is most commonly found on Asiatic and Oriental varieties and should be eradicated as soon as detected by either handpicking and destroying the larvae and beetle or spray with neem oil.

A selection of perennials to consider for a shaded bed or border include: Annabelle hydrangea; Ligularia; ferns; Bruneria; Hosta; Astilbe; Lupines; Bergenia; and Columbine.

So heartfelt welcome to the first day of summer! Although hearing on a weather channel that the days will start getting shorter from now on caused me to reach for the gin. Before noon, no less.

Original post:
Brooks: Heartfelt welcome to summer and the longest day of the year - The Kingston Whig-Standard

Q: For the last few summers I have been getting brown spots on my lawn. I thought it may have been due to the drought the last few summers, but with all the rain this year I am still getting these spots. When I cut the grass there are also small, white moth-looking flies that come up from the grass.

Any idea what is causing the spots? I fertilize the grass three times during the growing season, and this is much more prominent on my front lawn, which gets the afternoon sun. Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

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A: The problem is sod webworm. The small, white or gray moths that are seen flying over the grass are the adults. They hide in the grass during the day and fly in a zigzag pattern when disturbed. They can be easily recognized by their habit of folding their wings closely around their bodies when at rest. They lay eggs throughout the lawn.

The young larvae (webworms) mine the leaf surface as they work their way to the soil to build tunnels, Webworms stop feeding in the fall and overwinter in the soil or thatch. They pupate in the spring and emerge as moths. The damage they cause is evident as irregular brown patches in the turf. These patches grow larger and can cover entire lawns. Damage is most severe in the middle to late summer. All grasses are attacked, especially bluegrasses and newly seeded lawns.

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Growing Things: Protect lawn from sod webworm and raspberries from insects, disease - Edmonton Journal

Caring for a lawn to keep it lush and green can require equal measures of patience and hard work. Various invaders can attack grass or contribute to its demise. One problem many homeowners face is bare spots.

Bare spots can occur for various reasons. Heavy foot traffic, grubs or other pests, fungi, pet urine, or too much or too little water can contribute to bare spots.

The how-to resource The Spruce says that correcting the source of bare spots can prevent new issues, particularly if grubs or other pests are damaging the grass. Then homeowners can address existing bare areas.

It is unlikely that bare spots will just fill back in on their own. Reseeding spots or using sod to fill in bare areas can help lawns look lush.

Begin by raking and removing any dead grass and other debris from the lawn. Check to make sure that grubs or insects are not attacking the lawn. If they are, use targeted treatment options for those pests.

Break up and aerate any soil that is compacted in the bare spot.

Amend the soil in the bare area with loamy soil or compost to improve on the nutritional makeup and texture so that it is amenable to grass-growing. If you notice that the entire lawn is looking a little sparse, top-dressing the rest of the lawn at this point also can help improve its vitality.

Sprinkle seeds in the bare spot (disperse seeds over the rest of the lawn if you want to over-seed and improve the thickness of the lawn). If you prefer sod, cut a portion of the sod to fit the bare area and place on the amended soil.

The Scotts company says to lightly water newly seeded or sodded areas daily for at least two weeks to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist but not soggy. Gradually water more as the seedlings develop and the grass begins to fill in. Deep water at least once or twice a week after the new grass reaches mowing height.

The grass should grow slightly longer than the rest of the lawn, and wait until the color of the patched area begins to blend in with the rest of the lawn before mowing. This could take a few weeks, and the area should be avoided until then.

Eventually, and with treatment, bare spots can be remedied and become indistinguishable from other areas of the lawn.

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Repair bare spots in the lawn - Miami County Republic

Day Results17 / 7-7-42020 Overall 707707 / 251-231-274Win % of Top Pick35.50%Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall35.64%2020 Top Pick in the Money 448-70763.37%Top Selection ITM / CD Spring-Summer: 129-20961.72%Top Selection Win / CD Spring-Summer: 72-20934.45%Key Horses @ CD Spring-Summer:26-11-6-542.31% Win / 84.62% ITMKey Horses in 2020 99-34-23-1534.34% Win / 72.73% ITM

(My son Brad holds his sons, Ford and Jack, so they can see Miss Jacqueline work)

(My daughter, Alex, and me when she lived in New York the city so nice that they named it twice)

(And, my son Will. He used to allow me to tie his tie. Now, hes 6-foot-4 and too tall for me to reach his neck)

There is not a father on this Earth more lucky than me. Maybe some that tie me. But none more lucky.

