http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html Your Lawn Care Basics Blog keeps you up to date on any updates or changes to Your Lawn Care Basics Coach.com website. Subscribe Here. en-us lawn care Mon, 14 May 2012 11:52:28 GMT Mon, 14 May 2012 11:52:28 GMT your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Warming's-final-mystery:-clouds http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Warming's-final-mystery:-clouds Climate change skeptics look to the sky for salvation Lamont, Oklahoma IT IS The greatest remaining mystery in climate science: How will clouds change with global warming? Most scientists believe that clouds will probably have a neutral effect or even amplify the warming, perhaps strongly. But the lack of unambiguous proof has left room for dissent. Climate change skeptics acknowledge that the release of greenhouse gases will cause the planet to warm. But they assert that clouds - which can either warm or cool the earth, depending on the type and location - will shift in such a way as to counter much of the expected temperature rise. "Clouds really are the biggest uncertainty," said Andrew E. Dessler, a climate researcher at Texas A&M University in College Station. "If you listen to the credible climate skeptics, they've really pushed all their chips onto clouds." Richard S. Lindzen, a professor of meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the leading proponent of the view that clouds will be a savior. His stature in the field - he has been making seminal contributions to climate science since the 1960s - has amplified his influence. Dr. Lindzen says the earth is not especially sensitive to greenhouse gases because clouds will react to counter them, and he believes he has identified a specific mechanism. On a warming planet, he says, less coverage by high clouds in the tropics will allow more heat to escape to Mon, 14 May 2012 10:09:20 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#First-spring-season-in-years-boosts-landscape-and-gardening-business http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#First-spring-season-in-years-boosts-landscape-and-gardening-business For the past few years northern Utah has jumped from winter directly into summer, bypassing the spring season those who make their living from the soil so desperately seek. It's a different story in 2012 for the lawn and garden industry. "It's been a night and day difference from the last couple of years," said Loren Nielsen, owner of Wasatch Shadows Nursery in Sandy. Weather impacts the business even more than the economy, he said. "(When) the two combine against you, weather sinks you and the economy is the knife twisting in your back," Nielsen said. But, after a few years of wetter and cooler than normal springs resulting in declining revenues, the landscape and garden industry is again blooming. "A good spring like this … kind of brings hope back," he said. Sales at his store were up 60 percent to 80 percent in April over last year. He said that approximately 30 percent of his revenue is generated in the three-month spring season as homeowners set aside time to plant their flower and vegetable gardens. The focus typically changes right after school breaks for summer, and families plan vacations and spend less time tending to their yards. "A good summer won't maintain booming sales," Nielsen said. "You see an almost instant 20 to 30 Mon, 14 May 2012 10:06:36 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#When-Global-Warming-Hits-Home-(Literally) http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#When-Global-Warming-Hits-Home-(Literally) In a recent PBS documentary, the mayor of Norfolk, Virginia, Paul Fraim, talks about how flooding has become a monthly occurrence in his town, and how global warming and sea level rise are as much a daily issue for him as education and fighting crime. In some parts of Norfolk, streets turn into rivers at high tide. Homes are flooded five out of six years. People lose their carpets, their appliances, their savings. And they can't afford to move elsewhere. Sea levels have risen 14 inches in Norfolk since 1930--almost double the global rate. Part of this alarming change is due to the natural sinking of the area's soggy tidal lands, but part of it is due to the rising sea levels brought about by global warming. Like stranded polar bears in the North Pole, like disappearing island nations in the Pacific, waterlogged Norfolk is yet another symbol of global warming at work. And even though Norfolk is within spitting distance of our nation's capital, Congress still hasn't seemed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Turning a blind eye to the realities of global warming is a dangerous game. Scientists predict that sea levels will rise anywhere from 7 inches to 78 inches in the next 100 years (depending, in part, on how much we do to curb global warming pollution), which means that in a few generations, nearly five million people who currently live within 4 feet of high tide could be in the same boat as the residents of Norfolk. New research shows that global warming will double the chance of a hundred-year flood occurring in Sun, 13 May 2012 11:06:25 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Your-Home:-Lawn-care http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Your-Home:-Lawn-care Springtime is here and summer is right around the corner. Time to start thinking about lawn care. But, following such a mild, virtually snowless winter, will you have to do anything different this year to ensure your yard stays healthy and green? Bob Mangan, TruGreen Regional Tech. Manager said, “It'll depend on the grass type. It'll also depend on the soil type. If you have sandy soil you'll have to water more. If you have clay soil it's probably a little bit less.” We all know to mow the lawn when it gets too long, but do you know how much you should actually cut? Is there a magic number or setting on our lawnmower that we should be shooting for? Mangan said, “Whenever you mow only take about 1/3 of the leaf blade off. That's the rule of thumb, 1/3 of the leaf blade. A good test for that would be, after your finished mowing the lawn, if you take your hand and touch it like you would the top of a head. If it feels bristly that means you're taking off too much leaf tissue, so you should raise your mower. “ After a virtually snowless winter you're probably wondering if you're going to have to water your lawn a little bit more than usual and the answer is probably not. And actually you'll be surprised at how little water your lawn actually needs. Mangan said, “A good rule of thumb is that every lawn needs about one inch of water per week. The best way to do that is to find a can, particularly a tuna can because they're about one inch deep. And Sun, 13 May 2012 11:04:55 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Military-Fights-Global-Warming http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Military-Fights-Global-Warming As more polls show that a majority of Americans want action on carbon pollution and global warming, leadership on fighting climate change is coming from surprising places -- starting with the military. At a recent reception held by the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington D.C., Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave a speech in which he connected the dots between climate change, energy and security issues. He became the highest-ranking official in the Obama administration to do so. Panetta explained that his Department of Defense is facing a budget shortfall of more than $3 billion because of unexpected fuel costs. "I have a deep interest in more sustainable and efficient energy options," he said. Secretary Panetta went on to describe how the U. S. military will be called on for humanitarian assistance in the face of rising seas, longer droughts, and more frequent and