environmentally-friendly lawn care the master gardener connection 3/16/06

Environmentally-Friendly Environmentally-Friendly Lawn CareLawn Care

The Master Gardener ConnectionThe Master Gardener Connection

3/16/063/16/06

Low Emission Lawn Care www.sbeap.Low Emission Lawn Care www.sbeap.orgorg

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Environmentally-Friendly Lawn Environmentally-Friendly Lawn Care Care

Who we areWho we are– Wyandotte County Environmental Wyandotte County Environmental

Department (WCED)Department (WCED)

– KSU Small Business Environmental KSU Small Business Environmental Assistance ProgramAssistance Program

K-State programK-State programOffice here at Extension Office here at Extension Provide environmental assistance to small Provide environmental assistance to small business – free, confidential, non-regulatorybusiness – free, confidential, non-regulatory


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Low emission lawn care?Low emission lawn care?

Why - environmental impactWhy - environmental impact– OzoneOzone– Health impactsHealth impacts

A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars. 40 late model cars.


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Some pollution factsSome pollution facts

Gas-powered tools contribute 5% of the Gas-powered tools contribute 5% of the U.S. air pollution.U.S. air pollution.

Lawn and garden equipment users spill Lawn and garden equipment users spill 17 million gallons of fuel (more than 17 million gallons of fuel (more than Exxon’s Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska) Exxon’s Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska) each year when refilling outdoor power each year when refilling outdoor power equipment. equipment.


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Program overviewProgram overview

Introductions and program overviewIntroductions and program overview

Defining the air quality problem Defining the air quality problem – what is ozonewhat is ozone– what are the health issues what are the health issues – how does this relate to lawn care and our program?how does this relate to lawn care and our program?

Opportunities to address the problemOpportunities to address the problem– low-emission equipment selection and maintenancelow-emission equipment selection and maintenance– low maintenance turf options low maintenance turf options – rain gardensrain gardens


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Program overviewProgram overview

Why is this important to master Why is this important to master gardeners?gardeners?– Common questions – expert adviceCommon questions – expert advice– Personal and community healthPersonal and community health


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How do we measure air How do we measure air pollution levels?pollution levels?

An air quality monitor is an instrument An air quality monitor is an instrument that takes a sample of air and measures that takes a sample of air and measures the amount of an air pollutant such as the amount of an air pollutant such as ozone or particulate matter in the air.ozone or particulate matter in the air.

All air monitors in the national network All air monitors in the national network have to meet the same strict quality have to meet the same strict quality control standards so that data from all control standards so that data from all sites across the country is accurate and sites across the country is accurate and comparable. comparable.


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Air Pollutants of Local Air Pollutants of Local ConcernConcern

Ground Level Ozone (O3)

Particulate Matter•PM 2.5•PM 10

Carbon Monoxide (CO)


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Typical Air Monitoring Typical Air Monitoring Site LayoutSite Layout


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KC Air Monitoring KC Air Monitoring NetworkNetwork


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Health Effects of Health Effects of Exposure to OzoneExposure to Ozone

AsthmaAsthma

is the fastest growing is the fastest growing childhood childhood

disease disease in the United States in the United States


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What is Ozone?What is Ozone?Ozone, or smog, is an odorless, colorless Ozone, or smog, is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms.gas composed of three oxygen atoms.

• Ozone occurs naturally about 10 to 30 miles above the earth and protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

• However, at ground-level in the air we breathe, ozone poses serious risks to human health.


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Ozone is not emitted directly into the air Ozone is not emitted directly into the air but is created by a chemical reaction in but is created by a chemical reaction in the air: the air:

Where Does Where Does OzoneOzone Come From?Come From?

O3+ =

VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight = Ozone

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) come from cars, trucks, buses, power plants, industrial facilities, citizen activities and other sources.


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OzoneOzone

Is a Seasonal Pollutant Is a Seasonal Pollutant

Highest pollution levels in Highest pollution levels in summersummer– (May-September)(May-September)

Hot, sunny afternoons & Hot, sunny afternoons & evenings typically have the evenings typically have the highest ozone concentrationshighest ozone concentrations


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What is Ozone What is Ozone Pollution?Pollution?

Every day, the average adult breathes over Every day, the average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air, and children breathe even 3,000 gallons of air, and children breathe even more air per pound of body weight.more air per pound of body weight.

Ozone pollution has many effects on public Ozone pollution has many effects on public health. Some of these are very serious.health. Some of these are very serious.

