Early loy blades were made of iron, making the tool very heavy; steel blades are more common now. Otherwise, the loy looks much the same today as it must have in antiquity. Old blades can still be found in hedgerows and old middens, though they’re generally in no shape for returning to use. Fine Furrows UNEP (2021) Economics of Peatlands Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Management, Nairobi, UNEP. The state should pay turf cutters to restore bogs and fund retrofitting of homes that rely on turf for heating, said Renou-Wilson. “This is a resource that has been mismanaged. We need to get our act together.” Boland, the head of Irish Rural Link, agreed. “The only way to stop turf burning is to provide a way for households to change their systems.” Find the longest straight line in your garden. This is where you should lay the first rolls of sod from end to end pushing the edges together without stretching the turf. Once the first line is done, you can continue in line with this. Stagger your rolls so that you do not end up with any edges running across two lines. When you get to the perimeter, use a sharp blade to cut the length needed. We advise against using any offcuts as they may wilt. Avoid walking on freshly laid sods without placing a board between you and the ground. 7. Watering the turf

Lawnturf from Summerhill Lawns is Irelands biggest selling and most frequently specified, being the first choice for both professional landscapers and experienced gardeners who demand the best. His partner, Fiona Conlon, an IT tutor, said Irish governments had surrendered the sugar beet industry, fishing rights and other assets to European diktats. “Now it’s turf. We’re being left with nothing. It’s like they don’t want you to own anything or have a sense of independence.” leaf appearance. As Turfgrowers we are constantly trying new grass mixtures to make them suit for different situations and we have developed this turf for its slow growing characteristics and good green colour. Key Benefits includeCathasaigh said fuel allowances and energy credits had cushioned households but some still relied on peat, coal and wood, adding to chimney smoke. “Air quality affects health, one follows the other.”

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2011) ‘Bogland: Sustainable Management of Peatlands in Ireland’.

Loy Spade Look-Alikes

Boston, MA: The Glynn Bros. of SouthShoreIrish.com is YOUR premier online source for Genuine Irish Turf products and the ONLY US based supplier that provides both Bord Na Mona Briquettes and genuine Irish sods products. Glynn Bros. also has customized fire-pits that you can design yourself! They say this "poor air quality is a leading cause of premature deaths," adding that "each year some 1,300 people die as a result of fine particulate matter, primarily associated with domestic solid fuel burning." This turf has been manually worked by hand in in Ireland and is greatly seasoned for excellent burning

With 80 per cent of peatlands in Ireland degraded, the waiting game for change is up. Efforts are being made to assist turf-burning households to burn less of it and transition away from dependence on turf to heat their homes. The government has set up measures to support households that are at risk of energy poverty, including a fuel allowance scheme. Another initiative is the Energy Efficiency Scheme, which offers a 50 per cent grant towards the cost of retrofitting a home to include energy-efficient technology. The scheme has been criticised, however, as retrofitting costs, on average, €25,000 for standard home and up to €75,000 for an older or larger home. Even though homeowners only pay half of these amounts, many find such an investment beyond their means. The so-called ‘turf wars’ has been one of the most contentious topics in Irish politics of 2022. In April this year, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, recognizing the need to reduce Ireland’s CO 2 emissions and the impacts of air pollution ( burning of solid fuel causes around 1,300 deaths annually), and aware of the importance of healthy peatlands as carbon sinks, proposed a ban on the sale of turf (peat). Today only 14 per cent of Ireland’s population use turf as heating fuel, so the proposed ban would seem a simple way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. However, the issue is complex and emotions are running high. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2018) Residential Solid Fuel Use in Ireland and the Transition Away from Solid Fuels. In the 1990s attitudes began to change. Fuel peat is more damaging than coal, generating less energy when burned while producing higher carbon emissions. Burning smoky fuels was banned in Dublin to reduce winter smog, though has been allowed to continue in many smaller towns and rural areas. In 2018 Bord na Móna announced it was closing 17 of its “active bogs” and would close the remaining 45 to commercial harvesting within seven years. Some openly cut turf in special areas of conservation despite aerial surveillance and regular warning letters to desist. “I’m not worried about it but it’s threat after threat after threat – your head is just so fried with it,” said Colm Higgins, 56, a plasterer who cuts in Mouds Bog, a protected part of the Bog of Allen. “It’s the wildlife crowd flexing their muscles and hoping we’ll go away. We’re not going away.”Traditionally, Irish gardens have used seeds. However, grass turf takes away so many of the issues previously experienced with seeds. Constant maintenance, watering, weeding, seed washing away in the rain and having to reseed the bald patches all lengthen the long time to having a presentable garden. What are the benefits of roll out grass? Meanwhile people across Europe are turning to solid fuels, with Germany experiencing a wave of thefts of trees and woodpiles in forests. Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by and adding to our little trip down memory lane to the bogs of Ireland. European Commission (n.d.) ‘A European Green Deal: Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent’. If you are looking to create a garden that welcomes a colourful and diverse range of flowers without weeds invading, Summerhill’s Wildflower turf is for you. Not only creating a beautiful flowery meadow, wildflower turf helps to enhance the biodiversity of our environment and re-establish wildflowers that are under threat. It is both low maintenance and low price and creates a stunning, immediate visual effect. Summerhill’s Wildflower turf is made up of so many different species including foxglove, meadow buttercup, wild carrot and yellow rattle. The eclectic mix grows suppressing weeds and blooming from early spring to mid-autumn. How do I lay my grass in a roll?