In an article published on September 2, 2010, The Virginia-Pilot’s Scott Harper wrote that Virginia was the only one out of six states and District of Columbia to miss the EPA’s Wednesday deadline for filing its plan for reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.
The State used the excuse that the Governor and other senior leaders, whoever they are,
needed extra time to digest the plan and approve it. It appears to me to be another example of poor management related to Virginia’s stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Virginia-Pilot obtained a copy of the draft version of the plan, and wrote that it contained a litany of controls. I feel this type of information should be available to the public.
In the article, The Virginia-Pilot listed a number of suggested controls, including banning phosphorus in lawn fertilizers and tougher rules for sewage plants and stormwater
systems.
Let us hope The Virginia-Pilot continues to publish articles concerning this critical situation. It seems as if this is the only way to get information.
Good News ! The EPA has reduced the annual limits of nitrogen and phosphorous that can be put in the Chesapeake Bay by the six watershed states. Virginia allocation was 53.4 million pounds of nitrogen and 5.4 million pounds of phosphorous, the second highest. I’m not sure how this will be accomplished or how each city and county gets their limits set but it will be interesting to follow the process.
Janet and I went to East Beach on the Chesapeake Bay to enjoy the wonderful summer temperatures and the warm waters of the bay. As we set in our beach chairs with our feet in the water, we were reflecting on how wonderful it was not to be looking at oil rigs and the possibility of a disaster that is now occurring in the Gulf. We must replace greed with common sense and preserve the wonder of the Chesapeake Bay for future generations. The bay is available to anyone who want to enjoy it, lets clean it up and preserve it forever.
I attended the Lynnhaven River Now’s Oyster Roast today. The weather wasn’t perfect but the Lynnhaven oysters were great. It is wonderful to know that they were harvested directly out of the Lynnhaven.
Mark Weathington’s comment ‘Feed Your Yard’ does not address the timing of the application of fertilizers. Homeowners should check with their extension agent about when to apply fertilizers for different turf species. Warm season grass, late spring and summer. Cool season grass, late summer and early fall. Don’t be misled by the advertisements you see in the paper.
Mary Reid Barrow’s article ‘Plantings Beauty - And Protect’ describes what can be done when City, private groups and volunteers cooperate. I enjoyed participating in this project and I can not wait until it matures. Anyone interested in buffer restoration should make a visit to the site.
I received my copy of the Lynnhaven River Now newsletter today. I must compliment them on a very informative insert relating to Rethinking our Lawns. For those who read my blog and do not receive the Newsletter are missing reading a real gem. There are many wonderful and practical tips on lawn care and saving our rivers and bay.One thing I would like to point out is that you do not have to live on the water to be an influence on clean water. All of us who have a lawn should follow these wonderful tips because as fertilizers and pesticides run off our lawn after a heavy rain, they flow to the storm drains and eventually into our rivers.There has been some good news about the condition of the Chesapeake Bay but more work is needed by all residents.
In future post, I will elaborate on the lawn tips.
Please become aware of the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act that is pending in the congress and the senate. Contact your congressmen and senators to voice your support.
In my last post I mentioned that crabgrass preemergence herbicides are packaged as a percentage of the active ingredient (ai). When buying these products first check the bag for what herbicide it contains and what is the percentage of the active ingredient.
Generally the product with higher percentage of active ingredient, the smaller the bag will be by weight. The reason for this is that the application amounts are base on a recommended quantity of .25 lbs. of active ingredient per acre. This where it gets somewhat confusing and requires a simple explanation.
One of the more common herbicides formulated for home use is dithiopyr. Dithiopyr is considered both preemergence and postemergence because it will control crabgrass seedling prior to tiller development. Two examples of products sold locally are Sta-green Crab-EX 0.17% ai in a 17 lb. bag and Green Light with Dimension (dithiopyr) 0.25% ai. in a 10 lb. bag. Both products cover 5000 sq. ft.
Why? Sta-green recommends applying the product at 3.4 lb. per 1000 sq. ft thus the 17 lb bag and Green Light recommends applying the product at 2.4 lbs per 1000 sq. ft. thus the 10 lb. bag.The consumer needs to be aware of this information and base their choice on these facts. The most important thing to do when applying herbicides and fertilizer is to know the square footage of your lawn and apply the correct amount that is recommended on the label. By applying ½ the amount in one direction and ½ the amount at 90 degrees will insure complete coverage of your lawn area. The herbicide must be irrigated into the lawn by a ½ ” rainfall or by sprinkler to give good weed control.
I purchased Green Light at Virginia Beach Feed and Seed on 132 N. Witchduck Road near Cleveland Street and would recommend them for their service and knowledge.
With temperatures on the rise, daffodils showing color and life returning to normal after an unusually cold, wet winter, it’s time to think about our lawns and gardens.Our lawns major enemy is lurking just inches below the surface. The seeds from last year’s crabgrass crop are waiting for the soil to warm up to 55 degrees to germinate. This can occur in the local tidewater area very soon. My soil thermometer is reading 49 degrees today. The local weather prediction is for temperatures in the upper fifties to near sixty this week with rain later in the week.How do we stop the germination of the crabgrass seed? The only way to control crabgrass is by using a preemergence herbicide. Herbicides containing bensulide, benefin, dithiopyr, oryzalin, pendimethalin and prodiamine inhibit certain phases of cell division during seed germination. The herbicides is absorbed by the root or shoot, cell division is blocked, growth is inhibited and the immature seedling dies.Most formulations of preemergence herbicides for the homeowner are sold as a dry or granular product. Some companies incorporate the herbicide in with fertilizer but please avoid this product because as written in a previous blog, you should not fertilize in the spring. Turfgrass preemergence herbicides essential do not leach in a downward direction beyond a depth of 2-3 ” due to binding to the soil and organic matter. The herbicide is presented as a percentage of active ingredient (ai). All of the dry formulations of herbicides are stable and maintain their activity for many years if protected from moisture.
Check out your local retailers, see what is available and make careful note of the percentage of active ingredient.
In my next blog entry, I will try to offer a simple approach to buying crabgrass preerergence and spreading it on the lawn.
I hope everyone had a chance to read my last post concerning soil testing. If you haven’t taken your sample , there is still time this spring to do so.
Your next step is to determine what type of grass you are growing. Generally, if your lawn is brown this winter you have a warm season grass, if most of your lawn is some shade of green, you have a cool season grass. Warm season grasses include bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St Augustine, and centipedegrass. Cool season grass include Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue.
Whether you determine you have a warm or cool season lawn, please do not be tempted to fertilize your lawn in the spring. You can save on the cost of fertilizers and help reduce the amount of pollutants going into the rivers and bays.
Warm season grasses should fertilized in the late spring and and summer and cool season grasses should be fertilized in the late summer and fall.
For more details visit your local extension web site or office. I will follow with more information in future posts.
