Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Rhododendron Blue Peter. Picture by ULF Eliasson

GARDENING

MOSS. Isnt it just a pain in the grass?

It creeps up on you and, almost before you know it, you appear to have a moss lawn.

Richard Day wrote asking my advice about his lawn at Magdalen Crescent, Cowes, which is suffering from the green invader.

He had the lawn replaced four years ago, first noticed some moss on it around a year ago and then, this autumn, it had become half moss, half grass.

"Unfortunately, the lawn is overshadowed by a large leylandii hedge and is very wet in the winter," he told me.

"I have looked on the internet but there appears to be conflicting ideas on how to deal with the moss. One is to replace it with artificial turf!"

I am afraid moss is an inevitable consequence of shade and moisture and the acidity from the leylandii hedge will give it a boost too.

If I was the sort of gardener who wanted a billiard table surface, I would consider myself plagued with the stuff because my lawn is probably more shaded than Richards, situated as it is beneath a canopy of oaks.

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Spring is just twenty days away. Even though Old Man Winter keeps hanging on; dont be fooled. Spring will arrive. When it does, I plan to be ready. My first proactive action is to attack crabgrass. (It really makes me crabby.) I love a beautiful lawn so I will be ready in plenty of time to prevent most of those ugly, grassy nuisances from every showing their faces in my presence. (I told you it makes me crabby.)

If your lawn was damaged this past summer chances are that there is open ground ripe for crabgrass. Even the best of lawns may have an invasion along the driveway and sidewalks. So, when, where and what should be done?

Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in the spring and dies with the frost in the fall. Hot, dry environments, like Kansas summers, encourage crabgrass because cool-season lawns are struggling at that time. Crabgrass will often take over if the lawn is not well taken care of. A healthful lawn is always the best weed preventer.

There are two chemical methods to control crabgrass: pre-emergence (before it appears or slightly after), and post-emergence (after it appears).

Pre-emergence products dont actually keep the seed from germinating; instead just after germination the new plant absorbs the chemical from the soil and dies. With few exceptions, most crabgrass preventers will have no effect on existing crabgrass plants. Crabgrass germinates when the soil reaches 55 degrees or warmer for 3-5 days at the inch level. This happens typically around May 1 so April 15 is a good date to shoot for if a spring application of product is made. Note: not all spring weather cooperates with gardeners. A good indicator for timing product application is to watch the Eastern Red Bud trees; when they begin to reach full bloom its time to apply crabgrass preventer.

Dimension and Barricade are the only two products that will give season-long control of crabgrass from a single application. In fact, they can be applied much earlier than April 15. Dimension can be applied as early as March 1 and Barricade can be applied in the fall. Both will retain their effectiveness. Because of the way these products work (killing seed as it germinates) new grass seed cannot be planted during the same season.

If you need to plant grass seed in the spring (fall is the better time) here are a couple options:

i. Tupersan can be applied while seeding. It will allow the grass seed to germinate while preventing crabgrass and various other weeds. The drawback is that it must be reapplied in 8 weeks and is not overly effective as a weed preventer.

ii. I prefer allowing grass seed to germinate and two weeks after it emerges from the soil applying Dimension. Dimension is one of the rule breakers because it can kill crabgrass at germination and in its very young stage (2-3 leaves). Dimension is also the best choice when treating a lawn that was planted last fall. It is kind to young tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass seedlings.

Note: Products that contain Dimension and Barricade may use the common name rather than the trade name. The common chemical name for Dimension is dithiopyr. A product with this in it is Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper by Hi-Yield. The common chemical name for Barricade is prodiamine. This is found more often in a weed and feed product like Fertilomes All Seasons Lawn Food + Crabgrass Preventer. (It is best for your lawns health to apply preventers in April and fertilizers in May so using Barricade in the fall is a good idea.)

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Jamie Hancock: Get mean now in battling crabgrass

Rough assignment: Volunteers to sleep in youth hostel car park to raise cash for YMCA housing project

6:30pm Friday 28th February 2014 in News By David Trayner

VOLUNTEERS are set to brave the cold when they sleep rough tomorrow night to help keep young people off the streets.

At least 90 people, including staff from Leigh Waitrose, construction firm HW Wilson, mental health charity the Richmond Fellowship, Southend Council and South Essex Homes, will raise money for Southend YMCA by sleeping in the charitys car park, in Ambleside Drive.

Two Echo reporters David Trayner and Philip Jones will join the fundraising event.

Organiser Tom Moulton said: We are really touched with how many people are supporting us.

We may even have 100 people sleeping rough. Thats the number we wanted to reach.

Its going to be interesting how we all squeeze into the car park!

Participants, who can bring a sleeping bag and bedding, will be given cardboard boxes to build a shelter to protect them as they bed down on the tarmac for the night.

Gazebos will provide cover as rain is forecast, but volunteers will be expected to brave the wind and cold.

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Rough assignment: Volunteers to sleep in youth hostel car park to raise cash for YMCA housing project

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Feb. 28, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina senior Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship) and junior Alexa Anthony (equitation over fences) were named SEC Riders of the Month for February, it was announced today. This is Letchworth's second SEC Rider of the Month honor this season and third of her career, while Anthony claims her first SEC Rider of the Month honor, becoming the sixth Gamecock all-time to earn the recognition.