the severe natural disasters that are a result of global warming. Secretary Panetta was followed on the podium by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, who has served since May 2009. In 1987, the Harvard-trained lawyer became the youngest governor in the nation when he won office in Mississippi. Mabus declared, in an inimitably rich Southern drawl: "We buy too much fossil fuel from the most volatile places on earth." He emphasized that "drilling alone will never solve our national security concerns over foreign oil." Mabus went on to announce that the Navy has made a commitment to get 50 percent of its energy Sat, 12 May 2012 10:02:50 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Enjoy-the-sun,-but-save-your-skin http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Enjoy-the-sun,-but-save-your-skin While I am really partial to fall as a season, I am really enjoying things right now. There's a bit more daylight in the morning, and the sun is still out when I get home later from work. Years ago, such conditions meant more time on the Indian River down in Fort Pierce, either fishing, water skiing or sailing. If my friends and I weren't doing any of those things, we were at the beach or perhaps at the golf course. I also had a small lawn-care business in the neighborhood, mainly to cover my share of the fuel for the ski boat. I was outside all the time. Decades later, I have conversations with family members and friends about how much time we spent outdoors and how much we're paying for it now with the health of our skin. I have had similar discussions with dermatologists, who remind us that this is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in the United Sat, 12 May 2012 10:01:31 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Commercial-Mowing-Industry-Leader-Wright-Manufacturing-Remains-at-the-Forefront-of-Technology-and-Quality-with-New-Innovative-Website,-E-Book-and-Video-Series http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Commercial-Mowing-Industry-Leader-Wright-Manufacturing-Remains-at-the-Forefront-of-Technology-and-Quality-with-New-Innovative-Website,-E-Book-and-Video-Series Revolutionary commercial lawn mower company Wright Manufacturing Inc. just announced the launch of their new website specifically designed to help their professional landscaping clients identify opportunities for better business performance and identify the return on investment of higher quality equipment. The industry leaders known for diverse commercial mowers that offer superior performance and unmatched quality never stop asking how they can continually forge ahead as pioneers in their industry, all while putting a heavy emphasis on customer and dealer relations. With dealers across the country, Wright has always been committed to selling the best engineered mowers in the industry. They have established the Wright name as one that assures improved productivity and increased profitability for lawn management entrepreneurs. “The way we at Wright Manufacturing constantly improve our products is we take these three things,” President and CEO Bill Wright said. “The first one is our knowledge of the ground – the grass – where it happens. We take our knowledge of mechanical things and then our knowledge and expertise in manufacturing. We take those three things and combine them with a relentless Wed, 09 May 2012 10:02:34 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Dinosaurs’-digestive-gases-linked-to-global-warming http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Dinosaurs’-digestive-gases-linked-to-global-warming Dinosaurs’ gassy guts may have contributed to global warming tens of millions of years ago, according to a new study that finds a group of plant-eating dinosaurs could have produced about as much methane as all of today’s natural and man-made sources of the greenhouse gas. British researchers reported in Tuesday’s edition of the journal Current Biology that the methane emissions from sauropods far outstripped those of today’s cattle, goats and other cud-chewing mammals. Sauropods were a diverse bunch of plant-eating dinosaurs, known for their small heads and giant bodies with long necks and tails. An average-sized sauropod — such as Apatosaurus louisae, once popularly known as brontosaurus — could weigh 44,000 pounds, making it several times bigger than an elephant. Like many modern herbivores, scientists think, sauropods probably hosted a Wed, 09 May 2012 09:58:14 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#‘Hug-the-Monster’-for-Realistic-Hope-in-Global-Warming-(or-How-to-Transform-Your-Fearful-Inner-Climate) http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#‘Hug-the-Monster’-for-Realistic-Hope-in-Global-Warming-(or-How-to-Transform-Your-Fearful-Inner-Climate) “Hug the monster” is a metaphor taught by U.S. Air Force trainers to those headed into harm’s way. The monster is your fear in a sudden crisis — as when you find yourself trapped in a downed plane or a burning house. If you freeze or panic — if you go into merely reactive “brainlock” — you’re lost. But if your mind has been prepared in advance to recognize the psychological grip of fear, focus on it, and then transform its intense energy into action — sometimes even by changing it into anger — and by also engaging the thinking part of your brain to work the problem, your chances of survival go way up. Around the world, a growing number of people are showing signs of hugging the monster of what the world’s experts have plainly shown to be a great crisis facing us all. Established scientists, community and government leaders and journalists, as they describe the disruptions, suffering and destruction that manmade global warming is already producing, with far worse in the offing if humanity doesn’t somehow control it, are starting to allow themselves publicly to use terms like “calamity,” “catastrophe”, and “risk to the collective civilization.” Sooner or later, everyone who learns about the rapid advance of manmade Tue, 08 May 2012 12:48:39 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Voyage-to-the-'front-line'-of-global-warming http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Voyage-to-the-'front-line'-of-global-warming For 450 years before the first successful voyage in 1906, people sought the Northwest Passage, a potentially lucrative shipping route linking Europe to Asia that would cut out the lengthy journey around the horn of South America. Many died trying to find it, including Sir John Franklin whose HMS Erebus and HMS Terror attempted the fabled Passage in 1845 but sank without a trace. Their 129 men died eating each other on the unforgiving ice. But by the time Dueck set off on his voyage more than 100 years later in June 2009, 35 sailing yachts had made the trip. The majority of those took place after 1990, made possible by a stark reality: the ice was now melting fast. "I wanted to see something very few people have seen," Hong Kong-based journalist and sailor Dueck told AFP at the launch of his book about the voyage, "The New Northwest Passage" at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club last week. "It was about finding out what climate change looked like for real. Not just in terms of what we're told by politicians, or what corporations say in their mission statements," he said. The extent to which Arctic ice is breaking up is an illustration of the growing impact of climate change in the Poles, where temperatures are rising more quickly than the rest of the world. "There has been no ice for up to a month in the last several years during the summer," Peter Semotiuk, a long term resident of the Canadian Arctic and an expert on sailing Tue, 08 May 2012 12:46:15 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Group-provokes-reaction-with-billboard-doubting-global-warming http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Group-provokes-reaction-with-billboard-doubting-global-warming