IEA News

Your garden, particularly your lawn, is usually the first thing visitors notice when they visit your home and the beauty of a perfectly manicured lawn never fails to impress.  As the long, dry winter months gradually give way to the promise of spring, this seasonal transition also presents one of the biggest gardening challenges: how to transform the brown thin-looking grass of winter back to its former summer beauty?

Lorna Ochiell, East Africa Representative for Husqvarna Group, explains, "During winter, grass often enters a natural state of dormancy as a protective measure and temporarily stops growing. This is triggered by cold weather and that is why lawns turn brown. However, a little patience and some loving care can work wonders."

She shares Husqvarna's five top tips for a picture-perfect lawn:

1. Get your soil right

To thrive, grassroots need air and space. Loose, well-drained soil allows the roots to spread easily and therefore absorb enough water and nutrients. Of course, if you aren't blessed with perfect soil, you can use an aerator to poke holes in the ground allowing water to penetrate deeper. Apply a balanced fertilizer when your grass is actively growing and consider adding a thin layer of organic matter (compost or well-rotted manure). It improves soil structure and provides nutrients.

2. Be water wise

Extra watering can kickstart dormant grass as light watering at this stage is often insufficient and can cause roots to rise to the surface, making them more susceptible to drought. Aim to water your lawn once or twice a week, providing approximately 1 to 1½ inches (about 25 to 38 millimetres) of water per week. Consistency matters, so try to split this watering schedule over two sessions during the spring period to encourage a healthy, deep root system. Use a rain gauge to check how much water has gone in, and make sure the water also has time to sink away. Once your lawn is established you can reduce the watering frequency. 

3. Cut back

To ensure optimal performance, your trusty mower needs to be regularly maintained and serviced professionally at least once a year before the mowing season kicks off. As your grass starts to grow, begin by adjusting the mower at the higher end of the recommended range. This should give your grass enough length to absorb sunlight and generate food and nutrients. Gradually lower your lawn mower blades as shorter grass encourages deeper roots. Aim for a mowing height of about 2.5 to 3 inches (6 to 7.5 cm). Frequent mowing will help manage new growth and remember to adjust settings for wet and potentially muddy conditions.

4. Stay sharp

Sharp blades matter – they are essential for the perfect finish to your lawn. The sharper the blades are, the cleaner the cut will be. Less pulling on the lawn’s roots results in less shock and stress and reduces the risk of your grass becoming brown and patchy in areas. So remember, sharpen your mower’s blades at least three times a year so your lawn retains that perfectly manicured look.

5. Lighten up

A heavy lawn mower can create unsightly track marks on your pristine lawn so be kind to your lawn (and yourself!) with a lightweight mower such as the Husqvarna battery-powered lawn mower. Thanks to its low weight and excellent manoeuvrability, you can mow your lawn without digging into the soil or leaving any track marks. And you won't break into a sweat while operating it either! Whether you choose a push or self-propelled model, you are guaranteed a user-friendly mower that is easy to handle and maintain with less noise and fewer emissions. Husqvarna‘s electric mowers are also kinder to the environment than petrol mowers, producing around 99% fewer methane emissions and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 38%.

"Consistently following a few simple steps can make all the difference to your lawn, turning it into a lush green carpet — just in time for those long, lazy summer days outdoors,” concludes Ochielle.

The US State Department affirmed on Wednesday that the US will not restrict any military aid to Egypt. 

Not restricting military aid to Egypt is essential to supporting regional stability, the state department explained. 

A spokesperson for the US State Department explained that, “The US will provide Egypt with $1.3 billion in military funding”, as reported by Cairo News Channel citing Reuters. 

The State Department spokesperson said, ‘We will not restrict any military aid to Egypt, and this is necessary to support regional stability.'” EI

Kenya has announced the launch of a geothermal risk underwriting facility, said to be the first of its kind in Africa, to underwrite up to KES260mn ($2mn) in early project development to attract and fast-track investment into domestic and regional green energy projects.

Kenya’s Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) said it is working in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, State Department of Industrialisation and the East African Insurance Sector (ICEA Lion, Kenya Re, Old Mutual, GA and Mayfair) on the new facility.

Its development was supported by Financial Sector Deepening (FSD Africa), which is funded by UK aid from the UK government, with a mandate to transform financial markets across sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with partners Parhelion Underwriting and Kenbright.

To drill a geothermal well requires on average $5mn, with significant risk of missing geothermal resource after drilling. FSD Africa said the new de-risking facility, which will cover early-stage development drilling risks for investors in geothermal projects, “represents a critical step in creating a more favourable investment environment by mitigating the financial risks associated with these high-potential but high-risk projects”.

This underwriting facility marks a significant milestone in Africa’s sustainable energy goals and sets a precedent for future initiatives aimed at de-risking and supporting other high-impact sectors across the continent, FSD Africa said.

Alex Wachira, Kenya’s Principal Secretary, State Department of Energy, said that insurance cover for the risky upstream geothermal exploration work is a great enabler for the country to exploit its vast geothermal potential estimated at 10,000 MW.

“Our country is endowed with vast geothermal resources, and great progress has been made in tapping into this clean power. However, for us to fill the energy gaps, we need collaboration and investment between the public and private sectors,” he said.

Kenya is already a leader in geothermal electricity, with a total installed capacity of 988.7 MW contributing 47% of the power on the grid. This places the country at rank sixth globally and first in Africa in terms of geothermal power development. Kenya’s geothermal potential is estimated at 10,000 MW.

FSD Africa said its support of the geothermal underwriting facility is part of a wider geothermal energy programme that includes, among other things, technical capacity development and facilitation, advocacy and technical assistance, fundraising, and inclusive economic growth. Source: BNE Intellinews