Tag Archives: Lawn

Wyoming opens Yard Waste Drop-Off site, social distancing guidelines in effect

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The City of Wyoming has a yard waste disposal site for its residents. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

There have been a few nice days these past couple of weeks and the weekend at least is looking dry, which means that many residents might be heading outside to do some lawn work. Good news if you are in the City of Wyoming: the city has opened its Yard Waste Drop-Off Site, located 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW.

Due to social distancing, the hours will follow similar to the city’s snow plowing days. Those with addresses ending in an an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7) may drop off on Monday and Wednesday and those with addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may drop off on Tuesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday will be open to all residents. The hours for the site are from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Only 15 cars will be allowed in the area at one time. Staff is asking everyone to be patient as the new guidelines may cause some delays in getting into the drop-off area.

Also, those coming to the site must wear a mask and have proof of residency such as a valid photo ID or a city water/sewer bill, property tax bill or tax assessment. 

Items should be sorted and placed in the correct pile. There is a leaves and grass pile for leaves, plants, flowers, and grass clippings and a brush pile for sticks, branches, bushes, and stumps less than three-feet in diameter. 

Leaf and plastic bags are not accepted, so if you bring them, you must leave with them. Also not accepted is sod, dirt, rock, stones, sand, RR ties, treated wood, fencing, shingles, concrete, asphalt, furniture, carpet, glass, garbage, scrap metal, appliance, paint, and chemicals. Basically, if it does not grow on the lawn, it is not welcomed.

To enter the Yard Waste Drop-Off Site, you must make a right turn from the north bound lane of Burlingame Avenue. At the guard shack, show your proof of residency. You should wear a mask and stay six-feet apart from other people. To exit, you will need to make a right-hand turn on to Burlingame Avenue.

For more information, visit the City of Wyoming’s Yard Waste Drop-Off Site page. 

Tips for reseeding lawns in spring

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Turfgrass damaged from de-icing salts used during winter may need reseeding. Photo credit: Kevin Frank, MSU

By Kevin Frank, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

 

Maybe spots of your lawn died last summer; maybe spots were killed from de-icing salt, dog spot or snow mold over the winter. Regardless of the cause of death, as spring finally arrives seeding dead areas in lawns is a common weekend activity.

 

In the next several weeks as temperatures warm, there might be some areas that are the victim of grub feeding. If you’re reseeding following grub damage, Michigan State University Extension recommends waiting about one to two weeks after applying a grub insecticide before reseeding. For all reseeding, it is safe to apply fertilizer at the time of seeding. For new establishment, a starter fertilizer is recommended. Starter is a fertilizer that has a nitrogen to phosphorus ratio of 1:1 or 1:1.5. A starter fertilizer application at seeding will prove beneficial in getting the young turf seedlings going. Application rates for a starter fertilizer at seeding are approximately 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Starter fertilizer for new establishment is permitted under Michigan’s fertilizer act. Make sure to follow label directions, contain all fertilizer on the area to be seeded and off the driveway, and keep a minimum of 15 feet from any surface water.

 

Make sure to keep the seeded area moist throughout establishment. Depending on what Mother Nature supplies, a new seeding may require watering several times a day. A good mulch cover will help the area stay moist so the site may be watered less frequently. Water lightly when irrigating; there is no need to see water standing or running off the site.

 

Avoid applying herbicides this spring, i.e., no fertilizer plus crabgrass preventer or weed-and-feed products. Young seedlings don’t tolerate herbicides very well and the guideline is usually to wait three “real” mowings before applying any herbicides or in some cases at least 60 days. Real mowings mean you’re actually cutting grass, not just running over the area to trim down any weeds.

 

Dr. Frank’s work is funded in part by MSU’s AgBioResearch.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).