Portland, ME (PRWEB) July 22, 2014

WorkBoat, the leading provider of news for the U.S. workboat market, has launched a one-day Regional Summit in Alabama in the heart of the Gulf of Mexico shipyard industry that will tackle challenges facing the industry.

The Regional Summit, The Changing Landscape of Shipyards, will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club, & Spa in Point Clear. Topics to be covered include:

The Changing Face of Personnel With the advancements in technology, the landscape of the shipyard workforce is changing. Will a more specialized workforce be necessary in the future? Will companies such as Siemens and Rolls-Royce alleviate the personnel crunch some by using their own technicians? How are personnel challenges different for smaller yards as compared to larger ones?

State of the Industry in the Gulf Aside from the personnel problem, what other challenges face yard owners? Is the traditional shipyard becoming more of an erection yard, with specialized systems integrators doing more of the technical work?

Financing the Future Whether your company is a small business or big publicly traded company, capital is the engine that drives it. Where that capital comes from is one of the questions that this discussion will seek to answer. This panel of finance experts will help understand the state of the commercial marine finance marketplace, answer questions and help find solutions to the problems.

Registration for the Summit at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club, & Spa in Point Clear, Ala., is available at: http://www.workboat.com/regional-summit-alabama.aspx. Advance Registration is $425. Onsite registration is $495.

The Changing Landscape of Shipyards Point Clear, Alabama Tuesday, September 16, 2014 8:00 am 4:15 pm Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club, & Spa

More information can be found here: http://www.workboat.com/regional-summit-alabama.aspx.

About WorkBoat WorkBoat is part of the Diversified Business Communications portfolio of commercial marine events, publications and e-media products. The WorkBoat brand has been connecting qualified buyers with leading suppliers for more than 45 years. In print through WorkBoat magazine, online at WorkBoat.com, face-to-face at the International WorkBoat Show and through education with the Professional Series, WorkBoat delivers high quality information to all segments of the marine industry in North America. For more information, visit http://www.workboat.com.

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WorkBoat Launches One-Day Shipyard Conference in Alabama

Q: You toured two beautiful gardens in Roswell, New Mexico in the PBS program. One had a beautiful green "lawn" that did not need to be mowed. Sedum of some kind, I guess. Would such a lawn work here in the northeast heights in Albuquerque? I have converted the dichondra that I had in my courtyard to ice plant. Like dichondra, there is a period where it is ugly and brown, but at least the ice plant takes less water. I would love to have a lawn that required no attention.

Betty H.

A: The lawn you saw on the PBS "Southwest Yard and Garden" program taped in Roswell was a sedum lawn. The gardener was growing mostly dragon's blood sedum. These have large flat leaves and red flowers. In some varieties the leaves can turn reddish or purple in the winter. This characteristic can be used to a gardener's advantage. By grouping plants in drifts of differing colors, the gardener can have interesting winter patterns and color in the lawn instead of the traditional tan color of dormant grasses. Some sedum plants have cylindrical leaves. These plants will lend different textures to the landscape. Some have gray leaves, some have green leaves. They look somewhat like iceplant with which they may be mixed to provide additional summer flowering and to conceal the winter dieback of the iceplants. As you mentioned, in the winter, the iceplant is more likely to die back somewhat and leave "holes" in the landscape. If you choose to add iceplants to the landscape, choose their location carefully to minimize the blotchy look while they have died back until they resume growth and flowering in the spring.

Both sedum and iceplant are succulents and may need little irrigation. Harvested water running off the roof into the landscape may provide much of the water that they need. Be sure that the soil is well-drained to avoid development of diseases in these succulent plants. Be prepared to irrigate during periods of prolonged drought, even in the winter. If there is no precipitation for 1 to 2 months, irrigate to keep the plants hydrated. In the winter, drought for 2 months may indicate that iceplant needs a little irrigation. The sedum plants may not need irrigation unless the drought is even longer.

Because these plants are succulents, they will not withstand foot traffic. Properly placed flagstones or other pavers will be needed to allow access across the areas of sedum and to allow access for removing weeds (yes, weeds will grow through them).

There are other low-growing groundcover plants that may be used to provide a lawn-like look. These include germander, English ivy, prostrate junipers and other low-growing, spreading plants. However, most of these will require more irrigation than sedum plants and many will not provide the flowers and color that sedum can supply.

None of these plants can replace lawn grasses when foot traffic or heavy use is required of the landscape. Choose the appropriate plant for your intended purpose.