In the air we breathe, ozone poses serious In the air we breathe, ozone poses serious risks to human health.risks to human health.

Environmental repercussions - Ozone also Environmental repercussions - Ozone also adversely affects domestic and native plants adversely affects domestic and native plants and animals.and animals.


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Why is Why is OzoneOzone Bad to Bad to Breathe?Breathe?

Ozone can irritate lung and airways, Ozone can irritate lung and airways, and cause inflammation much like a and cause inflammation much like a sunburn on your lungs.sunburn on your lungs.

• Ozone can aggravate respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

• 10 to 20 % of all summertime respiratory-related hospital visits in the US are associated with ozone pollution.


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Health Effects of Health Effects of Exposure to Exposure to OzoneOzone

CoughingCoughing

• Nose and throat irritation

• Chest pain

• Reduced lung function

• Increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses• Aggravation of asthma

• Children and people with chronic lung diseases are particularly at risk


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Ozone PollutionOzone Pollution• WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?

• Possible sourcesPossible sourcesKansas City citizens and businesses create Kansas City citizens and businesses create our own urban air pollution.our own urban air pollution.

Ozone precursor compounds are Ozone precursor compounds are transported to the Kansas City urban area transported to the Kansas City urban area from Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, & Oklahoma from Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, & Oklahoma by our south winds.by our south winds.

Combination of the above scenariosCombination of the above scenarios


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What Makes a Bad Air Day What Makes a Bad Air Day ((OzoneOzone) in South Central ) in South Central

Kansas?Kansas?Hot temperatures…+

Sunny skies…+

South winds???

= unhealthy ozone levels

Wyandotte County Department of Air Quality

(WCDEQ) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) are

working together to determine:

–What local sources are significant contributors

–The impact of weather and transport from other upwind urban/industrial

areas


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8-hour Ozone Levels in KC8-hour Ozone Levels in KC


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What is Particulate What is Particulate Matter?Matter?Airborne “particulate matter” consists of many Airborne “particulate matter” consists of many

different substances suspended in the air in different substances suspended in the air in the form of particles (solid and liquid droplets) the form of particles (solid and liquid droplets) that vary widely in size. that vary widely in size.


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• Fine particles come from a variety of sources such as diesel trucks and buses, construction equipment, power plants, woodstoves, and wildfires.

Fine particles are Fine particles are only a fraction of only a fraction of the size of a the size of a human hair.human hair.

What are Fine What are Fine Particles?Particles?

• Fine particles can also be formed in the atmosphere when gases are transformed by chemical reactions in the air.

Fine Particles(2.5 m)

Cross section of a human hair (magnified to 60 m)

Coarse Particles(10 m)


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Why are Fine ParticlesWhy are Fine Particles Bad to Breathe? Bad to Breathe?

Scientific studies have linked fine Scientific studies have linked fine particles, with a series of significant health particles, with a series of significant health problems, because they easily reach the problems, because they easily reach the deepest parts of the lungs.deepest parts of the lungs.

• In the US, particulate matter, especially fine particles, is responsible for 15,000 premature deaths every year.

• Diesel exhaust, a significant source of fine particles, can cause lung cancer.


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Health Effects of Exposure Health Effects of Exposure to Fine Particlesto Fine Particles

Premature deathPremature death

• Respiratory related hospital admissions and emergency room visits for cardiac and other conditions

• Aggravated asthma

• Acute respiratory symptoms• Chronic bronchitis• Decreased lung function (shortness of

breath)• People with existing heart and lung disease, as well as the elderly and children, are particularly at risk


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What Can You Do?What Can You Do? Avoid strenuous outdoor activities when Avoid strenuous outdoor activities when

ozone levels are highozone levels are high

Share a ride or take public transportationShare a ride or take public transportation

Cut your grass after 6 pmCut your grass after 6 pm

Refuel your car after 6 pm (fuel when it’s Refuel your car after 6 pm (fuel when it’s cool)cool)

Combine your errands into one tripCombine your errands into one trip

Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles (www.epa.gov/autoemissions)


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Why lawn and garden?Why lawn and garden?


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Lawn and garden is the largest non-Lawn and garden is the largest non-road mobile category contributing road mobile category contributing

VOCsVOCs


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Kansas non-road mobile Kansas non-road mobile source emissions (2002 source emissions (2002

NEI)NEI)


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Kansas commercial lawn and Kansas commercial lawn and garden emissions (2002 NEI)garden emissions (2002 NEI)


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Kansas residential lawn and Kansas residential lawn and garden emissions garden emissions (2002 NEI)(2002 NEI)


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Where To Check On Local Air Where To Check On Local Air Quality?Quality?