For about a day this week, a billboard featuring a mugshot of the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, loomed over the Eisenhower Expressway in Maywood, posing a question to drivers cruising toward the city: “I still believe in Global Warming,” the electronic sign said in large red letters. “Do you?” The ad, paid for by The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based group, was to be the first in a series of billboards equating those who believe in global warming with infamous figures — including Fidel Castro and Charles Manson — who have allegedly expressed the same belief, according to the institute. But the Unabomber billboard, which first appeared Thursday, lasted only 24 hours. Facing a barrage of criticism from both its supporters and opponents, the institute canceled the campaign but refused to apologize for running the ad. “We know that our billboard angered and disappointed many of Heartland’s friends and supporters, but we hope they understand what we were trying to do with this experiment,” the institute’s president, Joseph Bast, said in a statement. “We do not apologize for running the ad, and we will continue to experiment with ways to Mon, 07 May 2012 10:07:21 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#An-Eco-Friendly-Education-on-Grasscycling http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#An-Eco-Friendly-Education-on-Grasscycling Tis’ the season for planting, cutting, clippings and all things yard-work related. As the height of mowing season approaches in May and June, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority’s Recycling Division has launched its annual campaign to inform residents about the benefits of “grasscycling.” Grasscycling is the practice of leaving short grass clippings on the lawn rather than bagging and dragging them to the curb. “It’s a natural fertilizer for your lawn,” pointed out MCIA Recycling Division Manager Edward Windas. “It’s putting nitrogen right back into the ground.” Recent studies have shown that the grass clippings act as a natural fertilizer, shelter tender grass roots from the sun, conserve moisture and create lawns that are more resistant to weeds and certain lawn diseases. Not only is grasscycling healthier for lawns, but it saves municipalities the cost of having to remove the material, as well as the carbon footprint of yet another plastic bag. Additionally, it takes no extra time or effort; especially in comparison to the bag-and-drag routine, which experts say makes up 35 percent of the average time an individual spends on lawn-care. “Grasscycling essentially takes Mon, 07 May 2012 10:04:42 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Plant-study-sounds-alarm-on-dangers-of-global-warming http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Plant-study-sounds-alarm-on-dangers-of-global-warming Plants are flowering faster than scientists predicted in response to climate change, research in the United States shows. That could have devastating effects for food chains and ecosystems. Global warming is having a significant impact on hundreds of plant and animal species around the world, changing some breeding, migration and feeding pat-terns, scientists say. Increased carbon-dioxide concentration in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels can affect how plants produce oxy-gen, while higher temperatures and variable rainfall patterns can change their behaviour. "Predicting species' response to climate change is a major challenge in ecology," said researchers at the University of California San Diego and several other U.S. institutions. They said plants had been the focus of study because their response to climate change could affect food chains and ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycles and water supply. The study, published on the Nature website, draws on evidence from Sun, 06 May 2012 11:05:23 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#How-to-Care-for-a-Riding-Lawn-Mower http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#How-to-Care-for-a-Riding-Lawn-Mower Step 1: Know the key maintenance steps. For most riding lawn mowers, the four key maintenance steps are: changing the oil and filter, inspecting and replacing the spark plug, replacing or cleaning the air filter, and lubricating the grease fittings. Step 2: Prepare the mower to change the oil. Run the engine long enough to heat the oil, which will let the oil drain quickly and flush out more sediment from the engine. Locate and remove the oil filler cap and set it aside. Locate the oil drain plug and position a properly sized waste container under the drain. Sun, 06 May 2012 11:03:17 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Gardening-and-lawn-care:-Homemade-insecticidal-soap-recipes-and-information http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Gardening-and-lawn-care:-Homemade-insecticidal-soap-recipes-and-information Home gardeners have used soap for many years and in many forms to kill various insects. It is especially effective for killing soft-bodied insects like mites, aphids, chiggers, scales and flies. When mixed with other ingredients, it can be effective on a broader range of insects like caterpillars, fleas, and ticks. It also helps other preparations, such as fungicides, stick to the leaves of the plant being treated. As an insecticide, soap works by paralyzing the insect, which then starves to death. It is non-selective, in that it kills beneficial insects as well as the bad ones. It must be sprayed directly on the insect. This usually means dousing the plant, both on top and under the leaves, as well as the stem, until the point of run-off. Soap degrades in about two weeks leaving Sun, 06 May 2012 11:01:32 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Who-Is-Responsible-For-Lawn-Maintenance-On-A-Home-For-Sale? http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Who-Is-Responsible-For-Lawn-Maintenance-On-A-Home-For-Sale? Q: We have put our house up for sale and moved to another state. Apparently the grass where we came from grows faster than it does here, because it grew up FAST this spring. Neighbors called the Realtor and complained, but she didn’t let us know until several calls had come in. We’ve hired someone to mow it, but he’s waiting for some special equipment (it’s that high). The neighbors are now threatening legal action. I’ve been advised that my Realtor should be taking care of things like that in an effort to sell the house (get it mowed and send me a bill). Should she be doing more, or are we on our own? A: I think that is a great question. Personally, if I was your REALTOR® I would have had the discussion with you upfront and we would have lined all of the details out before you moved. However, in your question it doesn’t say that you had any prior agreement that your Realtor would or agreed to do this task before you left. You are the homeowner and it is your responsibility to take care of maintenance in and around the house or have that hired out. I would say that if you want this Realtor to take on those responsibilities then that is something you need to get in writing now. I personally would recommend that you hire a property manager instead of your Realtor, as I feel it is not in our realm of responsibility. However, I do think that your Realtor should have contacted you about the concern of the unkempt lawn, so it could have been addressed and your neighbors wouldn’t be so mad. Fri, 04 May 2012 10:30:10 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Drought-affects-how-you-should-manage-your-lawn-care http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Drought-affects-how-you-should-manage-your-lawn-care Dry weather is becoming the norm for our area and is having an effect on landscapes. The St. Johns River Water Management District is reporting record low groundwater and surface water levels across Northeast Florida. Some areas have a rainfall shortage of more than 20 inches over the past 12 months. If this continues, there will be problems with reduced water pressure, wells going dry and potential saltwater intrusion. Because more than 50 percent of water use is for outside, we all need to conserve water. When and if it comes down to water for drinking vs. landscape plants, I think we all know who will win the battle. We need to start rethinking our landscape Fri, 04 May 2012 10:22:08 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-is-our-fault http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-is-our-fault Humans are now accepting that global warming is not a myth, but some still refuse to claim responsibility for what’s happening to our home. The evidence of global warming is irrefutable. The hole in the ozone layer is widening and is wreaking havoc on our temperature and weather patterns; not to mention allowing more radiation to reach us. Humans put 30 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year; there is no way that we are not responsible. Some would say that global warming is natural and everything will return to normal eventually. People arrive at this conclusion because there is a mineral called ikaite in Antarctica which shows a temperature increase in both Antarctica and Europe. This happened Thu, 03 May 2012 10:18:57 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Sebastian-fertilizer-ordinance-crucial-to-protect-water,-Indian-River-Lagoon http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Sebastian-fertilizer-ordinance-crucial-to-protect-water,-Indian-River-Lagoon Regarding the April 23 letter, "Ordinance not the best way to get environmentally safe fertilizer:" Florida University's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have said that an environmentally "friendly" fertilizer is needed. Some Florida producers have responded with this product. However, major national fertilizer producers have complied only when a strong ordinance requires it. Florida lawns commonly receive as much as 10 times the necessary fertilizer application — a combination of phosphorous and nitrogen. (The usual third ingredient is potassium.) Most Florida soil is rich in phosphorus, yet most fertilizer products sold here still contain it. This excess fertilizer makes lawns vulnerable to insect pests, weeds, fungus and other diseases. Knowledgeable lawn-care professionals do not use phosphorus Thu, 03 May 2012 10:16:23 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Tips-To-Keep-Kids-Safe-While-Around-Lawn-Mowers http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Tips-To-Keep-Kids-Safe-While-Around-Lawn-Mowers The lawn mower is one of the most dangerous household tools. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, each year 68,000 people are treated in the emergency department for lawn mower related injuries, and 9,000 of them are children under the age of 18. Most childhood injuries due to lawn mowers are related to riding mowers, and most are injured in their own yard. "One important statistic to remember is that a significant number of these accidents occur among family members," says Junichi Tamai, M.D., Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. "Most families think that if the child stays with a family member, everything will be okay, but that is not always the case." Most common injuries associated with mowers can include lacerations, amputations, fractures, infections and skin defects. Dr. Tamai and the American Academy of Pediatrics give the following tips for staying safe around Tue, 01 May 2012 13:59:44 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-Warming-intensifying-Global-Water-Cycle-by-double-current-climate-model-projections http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-Warming-intensifying-Global-Water-Cycle-by-double-current-climate-model-projections New research into ocean salinity levels has revealed a strong global water cycle intensification during the period of 1950 to 2000. The researchers report the rate of change in the global water cycle is double the rate projected by current-generation climate models. The study found "robust evidence of an intensified global water cycle at a rate of about eight per cent per degree of surface warming," said study co-author Dr Durack, a post-doctoral fellow at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US. "Changes to the global water cycle and the corresponding redistribution of rainfall will affect food availability, stability, access and utilization," Dr Durack said in a CSIRO media release. Measures of global changes in the water cycle are complex as 71 per cent of the earth's surface are oceans or seas where detailed measurements cannot be as easily undertaken as on land. In December 2011 I wrote about scientists reporting the southern ocean becoming warmer, freshening and becoming more acidic. "The ocean matters to climate - it stores 97 per cent of the world's water; receives 80 per cent of the all surface rainfall and; it has absorbed 90 per cent of the Earth's energy Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:08:05 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#April-is-for-lawn-care http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#April-is-for-lawn-care April is National Lawn Care Month and for good reason. What you do — or don't do — now for your lawn will set you up for the rest of the season. Is a graduation party or Memorial Day event on your calendar? You will have just enough time to get your lawn ready to party if you start this weekend. Since good-looking and low-maintenance lawns are also the healthiest lawns, set your strategy around what the grass needs for optimal health. Aeration builds a healthy lawn What is this process? An aerator is a machine that pulls plugs of soil and grass out of the lawn. Ideally, these plugs should be 3 to 4 inches long. Leave them on the lawn to be broken up by the lawn mower. Aeration is good for the lawn because the aeration holes open up the roots so that water, air and nutrients can get to the roots where they are needed most. Aerating in the spring is the best time of year because this is when the roots are actively developing. Fall is the second best time to aerate. For best results, make sure the soil is moist before aerating. Aerating when the soil is dry can do more harm than good. Fertilizer gives grass the nutrients it needs Fertilizing the lawn three to four times per season gives turf grass the nutrients that keep it healthy. Like people, plants need good nutrition. When you shop for fertilizer, look for a slow release formulation with a balanced label of Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:05:37 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Behind-the-present-pause-in-global-warming http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Behind-the-present-pause-in-global-warming Has global warming stopped since the turn of the millennium? Yes - if you examine the data in a vacuum. But has the warming pressure on the atmosphere from man-made greenhouse gases stopped? No - not at all. A closer look at the data bears that out. It’s easy to glance at a temperature chart of the last 12 years (to the right) and draw the conclusion warming has slowed or stopped. That’s what renowned environmental scientist James Lovelock did and he’s now told MSNBC he’s backed away from his dire concerns about global warming. “We were supposed to be halfway toward a frying world now,” Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:14:07 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Let-wasps-take-care-of-grubs-in-spring-Applying-grub-killer-too-soon-may-sicken-pest's-natural-predators http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Let-wasps-take-care-of-grubs-in-spring-Applying-grub-killer-too-soon-may-sicken-pest's-natural-predators