Summer Lawn Fertilization

Lush Summer Lawn

It is tempting to do a light mid-summer lawn fertilization, because it sometimes produces a rapid rich luscious green lawn growth. Sometimes, on the other hand, it thins lawn growth or even turns the grass brown (fertillizer burn). Scotts makes a mid-summer fertilizer mix (light on nitrogen) and claims it won't burn the grass. In the fine print, though, Scott's warns homeowners not to use the mix if the temperatures will be rising above 90 degrees. Other fertilizers which claim their supplement is specially adapted for summer are "Seed Starter" - the numbers are 10-10-10, and "Turf tone" by Espoma, which has almost the same formula. 

But what is the truth about summer fertilizing? First off, summer grass is not actively growing. What, you are thinking, my grass grows and I mow the lawn every summer. Yes, but active grass growth means the tiny plants are storing food in the roots, growing and developing the root system, forming rhizomes, and tillering (producing new shoots).  During the hot stressful summer, the blades grow, but the plant is, if anything, utilizing and not storing root food. And it is best to give grass fertilizer when the grass in the active growth mode. Fertilizing in the summer causes unnatural rapid shoot growth. Underground the roots become flimsy and succulent, unable to penetrate deep into the soil like healthy roots. So even if the above ground grass growth looks vital and green, underground you are damaging the plant. Over time you will compromise the plant's health, making it vulnerable to stress, and impairing its growth. 

Fertilizing with an organic supplement is a healthy alternative to summer fertilization. Organic mixes such as Milorganite, soy bean meal, and others feed soil organisms and not the roots. Soil organisms contribute to healthy grass growth and also slowly metabolize the supplement, turning it into nitrogen that will be available for the grass growing seasons. Synthetic fertilizers, on the other hand, (Scott's et al) feed the grass and cause the unnatural harmful growth alluded to above. So this summer or the next, if you must fertilize mid-summer, choose a healthy organic supplement instead of a synthetic fertilizer.

For expert lawn care in the Westchester and Putnam County areas, contract the Turf Barbers. 929 Quinlan St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, United States; +1 914-302-2469; http://www.trufbarbers.com  

Stone Wall Aesthetics

An Attractive Stone Wall

Stone walls, especially those consisting of irregularly shaped field stones, may seem far removed from the realm of aesthetics; however, even the most lugubrious natural constructions are bound by aesthetic principles, and those produced by amateurs are readily discernible by their lack of conformity to these ideals of outdoor masonry composition. Common wall design aesthetic errors, which can even be committed by professionals, include misaligned patterns, staggered height of the wall caps (top of the wall), lack of unity in the construction, and lack of a sense of conformity with the look of the local environment.  

Blending a wall's appearance with the local structures and scenery - be it urban or rural – is an essential artistic consideration. A single wall segment that is out of place will be distracting and will diminish the visual appeal of the overall project. There are several creative effects which every mason should be mindful about when designing and erecting an outdoor stone edifice.  Top of the wall lines that are smooth and curvilinear are desirable. Varying stone color either by selection or stone staining can enhance the aesthetics of the project. Transitions in a repeating pattern must be handled delicately when constructing a wall with a tapering height or when creating corners.  The further away a typical viewer will be, the coarser the wall features should be. When constructing a wall that has directional changes, the mason must be careful to create attractive horizontal or curvilinear wall angle changes.   

Don't be fooled into thinking stone walls are bulky mechanical constructions with no artistic merit. That may be somewhat true of a "do it yourself" project, but walls created by professional masons and landscapers will often have a seemingly random stone placement that belies the skill and planning of the artisan who created it.   

For expert stone wall construction in the Yorktown Heights, Westchester County , Putnam County area, contact the Turf Barbers;929 Quinlan St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, United States; +1 914-302-2469

Stone Wall Texture Ideas

When creating a stone wall, you need to consider the type of texture you want to produce. Wall texture can vary in degree of smoothness, pattern uniformity, extensions of the wall surface from the flat plane, uniformity of the individual masonry units, size of the masonry units, type of binding - dry stacked or mortar bound.

Silky smooth uniform stone walls may be made of marble or polished stone. Some stone wall surfaces may be uniform but not smooth. Concrete walls are uniform, but the extent of smoothness depends upon how the concrete was applied and treated. There are techniques for transforming a rough concrete wall into a smooth one, including applying a thin layer of plaster or concrete to the surface (parging), sandblasting, or use of a a grinding or sanding disk. Stucco walls are also uniform and their texture ranges from smooth to coarse.

