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Keep Your Garden & Yard Green, Even in the Heat

Updated: Monday, 18 Jul 2011, 9:45 PM CDT
Published : Monday, 18 Jul 2011, 8:45 PM CDT

By David Schwartz, FOX Chicago News

Slit seeders utilize closely-spaced vertical cutting blades or discs to create a shallow furrow, or slit in the turf, in which seeds are placed. The seed is stored in a hopper until it’s delivered to the soil and, depending on the machine, a roller or series of packer wheels may follow behind the seed head to close the slit around the seed to promote additional seed-to-soil contact.

The delivery system is responsible for effectively delivering the seed to the slit. Some machines place seed directly into the slit, which is preferable to systems that essentially broadcast seed over the slits and hope they go in. A delivery system that places seed directly into the slit will require less seed to achieve success.

With the ability to easily maneuver around landscaping and tight areas common in residences, walk-behind slit seeders are most often used by landscape contractors. These units are powered by a small engine, and typically have a seeding width of 20- to 24-inches. The vertical cutting blades have a secondary dethatching effect as well, and most walk-behind units can function well as a dethatcher simply by leaving seed out of the hopper.

Overseeding is often performed by landscape contractors to replace turf that has died due to weather or disease, or to re-invigorate the lawn. Contractors will often perform aeration prior to overseeding with a slit seeder, which provides additional opportunities for seed-to-soil contact.

The natural dethatching effect of the vertical cutting blades leaves a protective layer of thatch above the slits to protect the seed and hold moisture in during seed germination. An added bonus is that walk-behind slit seeders often function well as a dethatcher by simply running the machine without seed in the hopper. For turf with an excessive heavy thatch layer, it may be helpful to run the machine in a dethatching function (dispose of the excess thatch) prior to overseeding. This opens up the turf and allows for more seed-to-soil contact

. While there are a number of options for seeding and overseeding grass, it’s tough to beat slit seeders for their overall effectiveness at achieving a consistently high level of seed-to-soil contact for successful germination. And while a slit seeder alone is no guarantee of success — proper watering, fertilization and mowing are also equally important — modern slit seeders are well-respected among landscape professionals for the quality results they can deliver.Slit seeders and overseeders have become useful seeder types among turf care professionals of all persuasions — and for good reason. When combined with proper site preparation and after-seeding care, a modern slit seeder can help you achieve a high level of seeding success

The new lawn game. The great lakes area is the area where no one seems to know how much money they can save by putting their new lawn in via hydro-seeding. So much so, the landscapers in the area don’t even know about hydro-seeding. They still do it the cave man way via straw/seed. Yes, very hard to believe. People even insist in some cases that the straw/seed way be used or nothing. This is like someone stating they will only use a corded phone in their house that is screwed into wall and use a cell phone, well you get the idea. The state of Wisconsin is really hit hard in this area. Very few if any know what hydro-seeding is or that it exists at all. Even the builders use straw and seed and don’t really know what hydro-seeding is. The high end builders who keep up with the standards and look to give their customers a premium lawn know what hydro-seeding is. The rest that don’t care about their customers or who just look to save a buck use the straw/seed method and again many don’t even know about hydro-seeding, building the home is their part not the lawn.

The real kicker is hydro-seeded lawns far out perform a straw/seed lawn. The real deal is that even with hydro-seeding being so much better people don’t know about it and even pay more for a lesser quality product. Even the builders are paying more for lesser quality lawns and don’t even know it. You would think a builder would keep up on these types of things. Some even get letters from hydro-seeding companies and their secretaries just throw them away not even realizing they could save the company alot of money and get a high quality product. See, they just keep using the same guy over and over not knowing any better. Again their are some quality builders that do get the value and high quality value of a hydro-seeded lawn on their construction site. What is really shocking is the commercial construction companies are paying these straw/seed guys way more and getting a lesser product by far. Hydro-seeding is one of the best erosion barriers that is safe for the environment also. That’s right go green with green. The commercial sites have been using a seed/straw blankets for grass and erosion control. I don’t know why no one has said anything about the plastic netting that never dissolves is being allowed to be used at all. Wild life can become stuck in the netting and it never will dissolve and it is covering large amounts the earths dirt surface. We have learned how bad plastics are for our environment and still it is being used even encouraged in some cases to cover our soil or ground surfaces with it.

