Comments on: EPA’s National “WaterSense” Program a One-Size-Fits-All for Landscaping and Harmful for Lawn and Landscape Industry http://www.thelawnblog.com/2009/08/20/epa%e2%80%99s-national-%e2%80%9cwatersense%e2%80%9d-program-a-one-size-fits-all-for-landscaping-and-harmful-for-lawn-and-landscape-industry/ Your Information Source on Everything Green - by Richard Murphy Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:09:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ofer El http://www.thelawnblog.com/2009/08/20/epa%e2%80%99s-national-%e2%80%9cwatersense%e2%80%9d-program-a-one-size-fits-all-for-landscaping-and-harmful-for-lawn-and-landscape-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-25327 Ofer El Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:30:40 +0000 http://www.thelawnblog.com/?p=469#comment-25327 Despite the fact that I currently live in the UK, as an Israeli garden designer- I am well familiar with water issue. And so are few important things to add: 1. The green and fresh is also important for the feeling and look: areas with gardens got less violent and stress in general. 2. another effect the lawn area has that is not mentioned is reducing noise which is important thing in cities and town. We also found that the drought is usually for few years and so can change a bit so the solutions should be saving water but keeping lawns: 1. better irrigation systems. 2. In the Us there are saving water varites 3. Having lawns were needed for use. so in diffrent words reducing the size to the size that people will use to play on. And use ground covers were not actually using the lawn actively. Surprisingly there huge areas in israel for example along the highway with irrigated lawns- In the last few years. all new project were planted with native plants instead. Personally, in gardens, I prefer to see a small green well maintained lush lawn than a big drying lawn that got many weeds in. Despite the fact that I currently live in the UK, as an Israeli garden designer- I am well familiar with water issue.

And so are few important things to add:
1. The green and fresh is also important for the feeling and look: areas with gardens got less violent and stress in general.
2. another effect the lawn area has that is not mentioned is reducing noise which is important thing in cities and town.

We also found that the drought is usually for few years and so can change a bit so the solutions should be saving water but keeping lawns:

1. better irrigation systems.
2. In the Us there are saving water varites
3. Having lawns were needed for use. so in diffrent words reducing the size to the size that people will use to play on. And use ground covers were not actually using the lawn actively.

Surprisingly there huge areas in israel for example along the highway with irrigated lawns- In the last few years. all new project were planted with native plants instead.

Personally, in gardens, I prefer to see a small green well maintained lush lawn than a big drying lawn that got many weeds in.

]]> By: iron arbors http://www.thelawnblog.com/2009/08/20/epa%e2%80%99s-national-%e2%80%9cwatersense%e2%80%9d-program-a-one-size-fits-all-for-landscaping-and-harmful-for-lawn-and-landscape-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-24891 iron arbors Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:33 +0000 http://www.thelawnblog.com/?p=469#comment-24891 The WaterSense program has been a trusted label, but its current plan to apply that label indiscriminately to new home lawns is not science-based and has potential adverse effects on the environment. Reducing grass will decrease the ability to absorb and sequester carbon, and increase runoff, erosion, dust and particulate matter and the heat island effect, as well as lead to the loss of lifestyle benefits. The WaterSense program has been a trusted label, but its current plan to apply that label indiscriminately to new home lawns is not science-based and has potential adverse effects on the environment. Reducing grass will decrease the ability to absorb and sequester carbon, and increase runoff, erosion, dust and particulate matter and the heat island effect, as well as lead to the loss of lifestyle benefits.

]]> By: M. D. Vaden - Portland Landscape & Trees http://www.thelawnblog.com/2009/08/20/epa%e2%80%99s-national-%e2%80%9cwatersense%e2%80%9d-program-a-one-size-fits-all-for-landscaping-and-harmful-for-lawn-and-landscape-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-21792 M. D. Vaden - Portland Landscape & Trees Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:45:40 +0000 http://www.thelawnblog.com/?p=469#comment-21792 This is an excellent point to expose and correct, or make allowance for. It's one of those subtle things. Oddly, it reminds me of something barely related, which is awards for landscapers. Why do I mention that? Because awards sound good, coming from an organization where the stamp of approval sounds good. But landscapers often buy a ticket to enter, so they are not shown to be the best of all choices available. Usually the peers judging, would not be arborists for the tree aspect, or agronomists for the soil aspect. So the inner workings and framework of the award system have inherent weakness and its never exposed. This Watersense Program seems so like that in a couple of aspects. It has a stamp of approval by what seems a respectful organization, but the whole scenerio limits the possibilities. At least as thiis article points out though, the weakness and limitations are being exposed, opening the door for improvement. MDV Oregon This is an excellent point to expose and correct, or make allowance for.

It’s one of those subtle things. Oddly, it reminds me of something barely related, which is awards for landscapers. Why do I mention that?

Because awards sound good, coming from an organization where the stamp of approval sounds good. But landscapers often buy a ticket to enter, so they are not shown to be the best of all choices available. Usually the peers judging, would not be arborists for the tree aspect, or agronomists for the soil aspect.

So the inner workings and framework of the award system have inherent weakness and its never exposed.

This Watersense Program seems so like that in a couple of aspects. It has a stamp of approval by what seems a respectful organization, but the whole scenerio limits the possibilities.

At least as thiis article points out though, the weakness and limitations are being exposed, opening the door for improvement.

MDV
Oregon

]]> By: artificial grass turf http://www.thelawnblog.com/2009/08/20/epa%e2%80%99s-national-%e2%80%9cwatersense%e2%80%9d-program-a-one-size-fits-all-for-landscaping-and-harmful-for-lawn-and-landscape-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-19986 artificial grass turf Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:24:30 +0000 http://www.thelawnblog.com/?p=469#comment-19986 Artificial turf is as good as natural grass and has been designed to be like real grass, not like a carpet. The most important ideas and necessities to start building artificial grass were developing a synthetic system was that it presented the favorable biomechanical properties of natural grass, combined with the best features of a robust synthetic system: • low maintenance • all-weather playability • unlimited playing time Heavenly Greens have been designing artificial materials as an engineered system. They have been carefully and thoroughly developing it, with the usability purpose, not just thrown together for the purpose of a sale. In order to obtain total high level quality control, manufacturers have invested profoundly in modernizing its plants with the latest technologies, top manufacturing talent and specialized installation equipment for its experienced install teams. Artificial turf is as good as natural grass and has been designed to be like real grass, not like a carpet.

The most important ideas and necessities to start building artificial grass were developing a synthetic system was that it presented the favorable biomechanical properties of natural grass, combined with the best features of a robust synthetic system:
• low maintenance
• all-weather playability
• unlimited playing time
Heavenly Greens have been designing artificial materials as an engineered system. They have been carefully and thoroughly developing it, with the usability purpose, not just thrown together for the purpose of a sale. In order to obtain total high level quality control, manufacturers have invested profoundly in modernizing its plants with the latest technologies, top manufacturing talent and specialized installation equipment for its experienced install teams.

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