This is an annual summary of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant success stories.

Flip through the magazine: https://issuu.com/iiseagrant/docs/thehelm-2021

Lawn to Lake provides information on how to protect water quality through natural lawn care. This rack card explains the benefits of using phosphorus-free (P-free) fertilizer and natural lawn care products.

This brochure is a part of a natural lawn care communication campaign developed and refined through a series of grant funded homeowner surveys and focus groups. The goal is to address the issue of lawn care-related pollution in watersheds by targeting outreach efforts directly towards homeowners engaged in lawn care. Choosing the right turfgrass species for the lawn’s growing conditions is an important management practice. This brochure provides a brief introduction to turfgrass growth habits, a checklist for understanding your lawn’s growing conditions and provides a turfgrass selection guide.

References:

1. Reicher, Z., Bigelow, C., Patton, A., & Voigt, T. (2006). Zoysiagrass for Indiana. Purdue Extension. https://turf.purdue.edu/extpub/zoysiagrass-for-indiana/
2. Fresenburg, B., Miller, L. (n.d.) Managing Lawns and Turfgrass. University of Missouri Extension. https://extension2.missouri.edu/mg10
3. Hentschel, R., & Spangenberg, B. (n.d.). Groundcovers as lawn alternatives. University of Illinois Extension. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/other/groundcovers_as_lawn_alternatives.cfm
4. Reicher, Z., Throssell, C. (1998, July). Improving Lawns in the Shade. Purdue Extension. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY-14-W.pdf
5. Braun, R. C., Patton, A. J., Watkins, E., Koch, P. L., Anderson, N. P., Bonos, S. A., & Brilman, L. A. (2020). Fine fescues: A review of the species, their improvement, production, establishment, and management. Crop Science, 60(3), 1142–1187. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20122
6. Murphy, J. A. (1996, September). Fine Fescues: Low Maintenance Species for Turf. Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension. https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=FS688
7. Laskowski, M. (2018, July). Making roadsides greener by selecting salt tolerant turfgrasses. University of Minnesota: Turfgrass Science. https://turf.umn.edu/news/making-roadsides-greener-selecting-salt-tolerant-turfgrasses

This brochure is a part of a natural lawn care communication campaign developed and refined through a series of grant funded homeowner surveys and focus groups. The goal is to address the issue of lawn care-related pollution in watersheds by targeting outreach efforts directly towards homeowners engaged in lawn care. Survey data revealed that soil testing is a lawn care practice overlooked by homeowners. This brochure aims address the importance of soil testing as it relates to turfgrass health.

References:

1. Lee, S., & McCann, L. (2018). Passage of Phosphorus-free Lawn Fertilizer Laws by U.S. States. Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, 8(1-2), 66-88. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/naturesopolirese.8.1-2.0066

This brochure is a part of a natural lawn care communication campaign developed and refined through a series of grant funded homeowner surveys and focus groups. The goal is to address the issue of lawn care-related pollution in watersheds by targeting outreach efforts directly towards homeowners engaged in lawn care. Managing lawn pests was identified as a main concern for homeowners. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), outlined in this brochure is a tool homeowners can implement to minimize reliance on pesticides, reduce treatment costs, improve lawn health and protect surface and ground water.

References:

1. Environmental Protection Agency. (2017, August). Introduction to Integrated Pest Management. https://www.epa.gov/managing-pests-schools/introduction-integrated-pest-management
2. UC IPM. What Is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. (UC IPM). https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/What-is-IPM/
3. Calhoun, R. N. (2015). Integrated Pest Management for Home Lawns. MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/integrated-pest-management-for-home-lawns
4. Reicher, Z., Throssell, C. (1998, July). Improving Lawns in the Shade. Purdue Extension. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY-14-W.pdf
5. Environmental Protection Agency. (2017, June 28). Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment: Caring for Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly Way. https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/healthy-lawn-healthy-environment-caring-your-lawn-environmentally-friendly-way
6. Pennsylvania State University. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management [Brochure]. Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management. http://www.paasthma.org/images/docs/IPM_brochure.pdf
7. Pennsylvanian State University Extension. (2011, March). Steps of Integrated Pest Management. https://extension.psu.edu/steps-of-integrated-pest-management-ipm

This brochure is a guide to the characteristics and benefits of selected Illinois spring ephemerals to help home gardeners choose plants appropriate for site-specific conditions.

Alternative Version

A screen-reader friendly version is available at: https://iiseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Native-Spring-Ephemerals-ADA-Accessible-Version.pdf

En Español

Plantas Nativas Efímeras de Primavera en español está aquí.
La publicación para un lector de pantalla está disponible aquí.

This is a quick summary of IISG’s opportunities and resources to help teachers and other educators increase their Great Lakes literacy, and ultimately that of their students.

The Helm is a collection of recent IISG success stories, describing some of our research, outreach, and education efforts to address coastal and Great Lakes issues in Illinois and Indiana.

Land use planners in the Great Lakes region make recommendations that can affect the quality and quantity of ground and surface water resources. Challenges include a lack of up-to-date data, and insufficient political and financial support. In this publication, university researchers in the Great Lakes region show how collaboration led to development and maintenance of an online decision support system.

Document is available from the Purdue Extension Education Store at, https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-601-W.