Send your gardening questions to Yard and Garden, Attn: Dr. Curtis Smith, NMSU Agricultural Science Center, 1036 Miller Rd. SW, Los Lunas, NM 87031. You may also send to cwsmith@nmsu.edu or leave a message at https://www.facebook.com/NMSUExtExpStnPubs. Curtis W. Smith, Ph.D., is an Extension Horticulture Specialist emeritus with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

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Yard & Garden: Sedum can make beautiful, easily maintained lawns

Ripping out the front lawn and its bordering rhododendrons and replacing them with a landscape of native grasses, groundcovers, succulents and rocks once seemed an unfathomable act of defiance. No longer.

As many parts of the United States grapple with drought and rising water bills, The thought of an English garden in the Central Valley of California is sheer madness. It wasnt meant to be, and its sucking up precious groundwater we need for agriculture, said Ann Savageau, a design professor at the University of California at Davis, who recently traded in her lush green lawns for a desert look.

Instead of scoffing, neighbors stopped to ask her landscaper for his business card. Other California towns, including Sacramento and Menlo Park, have begun offering rebates to homeowners who remove their lawns.

Gardeners nationwide are feeling the effects of climate change. In the East, and other areas where heavy downpours have become more intense, a sustainable garden might include native grasses and other plants that do well in heavy rain and the dry weather that can follow.

Awareness is changing in a way that is here to stay, said Brian Sullivan, a vice president for landscapes at The New York Botanical Garden. Yard by yard, region by region, the overall environmental impact of this trend, which I think is very positive, is substantial.

Mowing and watering a traditional lawn requires a lot of time, money, water and fertilizers. Increasingly, many home gardeners want to focus instead on edible gardens, and rethink the rest of their landscaping in a more environmentally sustainable and low-maintenance way.

Its sometimes hard to know where to begin, however, and few people have the funds or time to tackle a total garden makeover all at once.

Some strategies:

Take it in steps

Transitions should be made at your own pace and you do these things in small steps, Sullivan said. Lawn has utility. We play on it, sing on it and look at it. You can still enjoy your lawn, but cut it down by a third or half, or go with groundcovers you can walk on. Theyre not the same, but its about shifting expectations.

Continued here:
Going sustainable

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Front Yard Infographic

Having trouble remembering the width of a driveway gate? Not sure how much space you need for parking? Wondering how wide to make your front walkway? Find all these dimensions and more on this handy infographic featuring common front yard elements.

Front Yard Dimensions (PDF)

Traditionally, front yards serve two main purposes: providing an entrance to your home and creating curb appeal. A well-designed front yard landscape, with appropriately sized and placed elements, will indeed increase the curb appeal of your home. The landscaping should put your home on display by complementing its architecture and welcoming visitors.

Landscaping options for enhancing the front of the home abound. You can choose a formal look with a courtyard circling a fountain. Or you can go more natural, with a meandering pathway lined with native plants. You can even create a private space for outdoor entertaining. Whatever you decide, be sure to spend plenty of time determining the look you want and planning how to achieve it. With the help of a landscaping designer to guide you, you'll be sure to get a front yard landscape you love.

Get these tipsIn this section, you'll find tips from landscaping professionals on:

Is your front yard overgrown? Do you dread mowing your large lawn? Are you wishing that your home had more curb appeal? Sounds like it's time for a front yard makeover. With creative landscaping ideas, front yards can be more than just a pathway and some plants.

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Front Yard Landscaping Ideas - Landscaping Network

To the editor:

I own a local contracting landscape company, requiring me and my staff to frequent the Glenmore dump often.

On a recent trip to the dump with the clippings from a job-site, I was shocked to see the RCMP had a man with a pickup truck and trailer pulled over to the side of the road near the entrance.

I entered the line up to go in, and was waiting along with everyone else, when another man with a pickup truck and trailer was pulled over on his way out of the dump.

So, I watched as the police questioned the man driving. It was apparent that an argument was occurring with waving of arms.

The mans passenger was ordered out of the vehicle and the police called for assistance. Within seconds a second police cruiser pulled up with sirens blazing. Another minute passed and a third cruiser came, again sirens blazing.

As you can imagine, quite the show for the people waiting in line to go into the dump.

As I was unloading my trailer, the man that had been pulled over at the entrance came beside me. He told me that the police had pulled him over because his brake light didnt come on. Upon investigation, he wiggled the wire at the back, and behold, there was light. Lucky him.

My thoughts went back to the man leaving the dump. Were his lights not working?

