Page 15 - CooperatorNews NY April 2022

COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS — APRIL 2022 15 thrive under different conditions,” he ly, maintenance is easy: mow once a week, ing the beneficial top soil from erosion. A Jersey, confirms this. He adds that lawns says. “You can’t just drive to your local supply one inch of water per week, and healthy lawn can also be up to 30º cooler in his area are particularly susceptible to Lowe’s and pick up a bag of mixed grass fertilize as needed”—generally about four than exposed soil, concrete, or asphalt on weed invasions and fungi, particularly seed. You need to consider climate, pre- cipitation, light, pests, maintenance, and ditions and the lawn’s particular needs, as the degree of wear your turf will under- go.” Given the size of many housing co- operatives and associations he works with ferent factors: “For small areas,” says a lot of factors working against it. Cli- in the Northeast, he continues, different Carnovale, “you can hand-pull weeds, or mate is already a consideration, but the unless you know what you’re looking for, parts of the same complex might have dif- ferent growing conditions. For instance, if post-emergent herbicide to control grassy severity of weather events brought about spread and permanent,” if not taken care one area of the property gets full sun and and broadleaf has adequate irrigation, he might choose weeds. Lawns a bluegrass for that part of the landscape; can always be if another parcel on the same property is improved with shadier and drier, he’d plant fine fescues, core aeration, “which can survive on much less water, top around 3 to 4 hours of sunlight, and go dormant during times of stress.” A professional lawn care company can ing in the fall also conduct a soil test. “This is the ‘blood to test’ for the needs of the lawn—or, for that matter, the landscape,” says Lindner. “The and to help fill results of the test will determine what in- puts are required to keep your plants and take over.” lawn growing and healthy.” Clay soils, which the pros say are prevalent in New England, require more frequent core aera- tion, for example. This process, necessary grass can even improve air quality by ab- for all lawns at least once a year in early sorbing carbon dioxide, car exhaust, soot, er water usage, more herbicide and pesti- autumn, helps loosen up soil compaction dust, and other airborne pollutants. It cide applications, and increased gas usage to reduce transmission of COVID. Areas to allow water, nutrients, and air to flow can also improve water quality by slow- down to the roots. Carnovale contends that as long as the the groundwater supply. Healthy roots grass aligns with the conditions, “general- to eight times per year, depending on con- well as the specific fertlizer’s directions. cially in urban and high-use settings, can bugs, cutworms, and sod webworms are Weed control also depends on a few dif- consider applying a pre-emergent and/or extreme temperatures and frequency and and the damage they cause can be wide- dressing with compost, and overseed- increase grass density in thin areas where weeds can grow and climes, the compounds used to melt ice have a grassy expanse for recreation and The Pros on the Pros—& Cons Real lawns have real benefits. Accord- ing to information provided by SavATree, further problems. All of this leads to more come more apparent over the course of ing stormwater runoff and filtering it into look so environmentally friendly. help anchor soil to the ground, protect- a hot day. But maintaining a healthy lawn, espe- be challenging—and expensive. Grass has all common Garden State lawn-ruiners. by climate change of in early stages, warns Dulio. wreak even more havoc on a lawn’s and use—which many in residential set- longevity and care needs. In cern. Even light foot traffic on a frozen or coastal regions, salt from the air compact the soil, say the experts. So just as and storm surges the weather starts to warm and everyone burns grass and wants to run outside and play, the lawn is interferes with soil pH, say the the residents want it to be green and lush experts. In colder through summer. As appealing as it is to on streets, sidewalks, and pathways adds relaxation, the more activity on a lawn, to the damage. Where lawns fail to thrive, the harder it is to maintain. weeds and pests take over, causing even care and upkeep, which translates to high- and emissions. Suddenly, a lawn doesn’t of grass that were meant to be “ornamen- Kevin Dulio, president of Native Fields Landscaping LLC based in Wharton, New during the humid summers. And then there’s the bugs. White grubs, chinch “Their infestations can be hard to identify Lawns that are subject to a lot of wear tings are—have even more reason for con- wet lawn can damage root structures and at its most fragile and must be protected if For many communities, this has be- the coronavirus pandemic, which neces- sitated gathering and recreating outdoors tal” have taken on different functions. continued on page 16 THE BEST TIME TO FIND AN EXPERT IS BEFORE YOU NEED ONE. NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 9:00AM-4:30PM FREE REGISTRATION: COOPEXPO.COM “More and more clients are looking for a low- maintenance alternative to traditional lawns.” —Nicholas Carnovale