Most stone walls consist of joined masonry units (such as stones or brick). The shape of the individual pieces forming a wall may be uniform or dissimilar. Masonry units that are ordinarily similar include brick, manufactured stones, and sets of identical appearing stones that were harvested from nature. Dissimilar stones may be sets of manufactured stone that are deliberately made to look different one from another or else non-matched, natural harvested stone.

Masonry units such as concrete blocks, manufactured pavers, or flat natural stones, such as slate, can make a flat surface. Three dimensional wall surfaces, on the other hand, bulge outward to some extent  with differing patterns of projection. Varieties of wall surface projections range from rounded, smooth contours created by naturally smooth or polished natural stones to sharp angular contours created by square non-uniform stacked stone. Stones harvested from nature make a rugged but not necessarily jagged looking texture (see photo). Some stone walls consist of regular patterns of semicircular stones that extend out from the surface in a jolly bumpy pattern.

Stones in a wall may be stacked (dry stone wall) or connected with mortar. The mechanism used to join stones will affect the wall’s texture. Mortar , while primarily used to bind stones, also adds to the wall’s texture. Sometimes the mortar is placed so as to blend the individual stones into one uniform surface. Other times the mortar is recessed from the the stone surface, creating an appreciable texture variation.

What is the sense in creating a rough wall? It might be for protection, as a rough wall will be more difficult to climb or it might be for beautification, as surface textures can be applied in myriad aesthetically pleasing patterns.

For expert stone wall installation and building in Westchester County call the
Turf Barbers; 914 302 2469 ; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

http://www.theturfbarbers.com

Outdoor Masonry Stone Projects

Outdoor Stone Wall

Among outdoor masonry projects, stone work has its own unique features and creative challenges. Examples of outdoor stone work include but are not limited to outdoor chairs, stone borders, and stone walls. One thing that sets stone work apart from any other landscaping media is its uniqueness.  No two projects will turn out exactly alike, because each stone is different in size, shape, and color.  The excitement of working in stone is that you won't know exactly how the project will turn out until the last stone is fitted into its nitch. Stone work stands out from other types of hardscape because of its durability and solid functionality. An outdoor patio chair will last an average of seven years. An outdoor stone chair can last literally centuries. Stone work is also among the most sustainable forms of home improvement, especially when local rock is used. The project only requires reordering parts of the natural landscape.  

Unlike prefabricated stone masonry, which entail completing a step by step plan, outdoor stonework is a creative endeavor from start to finish. Pre-ordered stone can make lovely stone work; however, selecting stone from a local stone quarry outlet, or harvesting stone from the local environment calls for creativity as it requires attention to the color and shape of each specific stones the builder is purchasing.  Selection will go a long way towards determining the ultimate outcome of the project.  Building with outdoor stone is an equally creative undertaking. Each stone must be carefully inspected for size, shape and color. As each piece is being added, the builder must strive to fit the right stone into the right nitch. Making a stone wall is like creating an abstract painting. One wall builder might be a rank amateur, another a Jackson Pollack. Look closely at the wall pictured on the page. You will see large stones interspersed with small ones, horizontally aligned stones interspersed with vertically or diagonally placed ones.  Sections of the wall, where smaller stoned segments flow past larger stones, will draw your attention. In one segment stones are arranged in an exciting wheel like whorl. In another area, upper stones suggest an arch. No two walls are alike and no two segments of the wall are identical.

Stone work, especially involving larger stones, might be the most physically exacting part of outdoor masonry. However, at the end of the day, the homeowner or mason can rest with a sense of ultimate satisfaction. He has constructed something that will last for centuries. He has irrevocably changed the face of the landscape. A stone wall may cordon off a space for hundreds of years or more. Some historical walls are thousands of years old and draw spectators to this day.  A carpenter works with wood harvested from a tree that might be 25, 50, 100 years old, or more; whereas the stone mason uses rocks that can last for literally millions of years and bring with them an ineffable sense of the Earth's history.

In the final analysis, two unique qualities and challenges of stone masonry stand out above all the others. "Solid functionality." More than any other type of landscaping, stone masonry combines solidity with functionality. "The challenge of fitting the right stone into the right nitch." Building a stone project is an in the now creative challenge whose outcome cannot be known until the last stone is laid into place.  

