Indy Home Marketing - April 2009 Newsletter

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April 2009 Newsletter

Volume 3, Number 4

TORNADO SEASON

As we look
forward to warmer weather, we al-
so face the reality of severe storms
and tornados. March through June
is considered tornado season in Ind-
iana. Although severe storms can
occur during any month... More

			Spring Lawn Care Pays Big Summer Dividends What you do this month can help your lawn get through the stressful summer months. Cool season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fecues need to develop a strong root system to survive the summer's
	hot and dry conditions. Ideally, our lawn calendars should be from early September through late March to encourage 9 months of cool season growth before summer conditions arrive. However, if you're just beginning to think about what you need to do for a healthy, green lawn later this year, there are several actions lawn pros recommend that you take in the early spring. Continued


	RECIPE OF THE MONTH Whole-Grain Pasta with Chickpeas and Escarole Thiis delicious, hearty and flavorful whole-wheat pasta dish is quick to prepare (22 minutes) and serves four. Courtesy: The Food Network

INGREDIENTS:

•	2 cups whole-grain penne	•	2 bay leaves
•	1 head escarole, roughly chopped	•	5 cloves garlic, sliced
•	1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes	•	liquid reserved
•	1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
•	Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
•	1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, drained, rinsed and patted dry
•	1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed slightly,
•	1/4 cup capers, drained and patted dry (optional)
•	4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste
•	1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions; add the
escarole during the last 2 minutes, cover and do not stir.
Remove the escarole with tongs; set aside. Drain the pasta,
reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Meanwhile, if you're using
capers, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over
medium-high heat. Add the capers and fry until crisp,
about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to the skillet. Cook the
garlic, parsley and red pepper flakes until the garlic toasts
slightly, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, a pinch
of salt and the bay leaves. Cook until the tomatoes and
chickpeas brown, about 6 minutes. Add the escarole and
reserved tomato juice and cook until the sauce thickens
slightly, about 4 more minutes. Remove and discard the
bay leaves.

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce;
season with salt and pepper. (If the sauce is thick, add
some reserved pasta water.) Stir in the cheese and top
with fried capers, if using, and more cheese.

TORNADO SEASON (continued)

Now's the time to make sure you're prepared if a storm strikes.
The American Red Cross suggests the following steps to protect
yourself and your family:

Prepare a Home Tornado Plan...

• Pick a place where family members can gather if a tornado is

headed

your way. It can be your basement or, if there is no

basement, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest

floor.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Containing...

• First aid kit and essential medications.
• Canned food and can opener.
• At least three gallons of water per person.
• Protective clothing, bedding, or sleeping bags.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
• Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and

water if authorities advise you to do so.

Stay Tuned for Storm Warnings...

• Listen to your local radio & TV stations for updated information.
• Know what a tornado WATCH and WARNING means:

- A tornado WATCH means a tornado is possible in your area.

- A tornado WARNING means a tornado has been sighted and

may be headed for your area. Go to safety immediately.

When a Tornado WATCH Is Issued...

• Listen to local radio & TV stations for further updates.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions. Blowing debris or the

sound of an approaching tornado may alert you. Many people

say it sounds like a freight train.

When a Tornado WARNING Is Issued...

• If you are inside, go to the safe place you picked to protect

your self from glass and other flying objects. The tornado may

be approaching your area.
• If you are outside, hurry to the basement of a nearby sturdy

building or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area.
• If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and

head for safety (as above).

After the Tornado Passes...

• Watch out for fallen power lines - stay out of damaged areas.
• Listen to the radio for information and instructions.
• Use a flashlight to inspect your home for damage.
• Do not use candles at any time in case of gas leaks.

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Spring Lawn Care... (Continued)

Check Thatch Levels
Thatch is the layer of dead plant material tightly interwoven be-
tween the roots and the tops of living grass. Excessive thatch
(over a half inch) is caused by too much fertilization and over-
watering. Use a garden or dethatching rake (or a power dethatch-
er from a rental center) to eliminate this problem. If your lawn
has been subject to heavy foot traffic, commercial mowers, etc.,
you may want to consider aeration, which removes small "plugs'
from the turf allowing it to better absorb nutrients. Aeration
equipment (also available from rental centers) will generally
eliminate the need to dethatch, but usually requires more
intense labor to operate.

Control Weeds Before They Emerge
Crabgrass pre-emergent treatment should be applied in the early
spring. Crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures are above
55 degrees for 7 to 10 consecutive days. Pre-emergents (available
from most garden center and hardware stores) can also control
other undesirable grasses like goosegrass and foxtail before they
ruin an otherwise beautiful lawn. Note - if you need to re-seed
all or part of your yard, skip applying a pre-emergent and use
a post-emergent treatments after your new grass is established.

Optimize pH Levels in your Soil
Soil pH levels reflect nutrients available in the soil to promote
healthy lawn growth. A pH level of 6.5 is ideal for most turf-
grasses, where readings under 6.0 indicate additional lime is
needed and a reading above 7.0 indicates the soil lacks sulfur.
Testing kits are available from most garden centers and
through the Purdue University Cooperative Extension.

Check for Disease and Bugs
Following a winter thaw, a grub-damaged lawn will show large,
irregular sections of brown turf that will easily detach from the
soil. Replace and re-establish the turf in those areas and then
treat with a grub prevention product. Disease can be more dif-
ficult to diagnose; if you suspect a problem, consult a lawn-
care professionals to evaluate questionable areas and deter-
mine proper treatment.

Choose and Apply a Fertilizer
Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost and a
mulching mower. But for those who prefer chemical fertili-
zers, companies like Scotts provide products for schedule
applications throughout the year. Many experts, however,
recommend a lighter feeding in spring and a heavier one in
fall for cool-season grasses. Too much fertilizer in spring
can lead to disease and weed problems. You may also want
to consider a "slow-release" fertilizer that works over an
extended period of time.

Mow when Your Grass Reaches a 3-4 Inches Height
As soon as your grass needs mowing, mow it. Most cool-
grasses should be cut to a height of 2 to 2.5 inches to avoid
cutting off more grass than you leave, which can stress your
turf and encourage disease. Also, avoid mowing wet grass
because it also encourages disease.

Most lawn professionals additionally recommend sharpening
your lawn mower's blades at least twice a year for clean
cutting. Additionally, use of a "mulching" mower is recom-
mended as a way to organically fertilize your lawn.

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