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The most common type of sod worms are the sod webworms. These are a common sighting in yards, golf courses, and in turfgrass areas. These worms are typically are gray or tan in colour when in the larvae stage. The larvae are caterpillars. These types of worms prefer fresh new grass to older grass that has been in place for years, but they can be found here. When a series of new lawns have been set these worms seem to multiply. As an adult the worms are gray and can range from half an inch to three quarters of an inch in length.

During the winter months these worms can be found partially grown larvae in their silky tunnels in the thatch and soil. The larvae activity usually starts around April and May. In mid- May to early June you can see these worms in their adult form. During the afternoon these worms scatter their eggs over the grass. They do this by flying in a zigzag pattern over the grass. Other parts of the day are spent hiding out in the shrubbery and the rest of the turf. During the night these worms come out to feed on the blades of grass and stems. An area of grass that has been infected by a webworm can be seen as a bare area that appears to be scalped. It can be seen from a distance as an irregular brown spot.

People often wonder how they can test for these webworms in the sod to make sure that the entire lawn has not been infected. You can use a homemade recipe by adding a quarter of a cup of laundry detergent to a gallon of water. The mixture is then applied to the damaged area around the outsides. It is pointless to add the mixture to the middle of the area as this grass is already dead and there won’t be any worms there. Within ten minutes of applying the mixture if there are any worms in the area they will start coming to the surface. If the home remedy does not work then you might want to try a store bought product that contains chemicals that can kill the worms. One such produce is TalstarOne. This product has been designed for a number of different turf pests and is safe to use on your grass. However, before spraying on your grass you should make sure that it is safe to use if you have an uncommon type of grass.

In some areas, these worms are called lawn moths. While they may infest any type of grass they are typically found in bluegrass. Although they do not pose a problem in the winter they can be a serious problem during the summer months if they are given the chance to multiply and feed upon your grass.

These worms are widespread throughout the United States and are quickly becoming a problem for some areas in Canada. For example, in recent years the Edmonton, Alberta area has seen an increase in the number of worms that have been infected yards and garden throughout the city.

For more information on sod web worms and lots of lawn care tips;visit http://www.HobbyLawnCare.com, the best site for lawn care information.

Sod worms are also known as lawn moths. This name comes from the fact that these worms change into moths over time and they feed off the grass blades in yards, golf courses and in some areas of turfgrass. In the larval stage these worms are dingy white in colour. As adults they fly around the lawn planted their seeds and feeding off the grass at night. However it is not really the moths that damage the grass. It is the larvae that do the most damage. The larvae feed off the grass at night and leave an area of the lawn bare. During the spring and summer months the larvae turn into moths that drop their eggs and the cycle continues again.

The damage caused by lawn moths can be clearly seen in the grass. An infected are of grass will appear to be brown in appearance and it will have an irregular shape. If you closely examine the grass you can see small tunnels or lines that branch out around the browned area. In the damaged area, the blades of grass have been removed completely and the area appears to be scalped. There are other indicators that there may be an infestation of lawn moths and that is the presence of the small green fecal pellets.

Treatment for the sod worm starts with how well you monitor the amount of damage that has been inflicted upon your lawn. If you notice that you are getting small brown patches but nothing too big, then you might want to try using a simple home remedy of laundry detergent mixed with water. However, if you have tried the home remedy and you find that you are not able to contain the worm then you might want to consider getting a chemical product from your local gardening store. If you are unsure what to do about your problem then you might want to contact a lawn care expert in your area to find out what you can do to prevent the increase in damaged areas in your lawn. There are a number of chemical products on the market today but if you plan to use one of these then you need to make sure that you are able to use them on your grass.

Lawn moths are more prevalent in grasses like bluegrass and Zoysia. The problem with using chemicals on your grass to kill your worm infestation is that you might be killing insects and pests that are actually beneficial to your grass and then there is the possibility that you might end up killing your grass anyway. Be sure to read information on the product to find out what insects that it will kill. There are also a number of biological controls that are capable of killing the sod worm so you might want to consider exploring that avenue if you are unsure about using chemical products.

Proper lawn maintenance will help you discover the presence of these worms right away so that you can take steps immediately before too much of your grass gets destroyed.

