Lawn Maintaince

IA Refines Strategy, Standards

The Irrigation Association has refined its mission statement and strategic initiatives following its July meeting of the Board of Directors. This includes the addition of “standards” as a new strategic initiative, which will focus on establishing product and practice standards that drive efficient irrigation.

Mission Statement:  Promote efficient irrigation technologies, products and services.

Strategic Initiatives:  Education, certification, government/public affairs and standards.  

“At its core, the Irrigation Association is a trade association, so the mission statement was refined to ensure it reflects our industry knowledge and expertise,” said IA President Mike Harrington. He emphasized that the organization’s unifying statement – to ensure water is available for irrigation for future generations – remains the same.

IA’s Board of Directors also updated the organization’s strategic initiatives, defining a new focus on standards.

“Government entities, businesses and the public are becoming increasingly cognizant of water’s value and finite state, so the ability to prove our industry’s efficiency is going to be pivotal in our continued growth,” said Harrington. “Therefore, IA has chosen to add a strategic focus on establishing product and practice standards that drive efficient irrigation.

“Our strategic focus on influencing public policy remains unchanged; because certification and education have increased in importance, the Board felt that each category should stand alone as a strategic initiative.” IA’s marketing/communications efforts will continue to support all initiatives

Ground Cover

 From a purely practical point of view, groundcovers offer alternatives to turf in hard-to-mow sites and reduce the need for watering and other maintenance. Groundcovers conserve moisture, maintain even soil temperatures and stabilize soil in erosion-prone areas.

Groundcovers can create visual pathways to help direct foot traffic and can help link ornamental plants or provide transitions among outdoor spaces. Many groundcovers spread quickly to form dense plantings, which can help to inhibit weeds.

Selection

When selecting groundcovers, consider their spread, height, location, function, foliage texture and color. Since no single species of plant works for every landscape situation, pay attention to soil conditions, light and moisture requirements. Some plants prefer partial shade, while others thrive in deep shade or full sun; a few tolerate a wide variety of light conditions. The most effective selections are chosen with an eye for how plant sizes relate to the intimacy or expanse of particular landscape sites. When groundcover will be used to prevent soil erosion on a steep slope, it should have an extensive root system and vigorous growth habit. Some groundcovers do not withstand excessive foot traffic. Before planting anything, create a walkway through areas intended for pedestrians

 Soil Preparation

A key to successfully establishing groundcovers is proper soil preparation. Before planting, eliminate weeds and turf from the area. For large areas, use a sod-stripping machine to clear turf. For weed control, consider a glyphosate herbicide or soil solarization. The process of solarizing uses the heat of the summer sun to raise soil temperatures high enough to kill harmful organisms and seeds in the ground. Solarize soil by laying strong transparent plastic over cleared and moistened soil. Seal the edges with soil and leave plastic in place for four to six weeks.

Few things in the home landscape generate as much pride as a healthy lawn and for some, it can generate fear and loathing. Having a lush green turf can be challenging, but true lawn American Lawn lovers enjoy the small tasks required for a great looking lawn. For those that fear the challenge, it most likely is because they don't understand the basic principles involved in maintaining a healthy lawn.

Some people feel that lawns are worthless and that the entire country would be better without the green expanse of lawns that surround our homes. They forget that grass is a natural element of our environment, whether that plant was here when the pilgrims landed or not, doesn't mean a thing. When the pilgrims landed, we didn't have large farms that could feed the entire world either, does that mean we should go back to the way things were 300 years ago? Of course not.

Turf grasses are ideal for what we require

Grass is an ideal plant that is readily available and provides an environment for multiple uses around the home. If it didn't provide this comfortable environment, then we wouldn't be growing grass, we'd be growing something else. It is part of our American culture to strive for excellence in all that we do. That's part of what makes America so different from the rest of the countries in the world. It is in our nature, our basic genes so to speak, that causes us to be the best and it is in this drive for perfection that has created the American Lawn we have today.

The American Lawn is almost an institution. Because we are so driven to excel that we sometimes get into trouble by trying to grow certain grasses in geographic areas that shouldn't be growing there. In these situations growing grass becomes an indulgence that perhaps should be criticized. Trying to grow Kentucky Bluegrass in the southwest is not only futile, but extravagant. Trying to grow a grass not suited for a region, means that an artificial climate must be created for it. This is extremely wasteful. In the north and northeast, the climate their is ideally suited for Kentucky Bluegrass. It doesn't require vast amount of irrigation to thrive. The soils are such that it doesn't require vast amounts of fertilization to thrive. The same holds for the south. Turf grasses grown there are ideally suited for these weather extremes.