drought
July = Smart irrigation month, but how can these “smart” irrigation technologies help us in a drought?
By Shane Evans
For those of you who don't know, the Irrigation Association has deemed July as Smart Irrigation Month. According to their website, “Smart Irrigation Month is an Irrigation Association initiative celebrated throughout July to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in landscape, turf and agricultural irrigation” (Irrigation Association, 2020).
Allow some browning in lawns to conserve water
In Yard and Garden News, Maggie Reiter, Extension turfgrass educator, Shane Evans, lawn water conservation educator, and Florence Breuillin-Sessoms, turfgrass scientist, have written a very timely article. If you are wondering about your brown lawn, make sure to read Allow some browning in lawns to conserve water for tips on handling this hot and dry weather.
Drought in the land of 10,000 lakes
By Shane Evans
Some people may think the title of this blogpost is an oxymoron. I am here to tell you in 2021 that is not the case. I have previously talked about water in the land of 10,000 lakes, but my focus was on where our water comes from and how it is used in the home. In this edition, I hope to address the fallacy of drought not being possible in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Drought tolerance of consumer-available seed mixtures
By Florence Sessoms
The presence of lawns in urban environments is sometimes viewed negatively: too many chemical inputs that result in environmental pollution. I also have observed a popular misconception about irrigation on home lawns: irrigation is compared to the Danaides’ barrel (Figure 1), a bottomless pit where water is forever added and lost. However, lawns can provide tremendous ecosystems services such as decreased soil erosion, absorption of dust and particle pollution, reduced heat island effect, and increased mental and physical human health.