For professional outdoor stone masonry in the Yorktown Heights, Westchester County area contact the Turf Barbers; 914 302 2469 ; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; 

Fertilizer and Green Grass

Lush green grass is one of the premier goals of lawn care. The greenness of the grass depends on supplies of  the proper amount of water and nutrients in the soil. Grass needs 16 ingredients in the soil for normal growth. The ingredients include macro-nutrients, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur; and micro-nutrients, iron, manganese, zinc, boron, copper, molybdenum, and chlorine. 

The first three elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are never deficient in plants because they are provided in the form of water and carbon dioxide. 

Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are the primary nutrients. They are also the most prevalent ingredients in soil supplements. The inclusion of these chemicals in fertilizers is referred to as NPK and is expressed as, for example, 10-10-10,  which means this fertilizer contains 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium. 

Secondary nutrients are seldom added to a fertilizer chemical mix and may also be supplied as lime. Secondary nutrients include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. 

Micro-nutrients are required in trace amounts and are rarely included in fertilizer. Two exceptions are fertilizer used for very sandy soil such as for golf putting greens and iron supplements used to create very green looking grass without the risk of excess foliage.

Each of the nutrients play a specific role in stimulating grass color and growth. Nitrogen stimulates root and shoot growth, green color, and disease and stress resistance. Phosphorus stimulates seed development, root/shoot growth, and maturation. It is therefore an important ingredient in starter fertilizers. Potassium stimulates leaf turgor, cold and stress tolerance, and disease resistance. 

Calcium deficiencies can result in poor root and shoot growth. Magnesium deficiency results in foliar chlorosis (yellowing). And sulfur deficiency results in deficient chlorophyll production. 

Having seen how important the plant nutrients are in promoting green healthy grass, you can understand why it is important to test your soil to determine chemical content and then select a fertilizer that will correct the deficiencies. 

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Resources: For exceptional lawn care and maintenance in the Yorktown Heights and Westchester County, NY area contact the Turf Barbers; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; 914 302 2469 ; http://www.the turfbarbers.com

Fertilizer Burn Treatment and Prevention

Fertilizer Burns

Fertilizer burn, patches or streaks of yellow to brown grass appear 1 day to a couple of weeks (if you use a slow-release fertilizer) after over-fertilization of the lawn. The cause is excess nitrogen salts, which pull water out of the roots via osmosis, resulting in reduced water uptake. In addition to discoloration and root damage, the burned out lawn might exhibit tell-tale white, yellow or brown stripes where the spreader rows overlap (double dose fertilization). The amount of lawn damage will depend on the amount and type of fertilizer applied, the amount of available water, and the amount of salt concentrations in the soil. If treated promptly, yellow grass will probably recover; however, dry brown grass probably won't. Fertilizer burn should be corrected as soon as it appears. Follow these four steps to remedy the symptoms:

1. Remove any visible fertilizer with a broom, wet/dry vac, or any other implement that can scoop up the granules.
2. Use sprinklers to water the discolored areas. On day one apply as much water as will sink into the soil. Avoid toxic runoff, by watering at rate that will permit the moisture to sink into the earth.
3. Apply one inch of water for each of the next seven days.
4. Wait to see if the grass recovers. If not, reseed the discolored areas during the next growing season (spring for warm weather grass and fall for cold weather grass.

Take the following steps to prevent fertilizer burn:

1. Fertilize your grass with organic well composted fertilizer. Apply a 1-2 inch layer of composted fertilizer twice a year.
2. If you're using chemical fertilizer, select the appropriate mix based on your soil analysis and apply only as directed.
3. To be safe, applying only dilute or controlled-release fertilizer products.
4. Avoid lawn stress by fertilizing lightly. Never fertilize lawns that are showing signs of stress, disease, or water deprivation.
5. Do not apply fertilizer to wet lawns or allow the chemical mix to contact wet leaves.
6. After adding granular fertilizer, be sure to apply enough water to rinse fertilizer off grass blades and assure an even application of chemicals down to the roots. 

For excellent fertilizer burn treatment in the Westchester County and Putnum County areas contact the Turf Barbers at (914) 302-246-2929; Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; http://www.theturfbarbers.com; Email- Info@theturfbarbers.com