I have had the blessings of being around and loving three.

Brad, my oldest, lives in Columbus, OH with wife Kate and their two sons Ford and Jack. Brad was recently named the President for ATT-Ohio. A prestigious honor. And, at the age of 35, one of the youngest to ever reach such a honor. My God, how proud I am of that boy.

Alex, my daughter, lives in Nashville, TN with her husband Evan and they have one son John McLean Sharp. Alex works at the Country Music Association and runs her own fashion blog. She lived in NYC for about 3 or 4 years. On her own. She has more guts than anyone I know, and is pure spirit right down to her core. There is no task that she cant tackle; wrestle to the ground. But, then again, she grew up watching Professional Wrestling, even though I told her not. My God, how proud I am of that girl.

Will is my step-son, but I tell everyone that he is mine. Because he is. He is 16 years old, and funny to the bone. He is 6-foot-4 and can play basketball better than I could ever dream. More importantly, though, he is kind, tender-hearted, and loving in his very own way. In todays world, I think he is so very special. He knows how to treat others. Just like the way he wants to be treated. Seems like rare commodities in our world today. Will has them. My God, how proud I am of that boy.

So, you see, on this Fathers Day, I have so many blessings. More than I deserve, to be sure. And, I treasure each. I value all.

Still, at some time today, I will hit my knees and thank my own Dad, who now resides above the clouds so high. He was a tough son-of-a-gun. Earned everything he made in his life with hard work; long hours; callous hands; and hearts commitment. He passed along those traits to his children whether you wanted them or not. It was not a request in his home. It was demanded.

At the time, I truly didnt understand those values. Why they were so important to him. Why they were so important in life. Why it was so important to instill them in us.

Today, I know why.

Today is Fathers Day. No better day to enjoy a day at the races. Maybe soon we can reunite there. Together. That, my friends, would make my day.

Heres a closer look at the card at Churchill Downs on Fathers Day:

1st: 2-4-6/5-3/1The Rock Says (2)will be making the 2020 debut today for a stable that appears to be down-sizing and running some in aggressive spots. This 4YO gelded son of Uncle Mo has run twice on off tracks, and has a win and a second. Has run 3 times over this track and has a win and two seconds. Returns as a beaten favorite, too, and the barn hits with .47% of them. Looks tough if the works help get him ready.Tikhvin (4)drops to the claiming ranks for the first time, too. Barn hits with .20% of those. This one ran in the G1 Arkansas Derby in 2019. High hopes. Has been six races since he hit the board, though. Drop has to help, right?Strike Appeal (6)broke the maiden two back in the slop at the Fair Grounds. Last outing didnt go well, but caught Blackberry Wine in that one. Barn hits with .22% of those getting dropped into the claiming ranks for the first time. Chance.I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then key the 2 over/under all the numbers listed.

2nd: 9-3/4-5The first Baby Race of the day is for the colts (and one filly) and will be contested at 5 furlongs. Looks like a 2-horse race on paper, but, as you know by now, they dont run on paper unless you count polytrack. I give the edge to the outside andAs Required (9).This is the lone filly in the race and I think she may be quicker than the rest. Barn hits with .15% when debuting in the MCL ranks. Dam of this one has produced 3 winners from 3 starters. And, the work here on June 12 was spot on. Better odds, too. To win, though, she will have to beat the guru of 2YO races trainer Wesley Ward and his steedBlues Power (3).This one is already a gelding and is owned by the trainer, too. Dam has produced 1 winner from 1 starter and the jockey has won with 2 of 5 for this barn this meet. Hot work at KEE last out. The one to beat, to be sure.I bet the 9 to win/place/show and then box the 9-3 in one exacta. Solid.

3rd: 1-3-2/5/8-6-4Its hard to beat a Robertino Diodoro horse these days. The barn has won with .22% of 618 starters this year, and the trainer is even better here this meet what with a 5-2-0 mark in just 14 starts. That translates to a win mark of .36%. And, give him a hot horse, too?Summer Revolution (3)won his first start for this barn at this same level last time out by a whopping 7 lengths. Wow. But there could be a possible kink. In 3 starts over an off-track, he has only 1 third to show. So? I give the edge toAbove Board (1),who hails from the Steve Asmussen barn and the man who used to train Summer Revolution. Above Board nearly won against much tougher last time out and now slips back to the $8,000 tag. Asmussen took him off of Diodoro two starts ago for $5,000. He won that day by 12. Sointeresting story developing here, right?I bet the 1 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta. I will key the top 3 over/under the 5 in two softer versions.

