Who is the Yard Doctor?

All the Dirt on Briggs & Stratton's Yard Doctor, Trey Rogers, Ph.D.

John (Trey) Rogers, Ph.D., is a professor of turfgrass science at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. He is regarded as one of the country's leading experts on growing and maintaining healthy lawns.

A consultant to Briggs & Stratton, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines for outdoor power equipment, Dr. Rogers is a frequent guest on television and radio programs around the nation and has been quoted in numerous print publications.




Three Lawn Culprits: Algae, Moss and Fungi

Algae, moss and fungi are unattractive organisms that can cause damage to your lawn. To eliminate these problems from your lawn, you must be able to identify the organisms, understand what factors contribute to their development and take the appropriate steps to remove them. This article will explore each issue separately and focus on preventing future occurrences.

Algae: A Slimy Addition to Your Lawn

While most people think of algae as associated with aquatic environments, algae can also accumulate on soil. Algae takes the form of a green scum on bare soil, drying into a black crust. Here are some contributing factors that lead to algae:

* Wet, compacted soils that have often been overfertilized
* Low areas of the lawn or areas with heavy shade

What do they look like?

White grubs, sometimes called grubworms or grubs, can vary in size from a few millimeters in length to close to 1 inch. Regardless of length, however, the shape and color are all similar. They have brown heads with large jaws, and plump, cream-colored bodies. The back part of their abdomen is often dark from ingesting roots and soil. They tend to take a C-shaped position, so if you see a mass of fat, white insects aligned like that letter, you've spotted grubs.

Watering the lawn is both an art and a science. The science comes from the integral role water plays in benefiting plant growth and development. The art encompasses volume, timing and frequency, all of which can change based on environmental conditions. The following watering guidelines will help create a great-looking yard now and throughout the season.

Just an inch will do - How much water does a lawn need to stay healthy and green? The general rule of thumb is that most grass requires 1 inch of water per week. Research has shown that proper mowing and fertilizing practices encourage a deeply rooted, healthy lawn that efficiently uses its water supply. However, a lawn may need more water if it is under stress from foot traffic, insects or other environmental factors.

Lawn Equipment Tools For The Job - Popular Service Tools!

It should go without saying that having the right tools to work on lawn mower equipment is a major aspect of any job.

Most of what you need is an assortment of common hand tools that are usually already available around the average home or workshop.

I've listed below a few specialty tools that you should have access to in addition to your common hand tools. Most of these are relatively inexpensive and can be used for more than troubleshooting small engines and lawn mowers.

Read the complete article here...

Safe Storage and Disposal of Lawn and Garden Products Protect Family Well-Being and the Environment

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jul 28, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Lawn and garden products are key to growing and maintaining beautiful lawns, flowerbeds and other landscaping around homes. When those products are put away for the season, however, their proper storage and disposal can also contribute meaningfully to a more beautiful world in other ways.

"Lawn and garden products can be used safely year after year, but their proper storage is critical," said Chris Schmenk, director of Environmental Stewardship at Scotts. "It is never appropriate to spill excess product down the drain or into a storm sewer. It is also important not to allow products to be spilled onto a hard surface where they can drain out to the driveways or a street. Proper storage and disposal will keep products where they belong -- on lawns and in gardens -- and help ensure we keep our water clean and our families safe."

History and Telltale Signs Help Homeowners Identify and Properly Combat Grub Problems in Their Lawns

Not every lawn problem during grub season is a grub problem

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jun 29, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- This is the time of year when homeowners turn their thoughts towards summer and all the wonderful activities that the great outdoors has to offer - playing catch with your children, barbequing with friends, or just walking barefoot in the grass. However, for some homeowners, these pleasures may not be quite as enjoyable depending on the condition of their lawn. If your lawn had bare patches, yellow spots or did not have the same firmness underfoot last fall or perhaps you noticed these problems this spring, you may have had a grub problem.

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

Summer is the season when you and your family look forward to relaxing on the lawn. Whether you're playing catch with the kids, working on your tan or simply strolling around barefoot, there's something special about the feel of lush green grass tickling your toes.

However, summer is also the time when your lawn is most likely to suffer at the hands of mother nature. Not so much lush green grass; more dry brown straw.

Several readers sent me e-mails asking about summer lawn care, and one reader wrote to thank me for a helpful lawn care column that ran here about a year ago. Much of what follows is adapted from that earlier column because it is just as relevant today as it was then!

Starting from Scratch

One might think that establishing a new lawn is done by simply placing seeds in the ground and watching them grow into beautiful green turf.  If that were the case, then everyone would have a showpiece lawn.  Here are 10 easy steps that will transform that soil into a lush, lavish lawn.

Bear in mind that establishing a yard from seed is a holistic process – sort of like brewing a cup of coffee.  If you take these steps out of order (or omit one), your chances of success will dwindle.

For all the fear "crabgrass" strikes in homeowners, it is a relatively simple plant to control. The secret to fighting crabgrass involves learning its modus operandi and applying control strategies before and after it strikes.  Read on to find out how to win the crabgrass battle. 

The enemy's profile

Crabgrass is a summer annual plant, which means it reproduces from seed each year. Two main crabgrass types likely appear in homeowners' yards – large crabgrass (Digitaria sanquinalis) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum). The plant's light apple green color and soft blades easily identify itself to homeowners.

March is here, and the landscape is already showing signs of waking up from winter. Birds are singing, flowers are beginning to creep into your vision, and... what's this? The lawn is beginning to emerge as well. With the colors of green beginning to spring up, many lawn care questions spring into the mind as well. When should I mow? Should I fertilize? What about those obnoxious weeds? In order to obtain a wonderful turf area for the coming warmer months,
good lawn maintenance starts now.

Turfgrass can be split into two broad categories: warm season grasses and cool season grasses. Warm season grasses include varieties like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass, and grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue are part of the cool season section. The category of grass you have in your landscape dictates what kind of maintenance practices should be performed on your lawn at this time of the year.