Monday, January 30, 2012

Turf Tips Newsletter


Volume X: 
Issue No.1    January 2012
In this issue: 
(1) The History of the Lawn 
(2) February Lawn calendar for Low Desert Valleys

Feature Story
THE HISTORY OF THE LAWN.......
The word "laune" is first attested in 1540,[] and is likely related to the Celtic Brythonic word lan/llan/laun, which has the meaning of enclosure, often in relation to a place of worship. Lawns as we know them, may have originated as grassed enclosures within early medieval settlements used for communal grazing of livestock, as distinct from fields reserved for agriculture.  Lawns became popular with the aristocracy in northern Europe from the middle Ages onward. The early lawns were not always distinguishable from pasture fields. It is speculated the association between the word "pasture" and biblical mentions made lawns a cultural affinity for some. Lawns served as secure places were enemies could be seen in the distance and when advancing, could be recognized more easily than through dense upright vegetation.
Lawns were not a part of gardens in other regions and cultures of the world until contemporary influence.
Before the invention of mowing machines in 1830, lawns were managed very differently. They were an element of wealthy estates and manor houses, and in some places were maintained by the labor-intensive methods of scything or shearing. In most situations, they were also pasture land maintained through grazing by sheep or other livestock. Areas of grass grazed regularly by rabbits, horses or sheep over a long period often form a very low, tight sward similar to a modern lawn. This was the original meaning of the word "lawn", and the term can still be found in place names. Some forest areas where extensive grazing is practiced still have these semi-natural lawns. For example, in the New Forest, England, such grazed areas are common, and are known as lawns, for example Balmer Lawn.

It was not until the Tudor and Elizabethan times that the garden and the lawn became a place created first as walkways and social areas. They were made up of meadow plants, such as chamomile, a particular favorite. In the early 17th century, the Jacobean epoch of gardening began; during this period, the closely cut "English" lawn was born. By the end of this period, the English lawn was a symbol of status of the aristocracy, wealth and gentry. William Kent and Lancelot "Capability" Brown brought the landscape garden style into popularity, combining grassed areas within the total landscape as separate events. In the 1870s, lawns began to appear beyond affluent properties and city parks. Most people had neither the hired labor nor leisure time to cut a field of grass with scythes, and most raised vegetables and flowers. During the Victorian era, as more plants were introduced and available horticulturally in Europe, lawns became smaller, as flower beds were created and filled with perennials, sculptures, and water features. At the end of the 19th century, suburban development with land around residences began.

With sprinkler technology, improved and mass-produced lawn mowers, new expectations about gardens, and a shorter working week, lawns came of age in the U.S. and northern Europe. Through the 20th century, western landscape influence brought the lawn to many parts of the world
FEBRUARY LAWN CALENDAR for Yuma, Tucson and Phoenix:
By no later than the end of February, it’s time to apply a pre-emergence herbicide which prevents summer annual weeds from emerging in the lawn.  While many o f these weeds can  remain  so small  that you won’t really  see them until the weather “gets warmer”  in April.......it’s important to control them BEFORE they come out of the ground from seeds.  Pre-emergence by definition, stops a weed from emerging (it actually germinates, but you don’t see that event occurring). 
Grassy summer annual weeds include southwest cup grass, (which many people think is crabgrass, but it is not) stinkgrass, and to a lesser extent goose grass. The main summer annual broadleaf weeds that emerge in the spring include the spurge complex weeds,   Many pre-emerge products have much greater weed  control on grassy weeds, but some can inhibit spurge emergence when used t the high label rate. There are some herbicide products that  are quite effective on broadleaf weed emergence, but  they must be applied by a licensed professional.
Some commonly available pre-emergence lawn herbicides available include………
(prodiamine)   Sold mainly as Barricade or Evade.
(penimethalin  Sold as Prowl or Pre-Em, Pendulaqm Aqua-Cap
(oryzalin)  Sold as Surflan
(balan) Sold as Benefin
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kirk A. Astroth, Interim Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.  The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

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