For more information on sod worms,grass types and other lawn care related topics visit http://www.HobbyLawnCare.com

Having a great looking lawn adds to the appearance and appeal of your house. For some people the look of the lawn in front of the house makes or breaks the look of your house. To some extent this is true. Curb appeal is very important. If you don’t know how to care for your lawn, you might just give up or pay a great deal of money to have someone else do it for you. There is no need to pay a great deal of money to have a great looking lawn just by following these simple lawn care tips.

The key to a great looking lawn is proper mowing. There is a right and a wrong way to mow your grass. When you first lay grass, experts recommend that you leave it until it grows above your ankles before you mow it. This will give your grass time to take root and for the pieces to grow together. Cutting too soon will show the seams and the grass may die. When you do mow your grass from the first time on you should always keep the blade of the mower two and a half to three inches high, off the ground. Mowing the grass too soon after it starts to grow weakens the roots system. Gardening experts say that you should only remove two thirds of the grass blade.

Each time you mow your grass and especially for the first couple of times, you should mow in different directions and you should alter the pattern each time. For example if you decide that you are going to mow your grass in a circle pattern then do it opposite directions each time, the first time clockwise and the second time counter clockwise and so on. While maintaining the appearance of your grass you are also reducing soil compaction and turf wear from the wheels.

In order to mow your lawn correctly you need to make sure that you have sharpened your blades frequently. A general rule of thumb amongst gardening experts is to sharpen the blades at least once a year. While you may be able to leave it longer on newer lawn mowers if your mower is not used frequently you cannot do this on older mowers. When the blades are not sharp the grass will look choppy and uneven. This is because the blades are not really cutting the grass but rather they are tearing it.

Most of the mowers that you buy today will come with a bag attached that will allow you to collect the cut grass as you mow it so you don’t have to rake it up after. While this saves time it is not always a good idea for your grass. When cutting freshly lain grass you should always keep your blade high and then allow the cut grass to go back into the grass and the soil. This will fill in any open spots and it will help to improve the look and feel of your grass.

For more information on lawn care topics, including grass types and sod worms visit http://www.HobbyLawnCare.com

A great deal of effort is needed to care and look after your lawn. It is important that you take the time to care for your lawn to ensure that is looking great at all times. People often think that caring for a lawn or garden requires a great deal of time and effort but in actual fact it doesn’t take a lot of time if you do a little each day or take a day. Lawn care basics is a simple and easy task if you know what you are doing or if you know what you would like your lawn to look like. However it is important to note that if your lawn is larger than the typical lawn then it will require that more time be spent caring for and maintaining it.

The easiest and quickest way to care for your lawn is involve as many people as you can in the process. It is a great idea to make it a family event. Taking a Saturday afternoon with the family and doing some yard work is a great way to spend time together. In addition to caring for your lawn it is also a good way to instil a sense of responsibility in your children when they are expected to help out around the house.

Once you have enlisted the help of other family members there are other great ways to maintain your lawn. The key is choosing beautiful plants really require little attention besides for the occasional watering. For example if you would like a hedge in your yard instead of a fence a great idea is to use stately blue columns of juniper. It is a good idea to place them at the corners for visual anchors for other flowers that you may choose to run along your hedge. These trees require slight watering if you are living in a dry area.

A great way to maintain your lawn is to make sure that you do not mow your grass when it is too hot and the sun is high in the sky. When you do this you are exposing your fresh grass to the hot sun and this may in fact burn up your grass causing it to turn brown. You should mow your grass when it is cool and dry. It is recommended that you mow your grass after the morning dew is dry. During this time the sun is not high in the sky and it is typically cooler during this time of the morning. It is important to wait for the dew to dry as you want to avoid getting wet clumps of grass in your yard.

It is also important that you make every attempt to keep unwanted pests away from your trees. There are a number of chemicals that you can use to rid your lawn of pests but the best way to keep the pests away is to actually get down on your hands and knees and do the work yourself. When scouting for pests you need to part the turf and pull the thatch apart. In one or two places dig holes into the ground and check the stems for evidence of insects and pests that you might think are killing your lawn and plants. Doing this on a regular basis will help you prevent any possible pests.