Their are new EPA laws in some areas that mandate run off or water retention ponds be built by builders. When they build these ponds the sides need to have a ground erosion barriers applied, grass. But they use these straw blankets with the plastic netting inside to hold the seed and straw in place. Creating huge land masses covered in plastic netting. These ponds weree built to help the environment and water run off systems in our communities and now some one has found a new way to make a buck and destroy out environment out of what was meant to save it. The local agencies are telling the builders they have to put down a erosion barrier so they hire what they think is the cheapest lawn or erosion barrier installation company. Little do most of them know, they could spend less money and still help the environment if they would just hydro-seed instead of straw/seed applications. That’s right costs a builder less money and still be good for all. Remember, the whole letter and secretary garbage thing? Hydro-seeding is so new in the Midwest areas they just throw it out and it never reaches the building companies management to even see the huge cost savings they would get by hydro-seeding, not to mention saving the earth.

There are a few quality builders that know about hydro-seeding. The problem is most don’t and some when they look into it, ask the guy who is currently doing their lawns and barriers, well that guy is clueless and he knows he would not get his big bucks for his straw/seed application with the plastic netting inside. So, its not to say that they are not a quality home builder they just don’t know. The general public needs to be informed about hydro-seeding and all the cost savings and how it is green to all. The hydro-seeded lawn is so cost effective especially for new construction home owners and builders. The Midwest is growing colder this time of year and grass is not a big deal, what is a big deal is our environment and saving it. Educating people about hydro-seeding and saving the environment is a everyday and season job. The sad part is, hydro-seeding is cheaper than the seed/straw blanket barriers and still people go with the lower quality and higher price of the straw blanket with the plastic in it. I could understand a builder saying that it costs them so much more to hydro-seed, but it does not and is cheaper material cost wise. We can only hope the high quality builders tell other builders that hydro-seeding is more cost effective than straw and seed, not to mention a far higher quality product. Hopefully the builders in Wisconsin will start talking to each other more to find out how much time and money hydro-seeding would save them and their customers.

The applications for hydro-seeding don’t stop at nice green lawns. There are wild flower seed blends that can be sprayed and erosion sprays also. The benefits of hydro-seeding just go on and on. You can even spray prairie grass for pastures that have been used for farm animals.

Please feel free to ask about hydro-seeding a lawn and all of its cost savings and benefits. I encourage all new construction home owners and builders please inquire about pricing and quality of hydro-seeded lawns and erosion barriers. Ask your builder for a local company who hydro-seeds or if they don’t know just do a search on line for hydro-seeding contractors in your area. To give it more credibility there is the International Association Of Hydroseeding professionals which can help you find a quality hydro-seeding company in your area.

Remember safety always first.

A visit to his impoverished hometown kicks a firefighter into gear.

Santiago Papasquiaro, in the Mexican state of Durango, sits at the foot of the Sierra Madre, among tan hills covered by a threadbare blanket of brush. Most of its young men have gone to America, so in the desert afternoons the public squares are empty, except for a few shuffling pensioners shielding their eyes with baseball caps.

Santiago is a city of 46,000, but it has only one fire engine. Built before World War II, with bug-eyed headlamps and a rounded red snout, it looks like a rig from Smokey Stover’s comic-book firehouse. Not long ago a lumberyard caught fire. The engine’s 100-gallon tank didn’t hold enough water to quench the blaze, and the city’s volunteer bomberos had trouble hooking into the water system, so they just pushed mounds of dirt around the fire to keep it from spreading. The old engine had beeen donated by a Bostonian, in 1980. Santiago needed a new benefactor.

