Do you question the future of an American tradition, the sprawling lawn?

While some advocate its demise, others agree turf matters as it serves as one of Mother Nature?EUR??,,????'?????<

VA Tech?EUR??,,????'?????<

Goatley provides a host of current and archived tips in best management practices for homeowners and their lawns through the Turf and Garden Tips website. One of the most important steps towards achieving a healthy lawn or landscape is to conduct a soil test, an activity recommended at least every 3-4 years for lawns in Virginia.

Improving soil will almost certainly improve your lawn and landscape. For, many lawns struggle from the onset as turf and ornamentals at new construction sites are planted in what essentially is subsoil. The best sod in the world can only temporarily mask underlying soil problems!

In preparation for the turf clinic, contact your regional County Extension office and acquire a VA Tech soil test kit. Complete the test, forward the soil sample to Tech for analysis and then, follow Tech?EUR??,,????'?????<

A second equally important step is to select a turf that works well for your environment. For a list of the best adapted cultivars for the state, review the current Virginia/Maryland Turfgrass Recommended Variety lists posted at https://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/np/2805-1003.pdf . Consider existing lawn quality in relationship to current water, fertilizer, and pesticides uses and then, question if both the lawn and the environment would benefit by selecting a better-adapted grass that requires fewer inputs.

Traditionally, Virginians prefer cool season grasses and early fall is a great time to establish and/or renovate these lawns. Detailed demonstrations on how to calibrate spreaders, how to calculate appropriate amounts of nutrients and lime, and how to deliver them accurately and efficiently will be available during the Festival. Also, experts will demonstrate how to properly establish seed and sod.

Mismanaged lawns can negate all the great attributes of a healthy turf: water filtration and groundwater recharge, erosion control, temperature and glare moderation, and the use of turf for recreation and relaxation. The Festival?EUR??,,????'?????<

Educate yourself and then, go green – become an environmental steward in turf management practices!

Virginia Garden Festival held (rain or shine) September 20, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Garner Pavilion (located between the Science Museum of VA and Children?EUR??,,????'?????< and event details see https://www.virginiagardening.com/virginiagardenfestival.htm