4th: 5-7-2/8-1/4-3A wide open affair here, with some breaking ranks and dropping into the lower price categories. I will go with the hot hand and trainer Tom Amoss Seeds of Time (5).This 5YO mare loves the off going, with 2 wins, a second and a third in 4 career starts over that type of surface. Also has a 1-1-1 mark here at Churchill Downs. I toss the last one, and the rider is 4-1-6 in the last 13 mounts for this barn which won a G1 in NY on Saturday. Hot. Hand. Miz Shelton (7)has speed and thats always dangerous. Finds a softer group to tackle today, too. Has a second and third over an off track and has a 1-2-2 mark in 8 starts here.Lexington Grace (2)drops considerably for this one, too. Has never run over an off-track before, but does have some nice back-class for a barn that is looking for the first win of the meet after 15 starts. Does have 4 seconds and a couple of thirds on the resume, though. In too tough of late. Lets see if she likes the dirt.Lady Cleopatra (8)is on a roll right now. Has two wins in the last three starts and 4 wins in 9 over the off going. Got to use, right?I bet the 5-8 across the board take note. I then box the 5-7-2-8 in one exacta hoping to catch some odds. I will keythe 5-8 over/under the 7-2-1-4-3 in two softer versions.

5th: 9-10-1/2-8/7-3-5Another wide open affair, but I land onMoney Well Spent (9).She drops from the MCL $30,000 tag to the $20,000 level today after running 5th last time out. The runner-up in that one came right back to win and this one had some serious traffic issues. With a cleaner trip? Maybe graduation day today.Anniesgoldengirl (10)will be making only the second start and ran a woeful 11th and was beaten 16 lengths in the debut. So, what gives? She was bet down as the favorite off works alone and has come back to work even better. May have not liked the inside position in the debut and got wrapped up on. Look at the odds board for this one to see if the action returns. If it does? Maybe alive.I bet the 9 to win/place/show andthen box the top 3 in the exacta. I will key the 9 over/under the rest of the numbers in twoshorter versions.

6th: 8-(17)-7-3/4-5-6-9/12-11-1The first grass race of the day promises to be intriguing if it stays on the sod. If it comes off, it can be even more so. I go with Brad Coxs steed Dreamalildreamofu (8).Could get a square price, too. Ran well over the grass in the first two of the career. Ran two good ones over the dirt in the last two. Versatile sort should be a forward presence in here, and could get the first jump at the top of the stretch. Rider is winning with .22% of the last 9 mounts for the barn, too. If it comes off the turf, I think you have to consider the MTO entry #17. If not,Evil Lyn (7) and Osaka Girl (3)both warrant a serious look here, too.I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exacta. I will key the 8 over/under all the numbers listed in two smaller units.

7th: 11-1/9-10/2-3-4/7-8-6-5Lanse Mitan (11)gets no favors with the starting gate assignment, but the 3YO son of More Than Ready looks well-placed for this outing. Has hit the board in each of the last 3 and 4 of the last 5 outings. Has a win and three 2nds in that span. Has a nice run over a wet track, too. Has been a different horse since getting the blinkers five races back. My solid pick here.I bet the 11 to win/place/show and then box the 11-1 in one exacta. I will key the 11-1 over/under the 9-10-2-3-4-7-8 in two lesser amounts.

8th: 8-3-4/7/1-5-1A-2C Z Rocket (8)returned to sprinting a couple of starts ago and the flashbulb has gone off again. Super performance last time out, to run off by nearly 5. Probably cant duplicate that effort again, but if the bounce is not too severe he could be spot on again for a barn that wins with .24% of those trying to repeat and does well with reclamation projects like this one. Talent there. Dig deeper in the well.Guest Suite (3)is the type that likes to hit the board and he has done that 16 times out of 27 lifetime tries. Much of that against tougher, too. Has a 2-1-2 mark here, but excels over an off track with 3 wins in 5 starts. If it gets wet? Take a serious look at this guy.Shashashakemeup (4)is a 3YO that looked to be a Triple Crown contender at one time. But poor runs in the G3 Lecomte Stakes and the G2 Risen Star sidelined those dreams and aspirations. Did run very well last time out to win at nearly 50-1 odds. May be back?I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta. I will key the top 3 over/under the 7-1 in two smaller units.

