MANHATTAN, Kan. We run on it. We play on it. And sometimes we lie down and dream on it. Its easy to take that grass underfoot for granted, especially when temperatures are mild and rains are plentiful. A few steps through the year, however, will help fortify the green carpet we call lawns through tough times, according to Kansas State University horticulturist Ward Upham.

Taking the monthly calendar approach to lawn care for cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue can help make maintaining a healthy lawn seem more manageable through the year, said Upham, who is director of K-State Research and Extensions Horticulture Rapid Response Center. He provided month-by-month reminders for homeowners regarding how to care for a cool-season lawn.

March - Spot treat broadleaf weeds if necessary. Apply the treatment on a day that is 50 degrees or warmer. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, as rain or irrigation within 24 hours of application will reduce the treatments effectiveness.

April - Apply crabgrass preventer in April. If you have redbud trees in your area, take note of when theyre in full bloom. Thats an easy reminder to apply crabgrass preventer. The preventer needs to be watered in before it will start to work. One-quarter inch of water will be enough to water in any of the products mentioned in this calendar. Remember that a good, thick lawn is the best weed prevention and may be all that is needed.

May - Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer if you water your lawn or if you receive enough rainfall that your turf normally doesnt go drought-dormant during the summer. If there are broadleaf weeds, spot treat with a spray or use a fertilizer that includes a weed killer. Rain or irrigation within 24 hours of application will reduce effectiveness of the weed killer, but the fertilizer needs to be watered in. If you are using a product that has both fertilizer and weed killer, wait 24 hours after application before watering in.

June through Mid-July - Apply second round of crabgrass preventer by June 15 unless you have used Dimension (dithiopyr) or Barricade (prodiamine) for the April application. These two products normally provide season-long control with a single application. Remember to water it in. If grubs have been a problem in the past, apply a product containing imidacloprid during the first half of July. This works to prevent grub damage. It must be watered in before it becomes active.

Late-July through August - If you see grub damage, apply a grub killer that contains Dylox. Imidacloprid is effective against young grubs and may not be effective on late instar grubs. The grub killer containing Dylox must be watered in within 24 hours or effectiveness drops.

September - Fertilize around Labor Day. This is the most important fertilization of the year. Water in the fertilizer.

November - Fertilize. This fertilizer is taken up by the roots, but is not used until the following spring. Water in the fertilizer. Spray for broadleaf weeds even if they are small. Broadleaf weeds are much easier to control in the fall than in the spring. Spray on a day that is at least 50 degrees. Rain or irrigation within 24 hours reduces the effectiveness. Use label rates for all products.

Remember, Upham said, these recommendations are for cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. Warm season grasses, such as zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and buffalograss require a different maintenance regime.

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Lawn care through the year

By JASMINE BARBERFeb. 17, 2014, 9 p.m.

State-of-the-art travelling facility launched

THE lawn outside the Mount Isa Civic Centre was a hive of activity yesterday for the launch of one of the most innovative health care clinics in the country.

The $5 million Indigenous Diabetes Eyes and Screening project is a travelling van that will return to Mount Isa every four-and-a-half weeks to offer optometry and ophthalmological services to indigenous and non-indigenous residents.

The launch attracted hundreds of community members, including Deadly Choices Ambassador and rugby league legend Scott Prince.

Mr Prince said he was impressed by the travelling facilities and encouraged the indigenous community of his home town to take advantage of the state-of-the-art equipment.

``Being a home-town boy I think it is just great that I can get back out here and help promote healthy lifestyle, getting the check-ups, and just really reinforce how important it is to have a healthy lifestyle,'' he said.

Executive director of Diamond Jubilee Partnerships Lyndall De Marco was on board the IDEAS van for the inaugural trip to Mount Isa and said residents of Mount Isa would no longer be disadvantaged by distance to receive the best treatment in eye care.

``This is about bringing the best facilities in Australia to Mount Isa for eye treatment,'' she said.

``When you bring this sort of equipment and this sort of expertise to Mount Isa, this is closing the gap like you never believe.''

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Innovative IDEAS

TurfSigns.com - BandIt Signs - Lawn Of The Month / Lawn In Progress - UglyWeeds
Affordable, Attractive Lawn Treatment Signs From Turfsigns Posting Signs Chemical Application Signs Custom Lawn Signs Weatherproof Signs Turf Signs -- Inno...

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TurfSigns.com - BandIt Signs - Lawn Of The Month / Lawn In Progress - UglyWeeds - Video

By KATE BURKEFeb. 13, 2014, midnight

LAWN grubs have been a hot topic of discussion among Bathurst's gardening enthusiasts, as the pests have been responsible for destroying some beautiful lawns in recent weeks.

LAWN grubs have been a hot topic of discussion among Bathurst's gardening enthusiasts, as the pests have been responsible for destroying some beautiful lawns in recent weeks.

Bathurst Gardeners' Club president Peter Varman said he had received a number of calls from concerned residents whose lawns had been infested by the grubs.

Mr Varman said the grubs in question were the larvae of the Black Lawn Beetle.

