Just got off the phone with William Shoemaker, University of Illinois Extension Vegetable Crops Specialist. I was just checking with him if there had been any reports of outbreaks of late blight of tomatoes in the state. He said at the moment there have been no reports of abnormal outbreaks of the disease in the state, but he did say that are recent cool temps and rain make conditions ripe for disease.

The University of Minnesota has developed an informational series on how to reduce the amount of chemicals and fertilizer used to maintain your lawn.

Sustainable Lawncare Information Series

According to one estimate, 40 million acres of land is devoted to turfgrass in the United States with nearly 75 percent in home lawns and more than 30 billion dollars spent on annual lawn maintenance. It is no wonder that the large amount of resources allocated to lawn care and the impact that they have on the environment has called the sustainability of lawns into question. This critical attention has challenged lawn managers and turfgrass research programs across the country to develop and work toward more sustainable, lower input turf/lawn ecosystems.

While SULIS defines sustainability in a general way, sustainability as it relates to lawns can be defined as a lawn area that requires few material inputs while having a positive impact on the environment. Creating and maintaining a more sustainable lawn begins with proper selection of the best adapted grass species and varieties. Proper site preparation, lawn installation, and appropriate follow-up care will help reduce the need for inputs of the established lawn.