| Richard McCraney (left) talks to John Krukemyer of Mid-Wood about grass issues in his yard. (Photo: Aaron Carpenter/Sentinel-Tribune) |
"The cheapest grass seed will be the most expensive and the most expensive will be the
cheapest," said John Krukemyer,
That tidbit was one of many tips offered to roughly 25 people Saturday who took advantage of a program by
Krukemyer on lawn care at Simpson Park.
A vice president at Mid-Wood Inc., Krukemyer illustrated his point with two bags of seed. The cheap seed
had far fewer seeds in a similar size bag than the quality seed.
His point was it would take more time and money to go through additional bags of the less expensive seed,
than to buy the equivalent volume of high quality seed in only one bag. Other problems also may surface
with what’s included in the cheap seed.
The program sponsored by the Wood County Master Gardeners, attracted master gardeners from around the
county and other interested individuals.
During the two-hour program, he offered information about the various types of grasses and how they might
be best used in various circumstances and environments.
To flourish, sandy soil will take a different type of seed mixture than a heavy clay soil will. Lawns
that are in a heavily shaded area require different needs than those which are exposed to full sun most
of the day.
Those in attendance were asked by Krukemyer what type of topics they wished him to cover. Many common
themes were raised, including dealing with problems such as rust in their turf, brown spots, etc. Others
asked about more natural ways of controlling weeds without using a lot of harsh chemicals.
Interestingly, Krukemyer pointed out there is no official designation to differentiate a weed from a
flower or plant. The difference is a "weed" is simply a plant you do not want growing with
plants, flowers or vegetation you do desire.
Thus, trying to kill a weed, will also often kill the other vegetation around it.
Another piece of information Krukemyer provided is that problems with your lawn can be solved with two
basic items – time and money.
"The more time you can devote, the less money you will need; and the less time you can devote, the
more money you will spend," he stated.
Though the program ran for two hours, he barely scratched the surface on things homeowners should know
about their lawn care. He often shared stories about specific lawn care cases to illustrate the point he
was making at the time.
The lawn expert stressed the importance of reading and following labels.
He related three key words to look for on all chemical products related to lawn and gardens – caution,
warning and danger.
Krukemyer indicated caution generally requires simple common sense to protect oneself from exposure or
problems.
If a label as a warning, that is something a little more serious. It should be read and followed exactly
to minimize risks. With a warning, he said wearing gloves and eye protection might be prudent. If used
properly, there should be no problems.
And finally, the danger designation is the most critical. Gloves and goggles should be mandatory. Even
when directions are followed, there can be problems when there is a danger label. He also recommends
washing clothes separately after using such a product and to take care to avoid contact when removing
the gloves.
Another tip for newer gardeners is roll up the cuffs of gloves when wearing them, so that any chemicals
run down into the cuff of the glove, rather than on the person’s arm.
Despite what some think, Krukemyer reminded those in attendance that grass does not live forever. Newer
varieties are being developed that do last longer; however, at some point, homeowners may have to
replace their entire turf after 25 to 30 years.
He elaborated on three basic types of grasses, bluegrass, rye grass and fescues.
Each type has different properties, with both strong and weak features. Often, the best choice for grass
is a blended mixture of the three.
Often the choice of which type of grass involves the amount of time and care you plant to give.
"You have to understand the characteristics of the living thing you are working with," he
offered.
And for those who hate to mow, Krukemyer said researchers are continuing to work on grasses which will
not grow as fast.
Right now is the prime time for planting grass seed, including a total lawn renovation.
"The worst day in the fall is better than any day in the spring," he shared, noting that
mid-September is about the cut-off for fall planting of seed.
As for professional lawn services, Krukemyer advises care and extensive questioning to assure the
homeowner is going to get the type of service they want for what they are paying.
Because of the volume of customers, some services may not be able to provide all the care needed at the
optimum time.
For any questions about your lawn care program, contact Krukemyer at his office by calling (419)
352-5231.
