Weed Control Using Landscape Fabrics!

Choosing the correct landscape fabric for weed control can be a very time consuming and frustrating exercise, as anyone who has gone through the process will gladly confirm. The manufacturers of landscaping fabrics produce and publish specifications; however the major problem is that their largest market is construction. Hence, they produce their specifications with the construction market in mind. If you have an unlimited amount of time and a lot of patients you can read through all of the manufacturers’ specifications and try to garner some useful comparison information that will be useful in weed control and prevention.

When choosing a fabric for landscaping, there are three primary areas to consider:
The strength of the fabric is relative to the amount of air and water flow that will permeate through the fabric. Stronger materials allow less water and air to flow through the fabric. When choosing a fabric for your landscaping project you should identify one that has adequate strength for the application, any additional strength is counter productive and will cost you more.

You want to choose a fabric that has a consistent and even dispersal of fibers. The mesh size should be as small as possible in order to prevent weedy grasses from penetrating the fabric’s openings. Weeds and grasses do not grow through the fabric they are attracted by any minute quantities of light that may penetrate the openings between the weave in the fabric or in separations that have occurred between pieces of fabric. Weeds can germinate in the smallest amount of soil and hence will grow on top of the fabric, if there are the tiniest amounts of earth, sending fine root hairs through the fabrics weave on a quest for nutrients and moisture from the soil.

To prevent weed and grass growth appearing through the fiber’s weave consider the use of a spunbonded fabric because of its microscopic mesh size.

There is a fine balancing act with respect to the porosity of the landscaping fabric. You want the mesh to be fine enough to prevent weed and grass growth but you want the holes in the mesh to be large enough to provide sufficient water and air to enter the soil. The fabric’s ability to breath; to allow oxygen and moisture to pass through the fabric and aerate and water the soil so that the plants will be hardy and not starved of essential life sustaining material. It is this feature that separates the average landscaping fabrics from the superior ones. This is why the use of plastic sheeting as a weed deterrent does not work. It may prevent the growth of weeds and grasses but it also prevents air and water from entering the soil. A fabric that does not have good permeability will create the problems of water run off which will wash away any coverings such as bark or mulch that may be lying on the surface of the fabric.

For additional information on landscaping your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Prudehome

Six Ways To Get A Healthy Lawn

Mowing:This is the main activity in turfgrass care. In general, the more often it is done, the better the quality you can expect. Mow as often as feasible throughout the the growing time. This will "tighten the turf, cut down on thatch and preserve nutrients, decrease water and fertilizer needs, stop weeds from going to seed, decrease pest problems, virtually eliminate fungus and is the single BEST way to provide a better lawn.

Cultivation:Most often, cultivation on lawns is done by "aerifying". Aerifying a lawn is the process of opening up the ground to allow water and air into it. This is usually done with spikes or a core removing aereator. This should be done about once per month in very heavily traffic ed areas. It can be done less often in lighter traffic areas. It is best not to aerify after October, and certainly no later than the end of November. If you do, you will be planting those weed seed that would have otherwise laid on the top of the ground and rotted.

Overseeding:If you want a green lawn all winter, in moderate climates, you can overseed with perennial ryegrass, or fescue. There are some drawbacks. The use of pre emergent chemicals, may cause the seed not to germinate at rates high enough to give a good "stand". You should really do one or the other. Most "weed and feed" products, contain pre emergants. There may also be a need to chemically remove the winter grass to allow the summer grasses to have a long enough season to grow to their full potential.

If you choose to take this route, it is better to overseed when the proper conditions exist, and not at a pre appointed time. These conditions generally exist about two weeks before the first killing frost. Check ground temperature, and rate recommendations, for the seed you will be using.

Fertilization:About a pound of nitrogen, the first ingredient listed on the bag, per thousand square feet, three times per season is usually sufficient. Golf courses and athletic fields use more fertilizer, more often, but home lawns really don't need that much. Do this before rain, or irrigate soon afterward. As with all lawncare products, check the container for rate recommendations.

Chemical Applications:To get rid of weeds and weedy grasses you may have to resort to the use of chemicals from time to time. This should be limited if all the steps listed above were done right. The best weed prevention on the market, is a good sharp lawn mower used often. If a lawn is mowed frequently, weeds do not have a chance to produce seed. In the case of perennial weeds, some chemical controls may be needed. Most of the "new" chemicals on the market, contain some of the older ones. It is important to treat for your target weed, and nothing else if possible. Get the product recommended for your need, follow the label directions carefully, and apply only when needed. Pre emergents can be very useful but be certain they are being used at the proper times. Insecticides and fungicides may occasionally be needed, but if the mowing part of the equation was done properly, insects and fungus will be a much smaller problem.

