February in southern Wisconsin is the second coldest month, only behind January, filled with harsh winds, snow, ice and temperatures well below freezing, often stretching into double digit negatives. While I do enjoy the periodic pleasures of ice fishing, skiing and other winter sports, it doesn’t take long to crave warm weather and a pair of shorts. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to visit southern California for a Lawn & Landscape conference, where industry professionals gathered to celebrate our industry, our clients and our opportunity to preserve and work with Mother Nature.

My first observation at this conference was how quickly those of us from the Midwest switch to shorts upon our aircraft landing, even though it was only in the 70s. Many of us are already in shorts before we leave Wisconsin, even more bizarre behavior. I’m not here to judge proper etiquette, but I appreciate soaking in the vitamin D that is notoriously absent during Midwest winters. This trade is well worth the expression of bewilderment upon the faces of the local population.

A point that struck me, beyond the quirks of Midwesterners (myself included), is the amount of erosion across much of the ocean’s coast. For miles, small landslides have eroded shorelines, walking paths, and even homes into the ocean. The erosion occurs from both turbulent ocean waves and, even more so from the impact of raindrops and concurrent surface water flow. As these storms hit, erosion becomes ubiquitous across the sparsely vegetated cliffs.

A dense vegetation cover, especially grass, reduces the impact of the rain by acting as an impact buffer, and it also stabilizes the underlying soil with a rooting network that can extend multiple feet into the soil. This fibrous network is also a key contributor in water infiltration, pollution remediation and plant shoot density. The myth is that the root system extends only as deep as the above mowing height, but I assure you this is untrue. Rooting depth is more associated with good cultural practices, like proper core aeration, irrigation, mowing, and using extended-release fertilizers, and can extend downward several feet.

California’s scenic coastline is eroding a few inches per year, with some areas eroding multiple feet per year, likely to be exacerbated by the extreme weather events that are becoming more common. Across the hillsides in the area in which I stayed, landowners have begun planting native grasses to try and stabilize the cliffs in hopes of staving off the impact of erosion. For decades, grasses have been used to stabilize fallow agricultural fields and construction sites, key contributors to surface water pollution. On a smaller scale, rain gardens are common, which is vegetated area where surface water can collect and infiltrate into the soil. Choosing the right vegetation type is critical, as a dense root system and leaf area index are key attributes. Research by the University of Wisconsin recommends a depression of turfgrass. While some native plants may not have the same density as grasses commonly found in our lawn, they will be more suited to the local environment, hopefully reducing maintenance costs. Kudos to the local population for their conservation efforts, so the short-wearing Midwesterners can visit such a beautiful place in the doldrums of winter.

WHO IS DR. BRAD?

Dr. Brad DeBels serves as the Vice President of Operations for Weed Man Lawn Care E3 Group. Brad received a PhD in Soil Sciences & Turfgrass Management in 2013 from the University of Wisconsin (B.S. 2008, M.S. 2010, PhD 2013). With a graduate degree & over 2 decades of experience in the residential lawn care & golf course industries, Dr. Brad provides direction for our programs & services while also creating a variety of educational pieces to help homeowners better understand their lawn & their lawn care services.