For more great lawn care tips as well as information on sod web worms and grass types visit http://www.HobbyLawnCare.com

One may think that grass is grass and that all grasses are the same, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There a number of varieties of grass on the market today, each with its own qualities. When looking at the different grass types you may become overwhelmed. You will learn that there are ornamental grasses, crab grasses, centipede grasses and a number of other grasses that are great possibilities when landscaping your yard.

One type of grass is the Zoysia grass that in fact grows differently than other kinds of grasses. When this grass grows it actually sends out stolons or runners that allow it to expand sideways rather than vertically. The grass grows in denser that other types of grass. This is the most cost effective grass and really requires somewhat less attention than some of the other grasses on the market. There are a number of benefits to using this type of grass for landscaping.

* One of the great things about this grass is that it grows in a variety of conditions and climates. However, this is not a good choice of grass if you are living in an area with extreme heat conditions. The grass will not grow in extreme heat.

* The grass itself grows sideways and naturally fills in troubled or damaged areas on its own. It requires very little fertilizing and seeding.

* The roots are grow very deep and requires little watering.

* Feels great on the feet and skin because of its denseness.
However there are some drawbacks to using this type of grass. It is not a perfect grass by any means.

* While some people enjoy this, others do not; the grass turns brown in the winter months when the temperature drops. It cannot grow as well in extreme cold temperatures.

* The grass itself can become overpowering, meaning that once rooted it can over take your flower beds and other planted areas.

* When planting Zoysia seeds you can expect to wait at least five months before your grass starts to grow.

* If you have an existing lawn you have to use plugs in your lawn to put the Zoysia in place.

Centipede grass adapts well to low fertility conditions. This type of grass was brought from South China to the United States in the early 1900s. The growth cycle usually takes about three years to complete so this isn’t the type of grass you would want for your lawn if you are looking for immediate results unless you plan to put sod in your yard instead of seeds. This type of grass grows best in full sunlight. If you are planting seeds where the iron is deficient then you might want to try adding some iron sulphate spray to enhance growth and colour. Using less nitrogen chemicals on your grass will help to keep the worms away. This type of grass does require frequent watering but it must be deep watering when is watered.

For more information on grass types, sod worms and lots of lawn care tips visit http://www.HobbyLawnCare.com

Landscaping is usually a fairly big task, consuming much time and energy. But before you hire that professional, here are some tips that could save both time and money.

1. Spend some time thinking about exactly how you want the final design to be. You need to take account of the style and function of your landscape. Do you want to include an area for entertaining? A barbeque? Is there to be an area for children to play, a fishpond or a swimming pool? An idea of the plants you want to be there will also help. Focus on the area where you spend most of your time. That’s a good place to start.

2. Think twice before hiring a pro. An independent designer might cost you hundreds of dollars when you may be able to access free plans on the internet or at a nursery. But if you have an awkward block such as very steep ground, a pro might give you the expertise to save costly mistakes.

3. The style of your home must be taken into account. If you have a rural cottage, formal gardens surrounding it will look out of place. Think also about your lifestyle. Do you want to spend hours caring for many beds of annuals or pruning beds of roses? If so, go ahead and plant them, but if you’d rather spend your free time at the beach, then go for an easy-care garden and landscape.

Here are the various landscape styles you can choose for your own garden:

a. Formal. This style uses lots of straight lines and perfect geometrical shapes. Orderly arrangement of plants instead of random positioning is employed. Close arrangement and pruning is seen on many landscaped gardens with this style.

b. Informal. This kind of landscaping works well with cosy cottages. Beds with curved edges instead of straight lines and random placement of plants suit this landscape style.

c. English Garden. This style emphasizes the harmony between the house’s architecture and the garden.

d. Formal/Informal Garden. This style often comes with a brick walkway that exudes formality. This walkway leads to the rear with a circle of plants. The arrangement of plants resembles the English garden style but it has no formal borders.

e. Oriental. It is often the kind of garden found in small backyards. It uses rocks, evergreens and water. A wide variety of plants create several interesting angles with this style.

f. Woodland. This landscaping suits a house that has a wooded backyard and sloping ground.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs

For more information and resource links on gardening visit: Fine Gardening

Hemingway once said, “America is the land of wide lawns and narrow minds.” Now, I don’t know about narrow minds, but we definitely love our lawns. Fall is one of the most important times of the year to perform lawn care maintenance.