Irrigation:If you use irrigation, water only as much as needed to keep your lawn healthy. Automated systems are great for convenience, but even when coupled with tensometers, a human element is needed. You can easily tell if your lawn is under stress, and a short stroll will let you know if you need to back off of the artificial rain. Too much water, can be worse than too little, causing an environment where fungus, insects, weeds, and unnecessary growth are problems.
James Burns is a licensed pest control, lawn, garden, and landscape professional, and the owner of Rational Environmental Solutions, an IPM based service and information company specializing in "non native" pest problems and aquatic pest control.

You can view his website at: http://www.rationalenvironmentalsolutions.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_F._Burns

Lawn Care and Fertilizer Tip to Create a Great Lawn

One of the things homeowners take the most pride in is a great-looking lawn. It can be time-consuming and frustrating, but with persistence, you can keep your lawn looking beautiful.

Here are a few lawn care tips. Begin by raking up leaves and cleaning up all debris. If there are high or low spots in the yard, level them. This will give your lawn a much more lush and uniform appearance--it levels the playing field, so to speak.

Use a good grade of topsoil to fill any holes, since you want your grass to have the best medium possible in which to grow. If the yard has bumps, cut an X in the rise and then peel the sod back. Using a garden trowel, scoop out enough soil to level the area, and then push the sod back into place.

Tamp the sod down firmly, to bring the roots into good contact with the soil, and then give the area a good soaking to promote root growth.If you find bare spots, you’ll need to add grass seed. Make sure that the new seed will be tolerant of your area’s weather conditions, and also for the particular spot where you’ll be planting it. Some grass seed is tolerant of a fair amount of shade, for instance, while other seed needs full sun. Also take into account how much traffic the area will be getting, because some grasses are less tolerant than others of being walked or played on.

To maintain a lush, green yard, you’ll probably need to water it at times. When you do, water it deeply early in the morning, so the water will soak down to the roots and not just be evaporated into the air or merely wet the surface, causing shallow root growth. You want your grass to have deep, healthy roots.When you mow the lawn, never cut off more than a third of the blades, and make sure your mower’s blade is sharp. For photosynthesis, grass needs an adequate blade surface area and if you remove too much, your lawn will be susceptible to disease. Most of all, keep a close eye on your lawn’s health through regular inspection. There's an adage that says, "The best fertilizer for a piece of property is the footsteps of its owner." That's certainly true of a vibrant, healthy lawn. Look for trouble spots, learn to recognize problems, and address them immediately when you find them.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher
Author Jeanette Fisher, America's "Dream Home" Maker, teaches interior design, redesign, and home staging. You can ask her questions on her Amazon blog or see http://www.joytothehome.com/ for free home decorating teleseminars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Joy_Fisher

Lawn Care 101 - Picking The Right Type Of Grass

Garden Design With Lawns
By picking up a few things about how to choose the right type of lawn for your backyard you can ensure a beautiful design that is both easy to keep up and doesn’t require unreasonable amount of energy to look its best.

The Color Of the Lawn
Though light and dark green are equally pleasing to the eye, most people prefer a darker shade of green for their yards. To ensure the newly planted darker turf doesn’t get overrun by the lighter color blades of the existing grass you should pick a type that mixes well, for a unified look.
Kinds of Grass Available

Grasses come in many shapes, shades and sizes and can originate from your area or much further locales. You should therefore be able to find a type of grass that suits the growing conditions of your plot, the level of sun exposition it receives and the kind of weather you get.

Back To Basics
It is essential that you establish what types of lawn are suitable for your plot, condition of the soil and size of the area: these elements are important for a great looking result and your local home improvement and garden store should be able to advise.

Turf or Seed?
Before you get planting you need to select whether you want to lay turf or sow seeds.
New Lawn Maintenance

It is essential that you look after your new lawn properly, by maintaining a regular care program: regular watering, mowing twice a week, tidying up the edges every 7 to 10 days, adding fertilizer four times a year, and also possibly applying lime and thatching on a yearly basis.

Fertilizing and watering
Watering and feeding will promote healthy growth, to keep your lawn looking great at all times. Once you’ve established what routine is most suitable you should aim to maintain it.

A lawn in good order will not only generate oxygen and help maintain a healthy environment for you and yours: it will also act as a fantastic erosion prevention tool and absorb both dangerous toxins and noise. Keep your grass happy and it will repay you in the long term!

Andrew Caxton is a journalist who has written more articles and newsletters on this subject for http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/ . You can find more information and resources on type of grass at his website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton