SALEM, Ore. – April 8, 2013 – Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers and turf specialists, offers six steps to get your lawn on track for summer during April’s National Lawn Care Month.

“As seasonal temperatures rise across the country we’re entering the prime lawn growing season and the perfect time to do some basic lawn maintenance,” said Bryan Ostlund, Grass Seed USA executive director. “Investing even a little time now to seed or repair your lawn will pay off in the months to come and make sure you’re ready for summer.”

• Step One: Rake – Raking your lawn removes dead grass, leftover winter leaves and other debris, allowing you to control thatch and see bare or worn areas that need attention. It also permits new, young grass to grow more easily and increases soil contact when seeding.

• Step Two: Test your soil – Good soil is one of the essentials of a healthy lawn. Doing a soil test is simple and inexpensive (do-it-yourself kits are available at your local garden center), and it provides valuable information about your soil’s current pH level. Simple amendments like lime or sulfur can be added to neutralize overly acidic or alkaline soil and help your grass thrive.

• Step Three: Aerate – Older or heavily trafficked lawns can suffer from soil compaction. A core aerator with hollow tines will pull small plugs of soil out of the ground, allowing increased movement of water, nutrients and oxygen into the soil. Lawn aeration can also increase the soil contact with new seeds and improve the success rate of new growth. You can rent an aerator or hire a professional to aerate your lawn for you.

• Step Four: Seed – Spring offers optimal conditions for establishing new lawn spaces or repairing thin or bare patches in existing lawns. Expanding your current lawn or repairing high-traffic areas will allow the grass to grow in healthy and strong before summer, when the lawn will likely experience the heaviest use. For best results, talk to a turf specialist at a garden store or your local university extension office to help you select the right seed for your area and usage. The specialist will be able to identify which seed is closest to your existing lawn, or suggest an alternate option if you’ve experienced recurring problems. After you plant the new seed, water lightly but regularly to make sure the reseeded areas stay damp until the new grass grows in. Applying a starter fertilizer is an option, though not required.

• Step Five: Control weeds – The best way to control weeds is to maintain a healthy, lush lawn, which will in turn squeeze out the weeds. If, however, you experience problems with crabgrass or dandelions, herbicides may help. Talk to a local garden specialist about which herbicide is right for your lawn and the best way to apply it. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring before weed grass emerges can reduce problems down the line. Herbicides can kill grass seeds, so if you’ve applied seed you’ll want to make sure you use a product that will not affect new growth. For dandelions, digging them up is often an effective solution. If not, a broadleaf herbicide can be applied.

• Step Six: Tune up your lawn mower – Get ready for the first mow by giving your lawn mower a tune-up. Don’t wait until your mower starts acting up. Keep it running smoothly with an annual service that includes changing the oil, changing the spark plug, swapping out or cleaning the air filter, and sharpening the blade. Most lawns are ready to be mowed when the grass reaches a height of 3 inches, although newly seeded areas or recently overseeded existing lawns should be mowed closer to 2 inches until the new grass is established. Remember to mow with a frequency that allows you to cut less than one-third the height of the grass. An easy-to-follow rule is to let it grow no taller than 3 inches and cut it to no shorter than 2 inches.

About Grass Seed USA

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www.weseedamerica.com.

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 Grass Seed USA has named four U.S. veterans to win free home lawn makeovers through its Operation Home Turf veterans appreciation program. Joshua Baker of Kingston, Wash.; Roger King of Sandpoint, Idaho; Steven Ryerbach of Lebanon, Pa.; and Mike Wagoner of La Crosse, Wis., were randomly selected from the nominations of servicemen and servicewomen received through Grass Seed USA’s Facebook page. Each will receive a spring lawn revitalization valued at $500. Grass Seed USA will hire a local contractor in the spring to evaluate each winner’s lawn and implement the lawn care.

“It is an honor to be able to reward deserving service members, both past and present, for their dedication to our country by providing a new or improved lawn,” said Bryan Ostlund, Grass Seed USA executive director. “These home lawn makeovers are just a small token of our appreciation for their service, but we hope that by helping them create a relaxing retreat on the home front we can let them know their sacrifices are recognized and appreciated.”

Joshua Baker, Kingston, Wash. – Baker enlisted in the Navy shortly after high school, seeing it as a good way to start a career. He has been deployed on nuclear submarines all over the world while being forced to leave his wife and four children at home in Kingston, Wash. While deployed and stationed at Naval Base Kitsap, Baker decided to further his education by taking night, weekend and online classes to complete a bachelor’s degree in work force education. With Baker currently on deployment and his wife at home caring for four children, finding time to maintain their lawn has become impossible. Baker is 28 years old and recently became a petty officer first class in the U.S. Navy.