The process you need to follow will vary with the type of turf on your lawn. The two main types of turf grasses are cool season and warm season. The main difference is that cool season grasses require regular maintenance throughout the fall and winter seasons, while warm season grasses need to be prepped for the following spring. Common cool season grasses are ryegrasses, fescues, bluegrasses, and bentgrasses. Common warm season grasses include St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalograss. If you are unsure what type you have on your lawn, you can take a sample to your local county extension and find out which type you have. The most important thing to remember is that maintenance doesn’t end when the grass stops growing.

The process of fall lawn care consists of the following steps:

* Test Your Soil
* Apply Herbicides for Weed Control
* Water
* Fertilize
* Mow
* Seed or Sod
* Remove Leaves and Thatch
* Maintain Equipment

Test Your Soil

The first thing you should do this season is perform a soil test to determine levels of nutrients, pH and other factors that affect the growth of your lawn. These results will help you understand what your soil needs this fall. If you need to reduce the acidity in your soil, you should apply lime. If alkalinity should be reduced, then you should apply sulfur. The Cooperative Extension Service of state universities will usually perform a soil test for a reasonable fee. You can contact them or a local service to determine how you should collect samples and where to send them.

Apply Herbicides for Weed Control

Many broadleaf weeds start to show their ugly faces in the fall. Dandelions, plantain, clover and creeping charlie are just some of the perennial weeds that come out to play. If the weeds are spread out and few in number, you can spot treat them with an herbicide. Spray container products make it easy to do spot treatments. You should complete this task while temperatures are still above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you carefully evaluate the number and types of weeds in your lawn. It is not necessary to apply herbicides over your entire lawn unless there is significant infestation. Don’t worry about crabgrass and other annual weed-like grasses. These are controlled more effectively in the spring.

Water

Even though temperatures are cooler and the growth of your grass is slowing down, the lawn still needs to be watered. This is often one of the most neglected areas of fall lawn care. Visions of cool fall and winter weather often cause lawn owners to take a vacation and forget about their lawns. But, you should continue to water until the ground is cold and freezing temperatures are on the horizon. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you will need to use compressed air to blow out the pipes and sprinkler heads before damage occurs from a freeze.

Fertilize

If you are a lawn fanatic like me, you can make two applications of fertilizer, once now and another in the late stages of fall (late October/ early November). This will provide nutrients to your lawn over a longer growth period. Late season fertilizing often causes lawns to be the first to grow in the spring. However, the longer you wait to fertilize, the less likely it is to be beneficial. When in doubt, simply skip the final application. If your soil test indicates that your lawn has a shortage of phosphorus, then you may consider using a ‘winterizing’ type of fertilizer. Otherwise, leftover spring fertilizer or a weed and feed fertilizer is sufficient. One final thing to avoid is slow-release fertilizers. During this time of year, soil has a lower level of microbial activity which means it takes longer to break down fertilizer and make its nutrients available to the grass.

Mow

You should continue to mow your lawn throughout the fall until growth stops. It is important to keep your grass 2″ to 2 - 1/2″ tall during fall. If your grass gets too long, it will mat and risk lawn diseases like snow mold. However, if you cut it too short (less than 2″), you can diminish the lawn’s ability to make and store food for growth in the spring.

Seed or Sod

This is not always a necessary lawn care practice, but this time of year is the best time to establish or repair a lawn by seeding or sodding. Seeding and sodding should be completed as soon as possible before really cold weather sets in. If you are overseeding your lawn, you need to rake up debris and dethatch your lawn if thatch is thicker than half an inch. This ensures that the grass seed will be as close to the soil as possible. You should also aim to keep the soil moist for a few weeks while the seeds are germinating.

