Archive for April, 2010

Till, Test and Treat – Preparing Your Yard for Sod

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Are you ready to turn that patch of dirt into a lush lawn? Preparing your yard for the installation of sod amounts to tilling the area, testing the soil, and then treating the soil according to the test results. Smoothing, rolling and watering complete the process.

For the best result, rototill or spade the area to a depth of 10 to 15 cm. (4 to 6 inches). Eliminate drainage problems by having soil slope away from foundations, etc.

Soil test your lawn area with the assistance of qualified service in your area. Then rake in fertilizer, lime, peat, compost, etc. as needed to a depth of 7 to 10 cm. (3 to 4 inches). Rake and smooth the soil removing rocks, roots, and large clods. Roll the area lightly with a lawn roller 1/3 full of water. This will firm the soil surface and reveal low areas that need more soil. Keep the grade 2 to 3 cm. (1 inch) below sidewalks or driveway.

Water the prepared area to settle soil and provide a moist base for turf. Moistening to a depth of 15 cm. (6 inches) is recommended for most soils.

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Do You Know the Four Signs of Stress?

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, but that doesn’t mean your lawn is getting enough of it. Here are four signs that your lawn is beginning to show stress from inadequate watering:

  1. Bluish-gray areas in the lawn
  2. Footprints or tire tracks that remain in the grass long after being made
  3. Many leave blades folded in half
  4. Soil sample from root zone feels dry

But before you rush to turn on the faucet, learn how to properly water your lawn, while being a good steward of this precious resource. Sign up for Bethel Farms’ monthly newsletter and download the Drought Survival Guide. Here in Florida we still have several weeks before the “rainy season” begins and after an unusually cold winter, these tips can come in handy.

Water well, but water wisely – and Happy 40th Earth Day!

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The Long and Short of It – Grass That Is!

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

It’s mowing season again, but before you start your engines, take a look at the chart below for recommended mowing heights and frequencies for the most common grasses in North American lawns. The “rule of thumb” is not to remove more than 1/3 of the leaf surface area each time the lawn is mowed.

Turfgrass Optimum Height Mow When It Is
Bluegrass 2.0 inches 3.0 inches
Perennial Ryegrass 2.0 inches 3.0 inches
Tall Fescue 2.0 inches 3.0 inches
Fine Fescue 2.0 inches 3.0 inches
St. Augustine 2.0 inches 3.0 inches
Buffalograss 2.0 inches 3.0 inches
Bermudagrass 1.5 inches 2.25 inches
Centipede 1.5 inches 2.25 inches
Zoysia 1.5 inches 2.25 inches
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Going Green for Charity

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Here’s a way to make your decision to “go green” go farther – recycle your electronic wastes and donate to your favorite charity at the same time. Recycling for Charities does just that and Bethel Organics (a division of Bethel Farms) is furthering the cause by donating a selection of DOT Pots™ to Recycling for Charities’ Earth Day event at Oakland University.

Bethel Organics DOT Pots

A selection of Bethel Organics DOT Pots

On April 15 Recycling for Charities and the Sustaining Our Planet Earth organization of Oakland University hope to prevent nearly 50 TONS of electronic waste, which can leak harmful chemicals, from entering landfills while celebrating Earth Day at Oakland University’s campus. Read more about the event here. Attendees at the event will receive a swag bag that includes seeds and a DOT Pot™ among other gift items. DOT Pots™ are part of Bethel Organics’ Real Organic – Real Easy™ Seed Starting Kit. They are the world’s only OMRI™ listed biodegradable plantable pots.

Recycling your electronic waste and incorporating environmentally-friend gardening practices are just 2 steps you can take to “green” up your life. To learn more about what you can do, visit our Facebook fan page and sign up for Bethel Farms’ monthly newsletter, this month’s issue will give you 8 more!

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School Children Grow with Bethel Organics

Friday, April 2nd, 2010
West Elementary School Children Grow Organically

First Graders Take Hands-on Approach to Life Science Lesson

Recently Bethel Organics donated its Real Organic-Real Easy Seed Starting Kits™ to illustrate a life science lesson for four first grade classes at West Elementary. The kits provided the students with 100% organic and biodegradable DOT Pots™, soil tablets, fertilizer and seeds – everything they needed to grow their own plants and apply the lessons they learned about what living things need to survive. The plants began growing just in time for the students to observe the function of each plant part and within eight days they were seeing stem growth. The photo above was taken on day 18 and a few of the plants had tiny roots growing out of the pots.

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