This man, as it turned out, got angry and defiant. Not a great idea to do when confronted by our valued RCMP, but understandable.

Continue reading here:
Letter: Police nab yard workers at landfill bottleneck

Published on July 15, 2014

Sustainable gardening: how to get started with rocks, native grasses

Ripping out the front lawn and its bordering rhododendrons and replacing them with a landscape of native grasses, groundcovers, succulents and rocks once seemed an unfathomable act of defiance. No longer.

As many parts of the United States grapple with drought and rising water bills, "The thought of an English garden in the Central Valley of California is sheer madness. It wasn't meant to be, and it's sucking up precious groundwater we need for agriculture," said Ann Savageau, a design professor at the University of California at Davis, who recently traded in her lush green lawns for a desert look.

Instead of scoffing, neighbours stopped to ask her landscaper for his business card. Other California towns, including Sacramento and Menlo Park, have begun offering rebates to homeowners who remove their lawns.

Gardeners nationwide are feeling the effects of climate change. In the East, and other areas where heavy downpours have become more intense, a sustainable garden might include native grasses and other plants that do well in heavy rain and the dry weather that can follow.

"Awareness is changing in a way that is here to stay," said Brian Sullivan, a vice-president for landscapes at The New York Botanical Garden. "Yard by yard, region by region, the overall environmental impact of this trend, which I think is very positive, is substantial."

Mowing and watering a traditional lawn requires a lot of time, money, water and fertilizers. Increasingly, many home gardeners want to focus instead on edible gardens, and rethink the rest of their landscaping in a more environmentally sustainable and low-maintenance way.

It's sometimes hard to know where to begin, however, and few people have the funds or time to tackle a total garden makeover all at once.

Some strategies:

Read more:
Sustainable gardening: how to get started with rocks, native grasses

Chantilly, VA (PRWEB) July 14, 2014

Saunders Landscape Supply, located in Chantilly, Virginia, wants to remind homeowners this season about the benefits of lawn renovations and landscaping before the fall season starts.

In the past 12 months, roughly 164 million people have gardened or performed some sort of yard work on their homes, and Saunders wants to make sure that everyone gets their property prepared for the fall and winter months so that they can enjoy their outdoor view next spring.

Various materials, along with a mix of different wood, are used to make mulch. Mulch is used to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, suppress weed growth, and for aesthetic appearances. Saunders Landscape Supply recommends mulching when the soil temperatures have risen enough that the ground has settled, which is usually in late summer or early fall.

The company offers organic topsoil, which is a mix of compost and topsoil. The topsoil provides ample space for grass to grow, while the compost provides it with nutrients. Saunders recommends at least a one inch thickness of mulch for planting grass. One cubic yard of topsoil, also supplied by the company, can cover about 300 square feet at a one inch thickness. Because the soil is easily spreadable, homeowners have the option to easily and affordably plant grass.

"The best time to renovate your lawn is during the early fall because any grass seed that is planted will have 10 months to germinate before the hot months of July and August," said Donald Saunders Jr., President of Saunders Landscape Supply.

By laying new grass seed in the late summer or early fall, customers will benefit from the new grass having time to germinate and grow to its full potential the following spring.

"Some homeowners will conduct a core aeration, and this helps relieve the compaction in the soil. This is typically completed by a machine that penetrates the soil by two inches," explained Saunders. "By relieving the compaction in the soil, the roots of grass can more easily expand and grow, and this makes way for a healthier, thicker lawn."

Saunders Landscape Supply has served residents of Virginia and Maryland since it was founded in 1994, and provides the materials that homeowners need for any lawn renovation or maintenance plan. The business is located at 14016 Sullyfield Circle in Chantilly, VA. For more information, call 703-764-4831, email marketing (at) saundersls (dot) com or visit saundersls.com.

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Saunders Landscape Supply Talks Benefits of Lawn Maintenance This Summer

Two men were arrested for allegedly stealing landscape equipment from maintenance crews, Roseville police said Saturday.

Shafeeq Jamal Purdy, 32, and Christopher Darnell Ross, 20, were taken into custody in connection with the thefts Friday, officials said.

Roseville police were looking into a recent increase in thefts from landscape maintenance crews and were on a stakeout just before 11 a.m. on Friday on Park Regency Drive.

Officers said they saw a vehicle cruising slowly through the neighborhood and watched two people get out of the vehicle and take tools from a landscaper's trailer.