When do I put down grub killer in the spring? Spring grubs are big, but they are barely eating now and not damaging your lawn. Don't waste your money on these grubs. Also, applying grub killer in spring sickens wasps that are predators of grubs. You've probably seen these beneficial wasps hovering over your lawn, looking for grubs to attack. Natural controls usually keep grub populations under control. A few grubs are normal and keep the predators around. Rarely is lawn damage caused by grubs. If your lawn has dead patches that roll up like a carpet in late summer/fall, with over a dozen grubs per square foot, then, yes, grub control is called for the next year in early summer. You want it in the soil when grubs are small. They start hatching in July. What native shrubs work as foundation plants — evergreen or flowering? I don't want anything too wild-looking. Match your choices to the available sunlight, soil type and moisture levels. Evergreens in low to medium heights include Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:10:26 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-puzzle-becomes-even-MORE-complex---as-methane-is-detected-seeping-directly-from-the-Arctic-ocean http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-puzzle-becomes-even-MORE-complex---as-methane-is-detected-seeping-directly-from-the-Arctic-ocean Airborne surveys of the Arctic appear to have found a puzzling new source of greenhouse gas - methane seeping directly from the Arctic ocean A report in Nature Geoscience suggests that as well as huge 'surges' of methane being released by melting permafrost, the gas might be being released from the ocean itself. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas - and this unpredictable effect makes the climate puzzle even more complex. 'Uncertainty in the future atmospheric burden of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, represents an important challenge to the development of realistic climate projections,' say the scientists. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:34:45 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#No-Yard-of-the-Month-for-me http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#No-Yard-of-the-Month-for-me I have never understood the obsession many in our society have with creating a lawn that resembles the greens at Augusta National. Perhaps as a result of that I am not a fan of yard work. I would much rather read, sleep, fish, cook, eat or fall down a flight of stairs than cut, edge and fertilize. I think that this may stem from the fact that I don’t particularly see the point in doing something that by its very nature makes me continually repeat the process. First, I put out the weed and feed, which to me seems to do little more than feed the weeds. Then when things start growing and greening, I mow, edge and clean up the debris. As soon as that’s done, it’s time to get out the hose and water just to make sure that in another week or so it is time to mow and edge again. I don’t get it. Another thing I don’t like about lawns is that when it comes down to it, Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:29:57 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Lawn-care:-Expert-offers-tips-to-eliminate-brown-spots http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Lawn-care:-Expert-offers-tips-to-eliminate-brown-spots Brown spots in the grass all over her town prompted a Berkeley Heights reader to write for advice to help correct an unsightly problem. Russ Nicholson, senior agronomist for Pennington Seed, fielded the question and recommends his company's products as a solution. The company is one of many lawn-care product makers offering homeowners a wide range of options. Q. My whole town has brown grass on the curb part of the front lawns from all the tree branches that were laid out for several months until the branches were picked up. Is there something we should be doing now to get rid of the large areas of yellow/brown grass get it healthy? Debbie M., Berkeley Heights A. The browning is most likely the result of excessive moisture, compaction and a lack of sunlight. Depending on the grass species, some Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:25:10 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Climate-change-is-a-human-rights-issue-–-and-that's-how-we-can-solve-it http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Climate-change-is-a-human-rights-issue-–-and-that's-how-we-can-solve-it Global climate-change talks often resemble the scene of a traffic accident. Multiple voices shout each other down in a bid to tell their own version of events. What is the real damage, how quickly must it be repaired, and who should foot the bill? But the real concern is not that the debate is congested and gridlocked; it is that the current clamour masks a deeper failing, namely to identify an honest starting point. In Prosperity Without Growth, the economist Tim Jackson convincingly expounds the myth of "absolute decoupling" of emissions from economic growth. The growth of emissions can be slowed, relative to the growth rate of the economy. However, emissions cannot conceivably be stalled or reversed while the economy continues to expand, however great the carbon-saving technologies of the coming years. If our political processes cannot conceive of a non-growth future, and yet Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:14:11 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Grass-always-greener-with-proper-spring-care-Using-organic-products-is-the-way-to-go http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Grass-always-greener-with-proper-spring-care-Using-organic-products-is-the-way-to-go The months leading up to summer can be a major tease. The weather is somewhat warm, but that cool spring air is a reminder of the winter that was. We were arguably lucky this year, with minimal snowfall and temperatures that didn't foster the urge to hibernate for weeks at a time. Add to that, we were treated to a week of summer weather in March. Aside from making sun lovers very happy, that week also melted any remaining snow, allowing the spring germination to get underway. In order to be the talk of your block, proper lawn maintenance is essential, especially this time of year. The Gazette caught up with Peter Paliotti, co-owner of Envirolawn Inc. in N.D.G. to find out exactly what steps people should be taking to care for the greenery on their properties. According to Paliotti, organic lawn care is the way to go. LAWN The lawn requires a lot of work in the spring to ensure that it will be healthy throughout the summer. Firstly, you have to rake up all the Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:12:07 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-Warming:-Changes-We-Can-Already-See-In-The-World http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-Warming:-Changes-We-Can-Already-See-In-The-World Over the last 100 years, global temperatures have warmed by about 1.33 degrees Fahrenheit (0.74 degrees Celsius) on average. The change may seem minor, but it's happening very quickly — more than half of it since 1979, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Though it can still be difficult to tease out how much climate change plays in any given weather event, changes are occurring. In the spirit of Earth day, here's a look at our marvelous blue marble and the ways people and other living things are responding to global warming. [50 Amazing Facts About Earth] 1. Moving the military northward As the Arctic ice opens up, the world turns its attention to the resources below. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 30 percent of the world's undiscovered natural gas and 13 percent of its undiscovered oil are under this region. As a result, military action in the Arctic is heating up, with the United States, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Canada holding talks about regional security and border issues. Several nations, including the U.S., are also drilling troops in the far north, preparing for increased border patrol and disaster response efforts in a busier Arctic. 