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"Beauty is an all-pervading presence. It unfolds to the numberless flowers of the Spring; it waves in the branches of the trees and in the green blades of grass. The universe is its temple; and those people who are alive to it can not lift their eyes without feeling themselves encompassed with it on every side."
William Ellery Channing |
 Getting away from it all...
in your own backyard!
Image leaving it all behind just by walking out your backdoor. Creating a backyard oasis is more popular now than ever. Think of the time and money you could save by creating a relaxing spot your whole family can enjoy...and you never have to leave home. It's a great investment too. Home values increase when natural grass and landscaping is improved.
Grass is "Green"...
Not only is grass good for the environment, it's a natural playground for children and pets. Our cool season grasses, Triple Crown Bluegrass and Frontier Fescue, as well as our hardy warm season varieties, Bermuda and Buffalograss, are generally considered pollen free. Any one of these turf types will help create a healthier landscape for people and pets with allergies. Grass also generates oxygen and serves as a filtration system for ground water.
Grass is Soothing... 
There is something about soft green grass that is naturally soothing. Studies have shown that hospital patients with a view to a natural green space recover faster. Large cities with urban neighborhoods are placing an emphasis on neighborhood parks to increase positive community feelings.
Grass is Cool...
When turfgrass and trees are stripped away the effects to the environment are immediate and lasting. The lack of shade trees and turfgrass can cause temperatures in the cities to range from 10 to 30 degrees hotter than rural areas.
We encourage you to create your oasis. You'll be doing something good for the environment...you'll be doing something good for you!
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Going Native...
The Saga of a Turfgrass Newbie...continued
Chapter 6...Letting the Grass Grow under our Feet
 As you know from the last newsletter, we installed a buffalograss lawn. The process was chronicled, giving you a play by play report of the progress. I would like to say this is a picture of our newly installed lawn...it's not. However, it is a great shot of how pretty buffalograss can be when it's established and that's the look we're going for.
This has been an ongoing learning process for us. A word to the wise...when you are advised to pre-emerge after installing your turfgrass, you should pre-emerge. We didn't, and after spending time on our hands and knees pulling those pesky summer grassy weeds (see left hand column), we are firm believers in protecting a new lawn from these invaders. The weed seeds were dormant, just waiting to take advantage of all the care and attention (and water!) we were lavishing on our new buffalograss. And like the true opportunistic weeds they are, they sprouted forth with vengeance. A good pre-emergent application would have stopped them in their germination process.
 So, if you're going to pre-emerge buffalograss what should you use? After some research, and some good advice from the experts at H Bar H Turf, we settled on Amaze by Green Light. According to their information... "Green Light AmazeŽ Grass & Weed Preventer is a pre-emergence herbicide applied to the soil surface to prevent the growth of undesirable weeds and grasses. Simple for homeowner use, AmazeŽ Grass & Weed Preventer2 forms a protective "barrier" in the soil surface which prevents weeds from emerging." Amaze can be applied over the top of ESTABLISHED shrubs, flowers, ground covers, bulbs, and warm season grasses. Even though Amaze will not kill the existing weeds it will prevent more from sprouting. I will be applying it soon...better late than never!
We'll keep you posted!
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Be a Wiser 
Sub-irrigation is a good watering method for established lawns but not for newly installed turfgrass. Sub-irrigation waters plants by allowing water to soak