"This is a great recognition for both Johnna and Alexa and we're all very proud of them," South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. "February was a tough month for us on the schedule with two conference meets and two road meets, but we rode very well in all of those meets and were able to win them all, so it's certainly nice to see Alexa and Johnna get recognized.

In winning her first ever SEC Rider of the Month honor, Anthony went 3-0 with three MVP honors during the month of February in equitation over fences, all against top-10 opponents. Two of her wins and two of her MVP honors came on the road. In each of her rides during February, her scores were the highest jumping scores of those particular meets.

While earning her third career SEC Rider of the Month honor, Letchworth posted a 3-0 horsemanship record with two MVPs during the month of February. In two of her three meets in February, she posted the event-high score while winning MVP honors.

The Gamecocks return to action on Saturday, Mar. 1, when Carolina hosts No. 2 Auburn in the final SEC regular season meet of the 2013-2014 season. Saturday's meet begins at 10 a.m. at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, and admission is free.

SEC Riders of the Month - February 2014 Equitation on the flat - Olivia Dorey/Georgia Equitation over fences - Alexa Anthony/South Carolina Horsemanship - Johnna Letchworth/South Carolina Reining - McKenzie Lantz/Georgia

South Carolina - SEC Riders of the Month (All-Time) February 2014 - Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship) February 2014 - Alexa Anthony (equitation over fences) November 2013 - Layla Choate (reining) October 2013 - Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences) October 2013 - Johnna Letchworth (reining) March 2013 - Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences) February 2013 - Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship) November 2012 - Amber Henter (equitation over fences) November 2012 - Kelsey Urban (horsemanship)

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W. Golf. Johnna Letchworth and Alexa Anthony Named SEC Riders of the Month

Feb. 28, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina senior Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship) and junior Alexa Anthony (equitation over fences) were named SEC Riders of the Month for February, it was announced today. This is Letchworth's second SEC Rider of the Month honor this season and third of her career, while Anthony claims her first SEC Rider of the Month honor, becoming the sixth Gamecock all-time to earn the recognition.

"This is a great recognition for both Johnna and Alexa and we're all very proud of them," South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. "February was a tough month for us on the schedule with two conference meets and two road meets, but we rode very well in all of those meets and were able to win them all, so it's certainly nice to see Alexa and Johnna get recognized.

In winning her first ever SEC Rider of the Month honor, Anthony went 3-0 with three MVP honors during the month of February in equitation over fences, all against top-10 opponents. Two of her wins and two of her MVP honors came on the road. In each of her rides during February, her scores were the highest jumping scores of those particular meets.

While earning her third career SEC Rider of the Month honor, Letchworth posted a 3-0 horsemanship record with two MVPs during the month of February. In two of her three meets in February, she posted the event-high score while winning MVP honors.

The Gamecocks return to action on Saturday, Mar. 1, when Carolina hosts No. 2 Auburn in the final SEC regular season meet of the 2013-2014 season. Saturday's meet begins at 10 a.m. at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, and admission is free.

SEC Riders of the Month - February 2014 Equitation on the flat - Olivia Dorey/Georgia Equitation over fences - Alexa Anthony/South Carolina Horsemanship - Johnna Letchworth/South Carolina Reining - McKenzie Lantz/Georgia

South Carolina - SEC Riders of the Month (All-Time) February 2014 - Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship) February 2014 - Alexa Anthony (equitation over fences) November 2013 - Layla Choate (reining) October 2013 - Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences) October 2013 - Johnna Letchworth (reining) March 2013 - Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences) February 2013 - Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship) November 2012 - Amber Henter (equitation over fences) November 2012 - Kelsey Urban (horsemanship)

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W. Equestrian. Johnna Letchworth and Alexa Anthony Named SEC Riders of the Month

Barbed-wire fencing and no trespassing signs that a property owner installed blocking access to a portions of a popular hiking trail between Shell Beach and Avila Beach have been removed.

Property owner Rob McCarthy had the fencing and signs taken down this week, after receiving a letter from the Coastal Commission telling him he must do so or face stiff penalties.

In a letter dated Feb. 20, Coastal Commission code enforcement staff told McCarthy, who lives in Texas but plans to retire in Avila Beach, that he had until March 10 to remove the fencing, signs and gate that were blocking access to the trail.

McCarthy erected the fencing and signs earlier this year on his property just east of Cave Landing Road, angering the public which has used the Ontario Ridge looping trail for years. He maintained he blocked portions of the path because of safety concerns for those individuals that use it.

The county didnt require McCarthy to obtain coastal permits for the fencing project, but the commission disagreed earlier this month and ruled McCarthy violated the states Coastal Act by blocking the trail.

A county easement also exists on the property that allows the public to legally use the pathway.

Coastal Commission staff is expected to inspect McCarthys property in the near future to determine if the man has complied with the agencys demands.

