Alexandria, Va. – January 24, 2012 – This year’s winter season may be off to an uneven start, but winter storms and other natural disasters and emergencies can take homeowners by surprise anytime.  The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an association representing outdoor power equipment, utility vehicle and engine manufacturers and suppliers, recommends that homeowners have certain equipment on hand to cope with unexpected weather or public health emergencies.

First aid emergency kits and general preparedness kits for power outages and flu outbreaks are commonplace. But, OPEI’s Kris Kiser, President and CEO, recommends that homeowners “make sure they have a basic assortment of outdoor power or utility equipment on hand to stay safe and self-sufficient during an emergency.”

The equipment checklist below helps homeowners assess their preparedness for an unexpected weather event or other emergency – and offers some safety tips:

1. Pole saws or pruners can help clear away dead or damaged limbs near your home or on your driveway. Make sure you always keep a firm footing on the ground when using such equipment. Do not use a ladder, and stay away from electrical conductors.
2. A chain saw can help clear away trees and more massive limbs, but first read and understand the instruction manual and ensure equipment is in good condition. Do not work around power lines, since they can be the biggest threat to safety.
3. Power generators can keep the lights on, refrigerators running and water flowing in an emergency.  Do not operate power generators, however, in enclosed areas. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can become concentrated in enclosed areas and cause serious injury or death.
4. Snow throwers/snow blowers come in handy for significant snow events and are easier than shoveling for those who have medical conditions.  Be sure to read your operator’s manual and dress warmly to guard against exposure.
5. Chippers and shredders help ease the physical hardship of post-storm cleanup.  Keep bystanders, pets, and children at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop the machine if anyone enters the area.
6. Utility vehicles may seem like a luxury, but if you are in storm-prone areas of the country, they can be an important piece of equipment to help move branches, haul sandbags or maneuver through areas inaccessible to other vehicles.

Editors’ Notes: Consumers may find a list of safety tips for outdoor power equipment athttp://www.opei.org/education/safety/.  For a gallery of equipment photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/75023139@N03/

About OPEI

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing more than 80 engine and equipment manufacturers worldwide in the utility, forestry, landscape, and lawn and garden industry. OPEI is a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Standards Organization (ISO) in the development of safety standards. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.

Some of the Simplest Ideas Make the Greatest Products

Hello, I’m the creator of a new lawn product called “Sprinkler Buddy”. As a lawn care professional, it’s only fitting that I have been blessed with one of the simplest ideas yet and most effective lawn sprinkler head indicator/guard found on the market today.

Since the invention of the underground sprinkler system, we have dealt with accidental damage to our sprinkler heads caused from the lawn mower tires, etc… during routine lawn maintenance.

The Sprinkler Buddy idea came to me out of a necessity. I realized the only way I was going to be able to avoid running sprinkler heads over with my heavy commercial mower tires, etc…was to know exactly where the sprinkler heads were. I had to be able to see them as I approached them on my mower. That is exactly what the Sprinkler Buddy does; it keeps the sprinkler heads visible. By doing so, this allows homeowners and lawn care professionals that work around sprinkler heads the time they need to see and avoid them by either mowing around them or straddling them with the mower tires. Once both the sprinkler head and the Sprinkler Buddy have both been installed properly, one can mow right over them without running them over with the mower tires because now they are visible.

The patented insert design of the Sprinkler Buddy, combined with the flexible material which is used in making this product is what makes this such an effective product. With all the different sprinkler head manufactures and different models each manufacture makes, it has been impossible to get an indicator/guard that fits them all perfectly.

Until Now!

The Sprinkler Buddy allows the user to determine the perfect fit unlike all other similar products found on the market today. Others similar products have a fixed or predetermined insert which claim that it’s a one size fits all. That’s like saying an adult’s coat sized XXL is a one size fits all since a child can put it on as well.

The Sprinkler Buddy is the only product that allows the user to obtain the fit they need when, where, and how they need it in four easy steps: Measure, Cut, Insert, and Install.

To learn more about the Sprinkler Buddy, visit us @ http://www.sprinklerbuddy.com

Contact us via e-mail at our website as well if you should have any further questions.

I would also like to thank this blog for allowing RyRo, Inc. to be a guest and share our new product “Sprinkler Buddy” with its viewers.

Thank You!

Leo D. Gauthier, III, Pres.

Stepping on a carpet of fresh green grass, not everybody notices how beautiful a lawn is and can be; yet a poorly maintained lawn will easily invite criticisms and annoyance. When the grass is too high, walking will be hard and pests will be invited in. Accidents can happen, especially when there are kids who always come out and play. When the grass loses its green, the garden is stripped of lush and gives off an atmosphere of drought and melancholy.

