NCPSMA

10/09/2026

Beautiful day for a golf tournament for District 7 at Brushy Mountain Golf Course

10/08/2026

09/23/2026

The 54th Annual NCPSMA Eastern Conference kicks off today, and we're proud to power the event app.

Through September 25, school maintenance professionals, exhibitors, and guest speakers from across North Carolina are coming together for professional development, instructional classes (including CEU opportunities), and a look at new products and services.

Attendees: open the app to keep sessions, materials, and updates in one place all week.

Here's to four great days. See you in the app!

09/21/2026

We have a little thunder and lightning this morning

09/21/2026

I hope everyone has a safe trip as they travel to the 54th NCPSMA Eastern Conference..

08/31/2026

Protecting Your Lawn During the Heat of Summer

By Kristie Payne

As summer temperatures climb, many homeowners begin to notice changes in their lawns. Grass that was thick, green, and healthy during the spring may suddenly appear brown, thin, or patchy, while w**ds seem to spread almost overnight. Although these changes can be discouraging, they are often a natural response to heat and drought rather than a sign that your lawn is beyond saving.

Understanding how grass reacts to hot weather can help you avoid common mistakes and keep your lawn healthy until cooler temperatures return.

Brown Doesn't Always Mean Dead

One of the most common misconceptions about summer lawns is that brown grass has died. In reality, many cool-season grasses enter a dormant state during extended periods of heat or limited rainfall. Dormancy is a survival mechanism that allows the grass to conserve energy until growing conditions improve.

If your lawn has turned brown during a heat wave, don't rush to reseed or replace it. Healthy roots often remain alive beneath the surface and will produce new growth when temperatures cool and moisture becomes more consistent.

Recognizing Heat Stress

Heat-stressed lawns often display several warning signs, including:
• Brown or yellow patches
• Thin or sparse grass
• Footprints that remain visible after walking across the lawn
• Slower growth than normal
• An increase in w**ds filling bare areas

These symptoms indicate that your lawn is struggling with environmental stress rather than disease. Making a few simple adjustments to your lawn care routine can make a significant difference.

Mow Smarter, Not Shorter

During the summer months, resist the temptation to cut your grass extra short. Taller grass provides shade for the soil, keeps root systems cooler, and helps retain valuable moisture.

For most lawns, maintaining a mowing height of approximately three inches is ideal during hot weather. In addition, keep mower blades sharp. Dull blades tear the grass instead of making clean cuts, causing additional stress and moisture loss.

Water Deeply for Stronger Roots

Frequent, light watering encourages shallow root systems that dry out quickly. Instead, water less often but more thoroughly so moisture penetrates several inches into the soil.

Most established lawns require about one inch of water each week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Watering early in the morning allows moisture to soak into the ground while reducing evaporation and lowering the risk of fungal diseases.

Hold Off on Major Lawn Projects

Summer is not the best time for major lawn renovations. Activities such as overseeding, aerating, dethatching, and heavy fertilization place additional stress on turf that is already struggling with high temperatures.

Likewise, avoid excessive fertilizer applications during periods of extreme heat. Fertilizer encourages rapid leaf growth, increasing the lawn's water needs and making it more vulnerable to drought stress.

If your lawn needs significant repairs, plan those projects for early fall when cooler temperatures and increased rainfall create ideal growing conditions.

Why Weeds Thrive in Summer

As healthy grass slows its growth during hot weather, w**ds often seize the opportunity to spread. Thin turf allows more sunlight to reach the soil, giving w**d seeds an ideal environment to germinate.

Spot-treat actively growing w**ds when conditions are favorable but avoid applying herbicides to lawns suffering from severe drought stress. The healthiest defense against w**ds is maintaining a thick, vigorous lawn through proper mowing and watering practices.

Reduce Wear and Tear

Heat-stressed grass recovers slowly from heavy foot traffic, pets, lawn equipment, and outdoor activities. Whenever possible, limit traffic on areas that are already showing signs of drought or dormancy.

Giving your lawn time to rest during the hottest part of the season can significantly improve its ability to recover once temperatures begin to moderate.

Looking Ahead

The goal of summer lawn care isn't to create the perfect lawn—it's to preserve a healthy root system until favorable growing conditions return. By mowing high, watering wisely, minimizing stress, and controlling w**ds carefully, homeowners can help their lawns survive the toughest months of the year.

With a little patience and proper care, many lawns that appear tired in July will bounce back beautifully when cooler days arrive in the fall.

Send a message to learn more

08/28/2026

Best Practices for Hydronic Systems Part 6: Keeping Air Out of Your Hydronic System

By: Chris Edmondson
Reprinted by Permission from JMP Equipment Company

Air in your hydronic system can result in noisy operation, reduced heat transfer, and equipment damage and corrosion. Fortunately, by observing a few simple rules, you can keep system air to a minimum.

Keep Your System Pressurized!

Hydronic systems should be pressurized to at least 4 PSIG at the top of the system piping. System pressurization should be done when the system is cold, and the pump is off. This is because the amount of air that can be dissolved in water increases with pressure and decreases with temperature. When pressurizing the system, the pressure-reducing valve will need to be adjusted for the proper cold fill pressure. Remember that 1 PSI of Water Pressure = 2.31 ft of elevation. So if you know the elevation between the top of the system and the pressure-reducing valve location, you can calculate what the PRV setting should be. To review this simple calculation, please see our blog, Air Management and Pressurization – Part 3: How to Calculate System Fill Pressure. As long as you have at least 4 PSIG at the top of the system, you should have enough water pressure to vent air out of the manual air vents.


Install Air Separator in Optimum Location for Air Removal

All hydronic systems need an air separator to assist in getting air out of the system. The best location for the air separator is usually at the point in the system where the water is the hottest, and the pressure is lowest. Again, this is because the solubility of air in water increases with pressure and decreases with temperature. Of course, the lowest pressure and highest temperature are not necessarily going to occur at the exact same spot. Generally speaking, the point of lowest pressure will suffice, but if that is not possible, go with the point of the highest temperature (with the possible exception of high-rise buildings because the elevated pressures might prohibit air coming out of solution).

Install Balance and Control Valves on Return Side of Coils

Air in coils is particularly problematic, as it not only can cause noise but it also interferes with heat transfer. By installing the balance valve on the return side of the coil, we are able to keep the water pressure higher in the coil. This extra pressure keeps the air in the solution while it is circulating through the coil—which in this case is a good thing because it keeps free air from causing poor heat transfer or noise from the coils. Alternatively, installing the balance valve on the entering side of the coil reduces the pressure inside the coil, which creates more opportunity for air to come out of the solution and cause problems.

08/27/2026

What is the widest tree in the world?

The answer depends on how you measure a tree.

The Tree of the Hundred Horses, a famous European chestnut growing on Mount Etna in Sicily, holds the record for the greatest tree circumference ever recorded. When it was measured in the 18th century, its trunk reportedly measured an amazing 190 feet around! The tree is believed to be thousands of years old and is now divided into three separate sections, although all three are considered part of the same historic tree.

In the United States, General Sherman, a giant sequoia in California’s Sequoia National Park, holds a different record. It is considered the largest known living tree by volume, containing an estimated 52,500 cubic feet of wood. Its trunk measures approximately 102.6 feet in circumference at ground level, and the tree stands about 275 feet tall. Scientists estimate General Sherman is more than 2,000 years old.

These remarkable trees remind us just how large—and how long-lived—some trees can become. Whether measured by circumference, height or total volume, the world’s biggest trees are truly natural wonders!