"The black beetle lays its eggs into the ground, and as the larvae grow they eat the roots," he said. "When they eat the roots of the grass, the grass dies."

Mr Varman said that the best way to determine if you had a problem with the lawn grubs was to closely examine any dead patches of grass that appeared.

"One of the things that will really show the problem is if you grab the top of the grass and pull," he said. "If it comes off easy, there is something wrong."

Mr Varman noted that a common mistake was for people to simply attribute dead patches of grass to the dry and hot conditions.

"I've had a couple of calls from people saying that patches of their grass have gone brown, and they think it is because they are not putting enough water on it."

Originally posted here:
Lawn grubs menacing Bathurst gardeners

Kennewick, WA (PRWEB) February 13, 2014

Spring is fast approaching and it is important for homeowners to prepare their yards and trees for the warmer weather. Fortunately, with the proper assistance, this can be done by performing any or all of the following recommendations.

First, lawn core aeration is an important treatment for thatch accumulation and for promoting overall lawn health by giving roots and soil access to air, water and fertilization. It is the best way to reduce a thatch problem by removing plugs of soil, roots, shoots and grass plants. The core is then deposited on to the surface of the lawn and leaves room for air, water and seeds. During the winter, many lawns are susceptible to snow mold which can destroy the grass resulting in a thinning turf.

Another important part of yard care is restarting the sprinkler or irrigation system. Senske advises that homeowners hire a professional technician to restart in-ground irrigation systems if there are concerns after a very cold winter. This could be the key to avoiding any unnecessary and costly repairs as a result of a broken pipe.

In addition, it is also important for homeowners to take the time to clean up yard debris, remove broken branches, or rake up dead leaves. This will allow for new growth and prevent lawn problems when the warmer weather arrives.

Senske has experienced and licensed professional technicians to assist in aeration and irrigation. For more information on preparing yards for spring, visit Senske Services for a free estimate.

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Senske Services Releases Its Top Tips for Loving Your Lawn in Preparation for Spring Time

BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Religion Reporter February 11, 2014 8:47PM

Leena Suleiman wears a knit hat and scarf, which cover her hijab a head scarf worn by Muslim women on Tuesday. She found that non-Muslims were friendlier to her when they couldn't see the hijab. | Chandler West/For Sun-Times Media

storyidforme: 61955208 tmspicid: 22368044 fileheaderid: 10678287

Updated: February 12, 2014 2:22AM

A Muslim womans effort to deal with Chicagos brutal cold by covering her head with warm winter gear inadvertently concealing her hijab produced unanticipated and thought-provoking results.

Leena Suleimans online posting about her experience which included suddenly getting more friendly treatment from non-Muslims and getting the cold shoulder by members of her faith was among the top stories Monday morning on website Reddit.coms TrueReddit and Chicago Reddit.

I didnt understand what was happening at first, Suleiman, 25, who works as an architectural designer downtown, said in a post titled I Took Off My Hijab, on her blog, Facetruth, at http://bit.ly/1lza4tH.

Non-Muslim people started talking to me more. Women would speak to me like I knew them since forever. Men looked at me like I was actually approachable. And I was made to feel like I was actually from this planet, she wrote.

Meanwhile, Muslim taxi drivers, who previously typically greeted her warmly and on occasion wouldnt even let her pay, were far less friendly.

Im used to going in [taxis] with my hijab showing, and immediately theyre smiling and asking me where Im from . . . if Im single, she said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. If its an older man, hes very fatherly, very nice . . . we have like a full conversation.

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Muslim woman says people friendlier when hat, scarf cover hijab

Cumming, GA (PRWEB) February 10, 2014

WinLAWN Management, a leading weed control & fertilization lawn care company, is proud to announce the opening of a new operations facility near downtown Cumming, Georgia. The new location is located at 145 Enterprise Dr St E, Cumming GA 30040 and will serve as a home base for employees and technicians to operate out of. WinLAWN is a leading lawn service company providing customers with weed control, fertilizing, aeration, overseeding, pest control, fire ant control, fungicide treatments and much more to customers in dozens of north Georgia towns. We now offer services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Buckhead, Buford, Canton, Cumming, Duluth, Dunwoody, Holly Springs, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Norcross, Marietta, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Suwanee, and Woodstock.

"We are very proud to open a new operations facility to better service our growing base of customers in Georgia," said WinLAWN CEO and founder Bill Bramble. "We also plan to open another operations facility in Alpharetta by the end of the year and will be looking to hire lawn service technicians and other employees to better service our customers."

WinLAWN is keenly focused on providing out customers with industry-leading weed control and fertilizing services. Our core programs consists of a yearly cycle of 7 treatments for lawns, trees, and shrubs. To commemorate the opening of the new operations facility, WinLAWN also announced a new seasonal promotion for all new customers who will receive 50% off their first lawn treatment application. Customers can also receive 10% off any lawn overseeding or aeration service.

For more information, please visit: http://www.WinLAWN.com.