9th: 2/6-7/1-4-8/5-1A-9-11The firstKey Play ofthe Daycomes here withTapit Today (2).This well-bred lady is trained by Chad Brown, and is running in the feature over the sod. Enough written yet? Also ran 3rd to Starship Jubilee in the last outing, too and before that had won 3 of the previous 4. Thats enough.I bet the 2 to win/place and then key the 2 over/under the rest in the exactas.

10th: 3-6-1/8-7-4/10-9-11Backshot (3)ran within a head of Ragtime Blues a highly touted colt in the barn of Bob Baffert and a Stakes contender this weekend just two starts ago. Anything close to that race? Lights out.I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then key the 3 over/under all the numbers listed.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene

View original post here:
Final Version: McLean's Selections for Churchill Downs on Sunday, June 21 -- Pops' Day - The Pressbox

It felt as though she would never arrive. But at long last, summer officially starts today, June 20 at 3:43 pm MDT. After shivering through a particularly nasty February, a very late and chilly spring and the world seemingly on its knees, the arrival of summer couldnt be more welcome.

By now, annuals should be performing well. Dont forget to deadhead (remove spent blooms) to ensure continuous flowering all season long. Regular fertilizing should be maintained. Perennials (plants that come back every year) should be nearing their peak and its a good idea to make note of those that are working well and those that a disappointment so as not to repeat the laggards next year.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Starting a perennial bed from scratch is almost easier than upgrading an existing bed as often times the latter is looking tired, plant material is not performing as you would like and weeds or unwelcome thugs the likes of Creeping Campanula the bane of gardeners, are making their presence felt.

Read the original:
Brooks: Heartfelt welcome to summer and the longest day of the year - Calgary Herald

Shelley Gagnon, Manager of Recreation, Parks and Culture, says one of the biggest differences users will see when they return to facilities is how access is controlled.

Access will be offered through pre-booked, pre-registered, or even designated public access times for example, a designated swimming time, she explained during a noon hour news conference. This is to ensure that we can meet the public health guidelines for indoor gatherings.

Gagnon says users can also expect to see adjusted or reduced operating hours at facilities once they reopen.

Outdoor sports fields in Red Deer are already open for casual use.

City officials continue to work with organized sports groups on what they need in order to offer their respective programs.

These groups book space in our facilities and we anticipate having space available for their use including ice, dry space and pools, by July 6, The City says in a release.

The City will also be offering outdoor fitness programming in early July.

The tentative timeline for amenity openings is as follows:

June 24 Community bookings will open for sports fields, picnic shelters and bookable park spaces including Great Chief Park, Setters Place, Bower Ponds Stage will start. The Lindsay Thurber track and field amenities will also be available for bookings.

Mid-July:

o Collicutt Centre Fitness areas, access to the track and use of the field house will be available for controlled, limited access. The City also expects to have the pool open, primarily for swimming lessons and public swimming.

o G.H. Dawe Community Centre The pool is expected to be open, primarily for swimming lessons and public swimming. The gymnasium will open for controlled, limited access. Fitness areas will not open immediately.

o Michener Aquatic Centre The pool is expected to be available for controlled, limited lane swimming and some aquatic fitness.

The following third party-operated facilities have been given permission to reopen while following all provincial health requirements and guidelines. Users are asked to contact them directly for operating information:

River Bend Golf and Recreation Area Enduro Mountain Bike Park Lions Campground Red Deer Tennis Club Red Deer Pickleball Club Red Deer BMX Bower Ponds Pavilion Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery Kerry Wood Nature Centre Norwegian Laft Hus Heritage Square Cronquist House Fort Normandeau Neighbourhood Activity Centres YMCA Northside Community Centre Great West Adventure Park Heritage Ranch Festival Hall Memorial Centre Edgar Athletic Fields

Spray parks, including Kin Canyon, Discovery Canyon and Blue Grass Sod Farm Central Spray and Play, remain closed while officials look at how they can be reopened while adhering to public health orders and restrictions.

Currently, outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than 100 people, so were working to determine how to manage these restrictions while still providing access and will have more information to share in the coming weeks, Gagnon explains.

Stage 2 of Albertas Relaunch Strategy from the COVID-19 pandemic, which commenced on June 12 after being moved ahead by one week, allows for the reopening of municipal recreation facilities subject to public health guidelines.