2. Altering breeding seasons As temperatures shift, penguins are shifting their breeding seasons, too. A March 2012 study found that gentoo penguins are adapting more quickly to warmer weather, Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:04:30 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#National-Supplier-Mow-More-Offers-Tips-for-Purchasing-Commercial-Mower-Blades http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#National-Supplier-Mow-More-Offers-Tips-for-Purchasing-Commercial-Mower-Blades 1. Use top quality commercial mower blades that are made from quality steel, heat treated to the optimum hardness. 2. Decide whether you are going to purchase an O.E.M. blade or an aftermarket blade. O.E.M. refers to the original equipment manufacturer (e.g. ExmarkTM, ScagTM, WalkerTM). O.E.M. mower blades are what come on your original equipment. As an alternative, you can feel comfortable using aftermarket blades purchased from a reputable supplier. Aftermarket blades are made to the same exacting specifications as the O.E.M. commercial mower blade and are often manufactured in the same plants. 3. It is important that you purchase commercial mower blades that are an exact match for the blade you are replacing. For instance, you never want to use a blade specified for a ScagTM lawnmower on an ExmarkTM mower or vice versa. To use anything less than the correct Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:59:46 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Climate-Change-‘Swing-Voters’-Affected-by-Weather,-Not-Denialists,-Says-Analyst http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Climate-Change-‘Swing-Voters’-Affected-by-Weather,-Not-Denialists,-Says-Analyst Whatever the Public’s Opinion on Wild Weather and Climate Extremes, World’s Scientists Report the Same Manmade Warming, but Worsening — With New Discoveries About the Jet Stream Just a quick note on an engaging video that can give you a glimpse of the new science on the jet stream… following a brief thought on public opinion and the worsening wild weather around the planet. Recent reports say public opinion is beginning to swing back up to a larger majority who “believe in global warming.” A New York Times headline says, “In Poll, Many Link Weather Extremes to Climate Change.” Actually, that link appears to be old news. Professor Jon Krosnick, who has been doing energy and climate public opinion research at Stanford University’s Woods Institute, has looked closely at the opinions of the 30 percent of people who have low confidence in scientists — crucial “swing voters” in polls about climate. He tells ABC News that his polling data, going back a number Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:17:37 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Earth’s-coolest-March-since-1999;-global-warming-on-the-wane? http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Earth’s-coolest-March-since-1999;-global-warming-on-the-wane? The heat in the U.S. during March was off the charts. How many times have you heard about the 15,000+ warm weather records that were set, many crushed? But the U.S. makes up just two percent of the planet and the rest of it wasn’t so hot. In fact, by recent standards, the Earth was cool - the coolest March since 1999. Does the relatively cool March dispel global warming, or - at least - represent a small piece of evidence refuting it? In short, no. March was still the 16th warmest on record since 1880, 0.83F above average. It marked the 325th straight month of above average global temperatures - coinciding with the inexorable increase in greenhouse gas levels. But temperatures don’t rise in a straight line - or monotonically - in response to greenhouse gases. Even when the overall temperature trend points up, natural cycles draw peaks and valleys into the long-term profile (see top image). In 2012, the fading La Nina - associated with below average surface temperature in the tropical Pacific - and other factors likely exerted a small cooling effect on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:43:15 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#I-fought-the-lawn,-the-lawn-won http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#I-fought-the-lawn,-the-lawn-won This year's early spring brought the landscapers out in March, and now you can hear the high-pitched whine of Weed Wackers and mowers competing with birdsong every day of the week. Long Island is the world's lawn-care center, hosting a kind of lawn Olympics as neighbors compete for the green. So the pressure's on. However, after years of struggling to create a carpet worthy of our ubiquitous golf courses, I surrender. My property is near the shore (read, sandy) and abounds with stately trees (shady). I have spent thousands of dollars in the past 20 years to beat my two acres into submission. At last I concede -- the land has won. It all came to a head last year when I attended a conference on Long Island water quality at the Locust Valley public library. Speakers explained how fertilizers and insecticides are getting into the Long Island Sound, killing shellfish and encouraging algae growth. I guiltily thought of the little Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:39:19 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#GREEN-THUMBS-UP:-Caring-for-the-landscape-in-early-spring http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#GREEN-THUMBS-UP:-Caring-for-the-landscape-in-early-spring A few light sprinkles were all Mother Nature could muster during the past week as a severe drought continues to plague our local South Shore landscapes. Typical New England springs often feature cold, damp, and dreary weather and soggy, wet soils only to be followed by instant summertime warmth, but as I raked the powdery, dry surface of my perennial borders, I yearned for a week of soaking April showers to revive my parched lawn and gardens. With more record warm temperatures predicted for the coming week, hauling watering cans and hoses may be warranted to ensure the survival of many valuable treasures that already appear limp and wilted even on cool, overcast days. Closer inspection of the perennial borders revealed significant winter damage to many of my evergreen plants caused by our lack of snow cover, which exposed them to desiccating sunlight and drying winds, and foraging deer, who stripped the leaves of Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:37:57 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Americans-connect-dots-between-global-warming-and-extreme-weather http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Americans-connect-dots-between-global-warming-and-extreme-weather Most Americans get it: global warming is intensifying heat waves and extreme precipitation to some degree. That’s the take away from a new public opinion survey from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. The survey, which queried more than 1,000 adults across the country about global warming and extreme weather, discovered roughly two-thirds of Americans believe global warming is linked to several of the extreme weather events of 2011 and the recent mild winter. Predictably, this news has drawn the full spectrum of reactions. Michael Lemonick, science writer at Climate Central, framed the survey results as a positive development in science communication and public awareness. He said the human brain is “a powerful pattern-recognition machine” concluding: “the recognition that climate change and extreme weather are indeed related is a significant step forward in an area where too much doubt and confusion Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:28:52 