About WinLAWN Management:

WinLAWN is a leading lawn services company providing customers with a full suite of lawn care services including weed control, fertilization, aeration, overseeding, pest control, fire ant control, fungicide treatments, and much more. We currently operate in Atlanta, Buckhead, Buford, Canton, Cumming, Duluth, Dunwoody, Holly Springs, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Norcross, Marietta, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Suwanee, and Woodstock. Customers can reach WinLAWN by calling 678-341-9923.

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WinLAWN Announces Opening of New Operations Facility in Cumming, GA - Weed Control & Fertilization Company Continues ...

THINKSTOCK

(CNN) Laura Kassem had tripped before. But this time, she fell hard. She couldnt seem to control her body as she went down, even to protect her face from hitting the concrete sidewalk.

It happened again the next day as she stepped off an escalator. Then again in the parking garage on Monday when she went to work.

I had no idea what was going on, the 33-year-old remembers. I had no idea why I would just drop all of a sudden.

The third time, she went to the emergency room, where a neurologist ordered an MRI and a cardiologist performed a tilt test normally done on patients who faint because of a sudden drop in blood pressure.

The tests revealed nothing. Doctors sent Kassem home with instructions to drink more water.

Kassem continued to trip over nothing. So she went to the Cleveland Clinic, where she says her symptoms baffled doctors in the rheumatology, cardiology and neurology departments.

Back home in Sylvania, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo, Kassem made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon to address the extreme pain in her hips and lower back. He sent her to a neurosurgeon, who in turn sent her to see a neurologist who specialized in neuromuscular disorders.

Meanwhile, Kassem tried to avoid open spaces. She hugged walls so that if her body froze up, she wouldnt fall flat on her face. She already had a few loose teeth, and her nose was a mix of blue and purple.

One night, Kassem and her sister were watching 20/20 when the woman being interviewed began describing Kassems symptoms. The woman had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, or SPS, a rare neurological disorder characterized by painful muscle spasms and progressive stiffness in the lower back and limbs.

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Living with Stiff Person Syndrome: Im a statue for your lawn

A construction worker steps over a puddle in a lot being prepared to be turned into a grassy lawn next to a newly built hotel across from the Olympic Park at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. It's not a great time to be a journalist in Sochi. Hotels are a mess with broken furniture, stray dogs and construction workers. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

David Goldman, Associated Press

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Its not a great time to be a journalist in Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Olympic Games.

Its frigid. Hotels are a mess with broken furniture, stray dogs and construction workers. Theres no hot water.

But journalists arent staying quiet about it. Recently, reporters covering the Olympics and in town for the Winter Games posted some of their tales on Twitter, tweeting out their misery, confusion and displeasure with how Sochis Olympics have been handled, The Washington Post reported.

Various journalists tweeted about the lack of Internet, water main breaks and a bathroom that asked the rooms guest not to flush the toilet, The Post reported.

Amid continued debate over whether or not Sochi is prepared to host the 2014 Olympics, which begins Thursday, reporters from around the world are starting to check into local hotels to their apparent grief," The Post said.

A New York Times reporter chronicled his journey in Sochi, saying that Sochis buildings are numbered and without names. Theres a lot of construction, and stray dogs are strolling through the streets, he wrote.

So far, the inconveniences have mostly affected the news media, perhaps the least sympathetic of the participants here. But the parents of athletes are on the way, and there is some trepidation among Olympic officials that outrage will flow if these people receive the no-hot-water treatment. Or if their hotel rooms are not ready.

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Stray dogs, broken curtains and no hot water: Journalists speak out about Sochi conditions

A vehicle driven by Gary Swann, no age listed, of 134 N. Lincoln St. was traveling west on East Broad Street when it crossed North Railroad Street and struck a tree at 1:08 p.m. Monday, police said.

Swawn and a passenger, Thomas Martinez, no age listed, same address, were transported by Life Lion EMS to the Hershey Medical Center, where Swann was listed in fair condition Tuesday, and Martinez was released after treatment, a hospital spokeswoman said. The vehicle was towed.

Automatic alarm >> Palmyra Citizens and Campelltown fire companies were dispatched at 6:43 p.m. Tuesday to Palmyra Nursing Home, 341 N. Railroad St.

WIRE DOWN >> Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched to 100 N. Chestnut St. at 5:27 a.m. Wednesday.

TREE DOWN >> Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched to 159 N. College St. at 10:01 a.m. Wednesday.

TREE DOWN >> Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched to 605 N. Lincoln St. at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday.

poles, wires damaged >> Prescott Community Fire Co. was dispatched at 5:44 p.m. Tuesday to Prescott Road and East Cumberland Street.

WIRE DOWN >> Avon Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched to 2020 Leinbaugh Ave. at 7:02 a.m. Wednesday.

WIRE DOWN >> Hebron Fire Co. was dispatched to 12 Folmer St. at 7:39 a.m. Wednesday.

TREE DOWN >> Campbelltown Fire Co. was dispatched to 2108 Brandt Road at 7:44 a.m. Wednesday.

Link:
Police blotter, 2/6