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Fences blocking trail removed

NEW DELHI: Due to repeated breaching of fences and inaccessibility of border areas in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, BSF in coordination with CRRI ( Central Road Research Institute) is building an elevated corridor for unhindered patrolling of the area. The marshy lands of the border are not suitable for on-the-surface road as they often get flooded.

In a bid to improve its firepower on the border and mobility in Naxal-infested areas, the force is also upgrading its artillery and buying eight more MI-17 V5 choppers which would be deployed in Naxal areas.

The Kutch area is one of the most inhospitable terrains for security forces as the marshy land and saline water make human survival difficult.

"We want to have a good road connectivity. We are also looking at some technology solutions so that we can secure the border area more effectively," outgoing BSF director general Subhash Joshi told reporters here. Another officer said, "We are building an elevated corridor with help from CRRI."

Joshi retired on Friday after over 37 years in Indian Police Service (IPS). He headed the BSF for over a year after leading the elite counter-terror force NSG.

He said the force is focused on security measures and upgradations being made in this area which shares its waters with Pakistan including the notorious 'harami nala' area where fishermen of both countries often cross over into each other's territory.

The DG also said the force has prepared a proposal to upgrade its war stores, artillery and firing systems which it essentially deploys along the Pakistan border under the command of the Army. "We want to upgrade our firing systems on the lines of the Army that is based on computer technology," he said.

The force, which has an exclusive air wing, is also scheduled to get by end of the year new choppers which will be deployed for anti-Naxal operations and for serving high-altitude border posts along Bangladesh in Mizoram. Eight modern military choppers, Mi-17 V-5, have been sanctioned for the 2.4-lakh strong force and these will be imported from Russia.

Talking about welfare measures for the troops, Joshi said he was concerned over the "delay in promotions" in the constabulary. The paramilitary force had devised some internal mechanism to ease grievances.

In BSF, a constable usually takes 21-22 years to get promoted to the next rank as compared to other central forces where these men and women get an elevation in designation in about 17-18 years.

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BSF plans elevated road in Rann of Kutch

Five stories that have North Texas talking: A big weekend for a Dallas-themed movie; Greg Abbott's personal connection to the Texas gay marriage case; Allen ISD is closing its palatial stadium due to cracks; and more.

How will Dallas Buyers Club do at the Oscars on Sunday? The film has earned six Oscar nods, including a nomination for best film. Matthew McConaughey is up for a nomination for actor in a leading role, while Jared Leto is in the running for actor in a supporting role. The film also earned nominations for film editing, original screenplay and makeup and hairstyling. The film portrays a Dallas electrician and hustler, Ron Woodroof, an HIV positive man in the 1980s who helps AIDS patients get the medication they need. Dallas Buyers Club was a big winner at the Golden Globes. McConaughey plays Woodroof, who decides to fight the death sentence the disease promised to those who contracted it in the 1980s. McConaughey dropped about 40 pounds for the role. The public radio show The Takeaway explored the movie this week in its Real People/Best Pictures series the show interviewed William Waybournwas the president of the Dallas Gay Alliance in the 1980s. Woodroof was a volunteer there, and also received services through the center's clinic. Waybourn discussed Woodroof and the movie. On Thursday, KERAs Think discussed all things Oscar. NPR recently reported on the process of making the movie it was a long, complicated process. Last fall, NPR reported on Woodroofs days in Dallas.

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How Many Oscars Will Dallas Buyers Club Earn At Sundays Academy Awards?

Woodland Hills, CA (PRWEB) February 28, 2014

Hangman Products developed the No Stud TV Hanger specifically to address the needs of renters. The product turned out to be so groundbreaking, it has garnered multiple industry awards, captured a shocking UL rating of up to 80 pounds, will hang TVS up to a whopping 47, and earned Hangman a registered trademark. All of this without damaging walls.

The innovation is in its mounting system. Requiring absolutely no anchors, it uses only tiny nails inserted into aircraft grade aluminum interlocking brackets. The nails secure directly into the drywall, no studs necessary. The tiny nails leave nothing but pinholes in the wall, making the installation nearly invisible upon removal. The hanger also includes foam pads that eliminate scuff marks from the hanger itself.

If that is not enough, the No Stud TV Hanger is so simple to install, the entire project can be completed in about the time it takes to unpack the TV from its box, and with only a hammer and a screwdriver.

http://hangmanproducts.com has created a specialty line of hangers for apartments, each of which is designed to leave no trace. These include hangers for pictures and mirrors, as well as posters. And for the minuscule damage that might occur, Hangman offers the Erase-a-hole kit, a one-stop product for wall repair.

About Hangman Products: Hangman Products creates hardware solutions for everyday needs. The multiple-patented Hangman Systems are carefully engineered to guarantee a safe and sturdy installation while promising to hang it level every time. Hangmans products range from Hanging Pictures, Hanging Mirrors, Hanging Framed Art, TV/Stereo Mounts and Safety to Garage/Slat Wall and Organization. They are designed to meet the installation requirements for retailers, consumers and manufacturers. Hangman's ever-expanding line of products can handle even the most difficult projects.

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Hangman Products' New No Stud TV Hanger Allows Consumers to Hang TVs In Apartments Without Fear of Damaging Walls