Incorrect use of fertilizer and poor landscape debris management/Questions?

Friends, I am going to get a little political and draw an analogy between gun control and fertilizer control laws ( in Pinellas County )!
Please stay with me because I am not the best writer.  Because the governments answer to everything is just politics, we have these amazing laws?

1.  Did you know, over 90% of mass killings happen in gun free zones, why?
2.  Did you known because of the ban on use of Nitrogen & Phosphorous fertilizers in our summer months this has decreased runoff and or debris management? See below what the County Commission has approved.

Fertilizer ban started Jan. 2011

Excess Nitrogen & Phosphorous polluted over 70% of Pinellas County waters. Excess nutrients cause harmful algae blooms that turn the water a green or rust color which lower oxygen levels and lead to fish kills. The treatment to remove these nutrients cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Fertilizer and landscape debris are nutrient sources that can be controlled with your help. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure!

Incorrect use of fertilizer and poor landscape debris management can allow nutrients to leach into the groundwater and wash into storm drains that flow to lakes, streams, and bays. 

To address these issues, the Pinellas County Commission approved an ordinance regulating landscape practices and the sale and use of fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus.


Why am I qualified?

• Started in this industry in 1958
• Have been licensed in all phases of Horticulture, except inside pest control & termite control, in Florida.
• On the board of Directors of the FNGA, early 1970's.
• Member of the PGMA, Professional Grounds Maintenance Ass. In the 1970's the PGMA   averaged 400 attendees at monthly meetings. It was truly the who's who of the Tampa Bay Horticulture industry. 
• Winner of 4 City of St. Petersburg city beautification awards in Landscape Maintenance.
• Studied 4 years  of night school PTI ( Pinellas Technical Institute ) under Jack Siebenthauler (Mr. Siebenthaler also was a consulting arborist for Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, and Walt Disney World. He was honored by two first ladies in the White House for his innovations, which included a system of delivering time-release nutrients to tree roots beneath the pavement.) , Charles Bingham, disease control, Dick Comfort, irrigation and Ray Foster, insect control.
• In business in Pinellas County since 1971.
• If you're interested in ideas to start your business, read below.
• Please read "Creating a Landscaping Maintenance Business 14 chapters." on this blog.

Then after 3 years of discussion, the County forces me to take this BMP course information below. I asked, are you sure you want me to take this course?

Ok, being semi-retired I spend 50 to 100 miles a week cycling.  Normally I cycle out to check out a prospective customers lawn after they call for Verticutting. So being this guy who has spent his life in this industry, I cruise through lots Pinellas County neighborhoods, yes looking at lawns and landscaping. 

In the so-called off-season here, I have noticed the past few years the lawns are growing more all winter, Why?   One reason the lawn spray companies are now increasing fertilizing to make -up for the change in fertilizer laws.  This also increases the amount of debris or overflow of clippings in the streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways during what once was the slow growing season ( see photo ).  Also, because it rains so much here, and the lawns are overwatered, the fertilizer run-off problem has not changed. So at the BMP course
 ( Best Management Practices ), I asked?

When I asked at the BMP course about what effect the new laws have had, they had no answer!  So it is very simple, gun free zones get more people killed, and changing fertilizer laws solves nothing, why, because it all about politics, not common sense!

In the photo below the quality work by this contractor is a lot more common than most know?  It is just my guess that the changes in the fertilizer laws will only compound the debris management problem!  So of course,  improving the environment!

If you live in Pinellas County, take the BMP course below.  Please let them know when you disagree.

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GI-BMP Training & Program Overview

What Are The GI-BMPs?

The GI-BMPs are a science-based educational program for Green Industry workers (lawn-care and landscape maintenance professionals), brought to you by UF-IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program. The GI-BMPs teach environmentally safe landscaping practices that help conserve and protect Florida’s ground and surface waters. They can also save the Florida homeowner money, time, and effort; increase the beauty of the home landscape; and protect the health of your family, pets, and the environment.

This training is designed to provide corporate, governmental, environmental, and other personnel the Best Management Practices for lawn and landscape. Learn what impact the BMPs will have on your business or municipality. Developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and endorsed by the pest control industry, this training is brought to you by UF-IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping program with partial funding by FDEP through a Nonpoint Source Management (Section 319h) grant from USEPA.

Who Gets Trained in the GI-BMPs?

