Rain , Rain , Rain .

 
   Will the rain ever end ? We have seen lots of rain this year. Temperatures other than one week have been average at best, with few days in the 90's. This all adds up to the turf growing almost all summer with fertilizer usage up. 
   As turf managers we expect unirrigated turf to be dormant in some weeks over the summer . Sometimes up to a month. That may not happen this year. We still have some time left to get hot and dry but not much.
   We are expecting to do some additional cutting as well as additional fertilization this year. If not the overall color and health of the grass may suffer.

Finally sun and warmer temperatures...

  Temperatures will be  50 degrees this weekend and snow is almost gone. Most companies will begin there Dormant oil and Tree and Shrub deep root feedings soon. As the buds begin to prepare to emerge they need fertilizer and protection from those overwintering insects like scale and eggs from mites.
   The Dormant oil needs to be applied when...Dormant....you guessed it, or there can be an adverse effect on the plant itself. Most plants breathe thru either the bark or the leaves. Deciduous plants are typically dormant when leaves are not present  and most evergreens stay dormant until the ground becomes warmer and unfrozen . Some evergreens like Blue Spruce are finiky and can lose color when treated and should be avoided when treating the Landscape. Bark breathers like Maple also can have adverse affects from the oils if treated too late.
   Overall a non-pesticide approach like a Dormant oil is a way to get a fresh start in your Landscape this spring .  The fertilizer that we use is a slow release balanced blend that is injected under the soil. This process is an active feeding that seeks out tiny root hairs and is absorbed into the plant for enhanced color and vigor. Most plant varieties need supplemental nutrients due to the lack of organic matter and forest droppings present in an urban landscape setting.

   Enjoy the weekend and be blessed as the sun will be out the next few days.

Lawn care Advertising

  Well the direct mail has started and the telephone is ringing for the lawn care companies who want your buisness. Radio ads are non-stop for big companies,small companies and all those inbetween. They promise this and guarantee that. Most offer "no Weed" or free service calls. Free estimates and no obligation. Doesnt it make you wonder who is behind all this marketing and campaigning? Where do they get all the extra money to do all this.....???? Well ....from there customers of course. You overspend somewhere. Probably on there free sevice call or there micronutrient application or maybe there 2-3 treatments of included insecticide to kill every bug that affects turfgrass.....
 The fact is only a few of us utilize little to no advertising. Only a few companies keep there employees around for years and years. Only a few of us grow by word of mouth or refferals from happy customers.
Very few lawn care companies are service oriented and quality conscious. Most rely on daily quotas and ad campaigns to sell you not service you.
  In conclusion , the next time you get a lawn care quote ask about the customer cancel rate...or the cost per new customer ....or the sales goal of the person you are talking with. You may be surprised at the response you get. You may also be surprised when you look at your year end totals on expenses.

  A wise consumer is a happy customer .
   

Snow and Mold

   Winter arrived with a one two punch this Holiday Season. As most of us were shopping and preparing for Christmas , Old man winter dealt us a half foot of new fallen snow.

    With the ground still yet to be frozen and heat in the soil this covering of snow is certain to excite our two favorite winter grass molds. Microdichum Nivale and Typhula Blight. Better known as Pink and Gray snow mold. 

    Until the ground freezes and temperatures dip below freezing ( under the snow) snow mold will be active.
                                                          

  Piling snow up on lawn areas or heavy snow accumulations that do not melt down for weeks on end can worsen the snow molds. A fungicide can be used thropughout the winter a few times to lessen damage but it is costly to apply. Plans to rake if neccessary in the spring any damaged areas lightly will quickly bring back areas that the disease targets.