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Garden-and-lawn-care:-Information-and-advice-on-the-importance-of-soil-ph-levels http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Garden-and-lawn-care:-Information-and-advice-on-the-importance-of-soil-ph-levels The importance of soil ph level Soil pH tells a gardener whether the soil’s acid or alkaline condition needs to be adjusted in order to provide the optimal growing environment for garden and yard plants. Soil acidity or alkalinity, can affect how vigorously plants grow because soil pH influences the chemical availability of vital major elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and calcium. Plants need these nutrients so that they can produce their own proteins and carbohydrates. These mineral elements must be dissolved in water so that plant roots can absorb them. When the mixture of nutrients and water in soil is too acid or too alkaline, the elements will not dissolve readily, so plants cannot use them. An improper pH level can block the uptake of nutrients even though they are present in soil. When a soil sample is tested to find out whether it is acid or alkaline, the result is given as a pH number between 0 and 14. The term pH comes from the French words ‘pouvoir hydrogene’, literally meaning hydrogen power. The pH scale measures the hydrogen ion concentration of a Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:27:37 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#The-Cost-of-Green-Grass http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#The-Cost-of-Green-Grass NEW JERSEY’S recently enacted Fertilizer Law, designed to protect waterways from becoming overly nourished, sets new limits on the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that can be used on lawns and restricts the times when fertilizer can be applied. It is considered the toughest in the nation. But because of an early growing season and a timing hiccup affecting the certification process, it has at least temporarily been tough on landscapers, some of whom have found themselves unable to pursue business as usual until they receive the accreditation mandated by the law. For home gardeners, adherence to the new formulation standards is in principle as simple as following the instructions on a bag of fertilizer. “The manufacturers have already changed the formula to meet the new standards, and all the homeowner has to do is follow the directions,” said John Buechner, the director of Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:26:07 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-mystery:-Why-are-some-glaciers-growing? http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-mystery:-Why-are-some-glaciers-growing? Glaciers around the world are slowly melting, and scientists are quick to point their fingers at manmade climate change. But new research suggests that a few glaciers aren't shrinking at all, and may even be growing. Here, a brief guide to this counterintuitive phenomenon: Which glaciers are growing? A few glaciers in the Karakoram mountain range along the India-China-Pakistan border are gaining mass, according to a report published in the April issue of the journal Nature Geoscience. "The rest of the glaciers in the Himalayas are mostly melting," lead researcher Julie Gardelle tells LiveScience. "This is an anomalous behavior." How are scientists so sure? Researchers used satellite imaging to "analyze the extent of the ice in about a quarter of the range — about 2,167 square Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:20:50 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Enjoy-a-Green-Lawn-All-Season-Long http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Enjoy-a-Green-Lawn-All-Season-Long Everyone wants a lush, green lawn come warm weather season and while many homeowners use green solutions for their home, they may forget to extend those practices beyond the brick and mortar. But using sustainable practices can lead to a green lawn your family can enjoy all season long. According to the 2011 Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey from the National Gardening Association (NGA), 79 percent of U.S. households report that it's important to use environmentally friendly practices on lawns and landscapes -- residential, municipal and commercial. But that same survey found that only 17 percent of respondents gave their own lawn care maintenance methods a "green" grade. This is down from 28 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:18:11 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-opens-door-to-new-kind-of-Cold-War http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Global-warming-opens-door-to-new-kind-of-Cold-War To the world's military leaders, the debate over climate change is long over. They are preparing for a new kind of Cold War in the Arctic, anticipating that rising temperatures there will open up a treasure trove of resources, long-dreamed-of sea lanes and a slew of potential conflicts. By Arctic standards, the region is already buzzing with military activity, and experts believe that will increase significantly in the years ahead. Last month, Norway wrapped up one of the largest Arctic maneuvers ever - Exercise Cold Response - with 16,300 troops from 14 countries training on the ice for everything from high intensity warfare to terror Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:09:53 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Lawn-care:-add-nutrients-for-healthier-turf http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Lawn-care:-add-nutrients-for-healthier-turf Watering alone will not provide your lawn with the sufficient nutrients needed to grow a sturdy, healthy root system. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the primary nutrients that enhance plant development. They are also the three main components of most fertilizers. When properly applied, all fertilizers are beneficial to lawns and gardens. To ensure proper usage, read the bag and follow some basic steps: apply the right source of fertilizer at the Right Rate, Rate Time and in the Right Place. Always use a good quality fertilizer spreader and follow the application directions on the packaging. Avoid allowing fertilizer to runoff into sewers and waterways by sweeping any stray product back onto the lawn where it can do its job. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:07:28 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Benefits-of-aerating-your-lawn http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Benefits-of-aerating-your-lawn Aerating your lawn, which is poking holes in your soil to allow water to get to the roots, can help keep your lawn alive, and if you do it now, you can get it over with, before that texas heat travels in again. KETK asked local lawn care experts why there are many East Texans that don't take the time to aerate that yards. They said here in East Texas there is very sandy soil, so many people take it for granted that the water is going to find its way down to the roots. For others its just something that doesn't seem to come up nearly as often as it should. But if this sounds like something your yard needs, now Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:11:24 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#State-pushes-green-lawn-care-for-Bay http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#State-pushes-green-lawn-care-for-Bay Maryland's law limiting lawn fertilizer practices doesn't kick in for more than a year yet, but state officials are urging homeowners to get a jump on the new curbs by limiting how much grass food they put down now. At a press conference in Annapolis to kick off Earth Week, state Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance said there's no reason not to start using greener lawn and gardening practices at home this year. He said restoring