Florida Statute 482.1562 states that all commercial fertilizer applicators must have a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by January 1, 2014. To get this license, each Green Industry worker must be trained in the GI-BMPs and receive a certificate of completion from UF/IFAS and FDEP. Additionally, many non-commercial Green Industry applicators or other workers are required to pass the training by local ordinances or voluntarily participate in the program to better serve their clients.

Who Should Attend:

• Supervisors and employees in the lawn care, pest control, or landscape industry
• Municipal parks and recreation facility supervisors and employees
• Irrigation industry workers
• Commercial property managers
• City and county planning department staff
• City and county environmental department or water quality staff
• City and county commission staff
• Builders and developers
• Landscape designers and architects
• Golf course employees
• Anyone working in the areas of water quality, urban development, or environmental issues

How good is your irrigation?

After a fresh Verticutt, it's time to test the irrigation system.

Watering at the right time.

Watering in the early morning or late evening when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest will reduce water loss through evaporation. Check with your local Water Management District office or Cooperative Extension Service office to find out how often to water. Tighter watering restrictions may be in order for different counties ranging from one day per week to two days per week and as restrictive as from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm for no watering.


Lawns only need about ¾ inch of water in one watering session. Place empty tuna cans or measuring cups around the yard (all within the range of the sprinkler, some close, some farther away). Turn on the sprinkler for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, measure the amount of water collected in each can/cup. Check to see if there was even distribution of water in all the cans/cups. If the cans/cups collected ¾ inch of water, then you know you need to water for 30 minutes. If the cans/cups collected more or less than ¾ inch of water, then calculate approximately how long you need to water your landscape so that it receives ¾ inch of water in each watering session.

So how good is your irrigation?

 Is it truly all about the design?

 Some stuff to think about:

The size of the pipe delivering the water.
The source ( pump/well, city water, reclaimed, etc ).
How many gallons of water will each source deliver?
How much water will each pipe size deliver? Most common pipe sizes (1/2" 12 gallons per minute GPM - 3/4" 18 GPM -1" 24 GPM)
The size of the nozzle installed in the sprinkler. Most sprinklers have available many different size nozzles, they change the rate of precipitation and coverage area.
Some types of sprinkler devices used (rotors, spray heads, drip).
The distance between each sprinkler. (always design for 100% coverage)

In the photo above the rotors are set about 25' apart. The spray from each head should reach the other with no wind ( 100% coverage ). Your goal should be at least (60% coverage) under windy conditions.


Pinellas County Watering Schedules:

Reclaimed: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/reclaim-irrigation.htm

County Water or Wells: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/water-restrict.htm


Next: let's talk about designing your sprinkler system.

For a free estimate contact York:   whyverticutting@gmail.com

What could be the best and cheapest lawn for Central & So.Florida?

In these blogs, we talk mostly about St. Augustine grasses.

But what about the other common grasses in Central & South Florida:

• Bermuda grass is a deep rooted grass. It should be mowed at 1", it's water requirements may be different. 
• Zoysia grass is now becoming popular and is also deeply rooted. It also has different water requirements. Also, it should be mowed at 1"
• St. Augustine grass was developed at the home of the Florida Gators, UF. GoGators!
• Bahia grass

The cute little mole cricket seen above will just destroy most lawns, especially Bahia lawns. They burrow tunnels as they eat and travel through the root system of a Bahia Lawn. The real truth is if you control the mole cricket, you may have a beautiful and much cheaper program to care for the lawn.

( Mole crickets can do severe damage to all Southern grasses)
Because Bahia is deep rooted it can go long periods without water.

1. Because Bahia requires very little water, a sprinkler system may not be necessary. 

• It will also and not be necessary to have an every-other-month lawn spray program.
• Bahia grass should only be fertilized spring & fall.
• Bahia will grow much faster in the summer months, and if you love mowing, mow every 5 days. Then in the cool season, you may only have to mow once a month.
• One warning when sodding, Bahia sod is mostly broken pieces and is twice as hard to lay a even attractive lawn in the beginning.  After you piece your puzzle together, rent a roller, and even down a cold beer or two, in memory of the fun you just had?

The Larra Wasp - Eats the Mole Cricket

The Larra bicolor wasp--one of the mole cricket's natural enemies--is called a "parasitoid" because its young feed off mole crickets, though the adults live on nectar. The wasp lays an average of two to three eggs per day, or up to one hundred in a lifetime. Each one of these eggs is laid on a mole cricket.