However, Mayor Tara Veer says that because the reopening of indoor facilities originally expected for Stage 3, The City needs more time to get staff back in place to operate Red Deers amenities. More than 300 casual staff were either laid off or saw their work interrupted by shutdowns due to COVID-19.

Our absolute goal at The City of Red Deer is to see a return to normal community life as much as possible, Veer said Thursday.

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Red Deer recreation facilities to begin reopening next week - rdnewsnow.com

Steve Soderstrom pitched three games for the Giants in 1996, allowing 16 hits and 11 runs, eight of them earned, in 13 2/3 innings. These numbers are forgettable, at best, but Turlock is not most places, and in Turlock, Steve is a legend. Soderstrom was the first alum of Turlock High to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft (in 1993, after competing collegiately at Fresno State), and when he first touched big-league grass on Sept. 17, 1996, he became the second player from the high school to do so.

Sure, he gave up three hits and five runs in his debut, but he also shared a field with Barry Bonds and Tony Gwynn. His legend wasnt born that night in San Francisco, though; that came years later. By the time he debuted with the Giants, Steve had long considered himself an almond farmer he still does today. His baseball career is the source of fond memories from a different time.

In 2003, his oldest son, Tate, fell in love with the game just like...

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Backyard product: A's top pick Tyler Soderstrom boosted his MLB stock in Turlock - The Athletic

The future home of the UAB Blazers will be outfitted with artificial turf that can have sod laid over it after the BJCC board of directors approved the move at its meeting Friday.

Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority Board Chairman Dennis Lathem noted that the surface is pricier than other options such as grass or hyrbid turf, but he said the type of turf the board went with makes the most sense" because it offers more flexibility.

He did not say how much the playing surface would cost or the types of events that would be played on sod, but the stadium is expected to hold World Games events in 2022 after the festivities were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Construction on the $174 million open-air stadium is on track to be completed by the end of October 2021 with the whole project expected to be finished by November 2021, Lathem said. The Blazers will be moving from Legion Field to Protective Life Stadium.

In other business, the hotels owned by the BJCC -- the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and the Westin Birmingham -- have been severely impacted by COVID-19 with the hotels operating at a nearly $500,000 loss last month combined, the board reported.

The Sheraton, where there are no occupied rooms, lost $195,000 in April and only generated a little more than $8,100 in revenue.

The Westin, which had a 29.1 percent occupancy rate, lost $289,000 in April and had $216,000 in revenue against a $1.26 million budget.

Also at the meeting, which was held at the North Civic Hall and via teleconference because of the pandemic, the board approved a measure that decreases the cost of construction of the Legacy Arena renovation by more than $301,000.

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Protective Life Stadium will have turf with option for sod over artificial surface - AL.com

During a sultry Texas summer, we really appreciate a little shade in the landscape, so a large tree can be a great asset. But we also appreciate a lush, beautiful lawn and turf and trees tolerate each other at best.

Warm-season turfgrass requires a significant amount of sunlight to maintain acceptable growth and density. For best results, a minimum of four to six hours of direct sun is needed, although a bright, dappled shade over the course of the entire day may be enough. Less sun means a progressively thinner, weaker stand of grass.

Among our southern turf species adapted to the Bryan-College Station area, St. Augustine is the most shade tolerant. If a spot is too shady for St. Augustine, it is too shady for any warm-season lawn grass. Zoysiagrass is next, followed by centipedegrass and finally by bermudagrass, which is by far the least shade tolerant.

In a landscape filled with trees, the light intensity the grass receives decreases a little each year as the trees grow larger, blocking more and more of the sun. So, it is no surprise that a shady area where grass once thrived can begin to decline over several years.

Once a lawn begins to thin out from lack of sunlight, other complications likely will arise. Soil structure will be lost as foot traffic creates compaction, reducing water infiltration, aeration and root growth. Weeds often become a problem in these spots, further stressing the remaining grass.

Turfgrass weakened by a lack of sunlight is more susceptible to some disease problems, and lawn care practices that may be fine in sunny areas can exacerbate problems in the shade. A natural response to thinning turf is to water and fertilize more to make it grow faster and fill in better.

Extra watering also is counterproductive, as this can increase some diseases; in fact, grass uses less water in the shade than it does in sun.

The bottom line is that while sunlight, nutrients and moisture are all needed for strong growth and good grass plant health, you cant make up for a lack of sun by adding more of the other two.