Remove Leaves and Thatch

When leaves begin to fall in autumn, it is important to remove them before a thick layer forms that can smother the grass. Simply raking often removes thatch from your lawn, but in bad cases of soil compaction, you may need to get a lawn aerator to perform core aeration. If you have the funds, and you’re serious about lawn care, you may want to buy an aerator. Otherwise, you can simply rent one at a local hardware or garden supply store.

Maintain Equipment

Lawn care equipment requires constant maintenance throughout, but the fall season involves a more thorough maintenance process. Upkeep can save you tons of money and heartache in the long run. Fall is a great time to perform an oil change on your mower. You should also drain the gas from your mower or add a gas stabilizer. Consult your manual before using a stabilizer, because it may void your warranty.

Remove the mower’s spark plug with a spark-plug wrench. Lubricate the spark-plug cylinder with a teaspoon of oil through its hole. Install a new spark plug, but keep the spark-plug wire disconnected. Grease where necessary, especially the rear height-adjuster on a self-propelled mower.

You should check your blade and the bolts on the unit to ensure tightness. You should also inspect and possibly sharpen your mower blade. After you have completed these steps, store the mower in a clean, dry place away from any possible ignition sources.

Final Thoughts

Following the fall lawn care practices outlined in this article will prepare your lawn for winter and reward you with a healthy, thriving lawn in the spring.

To learn more about lawn care visit Blades Lawn Care, where you’ll learn all about taking care of grass, fertilizing, and much more.

You’ve just purchased your new home and it came with an expansive patch of green grass known as a lawn. Since you care about curb appeal, and the opinion of your neighbors, you purpose to have a golf course lawn all year long.
But first, you have some major and minor purchases to make. Here are the basic tools you’ll need to keep your lawn in shape for years to come.

The Lawn Mower

You need this one not only to keep the manicured look, but also to avoid fines from your city of township for an overgrown lawn. You can spend anywhere from $125 to over $1,000 or more for this tool, and it will probably be the most expensive tool in your garage.
A good quality walk behind mower with self propulsion will run you around $300. Make sure your mower is at least 5.5 horsepower and has both bag and mulch features.

The Weed Whacker

Also known as a string trimmer, the weed whacker is the tool that gives your lawn the clean edges that will set it apart. There is nothing worse than a lawn that is cut but not edged or trimmed along driveway and fence lines.
String trimmers come in electric and gas powered. Gas powered trimmers are more mobile but cost more to operate and give off fumes and more noise. There are also cordless rechargeable trimmers available that will do a fine job for smaller homes.

Power Sweeper or Blower

This may not seem like a necessity, but if you live in a part of the country where trees lose their leaves in fall, your blower will come in very handy. Most homeowners can get away with an electric corded blower for about $30, but if your lawn is larger and you have multiple large trees, you may decide to invest in a back-pack blower that packs more power for around $500.

Fertilizer Spreader

All beautiful lawns need fertilizer and weed control, and the best way to deliver these products is through a spreader. These come in handheld models, push models and tractor pulled models.
I always recommend using a broadcast-style spreader and NOT a drop spreader as the broadcasting type offer more even coverage and are easier to use. If you buy a push spreader, look for one with air filled rubber tires and a metal frame. It will cost you around $60 but will last a lifetime.

Sprinklers and Hoses

Watering the lawn is important too. Choose a sprinkler that keeps the water in large droplets and low to the ground. This will minimize water lost to drift and evaporation. Impact sprinklers are the most common and are adjustable to cover just about any size or shape area. A metal-bodied impact sprinkler will cost you about $10.
When buying a hose, you don’t need the most expensive, but definitely not the cheapest. You should buy at least 2 medium duty hoses in varying lengths so you can run 2 sprinklers simultaneously to save time.

Before you close on your new house, consider adding these basic lawns tools to your garage collection.

Al Haneson offers lawn tips about Choosing Grass Seed and Planting Grass Seed over at his blog, Life and Lawns.

In Chinese bonsai means potted plant and is the art of miniaturization of trees by actually growing them in trees. Cultivation of the Bonsai includes techniques for growing, watering and shaping these trees and this art originated in China during the Han Dynasty. In western civilizations the word bonsai is used to mean the growing and shaping of miniature trees. Bonsai trees were used in the Japanese culture to decorate homes and gardens. The oldest known Bonsai trees can be found in Tokyo, where they are said to be four hundred to eight hundred years old.

