Indy Home Marketing - April 2010 Newsletter

This message contains images. If you do not see the images, please visit the on-line version HERE

April, 2010 Newsletter

Volume 4, Number 4

	TORNADO SEASONAs 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. 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... Continued Below

			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. Ideal- ly, our lawn calendars should be from early September through late March to encourage nine months of cool season growth before sum- mer 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. More


	RECIPE OF THE MONTH Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil Here's a authentic Italian pizza recipe that's easy to make and will delight your taste buds! Courtesy: The Food Network

INGREDIENTS:

•	1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal	•	1/2 teaspoon salt
•	1/4 cup grated Parmesan	•	1 large garlic clove, minced
•	6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
•	6 fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
•	2 (8-ounce) pieces of homemade or purchased pizza dough
•	2 Roma tomatoes, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
•	1 1/3 cups, grated pasteurized mozzarella

DIRECTIONS:

Position 1 oven rack in the center and the second rack
on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
Sprinkle the cornmeal over 2 rimless baking sheets. Roll
out each piece of pizza dough into a 10 to 11-inch-dia-
meter round. Transfer 1 dough to each prepared
baking sheet.

Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil over each pizza dough. Sprink-
le the mozzarella over the pizza dough, dividing equaling
and leaving a 1-inch border around each pizza. Arrange
the tomato slices in a single layer over the cheese.
Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Arrange basil leaves on top,
drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle garlic all
over. Bake the pizzas until the crusts are crisp and
brown on the bottom and the cheese is melted on top,
about 15 minutes. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over each
pizza. Sprinkle with basil for garnish and salt. Cut the
pizza into wedges and serve immediately.

PIZZA DOUGH:

•	2 teaspoons dry yeast	•	2 cups all-purpose flour
•	3 tablespoons olive oil	•	1 teaspoon salt
•	1/2 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)

Serves: 4. Cook Time: 20 minutes.

NCAA 2010 FINAL FOUR
GO DAWGS...

TORNADO SEASON (continued)

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.

Return to Top

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.

Return to Top