For years developers have been scraping the topsoil (8-12 inches) from properties and selling it to sod farms. It's another way that land can be monetized and topsoil is a valuable commodity that contains minerals and nutrients from years of plant and animal decomposition.
Nutrient rich topsoil can make or break a lawn or home garden and if you are struggling to keep yours thriving it could be because you are planting in dirt that is deficient of topsoil.
From the developers point of view there is money to be made with topsoil but it is also not the most ideal foundation for a house to be built on. Foundations need to be poured into a solid clay foundation so topsoil needs to be removed but that doesn't mean it should be sold and carted away. It should be redistributed around the property once a home is built to help landscape and lawns grow.
By adding chemicals and overwatering lawns that will never grow we are wasting resources and burning the land. Make sure you check the PH levels of your soil and if you are considering purchasing a home from a developer ask what has happened to the topsoil.
What do you think about the practice of removing topsoil? Is your lawn or garden suffering because of this?
I knew very little about grass seed before my visit last week to NexGen Turf Research. I've recently laid sod and tried my best to keep it alive and green but unfortunately it has decided not to cooperate and has gone spotty and brown in some areas.
After receiving the invite from Pennington Seed to learn more about how grass seed is developed (a lengthy process), packaged and used, I jumped at the opportunity.
Cutting Edge Plant Seed Science
NexGen Turf Research is located in the Willamette Valley near Albany, Oregon which is called the "Grass Seed Capital of the World", and for good reason. There are very few places in the world that can boast a location as prime for growing grass seed. The combination of mild but wet winters and a flat valley location next to a mountain range separating it from the ocean, makes this part of the world the perfect place to not only grow grass seed but make some of the countries best varietals for wine. We saved the vineyards for our next visit as this trip was all about grass seed.
Pennington Seed began as a family-owned American company that was originally a seed store in Madison, Georgia. It has grown to become a world leader in grass seed manufacturing and acquired NexGen, the largest private grass research facility in the U.S.A., to further their commitment to developing drought-tolerant and superior grass seed.
Our visit started out at NexGen where we were introduced to their research team led by Kenneth Hignight. Most everyone who we met had dedicated their life's work to plant seed research and I had a few moments to chat with almost all of them. They are passionate about creating superior grass seed and we spent a lot of time discussing the environmental impact of lawns and the value of conserving water.
One of the most fascinating stories about how they acquire seeds to start their research is that they will comb cemeteries looking for the little green grass survivors. Cemeteries often times have lawns that are totally unkept and unwatered and if a seedling can survive there it has great drought-resistant genes.
By developing drought resistant grass seed they can reduce the amount of water needed to keep a lawn alive but the single most important lawn care tip I gleaned from this visit was - "Do Your Research".
Exporting Grass Seed
One of the fastest growing segments of Pennington Seed's business is erosion control. You've probably seen roadside hills and cliffs that are covered in grass and this is probably erosional control seed. Pennington has developed grass seed that has a very strong and deep root system that will strengthen the surface of topsoil which will reduce the amount of erosion due to rain.
This erosional control seed is one of Pennington's largest exports, in fact Pennington Seed exports more than 10 million dollars worth of seed with much of it going to China. They are definitely doing their part to keep a trade balance but we don't often hear stories of American made products being shipped overseas. China has overgrazed their land and during the Beijing Olympics they were concerned with dust bowls. Pennington Seed provided China with their erosion control seed which helped limit and reduce the amount of dust during the games.
What the Pro's Know
They often mentioned "the pro's do this", meaning the guys who manage golf courses, sport stadium grass and sod farms. I asked Ronnie Stapp who is the EVP of Seed Operations what separates the pros from the regular Joe's and he said "The pros know what to expect from their grass seed and how to manage it". We are always looking for a quick fix and don't take the time to research what type of grass seed will work best in our area. Some grass seed will go dormant in the winter and no matter how much you water it will always turn brown. If you know the type of soil you are dealing and the most ideal grass seed you will need for your climate, you have won half the battle. Growing grass is a patient endeavor and it can take 2-3 seasons for a lawn to really take root.
If you're one of those people with a productive green thumb, you have my endless admiration. And if the cool fall temperatures already have you longing for sunny days spent in the dirt, well, you're in luck!
You can garden in the fall, and in fact, some horticulture experts recommend fall gardening over spring.
"Many cool-season vegetables produce their best flavor and quality when they mature during cool weather," according to a report from North Carolina State University's Department of Horticulture Science. In some parts of the country, including North Carolina, spring temperatures "often heat up quickly. Vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, tend to bolt or develop bitter flavor when they mature during hot summer weather."
In September, you'll want to plant vegetables that mature quickly, like turnips and leafy greens. You may also want to check with your local nursery for advice on other plants and vegetables that will thrive during your area's fall weather.
We got tipped to a new product from DuPont that promises to eliminate the problem of weeds in our garden.
Their WeedFree Premium landscape fabric supposedly provides a strong defense against weeds and helps promote healthy plants and shrubs. It's made of spun-bonded polypropylene which creates a breathable barrier that resists punctures, unraveling or tearing while allowing air, moisture and nutrients to permeate.
Another valuable feature is that it eliminates the need to use any toxic weed killers which make it perfect for organic gardens or areas where children will be playing. We plan on laying it down while we build a sandbox this week and we'll keep you posted on how it performs.