WCDEQ “SkyCast” Air Quality Data on WCDEQ “SkyCast” Air Quality Data on the Web at: http://www.toto.net/daq/ the Web at: http://www.toto.net/daq/

Information on Air Quality on the Web Information on Air Quality on the Web at:at:http://www.marc.org/airq/current-skycast.phphttp://www.marc.org/airq/current-skycast.php

Provides helpful information on air quality issues, Provides helpful information on air quality issues, increases awareness, and provides education to increases awareness, and provides education to citizens and businesses about air pollution and how citizens and businesses about air pollution and how they can help.they can help.


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Addressing the problemAddressing the problem

Prevention is bestPrevention is bestIf you use a gas mower, keep it tuned If you use a gas mower, keep it tuned and wait until evening to mow your and wait until evening to mow your lawn lawn Low maintenance turf optionLow maintenance turf option– Existing master gardener publicationsExisting master gardener publications

Keep your mower engine tuned and Keep your mower engine tuned and well-maintainedwell-maintainedConsider purchasing an electric mower, Consider purchasing an electric mower, or push mower if your lawn is smallor push mower if your lawn is small


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Addressing the problemAddressing the problem

Wait until evening to fill your Wait until evening to fill your mower with gas mower with gas

Avoid spills, don't "top off" your Avoid spills, don't "top off" your tank, and tighten your gas cap tank, and tighten your gas cap

Use “No Spill” gas cansUse “No Spill” gas cans

Clean mowers with plain waterClean mowers with plain water


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Reduce emissions through Reduce emissions through maintenancemaintenance

Tune upTune up your lawn your lawn mower once a year. mower once a year. This simple-to-do task This simple-to-do task takes 30 minutes or takes 30 minutes or less and cuts your less and cuts your mower's emissions by mower's emissions by up to 50 percent and up to 50 percent and fuel consumption up fuel consumption up to 30 percent. to 30 percent. (www.mowertuneup.c(www.mowertuneup.comom))


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Equipment maintenance - Equipment maintenance - enginesengines

Engine oil and filter Engine oil and filter – Longer lifeLonger life– 25-50 hours or annually25-50 hours or annuallySpark plugsSpark plugs– Better starting – annuallyBetter starting – annually– 2-cycle engines2-cycle engines

Air filters – clean or replaceAir filters – clean or replace– Improves fuel efficiencyImproves fuel efficiency– Improves performance – HPImproves performance – HP– Some 2-cycles have compensating carburetorsSome 2-cycles have compensating carburetors


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Equipment maintenanceEquipment maintenance

MowersMowers

Blades – correctly Blades – correctly sharpensharpen– Better looking lawn Better looking lawn

(cut verses torn (cut verses torn grass)grass)

– Requires less fuel -Requires less fuel -saves fuelsaves fuel

– Stays sharp longer – Stays sharp longer – 1/641/64thth rule rule


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Equipment maintenanceEquipment maintenance

Disposal of used oilDisposal of used oil– Jiffy LubesJiffy Lubes– Wal-MartWal-Mart– Household Hazardous WasteHousehold Hazardous Waste

Oil, solvents, bad gas, and other chemicalsOil, solvents, bad gas, and other chemicals– The City of Kansas City, Kansas operates a Household The City of Kansas City, Kansas operates a Household

Hazardous Waste Disposal Site on the 3rd Sat. of each Hazardous Waste Disposal Site on the 3rd Sat. of each month, April – October, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 2443 S. month, April – October, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 2443 S. 88th Street, KCKS, next to Wastewater Treatment Plant 88th Street, KCKS, next to Wastewater Treatment Plant #20. Call 573-6705 for Household Hazardous Waste #20. Call 573-6705 for Household Hazardous Waste disposal information. Residents must provide current disposal information. Residents must provide current drivers license and their cars/trucks must be licensed in drivers license and their cars/trucks must be licensed in Wyandotte County in order to use this site. SQG Wyandotte County in order to use this site. SQG hazardous waste is not accepted. hazardous waste is not accepted.