Roger King, Sandpoint, Idaho – King found his love of airplanes and engineering at the age of 17, which led to him working on the life support systems for the last four Apollo missions to the moon. Soon after, he was drafted into the Air Force during the Vietnam War. The Air Force utilized his engineering expertise to process surveillance film from reconnaissance missions and create radar simulations for the military’s B-52 bombers. Following four years in the Air Force, Staff Sgt. King left the military to start his own business, utilizing the skills he had learned in the Air Force. Now retired from his second successful company, King keeps busy on his five and a half acres in northern Idaho, where he has created a park with a seasonal creek, fire pit and tree house, which serves as a neighborhood hangout. Continual traffic at the park, feeding his love for aviation by flying more than 60 hours a year, and fixing and creating parts for old planes, combined with the difficult weather conditions of the region, have wreaked havoc on his lawn.

Steven Ryerbach, Lebanon, Pa. – Staff Sgt. Ryerbach joined the Marines in 1986 and served four years before accepting an honorable discharge to pursue other endeavors. In 1997, he returned to the military as an information systems specialist at the Eastern Army Aviation Training Site in Fort Indiantown Gap and joined the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was deployed with the 56th Stryker Brigade to Iraq in 2009. In July 2012, Ryerbach was elected department commander for AMVETS Pennsylvania. AMVETS, or American Veterans, advocates for veterans on issues such as employment, training, and funding for health care and other benefits. His busy schedule, two daughters, a fiancée and the floods from Tropical Storm Lee last year have left his lawn in dire need of repair.

Mike Wagoner, La Crosse, Wis. – Wagoner is a 30-year veteran of the Marine Corps and the Wisconsin National Guard. During his time in the service, he has been stationed in California as well as fulfilling deployments in the Middle East and Asia. He retired as a sergeant major. He currently works as a military training consultant at Fort McCoy. Wagoner is an active member of the American Legion of Wisconsin and a former state officer. Wagoner is always out and about volunteering at every organization he can think of, including serving 2,000 meals on Thanksgiving and being a youth bowling coach. Wagoner’s son was inspired to follow in his footsteps in the Marines and will be deployed in early 2013. Between Wagoner’s work, volunteer efforts and last year’s drought, his lawn is in need of help.  

About Grass Seed USA

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/WeSeedAmerica, or follow on Twitter at twitter.com/WeSeedAmerica.

KINGSTON - Joshua Baker, a Navy petty officer first class stationed at Naval Base Kitsap, has won a home lawn makeover from Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers.

Baker is one of four winners of the coalition’s Operation Home Turf veteran appreciation program. Each winner will receive a spring lawn revitalization valued at $500. Grass Seed USA will hire a local contractor in the spring to evaluate each winner’s lawn and implement the lawn care…

Read more here >> http://www.northkitsapherald.com/business/186542681.html

The new year is here - and to ensure that you and your lawn are prepared for the upcoming year, Grass Seed USA and other natural-turf specialists have come together to develop an easy 12-month lawn-care plan to help guide your lawn maintenance throughout 2013. When it comes to lawn maintenance, it’s never too early to prepare your course of action, so here are 12 simple lawn-care tips you can use throughout the year:

• January - Generally a month that requires little lawn maintenance, January is a great opportunity to get your lawn mower prepped and ready for spring’s punctual arrival. Take some time to get your mower’s blades sharpened and oil up the engine; your lawn will reap the benefits of a finely tuned mower when grass cutting season arrives.

• February - Now that we’re on spring’s doorstep, you’ll want to get your lawn ready for the end of its winter dormancy. Dethatching your yard is an essential step in preparing your lawn for the new grass that will emerge as the temperatures begin to rise and your lawn sees more sunlight.

• March - Raking may seem like an odd task when there are no leaves to clean up, but it can be a beneficial addition to your lawn-care routine. Raking cleans the top layer of your lawn, allowing healthy green grass to make its way to the surface.

• April - Have some thin patches or bare spots that emerged over the winter? April’s warming temperatures provide a great window of opportunity for reseeding the heavily impacted areas of your lawn, or seeding areas where you’d like to grow new grass.  

• May - Now that you’re likely to be mowing your lawn on a regular basis, change the mowing direction or pattern each time you mow your lawn. Different mowing patterns reduce soil compaction and turf wear from mower wheels.

• June - As the temperatures warm and drier conditions emerge, you’re likely to be watering your lawn more regularly, and knowing when and how much to water can be a challenge. A simple trick to determine whether your lawn needs watering is to stick a screwdriver into the grass. If it enters the soil easily, your lawn has plenty of water already. If you have trouble getting the screwdriver into the ground, it’s time to give the grass a drink.