Yet a beautiful and well-maintained lawn gives a color of life to any garden. You can walk in anytime you need some peaceful time to think. Kids have a soft carpet of grass to run and play on. You have a good and fresh place to exercise, play, do yoga, have a picnic or simply sit or lie down—there, out in the open, under the fluffy clouds or the twinkling stars.

For all its worth, keeping a well-maintained lawn is important, not just for the joy, comfort and beauty that it brings, but also for safety. Here are some tips to get you started:

Feeding your lawn

The balanced diet

There are different types of lawn food and fertilizers: organic, chemical, liquid and dry. Whatever you choose, just remember to keep the perfect balance of the N:P:K ratio. Check the lawn food label. Nitrogen (N) makes the leaves glow green, Phosphorous (P) strengthens the roots and makes them grow deep and have a good grip of the ground, and Potassium (K) makes the grass more resistant to diseases and drought. Choose a fertilizer that enhances growth in all three areas. A good pick is an “all rounder” with 11N, 4P and 8K.

Remember the balance. Too much nitrogen will make the soil more acidic and earthworms, which aid in making your soil healthy, will leave or die. If you opt to use sulphate of ammonia, make sure to give your lawn organic fertilizer in the next feeding.

How to feed your lawn

1. Aerate the soil if it is too compacted. Use a garden fork to create space for better fertilizer and water penetration.
2. Remove weeds, especially those with large leaves. They will compete with your grass for nutrients. Patch holes with lawn dressing or sand. If weeds are too hard to remove, use lawn food with herbicide. Make sure to choose one that won’t kill your grass too.
3. Plan your route to make sure you don’t miss or double fertilizer application in an area. You can either divide your lawn into rows or quarters. Use strings or the hose as guide.
4. Use a spreader for powdered or granular fertilizer. Plastic pots with drainage holes make good alternatives.
5. Water properly. Depending on the fertilizer you use, you have to water your lawn either before or after the application of food. Always follow instructions.

Preparing for season changes

Especially in areas with four seasons, extreme weather conditions can affect the health of your lawn. Summers can be too hot and winters can be too cold for them to withstand. For that, it is best to “feed” your lawn during friendlier seasons.

Nourish your lawn during spring to prepare for summer. Choose organic lawn food with natural products such as seaweed, animal manure, fish and rock minerals. These will make your lawn more resistant to diseases, drought, patchiness, moss and weeds. There are also granular fertilizers and lawn food that are slow release, which means that they release nutrients slowly to allow the lawn to survive through the drier and warmer months.

You can also feed them fertilizer that is higher in Nitrogen (N) during spring, when leaf growth is at its best. In autumn, you can feed food with more Potassium (K) to toughen the roots in preparation for winter.

Lawn Maintenance

1. Remove thatch. Thatch refers to a layer of dead grass that collects on top of the soil and prevent moisture and air from reaching the roots. If you walk through your lawn and feel something spongy, it’s probably a thatch buildup. Remove it with a de-thatcher or scarifier.

2. Aerate your soil. Lawns where people often walk on or where cars are usually parked are prone to having compacted soil. Soil pores are clogged and water, food and air can’t get in. Use tools such as garden forks to loosen the soil again. Some hire corers for bigger lawns. Do this at least once a year.

3. Keep dressing your lawn. Over time, there can be bald or damaged parts on your lawn. Use sandy loam or soil mix to patch them up.

4. Always check your soil’s acidity with a pH kit. The ideal acidity is around 6-6.5. The pH meter measures 1-14, 1 being most acidic. Apply treatments as necessary.

5. Mow your lawn properly and regularly. The frequency depends on the rate of your lawn’s growth. Just remember not to remove more than 1/3 of its height. Choose quality lawn mowers and make sure all lawn mower parts are properly installed. Always keep the blades high to avoid scalping the grass.

6. Water properly. Check with your local water authority for policies and restrictions in your area. You can use a hose, sprinkler system or watering can, depending on the size of your lawn and area regulations.

Becoming an expert at lawn maintenance takes time, effort, experience and passion. Even beginners and moderate gardeners like you can eventually become experts as long as you keep learning, even from your own mistakes. The accumulated lessons from your experiences in maintaining and caring for your lawn will eventually shape a good gardener out of you. And with your growth as a gardener is the growth of your lawn with flaunting health and beauty.

Author Bio:

Penelope Carrington is a Marketing Consultant for J. Thomas, a leading supplier in lawn mower parts, gardening tools, and landscaping materials.

Another Good Read Organic Lawn Care – Naturally