More and more, you can find a variety of grass seeds to grow the lawn that fits your particular area and weather patterns. All About Lawns has some tips on different types of grass you can plant. Do you want? Native Grass Seed Native grasses are indigenous to a particular region’s soil conditions and rainfall, [...]
Tag Archive for ‘grass’ 
Eco Tips for Lawn and Landscape Care – Part 3
Prune Regularly. A single grass plant can have 300 miles of roots. Roots grow strong with appropriate watering and proper pruning. Mowing your lawn regularly, similar to pruning perennial plants and flower gardens, keeps grass healthier, thicker, and in a “growing state,” ensuring carbon is captured and oxygen is emitted at their highest levels. Need some pruning [...]
Discovery Education and OPEI Foundation Partner
Discovery Education and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s Education and Research Foundation announce the launch of TurfMutt, an online, science based program designed to help elementary educators teach an appreciation of backyard and community green spaces and landscapes. Check out the new face of TurfMutt with Discovery Education at http://turfmutt.discoveryeducation.com/homepage.cfm The goal of the TurfMutt [...]
Mosquito Season
Warm weather plus spring rains equals the dawn of mosquito season. Not only are the bites annoying, but these insects carry disease. Two of the most important steps to take in your yard is to drain water and get rid of puddles of water – where the mosquitoes hatch – and keep your lawn mowed [...]
TurfMutt Fun for Memorial Day
Many are gearing up to travel by plane, train or automobile this weekend, and for many parents the question is: How do we keep the kids busy and entertained? Here’s an idea: Print a copy of the TurfMutt Game here – then, all you need are two coins, paper, pen and buttons (or more coins) [...]
Super Grass?
Scientists are on a quest to engineer a drought proof lawn. The goal? Develop grass that demands little water, tolerates shade, is resistant to fungi and pests, grows at a relatively slow pace, produces ample seeds and passes down the same characteristics from generation to generation. Sound impossible, well not to UC Riverside turfgrass specialist [...]
Green Roof Keeps Buildings Cool
According to Wikipedia, a green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Green roofs are taking off across the country, and studies [...]
Tokyo and the Heat Island Effect
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times recounted how serious Tokyo is getting about reversing serious threats to their quality of life. One area that they are trying to reverse is the detrimental effects of laying too much concrete and asphalt. According to the LA Times story from April 23, 2010 (http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/23/business/la-fi-green-tokyo-20100423), neighborhoods are [...]
New Grass Species Not as Thirsty
TurfMutt talks about the value of green space, while at the same time discussing the need to lessen our impact when maintaining lawns and landscapes. A new study published in HortScience identified four alternative turfgrass species — two bentgrasses and two fescues — as promising for use as ‘low-input’ grasses, meaning that water and fertilization [...]
New Web Game for TurfMutt Educational Curriculum
This year, we’ve added a fun Web game for kids as part of the curriculum – but adults tend to enjoy it as well. Check out the Web game as TurfMutt evades perils thrown at him by Dr. Runoff, Carbon Creep, Dust Demon and HeatFreak. You need to collect enough seed packets to help turn [...]