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Equipment evolutionEquipment evolution

New manufacturers New manufacturers standardsstandards– EPAEPA– CaliforniaCalifornia

Electric equipment Electric equipment – mowers and – mowers and handheldhandheld– Issues with Issues with

batteriesbatteries– Readily availableReadily available


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No-spill gas cansNo-spill gas cans

StatsStats– 75% reduction in VOCs75% reduction in VOCs– 17 million gallons spilt 17 million gallons spilt

annually with annually with conventional cansconventional cans

Manufactured by Blish-Manufactured by Blish-Mize, Atchison, KansasMize, Atchison, KansasWhere to get or order Where to get or order themthem– McCray Lumber (OP)McCray Lumber (OP)– Hartman (Shawnee Hartman (Shawnee

Mission)Mission)


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Low-maintenance lawn care Low-maintenance lawn care optionsoptions

Reduce need to mowReduce need to mowRain Gardens Rain Gardens

Native plantingNative planting

Low-maintenance turf optionsLow-maintenance turf options– Chapter 8 Master Gardener manualChapter 8 Master Gardener manual


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Rain GardensRain Gardens

Use native prairie plants that absorb Use native prairie plants that absorb rain through deep rootsrain through deep roots

Absorb water from deep rootsAbsorb water from deep roots

Use water from roofs and roadsUse water from roofs and roads

Mosquito death traps (need 48 hrs to hatch) Mosquito death traps (need 48 hrs to hatch)

Drought-resistant and low-maintenanceDrought-resistant and low-maintenance


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Rain Garden 4 P’s: Plan, Prep, Plant, Rain Garden 4 P’s: Plan, Prep, Plant, PlayPlay

Plan the locationPlan the locationKeep it at least 10 ft from houseKeep it at least 10 ft from house

Direct downspouts into itDirect downspouts into it

Clay soil may need compostClay soil may need compost

Use rocks as borders for transition to yardUse rocks as borders for transition to yard


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Prep the soilPrep the soilDig in a low spotDig in a low spot

Fill the bed with water (drains in a day Fill the bed with water (drains in a day you’re OK)you’re OK)

Clay soil may need compostClay soil may need compost

Make sure water overflows from garden to Make sure water overflows from garden to your propertyyour property

Call 800-DIG-SAFECall 800-DIG-SAFE


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Plant the gardenPlant the gardenPlant “dry up high”Plant “dry up high”Plant “wet down low”Plant “wet down low”See sample rain garden designs at See sample rain garden designs at www.RainKC.comwww.RainKC.com

Play!Play!ExperimentExperimentEnjoy the processEnjoy the processExplore the garden in all seasonsExplore the garden in all seasons


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Low maintenance turfLow maintenance turf

Decrease or minimize fertilizingDecrease or minimize fertilizing– Pages 39-42 Pages 39-42

Turf speciesTurf species– BuffaloBuffalo– ZoysiaZoysia– BermudaBermuda– Tall fescue Tall fescue – Kentucky BluegrassKentucky Bluegrass


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Turf optionsTurf optionsFertilizeFertilizerr

DroughtDrought--toleranttolerant

Mowing Mowing seasonseason

Short Short mowingmowing

BuffaloBuffaloPage 19Page 19

LessLess YesYes A – SA – S

shortershorterYesYes

ZoysiaZoysiaPage 14Page 14

LessLess YesYes A – SA – S

shortershorterYesYes

BermudaBermudaPage 10Page 10

MoreMore YesYes A – SA – S

shortershorteryesyes

Fescue Fescue page 7page 7

More +More + ModerateModerate March - March - NovNov

NoNo

Kentucky Kentucky BluegrassBluegrassPage 24Page 24

More+More+ ModerateModerate March - March - NovNov

NoNo


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Master Gardener Master Gardener DocumentsDocuments

Chapter 8Chapter 8

K-State fact sheetsK-State fact sheets– Turfgrass selection – professional seriesTurfgrass selection – professional series– Turfgrass mowing – professional seriesTurfgrass mowing – professional series– Mowing your lawn Mowing your lawn


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Why is this important?Why is this important?

Master gardener connectionMaster gardener connection

Common questions – expert adviceCommon questions – expert advice– Low-maintenance turfLow-maintenance turf– Brown lawnsBrown lawns– Tune-upsTune-ups– Equipment choicesEquipment choices

Personal and community healthPersonal and community health


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Suggestions or Questions?Suggestions or Questions? Call Steve Travis, KSU-Call Steve Travis, KSU-

PPI, Olathe, at PPI, Olathe, at 913-715-7022913-715-7022

[email protected]@ksu.edu

SBEAP Hotline SBEAP Hotline 800-578-8898800-578-8898www.sbeap.orgwww.sbeap.org