August 20th

By Mutt Mulligan

TurfMutt helps kids get outside during the school year

When it comes to our yards, school grounds, parks and other living landscapes, you don’t have to be big to make a big difference. School is back in session for students around the country, and TurfMutt is offering tips to inspire elementary school students and their families to take care of the green spaces around them — and get outside and enjoy them!

Tip #1: Get outside! Fall is a great time to explore nature all around you. After spending a long day inside at school, encourage your child to take time afterward to enjoy your yard and nearby parks.

Tip #2. Notice the different kinds of plants in your yard. Take your children around the outside of your home. Encourage them to take notes and sketch what you see. What makes your yard unique? Draw the living (plants, trees, grass) and the non-living (patios, grills) parts of your landscape. What might impact living plants? Does your yard need plants that do well in the wind, full sun, shade, or occasional flooding?

Tip #3: Notice the areas needing improvements. Do plants need mulch around them to help them save water? Do you have plants that attract pollinators like hummingbirds, bees and butterflies? Do you have a healthy mix of grass, shrubs, trees and flowering plants?  Are some parts of your yard a little worn out?

Tip #4: Make a plan to take care of your yard. Have a family talk about how you can care for your lawn and landscape, and the improvements you want to make.  Create a plan to take care of the yard and make the improvements together.

Tip #5: Put the right plant in the right place. Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find out what plants are best for where you live. Use a mix of native and adaptive plants and place them where they will thrive.

Tip #6: Visit TurfMutt.com to play games and read digital storybooks for free to learn more. Join Lucky the TurfMutt and his friends, the Outdoor Powers on their adventures to save the planet one yard at a time. The website offers home-based activities, digital storybooks, lesson plans for families and teachers and more.