• July - Try to avoid mowing or watering your lawn during peak temperature hours. Performing either of these activities when it’s sunny and hot can actually “sunburn” the grass and add additional stress to your lawn. The best time to mow and water your lawn is during the cool of the morning or evening.

• August - Summer activities and hot, dry conditions can compact the soil in your yard. August is a great month to aerate your lawn, loosening the soil and creating good conditions for fall maintenance.

• September - Autumn is the best time for establishing new growth in your lawn. With temperatures beginning to cool down, seeding new areas and overseeding existing lawn areas will allow grass to germinate and grow strong before the cool winter temperatures set in.

• October - Winter is coming, so be sure to mow your lawn one last time before the first freeze. Grass is much more likely to develop mold and other turf diseases if it goes into dormancy at a taller height.

• November - As the autumn leaves pile up on your lawn, you can put away the rake and blower. Running your mower over the leaves without the grass catcher grinds that clutter into a fine layer of mulch that will be naturally composted into the soil, providing rich nutrients for your grass

• December - Enjoy the holiday season and let your lawn take a breather. Come spring, you will be the envy of your neighbors as your healthy, well-cared-for lawn gets a jump start on growing season!

About Grass Seed USA

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf.

Operation Home Turf – Grass Seed USA promotion on Facebook

Operation Home Turf is getting underway and looking for deserving men and women in uniform to receive a lawn makeover courtesy of Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers. Visit and like Grass Seed USA’s Facebook page, and get an opportunity to nominate a veteran for a spring lawn revitalization valued at $500.

“We are grateful to all of our service men and women, past and present, for their dedication to our country,” said Bryan Ostlund, Grass Seed USA executive director. “This Veterans Day, we want to celebrate their service and contributions while helping to create a more relaxing retreat on the home front. A healthy, lush yard can be a fabulous oasis away from the demands of military experience.”

Operation Home Turf kicks off on Nov. 5, and here’s how it works:

• Visit www.facebook.com/WeSeedAmerica and like the page.
• In 200 words or less, tell about the nominee and why they deserve a lush, green lawn from Grass Seed USA.
• Nominations will be accepted from Nov. 5 through Nov. 18.

Grass Seed USA will randomly pluck four veterans from the nominations submitted to receive a spring lawn makeover, from seeding a new lawn to reviving an existing one. Winners will be announced by Dec. 18.

Selected winners will be subject to verification of current or past military service on behalf of the U.S. Additionally, winners must own the property, or have written consent from the property owner to have work done, before lawn services are provided.

About Grass Seed USA

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www.weseedamerica.com or www.facebook.com/WeSeedAmerica, or follow on Twitter at twitter.com/WeSeedAmerica.

SALEM, Ore. – Sept. 24, 2012 – Fall is here, and it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your lawn. In most of the country, thanks to cooler temperatures and increased precipitation, fall is the ideal season for seeding a new lawn or enhancing an existing one. Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers, suggests several steps you can take now to make sure you have a lush green lawn next year.

“The more you do in the fall, the bigger the payoff in the spring and in years to come,” said Bryan Ostlund, Grass Seed USA executive director. “There are three main reasons to consider improving your lawn now. First, adding seed in the fall allows you to repair damage or thicken areas that have become sparse, so your lawn will be full and vibrant in the spring. Second, if you’re thinking about selling your home in the next year, planting a lawn or improving an existing one can boost curb appeal and increase your home’s value. Third, if you have warm-season grass that goes dormant when the temperatures drop, you can avoid winter browning by overseeding with cool-season grass, which will keep your lawn green year-round. 

The United States can be roughly divided into three grass-growing zones: Cool Zone, Transition Zone and Warm Zone (see graphic).

If you live in the Warm Zone, fall is a time to sit back and enjoy your lawn, as few winterization measures are needed and new warm-season lawns are best planted in the late spring or early summer. One option you may want to consider is overseeding – adding cool-season grass seed over your warm-season turf. The cool-season grass will thrive until the warm-season grass turns green again in the spring, giving you a lush lawn year-round. 

Homeowners in the Cool Zone and Transition Zone should take similar steps to prepare their lawns for winter. In these areas, fall is a good time for the following activities:

• Seeding a new lawn. Before you plant a new lawn, talk to your local garden shop or university extension agent to identify the type of grass that will best meet your needs, taking into consideration the location, level of use, sun exposure, drainage, and so on. For easy-to-follow tips on seeding a lawn, from ground preparation to caring for new grass, see www.weseedamerica.com/planting.