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Chicago Landscapers

Our clients are responsible individuals, who care about the appearance of their environment, and are aware of how important it is, for each of us, to contribute to the maintenance and building of safe, and aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods. We provide the best professional service for your Chicago lawn. We are also one of the very few certified Hydro seeding experts in the city. 

Medina Lawncare, employs a staff whose expertise in the botanical field has given us the prestigious opportunity to work as “greensman” on various motion pictures such as, Home Alone I, II and III, Baby’s Day Out, The Fugitive, US Marshalls and many more.

We have built our business on consistently providing our customers with creative ideas, honesty, and competitive pricing. We have grown our business as we would our own family, with respect, patience, devotion to core values and diversity. So trust us to take great care of your Chicago lawn.

Thank you for visiting our website.

Best Regards,

The Medina Family

In Illinois, which is where Medina Lawncare is located, we are in zone 5A. As mentioned in our previous article “landscaping in your zone” a zone is used to determine the plant hardiness. Refer to the USDA plant hardiness zone map.

As you plan your landscape it’s hard to know where to begin. Keep in mind that in our zone 5 we can select a variety of perennials, broad leaf evergreens which include boxwoods and hollies, evergreens which include pine and spruce and deciduous shrubs for your backdrop, or what we refer to in our industry as the “specimen” plants.

Specimen plants can fill an empty space pretty quickly, so choose these carefully. Know the fullness of size when the plant becomes mature before you plant. Spacing is very important both for the health of the plant and presentation. Specimen plants are excellent for defining a property line, and are most commonly used as a wall also known as a “hedge”. Trees may also be used as part of your landscape. Usually choosing one tree, for a smaller space, can be plenty to draw the eye to the center or focal point of your landscape.

Some of my recommendations for trees which will add color and texture are Japanese Maples, Red maples, beeches, Birches and hornbeams. (link here to foots) These trees can be selected in a variety of sizes and cultivars. For example regarding the Japanese maple, the cultivars include but are not limited to: Lace leaf maple, bloodgood, Oshi-beni and tri color. Each feature unique foliage, form and color, but all enhance the overall appearance of your landscape.

Next, a landscape should include a good show of perennials. It helps reduce the cost year to year of replacing plants as these come back every year as long as they are cared for thru the growing season. We always recommend a spring and fall clean up as this will help minimize the loss of some of these valuable plants.

A few perennials which are easy to find in zone 5 are hostas, ferns, bruneria, heuchera, cone flowers, lilies to name a few. These add color and some fragrance to your garden. Perennials are usually used to add seasonal splashes of color and a variety of height and texture to your landscape.

Not all perennials have flower buds, but not to worry. This is a role for flowers! My favorite part of gardening! Annuals technically do not apply to any zone because they are available “annually” but will die at first frost no matter what zone your in; however, they do make for interesting color and make wonderful and beautiful center pieces especially when arranged in a n attractive container garden. Don’t be afraid to choose brilliant varieties of color and shapes when choosing your annuals.

Draw out your design on paper first, or call an expert to help you create, design and plant as this can be an overwhelming but rewarding experience.

Landscaping for your “zone”. First, what is a zone anyway? How do you know which
zone you live in? How do you find that information? There does exist a mapping system
that is useful to landscapers and gardeners (professional or novice). This mapping
system is essential for the selection of plant material for all landscape projects large
or small. Why? A “zone” will determine the hardiness of a plant, tree or shrub based
on that areas growing conditions or weather patterns. It is a great way to determine
the life span of that particular specimen – especially if you are a novice gardener
and are purchasing plants for your home on a budget – according to your zone.

Find your “zone” there are many reliable sources available on the Internet. Just
google “plant zone”. The United States National Arboretum or The US Hardiness Zone
Map will list the many zones for North America.

Once you have determined where you are, you can begin looking for plants, trees
shrubs, perennials and annuals. Keeping in mind that where some zones may support
plants as perennials, in your zone those plants may end up being annuals due to the
weather conditions.

So, find your zone and start planning the garden or landscape of your dreams!