If you have a shady spot where the grass is not thriving, here are several tips to help improve your lawn:

Avoid compacting the soil. Reroute the pitter-patter of little feet, both people and pets, until the area fills in. Areas that are already compacted may benefit from mechanical aeration. You can rent a machine or hire a lawn care professional.

Set your mower higher for shady spots. The leaf blades of the grass are its solar panels. More leaf area enables them to capture more light to support new growth. Plus, it makes thin areas look a little thicker than if they are mowed shorter.

Avoid the temptation to over-fertilize. Turf growing in the shade requires less nitrogen, not more. Extra nitrogen results in the plant pushing more leaf growth at the expense of root development. But without solar rays to drive photosynthesis, there isnt the carbohydrate production needed to build a stronger grass plant and to increase turf density.

Avoid the temptation to over-water. As with nutrients, you cant make up for a lack of light with extra water. In fact, heavily shaded areas use only 1/2 to 2/3 as much water. Over-watering also can result in increased disease problems.

Sometimes selective tree trimming by removing some branches around the lower periphery of the tree canopy can help allow a little more light in from the sides. If the shade is not too dense to begin with, this may be somewhat helpful. However, pruning throughout a tree enough to make the turfgrass thrive is generally not recommended since doing enough pruning to make a big difference is detrimental to the trees structure and form. It is also only a temporary fix; the tree will quickly regrow, often creating a denser shade in the long run.

If the shade is marginal and you have taken some of the above steps, planting plugs or sod strips in bare areas can help speed reestablishment of the turf as it tries to fill back in under less than ideal light levels. Otherwise the new plugs will just decline along with the existing turf.

These tips, although helpful, will not guarantee a lush lawn in heavy shade. Lets face it, some spots are just too shady to grow grass. Shady spots can become mulched areas with outdoor seating, or planted with very shade tolerant groundcovers, perennials and shrubs. With a little planning and creative design, these areas can become a beautiful addition to the landscape.

Robert Skip Richter is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulture Agent for Brazos County, 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas 77803. For local gardening information and events, visit brazosmg.com. Gardening questions? Call Skip at 823-0129 or email rrichter@ag.tamu.edu.

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SKIP RICHTER: Grass doesnt have it made in the shade - Bryan-College Station Eagle

NEW YORK (TNS) Gov. Andrew Cuomo invoked the AIDS crisis of the 1980s Friday to encourage the use of masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

During the AIDS crisis, a public health campaign convinced people to practice safe sex and use condoms to stop the spread of HIV, he said.

That could make a difference between life and death, he said.

Its the same idea now with face masks, he said. The mask could make a difference between life and death, Cuomo said.

A state survey showed that about 20% of the public in New York City have tested positive for the Covid-19 antibody, meaning those people had the virus. Just 12% of health-care workers had the antibodies, the same survey showed.

Cuomo said today that shows how masks, handwashing and other protective measures can work.

You dont have a right to infect another person, he said. You dont.

Plus, he said, its a requirement. In mid-April, Cuomo signed an order requiring people to wear masks when in situations where they cant socially distance.

The mask is mandatory in public settings, Cuomo said, such as on public transit, in an Uber, or anytime in public within 6 feet of another person. Not wearing one, he said, is not just a nice thing to do.

LANDSCAPING, HORTICULTURE ESSENTIAL

New York put the landscaping and horticulture businesses on the essential list this week for all safe activities.

The state decision makes official what seems widely in practice already.

These businesses are considered low-risk to spread the coronavirus, the state said. Businesses still must create a plan to reopen safely using guidance from the Non-Food Related Agriculture Summary Guidelines to protect public health.

The state expanded the allowable activities for landscapers to include the care and planting of grasses, sod, plants, shrubs and trees and the mulching, trimming and removal of these items. Horticulture which includes greenhouse operations, nurseries, sod farms and arborists is also allowed.

NEW YORK NUMBERS

Another 109 people died from the coronavirus in the past day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, bringing the total number of reported deaths to 23,192.

Of the 109 deaths, 27 of those people died in nursing homes, Cuomo said today.

This number has been stubborn on its way down, Cuomo said of the steady number of deaths each day in the state.

This week, the daily death toll hovered just above 100. The average over the past five days was 107 deaths every 24 hours.

A month ago, the state was reporting 472 deaths in a day. The high came on April 14, when 800 deaths were reported.

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Cuomo: Face masks could be 'difference between life and death' - Olean Times Herald