• Adding seed to thicken an existing lawn. If your lawn is looking thin, or if you need to fill in some bare patches, now is the time to reseed. Talk to a turf specialist at a garden shop or university extension agent to find out what type of seed is best for your lawn conditions. Spread the seed over your existing lawn and then water lightly and regularly, making sure the reseeded areas stay moist until the new grass grows in. (Transition Zone homeowners with warm-season grasses also have the option of overseeding their lawns to keep them green through the winter.)

• Dethatching. A certain amount of thatch – the tightly packed layer of organic matter between the grass blades and the soil surface – can benefit your lawn, but if the layer exceeds ½ inch, it can keep moisture and oxygen from reaching the soil and can harbor fungus and insect pests. If your lawn needs to be dethatched, you can rent a vertical mower or hire a professional to do the job for you. If you plan to add seed to your lawn as well, make sure you dethatch before adding seed. This will enhance the germination process by ensuring the seed is in contact with the soil.

• Aerating. Older or heavily trafficked lawns can suffer from soil compaction. A core aerator with hollow tines will pull small plugs of soil out of the ground, allowing increased movement of water, nutrients and oxygen into the soil. You can rent an aerator or hire a professional to aerate your lawn for you.

• Raising your mower blades. Let your grass grow a bit taller in the fall, usually between 1½ and 2½ inches. If you cut it too short, you’ll severely limit its ability to make and store food for growth in the spring. If the grass is too long it can become matted, which leads to problems as well.

• Winterizing your irrigation system. If you live in an area where the frost level extends below the depth of your irrigation pipes, be sure to shut off the water to the irrigation system and drain all the pipes before the first freeze.

About Grass Seed USA

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www.weseedamerica.com.

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WeSeedAmerica.com to provide resources for growing attractive lawns responsibly 

SALEM, Ore. – Sept. 5, 2012 – Grass Seed USA, a national coalition of grass seed farmers and agricultural educators, has a launched WeSeedAmerica.com, a consumer website focused on providing homeowners with the resources to grow healthy, attractive and environmentally responsible lawns.

The website will provide tips on planting, maintaining and improving lawns; information of the benefits of grass; and fun facts. The site will also serve as a central portal to Grass Seed USA’s related social media networks, on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube, where the coalition will share useful content to interested consumers.

“Maintaining a healthy lawn is easier than most people think,” said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of Grass Seed USA. “With this website, we aim to help homeowners feel confident in their ability to achieve great lawns; adding to their quality of life and home’s value with the many benefits that come along with natural turf.”

About Grass Seed USA

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www.weseedamerica.com.

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BY DANIELLE BENNICOFF

Even though the end of summer is quickly closing in, August isn’t too late to get your lawn in prime condition for the remaining outdoor activities.

After all, the days are still warm and the grills are still firing. August is actually a great time to revive your lawn and give it the replenishment it needs after a long season of picnics, pool parties and record-breaking dry weather.

These five tips will help to make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood and boost the health of your yard for seasons to come. …

Read more here >> http://www.lehighvalleystyle.com/August-2012/The-Grass-Really-Can-Be-Greener-5-Full-Proof-Tips-for-Getting-the-Most-Out-of-Your-Grass/

We Seed America – Grass Seed USA

This website is dedicated to helping Americans grow and manage natural lawns responsibly, while enjoying the many perks of a vibrant, lush yard. At WeSeedAmerica.com, we love grass – the texture, the coolness, the color. It’s hard to deny the attraction of a lush green lawn.

The American tradition of landscaping with grass can be traced back to George Washington, who gets the credit for growing the first lawn in the United States, at his Mount Vernon estate. Others enthusiastically adopted the practice, and natural lawns eventually became a characteristic feature of the American Dream. (What’s on the other side of the fabled white picket fence? Grass.)

Why do Americans love grass? Natural lawns provide the ideal setting for all kinds of outdoor activities – from playing catch to barbecuing with friends. Lawns are relaxing, too. Whether you’re enjoying the feel of soft grass under your bare feet or sipping lemonade in a lawn chair in the shade, the presence of cool green grass relieves stress. Grass also offers environmental benefits, from cooling the atmosphere to preventing erosion. And, of course, there’s the aesthetic factor. A thriving carpet of grass is beautiful, and a responsibly managed lawn adds value to any home – literally.

If you love natural grass, this website is for you. Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers and turf experts are here to help you feel confident in your ability to grow a healthy, environmentally friendly lawn. Check back regularly for tips, tricks and a whole host of background about the benefits of natural turf. Obtaining a great lawn is not as hard as you might think, and we’ll help you get started – or keep your yard green – right here.

In this Daily Buzz TV segment with Lynn Becker, she explains an easy way to test if a lawn is getting too much or too little water.

You can watch the video here >> 2012 Summer Gardening Tips – Grass Seed USA on Daily Buzz TV

(Video used with permission).