the Chesapeake Bay needs homeowners to join farmers in taking care where, when and how they apply fertilizer. Nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are key ingredients in lawn fertilizer, which accounts for about 44 percent of all fertilizer sold in Maryland. While farms have been subject to at least some regulation for a decade now, lawmakers adopted curbs last year on residential and business fertilizer practices to help meet the state's Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:09:59 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Climate-change-scientists-look-back----3-million-years----to-look-to-future http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Climate-change-scientists-look-back----3-million-years----to-look-to-future To figure out what is likely to happen to Earth's climate this century, scientists are looking 3 million years into the past. They have concluded that the most revealing slice of time is the Pliocene Epoch, a warm, wet period between 3.15 million and 2.85 million years ago, when the world probably looked and felt much as it does now. Global temperatures and the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were similar to today's climate, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Knowing more about the Pliocene is useful for climate modelers around the world who create sophisticated computer programs to simulate what global warming could bring to Earth. But recreating ancient climate conditions has also given fuel to those who question human-caused global warming. In the Pliocene Epoch, there were no humans to spur carbon dioxide emissions, so the similarity in Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:31:20 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Beating-the-cosmetic-pesticide-ban-As-provincial-prohibitions-loom,-summer-spraying-plans-proceed http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Beating-the-cosmetic-pesticide-ban-As-provincial-prohibitions-loom,-summer-spraying-plans-proceed While the province puts the finishing touches on a plan to ban cosmetic pesticides, school districts, utility companies, city hall and dozens of others are forging ahead with summer spraying. In recent weeks, everyone from MTS to the River East Transcona School Division has issued notices alerting the public to upcoming weed-control programs using many of the same chemicals likely to become part of an upcoming provincial ban. That includes common commercial weed-killers such as 2,4-D, glyphosate and mecoprop, all of which are prohibited in most provinces with cosmetic-pesticide bans. In February, newly minted Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh confirmed he was planning to introduce a cosmetic-pesticide ban similar to ones already in place in most Canadian provinces. The Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:29:55 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Landscape-Logic:-Four-things-your-lawn-needs-from-you http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Landscape-Logic:-Four-things-your-lawn-needs-from-you Lawn care may not be rocket science, but it's still science. So if you want to have a great lawn, pay attention to what the researchers at Colorado State University and experienced professionals have to say about lawn care. Myths may abound, but science still rules! Here are four things your lawn needs: No. 1: Water, but check soil moisture first. Get out a screwdriver and push it into the soil. If the ground is hard and resistant, you need to water. Drag out the hose, and give the grass a good soak. Allow water to soak down a good 3 inches into the soil. If it starts to run off or puddle, stop watering. CSU turf scientists will tell you that grass roots develop in the spring and they need to be growing deep right now. If you just spritz the lawn frequently — instead of one good soak— you're almost doing more harm than good because you're not encouraging roots to grow deep. Water less often, water thoroughly and you'll have a healthier and more drought-tolerant lawn. No. 2: Fertilizer, but wait until May. The only reason to apply fertilizer early is if you apply the weed-and-feed variety that controls germination of early-season weeds. According to the CSU Extension, applying a high-nitrogen fertilizer in April may cause grass to grow too fast, before roots are ready to support the lawn. This makes a lawn less tolerant of summer heat. Also remember that if you use a mulching mower and aerate, the grass clippings and aeration plugs will be cut up and dispersed across the lawn by the mower. As that matter breaks down, it adds nutrients to the grass. This Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:28:48 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/Cobourg-Lawn-Care-and-Snow-Service-Business-Reaches-a-Milestone.html http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/Cobourg-Lawn-Care-and-Snow-Service-Business-Reaches-a-Milestone.html A page describing a Cobourg Lawn Care and Snow Service Business that Reaches a Milestone… Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:04:21 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Liberals-and-conservatives-don’t-just-vote-differently.-They-think-differently. http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Liberals-and-conservatives-don’t-just-vote-differently.-They-think-differently. “Follow the money.” As a young journalist on the political left, I often heeded this well-worn advice. If conservatives were denying the science of global warming, I figured, big fossil-fuel companies must be behind it. After all, that was the story with the tobacco industry and the dangers of smoking. Why not here? And so I covered the attacks on the established scientific knowledge on climate change, evolution and many more issues as a kind of search for the wealthy bad guys behind the curtain. Like many in Washington, I tended to assume that political differences are either about contrasting philosophies or, more cynically, about money and special interests. There’s just one problem: Mounting scientific evidence suggests that this is a pretty limited way of understanding what divides us. And at a time of unprecedented polarization in America, we need a more convincing explanation for the staggering irrationality of our politics. Especially since we’re now split not just over what we ought to do politically but also over what we Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:20:45 GMT http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Shift-to-organic-gardening-is-easy-with-bounty-of-new-products http://www.your-lawn-care-basics-coach.com/lawn-care-blog.html#Shift-to-organic-gardening-is-easy-with-bounty-of-new-products Perfect timing — Earth Day is around the corner, and the "Go Green" initiative is getting more followers every year. Now is a great time to look at some organic options that are available for you to use around your home. Organic lawn care is one of the latest trends to see growth in the United States over the past several years. More customers are seeking out natural products that are good for the environment. You will see more of these products in home improvement stores as it becomes more of the norm and less of a novelty. Over the past five years, we have doubled the number of types of organic soils in our stores. Vigoro organic garden soil and Vigoro organic potting mix are just two examples of new organic products to St. Louis-area Home Depots this year. We now carry six times as many types of organic lawn and garden chemicals than we did five years ago. These items include a wide variety of regional and national organic plant foods such as Mater Magic, Dynamite, Scotts, Jobe, Espoma, Kellogg and Preen. With the growth in organics, we continue to see a trend in growing your own herb and veggie gardens. We Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:18:48 GMT