‘Beverage trail’ kicks off tonight

By Bob Beyfuss

For Capital Region Independent Media

The “hit and miss” showers and thunderstorms that I have complaining about the past few weeks finally scored a direct bullseye on my property.

I recorded 4.5 inches of rain in two days. Now my rain barrels runnith over for the first time in a month or more!

It may be too late in the season to allow much new growth on drought-stunted crops, but for those of you planting a fall crop of beets, turnips or salad greens, it is a welcome respite and should carry us through the next few weeks.

If it remains cool, we may even see our lawns turn green once more. In our region, late August to mid-September in the very best time to plant grass seed. I would not consider planting a new lawn or patching an existing one during the drought, but if the weather patterns return to “normal,” right now is your best opportunity for lawn renovation.

Shorter days and cool nights allow for optimal grass root growth. I have enjoyed not mowing my lawn for the past month, as the weeds and wildflowers kept it looking more or less green. I have not even noticed the grass blades turning brown because there are so few of them in my yard!

There are essentially three types of grass seed we plant in upstate New York. Most good grass seed mixes are a blend of all three.

The grass that establishes the best overall, long-lasting turf is Kentucky bluegrass (KBG). This grass grows best in full sun on fertile, well-drained soil. It is slow to establish and may take two or three weeks before it really comes up. During that time period, it has to be kept moist, which is most easily accomplished by providing a light mulch of clean straw (not hay) on top and keeping that straw moist. The straw mulch should be applied at the rate of about one bale, per 1,000 square feet. You should be able to just barely see the soil though the mulch layer.    

For shady areas, the grass seed blend should consist of mostly fescue grasses. These grasses have thinner blades than Kentucky bluegrass and they can tolerate moderate amounts of shade, but they are not as tough to foot traffic as is KBG. They also require two to three weeks to become established after seeding.

The fastest germinating grasses are either annual or perennial ryegrass. They are often touted as “Quick Cover” grasses. Annual ryegrass will indeed germinate and may become established in a week or two, but since it is an annual grass, it will be killed when we get our first hard frost. It is fine for a quick stabilization of an area that may be subject to erosion, especially in a blend that also contains perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass has a dark green color and is very attractive, but not as tough, nor is it sod forming like KBG.

For “spot seeding” small areas that are less than 100 square feet, a blend of all three grasses featuring mostly perennial ryegrass is your best bet. Often, these mixes contain their own mulch so there is no need to apply straw on top.

It pays to buy good quality seed that contains only a very small percentage of weed seed. This is stated on the grass seed label, usually as a percentage of “noxious weeds.”

The more effort you spend preparing the planting site, the better the long-term results. For a totally new lawn, the area should be tilled several times, incorporating organic matter such as a 1-inch layer of peat moss with each tillage.

The existing sod should first be removed, or treated with an herbicide to kill the existing grass and weeds. The soil should be tested for pH. If the pH is below 6.5, pelletized lime should be applied.

A complete soil test, performed by Cornell Cooperative Extension will tell you exactly how much fertilizer, if any, needs to be applied. The pH test can be accomplished in a few minutes, but sending the soil sample off to Cornell usually takes a couple of weeks’ turnaround. If any fertilizer is needed, it can be applied later on this fall. I would not wait to begin the process. If lime is needed, that should be applied right away.

I know that lawns, in general, have become a target of some critical PC views, which encourage eliminating them in lieu of supporting pollinators. But, as far as I am concerned, you have the right to grow a nice, uniform lawn if that is what you want to do. It is not my “cup of tea,a” but I know others who love their lawns!

By Dick Brooks

For Capital Region Independent Media

As I gracefully meander down the path of life, the farther I meander the more I find that certain things annoy me. 

Change is one of those things. 

I used to enjoy change, but it seems to make more sense to leave some things the way they were intended to be — like furniture.

The design of a room should be settled upon shortly after moving into a house. I’m not against input from the other members of the family or any other source, for that matter, but once the design is decided upon, I think the furniture should then be bolted or screwed securely to the floor. It should remain that way until the Day of Judgment. This would prevent the after dark toe stubbing, dancing and language lessons, although this seems to amuse Telly, my faithful canine companion.

Another example of change just for the sake of change occurred this week when I was driving past a new car dealership. There was a line of the new models shining in the sun. Casper the Friendly Kia is, to me, the ultimate car design — simple, functional and sturdy. 

His new relatives have a chrome mouth. Casper didn’t even acknowledge them as family members and we left wondering, why mess with perfection? I think I now understand why Henry Ford produced the Model T for so many years.

People tell me we change things to make them better. I’m using a computer to type this, but in the cellar is the portable typewriter I used in college. This is my third computer, this thing can do things that I don’t even know it can do.

It frequently does things all on its own. It highlights my errors and constantly chides me for mistakes. I can function with it, we have worked out sort of a co-existence kind of a deal where I won’t hit it with a hammer if it meets my meager needs. 

Other than replacing the ribbon occasionally, the typewriter sits and waits faithfully. It has never been serviced or adjusted and cost less than three months’ worth of dial-up services for the computer. 

It pleased me when I read recently that one of my heroes, Andy Rooney, typed his columns on a typewriter made in the 1920s.

They have even changed the basic needs. Have you tried to buy a pair of blue jeans lately?  We’re not talking designer jeans here, we’re talking a pair of light canvas pants for doing work in. I don’t want to buy a pair of pants with someone else’s name on them. I don’t want floral embroidery and I certainly am not going to pay a hundred dollars for a pair full of holes or a pair that comes pre-faded. 

All I wanted was a pair of dark blue jeans cut to fit a mature shape like mine to dig in the garden in, and it was hard to find them.

It’s not that I’m getting grumpy in my advancing years, it’s just that there seem to be more dumb things going on in the world and those of us who know better should speak up and tell them how to do things right! 

Could it be that maybe I AM getting grumpy? Nah!

Thought for the week — “The idea is to die young as late as possible.” — Ashley Montagu

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Reach columnist Dick Brooks at whittlea12124@yahoo.com.