More from UF:   http://goo.gl/aLBgKF


For a top secret way to have the best Bahia lawn call York: whyverticutting@gmail.com

Happy Mowing

How good is your irrigation?

After a fresh Verticutt, it's time to test the irrigation system.

Water at the right time.

Watering in the early morning or late evening when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest will reduce water loss through evaporation. Check with your local Water Management District office or Cooperative Extension Service office to find out how often to water. Tighter watering restrictions may be in order for different counties ranging from one day per week to two days per week and as restrictive as from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm for no watering.

Lawns only need about ¾ inch of water in one watering session. Place empty tuna cans or measuring cups around the yard (all within the range of the sprinkler, some close, some farther away). Turn on the sprinkler for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, measure the amount of water collected in each can/cup. Check to see if there was even distribution of water in all the cans/cups. If the cans/cups collected ¾ inch of water, then you know you need to water for 30 minutes. If the cans/cups collected more or less than ¾ inch of water, then calculate approximately how long you need to water your landscape so that it receives ¾ inch of water in each watering session.

So how good is your irrigation?  Is it truly all about the design?  Some stuff to think about:

• The size of the pipe delivering the water. 
• The source ( pump, city water, reclaimed, etc ).
• How many gallons of water will each source deliver?
• How much water will each pipe size deliver? Most common pipe sizes (1/2" 12 gallons per minute GPM - 3/4" 18 GPM - 1" 24 GPM ) 
• The size of the nozzle installed in the sprinkler. Most sprinklers have available many different size nozzles, they change the rate of precipitation and coverage area.
• The type of sprinkler device used (rotors, spray heads, drip).
• The distance between each sprinkler. ( always design for 100% coverage ) 

In the photo above the rotors are set about 25' apart. The spray from each head should reach the other with no wind ( 100% coverage ).  Your goal should be at least (60% coverage) under windy conditions.

It should be noted that this article is geared to St. Augustine grasses, in central & south Florida.   Most lawns here are growing on sand.  St. Augustine grasses are also shallow rooted, then requiring more water.  You should check with your Cooperative Extension Service for watering rules etc. in your area.

Pinellas County Watering Schedules:

Reclaimed: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/reclaim-irrigation.htm

County Water or Wells: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/water-restrict.htm


For irrigation help call York: 727 455 7337 or whyverticutting@gmail.com

Next: let's talk about designing your sprinkler system

Spring is here in Tampa-Bay

Now is the perfect time to CLEAN & THIN your lawn,

This lawn was Verticutt every year

Three alternatives to a great lawn.

1. Verticutting Perfection

2. Wedelia Perfection

3. Wedelia Lawn

4. Wedila Great for the Environment

5. Wedelia will overgrow other plants,
but with proper maintenance is Perfection

 Wedelia trilobata

Common Names: wedelia, Z Herbe a FemmeFamily: Asteraceae (aster/daisy Family)

   

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Description

Wedelia forms a low-growing mat mat of foliage with deeply lobed leaves that grows to a height of about 10in( cm). Blooms profusely with 1" yellow-orange flowers resembling marigolds or zinnias, which are borne singly on the end of each stem. Plant creeps and roots at nodes, making a dense ground cover.

Location

Wedelia trilobata is found in the West Indies, Hawaii, south Florida, Central America, West Africa, especially at low elevations.

Wedelia puts the lawn on a budget

This hardy groundcover with the saucy yellow flowers trims the expenses traditional lawns demand.

By John A. Starnes Jr. Special to the Times
Published May 26, 2007

Winning wedelia

Scientific name: Wedelia trilobata.

Common names: Wedelia, yellow dots, rabbit's paw, trailing daisy, creeping ox-eye.

The details: Native to northern South America and the West Indies. Dark-green leaves, daisylike yellow flowers year-round. It spreads rapidly as a ground cover and also does well in hanging baskets.

What it likes: Full sun or partial shade. Thrives in moist, but not soggy, areas as well as dry areas with poor soil. Fairly salt resistant.

Good to know: In some cultures wedelia is used to treat hepatitis and infections and to clear the placenta after birth.

The last word: "It would be hard to find another ground cover better suited to hot, dry conditions than wedelia." - University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services.

Sources: University of Florida, tropilab.com, turfscience.com, magnoliagardensnursery.com,

6. All grasses need Verticutting

Why Verticutting