Can one acre of lawn produce more oxygen than one acre of rain forest?

This was the question I had asked Tom Bruulsema, PhD, CCA Director, Northeast Region, North America Program International Plant Nutrition Institute.

This quote is a popular cliché in the turf grass industry, and I don't know an original reference that supports it. The statement does not originate with International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI).

I was involved in the review of the CFI document in question, and I chose to leave the statement as is, since it can be justified as follows:

1. Both turf grasses and rainforests are plant ecosystems that take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and release oxygen (O2) to the air, by the process of photosynthesis.

2. In turf grass and rainforest ecosystems, the opposite process - respiration - is occurring in and above the soil, when dead plant materials decompose, and this process absorbs oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.

3. The oldest rainforests have been around for a long time, and they are considered to be in "equilibrium" -- respiration balances photosynthesis -- and so on a net basis produce no oxygen. Most turf grasses are more recently established on soils that still have capacity to store more organic matter, and on a net basis are taking carbon dioxide from the air. Therefore they are also releasing oxygen on a net basis, since photosynthesis of the grass exceeds the respiration from the organic matter in the system.

4. There is no science-based concern regarding a global shortage of oxygen in the air. The atmosphere contains 20% oxygen, but only 0.04% carbon dioxide.

So, taken in the right way, the statement has public educational merit since it raises awareness of the gas exchanges associated with photosynthesis occurring in their home lawns. It should not, however, be taken to imply that turf grasses can entirely replace the many ecological functions of rainforests.

Tom Bruulsema, PhD, CCA
Director, Northeast Region, North America Program
International Plant Nutrition Institute

When to Aerate?

From my 29 years of experience, September is the best time. The second best: May. So when you see those guys going door to door in April, tell them no thanks, please come back in May. A customer of ours has two private croquet courts on his property in Winona Ontario. The pictures displayed are of his courts.


Why May? April brings April showers. The ground is moist and the process could damage more than do good. With the showers the ground could swell and close the holes created by the aeration. The later in the spring is better, so the holes will last the summer to allow for better water absorption and exchange of nutrients and air.

Corquet Courts Are Done In The Fall

We use a larger aerator, the Ryan LA 28 which is cam driven to provide clean entry and exit. The other machines you see out there do a roll over entry and exit. The type of soil and compaction is dependent upon how deep the tines go in. Both work well, but one better than the other.

Did you know that one aeration done properly will remove more thatch than any one dethatching can do. See, the tine of an aerator will go through total depth, where as a dethacther will scratch only the surface. To get any depth removed means damaging your turf and having to renovate after. Aeration will also enhance the breakdown of thatch with the disbursement of the cores to the surface.

After you aerate, apply seed. This will thicken and improve your lawns tolerance to wear and stress from the coming months. This should be done yearly and in September when the seed gets the best chance to germinate and fill in your lawn.

Do not seed in the spring, unless you are willing to invest time and patience. I’ve had too many customers complain that the seed never germinated. There are many variables that will create the best possibilities, as well as poor outcomes.

Check out our site stangls.com for more.

GOT WEEDS? We Have The SOLUTION!!

Since 1981 Stangl's Enviro Lawn Care has been providing the best. At times, we cannot meet the needs of all our customers, but we do our best. The pictures within are from a customer in Niagara on the Lake, a commercial/tourist destination.

2009 Season had a great amount of rain. With that said, we had our work cut out for us. Our Classic program is the basis to every program. The Classic Program provides 6 applications of our Weed Manager Fertilizer starting April and ending in October.  We provide our summer inspection during the month of July which is included in the program to ensure that all is OK!

Got weeds? We have the solution! Weeds are ID's to what is going on in your soil. Each will tell the tale of what is going on in your soil. We'll ID the weed and provide a solution to provide you with the best possible outcome for a weed free lawn.

A yearly Overseeding/Power Slit Seeding is your path to a healthier weed free lawn. Top dressing and aeration with the seeding will encourage the best possible outcome to crowd out weeds. The best time to do is at the end of August and into the beginning of September.

Dandi-lions, plantain, clover, creeping charlie and crabgrass were problematic throughout the season.

If you have any questions, please contact Stangl's Enviro Lawn Care!

www.stangls.com

Stangl's & The Green Tree Africa initiative

“Project 1-1-1-10-2010”



We write to introduce Green Tree Africa initiative, a non governmental advocacy and research organization responsible for protecting the environment and its resources, protecting the environment for food security and healthy living is our collective responsibility for sustainable development in Nigeria and the entire continent of Africa.

Our goals, is to mobilize citizens concerns into positive actions to protect and enhance the environment for present and future generation; and in support of government policies and multinationals in promoting the environment for renewable energy, green initiatives, food security and healthy living for sustainable development.

Therefore, we solicit for your support, please avail us the privilege of your cooperation.

We are looking forward to you, as we enthrone a clean and green environment in Nigeria.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Yours faithfully

National Coordinator
Donatus Omoake JP

National Secretary
Abdullahi Mohammed

“We have to join hands together to protect the Environment for a clean and green tomorrow, so that we can live, work and celebrate the protection of the Environment for food security and healthy living for a better future”.

Keeping Our Planet Green - GTI

STANGL’S GREEN TREE INITIATIVE - GTI


Since 1981, Stangl’s Enviro Lawn Care, a family run business has been providing the Niagara and surrounding regions with sustainable Lawn Care.

From early on we saw the need for a co-existence of lawn, tree and shrub in the urban environment. The health of the environment is reflected back on those who steward the land.

Here at Stangl’s we have started the “GREEN TREE INITIATIVE – GTI” that will give back to the communities that have supported Stangl’s, since 1981. With our GTI, we will donate 22 trees a year.

Why twenty two? It requires 22 trees to produce the amount of oxygen consumed by one person. (An acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people). This data comes from the Northwest Territories Forest Management site: http://forestmanagement.enr.gov.nt.ca/forest_education/amazing_tree_facts.htm

With our continued education we will encourage our customers to invest in their own future by planting a tree, shrub and the continue maintenance of their lawns to provide the best possible outcome in the reduction of global warming.

Each tree (standing 250cm/ 6 feet) that is donated will be from a local distributor to encourage further economic stimulus.

Their locations will be determined by application and including a brief description of why your location is the one of choice. We wish we could give a tree to all that submit, but there is always next year.

We welcome all to apply and look forward to Global Partnering.