Today the Bonsai is considered a miniature or dwarf tree; however it was not always this way. They are kept small by being cultivated and confined to pots. There is a technique that can be used to grow dwarf bonsai and keep it small. This is the art of pruning the leaves of the tree and also the roots. However, if you are pruning the leaves and roots you must do so properly because incorrect pruning can result in killing the roots and the tree.

If you are growing your tree in a confined space such as bonsai pot, then you must be sure to water the tree appropriately. If you are growing your bonsai in an area that has a great deal of sun and where the temperature gets quite hot, it is important to keep watering your tree on a regular basis. These trees have a tendency to dry out quickly if they are exposed to wind, sun and heat. However, on the other hand watering too often can cause problems as well. If you water your bonsai frequently you are taking the risk of leaving the soil wet and soggy and as a result fungi can grow in the soil, which essentially can kill your tree. It is important that you use free draining soil to prevent water logging the soil.

There are specific bonsai trees that have been designed specifically for indoor cultivation. These trees still require a great deal of sunlight and therefore an artificial environment must be created inside that will provide them with all the things that they need. There is a risk of the tree not surviving however as there is a high incidence of death amongst these trees that are grown indoors in an artificial environment. Compared to other more traditional houseplants that are grown in containers, the bonsai does not require as much soil for planting. However they do require more frequent watering due to the fact that they have less soil to draw water from.

Bonsai is a named used to denote a dwarf tree that is grown and shaped in a specific way. There are a number of different species of trees that are used in bonsai trees. For example, the Fir tree is a species of tree that is used in created a bonsai design, as is the Cedar. While some of these species tend to grow taller and larger than one would of think for bonsai, they are shaped to resemble the traditional bonsai trees of the Orient.

For more information on bonsai tree care,tips to help you care for a bonsai tree and other bonsai tree related information visit http://www.MyBonsaiTree.com

Growing and caring for a bonsai tree can be both easy and difficult at the same. Therefore it is important that you know how to properly care for a bonsai tree. Care for this type of tree involves watering, pruning and proper planting. A bonsai tree requires a certain amount of sunlight and water. Too much of either can cause more harm to the tree than good and it can actually kill the tree. This is why it is important to know how to take care of the tree before you decide to grow one in your home. One of the most favourite of the bonsai trees is the ficus bonsai tree.

Caring the for the ficus bonsai tree requires a great deal of patience. This type of tree needs to be kept inside all year long. Since it is a small tree and is planted in a small pot, you can occasionally bring the tree outside to give it some fresh air. Just like with other bonsai trees the soil should be given a chance to dry out in between watering. To test the soil you can stick your finger into the soil about an inch down; if you feel moist soil then you should wait to water your tree. However, the key is to not let the soil stay dry for an extended period of time because this could kill the tree. There is a specific way to water a bonsai tree as well. You should allow the tree and the container it is in to soak for about ten minutes. Once it has soaked, you should allow the water to drain from the soil until no more water drips from the bottom of your container.

Replanting of a ficus bonsai tree is an important part of caring for a bonsai tree. It should be repotted once every two years. This is a type of tree that has a tendency to grow slowly but there are times when the bonsai tree will go through a growth spurt and if its container is somewhat small you might want to consider repotting before the two year period has expired. If you allow the tree to grow in a small pot it will begin take over the pot and as a result it will cease to grow after a period of time. If you need to change the pot in which you are growing your bonsai tree you should wait until the early months of spring to do so. After it is in the new pot, it should be watered thoroughly and then kept in the shade for at least a period of three weeks. This will give the root system time to take hold in the new pot.

Caring for the Ficus Bonsai tree means that you need to understand how your tree will react to the different temperatures and weather conditions during the different seasons. It is important that the bonsai tree is kept indoors during the winter months because it is not able to withstand cold temperatures. However, while indoors the tree must be kept in a sunny area so that it does get the proper amount of light. The temperature should be kept between 60 and 65 degrees at all times.

For more information on bonsai tree care,tips to help you care for a bonsai tree and other bonsai tree related information visit http://www.MyBonsaiTree.com