The officers stopped the vehicle and detained the driver on Junction Boulevard, but the passenger got out of the vehicle and ran away. He apparently jumped over a retaining wall and through yards in the neighborhood before officers found him in a yard on the 1800 block of Grouse Run Circle, police said.

The stolen property was recovered and returned to the victim.

According to police, Purdy and Ross were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy and possession of burglar's tools. Purdy also faces charges ofdelaying or obstructing police officers.

Excerpt from:
Roseville PD: 2 arrested for stealing landscape equipment

As I look at many lawn and landscape problems in the summer, it occurs to me that many of these are the result of poor plant selection and poor planting techniques. Although now is not a great time to be planting, it is a great time to review the proper steps to avoid plant stress and later problems.

To plant right it is important to know the conditions in your yard and how you use that information. Identify the areas with sun and shade. Take soil tests to determine soil pH.

Test soil drainage by digging a hole 18 to 24 inches deep. Fill the hole with water and let it sit overnight. Refill hole to within a few inches of the top. Use a ruler or measuring stick to determine the drainage over time. If soil drains less than one-half inch per hour it is poorly drained. Choose plants tolerant of wet conditions. If the water drops between one-half inch and 1 inch per hour, the soil is moderately drained and most plants including some tolerant of wet conditions will do well. If the water drops more than 1 inch per hour drainage is great and most plants can be used except for those suited for wet conditions.

If you have an existing landscape, determine if there are problems with any plants. Take a look at the lawn. This is usually the highest maintenance area of a landscape. Determine how much lawn you really need. Locate areas for privacy, play and work.

Next choose the right plants for the right place. Grasses grow best in full sun. Choose drought-tolerant plants if soils are moderately to well drained. Think about how plants will look once they grow to mature size not how they look when planted and give them the appropriate space.

Avoid plants that have problems if you are looking for a successful long-lived landscape. Bradford pears may split in 10 to 15 years due to their growth habit. Japanese hollies and boxwoods dont do well in poorly drained soil. Red maples planted as lawn trees in well-drained soils decline when attacked by gloomy scales. Leyland cypress is easily destroyed by bagworms. Azaleas are damaged by lace bugs. This list can go on and on.

When planting make sure to give plants a good start. Planting in groupings works well. Prepare the soil by tilling. Add 2 to 4 inches of compost, then till again. If trees are not in groupings or planting beds, do not mix anything with the soil on the site. What comes out of the hole goes back in. Do not plant deep. Dig holes no deeper than the root ball and at least three times the width in unprepared soil. In fact, it is better to plant shrubs with 1 to 2 inches of the root ball above ground and trees with 2 to 4 inches of the root ball above ground. Pull soil up to the edge to cover the sides but not the top of the root ball. Make sure to loosen roots of container-grown plants or score the root ball with a knife to promote root branching. If plants come with burlap and wire basket, remove as much of both as possible after they are in the hole and steady.

Mulch correctly after planting. Two to 4 inches of organic mulch is a good thing around trees and shrubs. Pull it up to the edge of the root ball. Less is needed around perennials and annuals. Do not pile mulch against the trunks of any plant. As trees grow, widen the mulched area underneath them to ensure good growth and prevent tree/grass problems.

If you have questions about your garden, lawn or landscape, give the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers a call at 902-1705 or email pittcomgv@hotmail.com.

Danny Lauderdale is an agricultural extension agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-Pitt County.

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Lauderdale: Plant right for success

Your landscape is very much like your home's interior decor.

It grows old, sometimes tattered and torn, and needs updating from time to time. Sometimes, plantings need to be completely torn out and totally replaced. Sometimes, old porches, patios and decks just don't work any longer.

Landscape design classes typically teach that a landscape lasts for 10 to 15 years before it needs at least a partial redo. Sometimes, it's best to just start over from scratch and get the look you've always wanted and never achieved because there was never enough advance planning and an overall plan.

Landscape designers agree.

"When I started my business 21 years ago, there was a housing boom in Williamsburg, Va., and the bulk of my business was landscapes for new construction," says Peggy Krapf of Heart's Ease Landscape & Garden Design, http://www.HeartsEaseLandscape.com, and a certified designer through the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, http://www.vsld.org.

"As time passed, it has now become primarily renovating old, existing landscapes."

Most landscapes need renovation for one of the following reasons, according to Krapf:

Poor initial design, which becomes more obvious as years progress (wrong plants in wrong places).

Bad workmanship and poorly chosen hardscaping/materials that don't stand the test of time.

Old age of plants and bad or improper regular pruning through the years.

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Landscapes need renovating just like homes