A Full Service Lawn Care Landscaping and Irrigation Company
JULY 2012
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JULY 2012 NEWSLETTER
The heat is on!   We are approaching the potential for our fourth "heat wave", and haven't had any substantial rain for weeks.  These conditions will present us with problems.  Be on the look out for brown, stressed lawns and plants.  These stresses, however, may not only be from heat and lack of water.  Insects, weeds and diseases love the heat, and often we are convinced that lack of water is the problem.  If in doubt, have a professional check and advise.  The uncertainty of what the actual problem is, leads to needless, costly applications of insect and disease controls.
LAWNS...

Weeds, weeds and more weeds!

The hot, dry conditions associated with July will allow weeds to prosper in our lawns and landscape beds.  Be patient!  We must be careful when treating weeds and crabgrass in lawns when temperatures are hot and lawns are stressed.  When temperatures are above 80 degrees, it is usually too hot to treat weeds safely.  If weed controls are applied to a stressed turf, resulting damage may occur.  The same holds true with newly sodded or seeded lawns.  It is advisable to wait until conditions are favorable before applying.  Green weeds are still better than a brown lawn! We will treat these unsightly weeds as soon as conditions allow. Do not pull them out or treat yourself if you are on our LAWN FERTILIZER PROGRAM!  This will only encourage more weeds, causing damage by making divots in your soil.

 

  GRUBS...

 
Be on the look out for beetles.  These are the adult of the grub.  Heavy populations of beetles now, is a good indicator that you will end up with a grub problem in your lawn later this summer and early fall.  The easiest way to control the grub, is to control the adult beetle by treating your shrubs and ornamental trees now!  One beetle can produce hundreds of grub eggs, which in turn will feed on the roots of your turf, causing extensive damage and costly repairs.  The usual symptoms that you have a grub problem is loose turf, flocks of birds feeding on your lawn, skunk or raccoon damage digging for grubs.  However, finding only a couple of grubs does not mean you have a problem.  Usually, if you find six or more grub within a square foot area, there is cause for concern.  Applying the right grub control materials, and watering in, is a sure way to achieve the best control. Also, knowing the type of grub you have is important to achieve control.  There are many controls that are for specific types of grubs.

DISEASES...  
 

Now it the time lawn diseases can destroy lawns.  Disease damage can easily be confused with drought or stressed turf or insect damage.  However, if you are certain you have been watering enough, perhaps disease is the problem.  Diseases like "Summer Patch", "Dollar Sot" and "Leaf Spot", all have their own characteristics and can be controlled.  Over watering or too much fertilizer can enhance these diseases.  It is also recommended that you raise your mowing height to 3 - 3 1/2"; keep the blade(s) sharp; mow often; water deeply in the early morning.

 

 AERATION...

 

 Fall is the time to aerate your lawn.  Aeration will promote deep roots and a healthy turf!  This procedure should be done beginning late summer into the fall.  Fall is the time when your lawn's roots are beginning to grow deeper and stronger to prepare for winter.  Call us today to schedule this very important service.

    
MAJOR BENEFITS OF AERATION ... Increases air, water and nutrient movement to root zone; promotes thatch control; relieves compaction; stimulates new growth; improves drainage; increases tolerance to heat and cold stress...
 
WATERING...
 Watering your lawn with an automatic lawn sprinkler system is the smartest, most efficient way to conserve water, and protect the investment of your lawn and landscape!!!
 
Now is the time to make seasonal adjustments to your sprinkler run times. July heat and stress will soon show if you are not watering sufficiently!  Our recommendation is to  run your system daily, and increase the times by 25-50%.  This can be easily done if your controller is equipped with "seasonal adjust" mode.  Increase the percentage to 150%.  Now would be a great time to have your system inspected with our
 "MID-SUMMER" inspection and tune up service!  You will be assured that your system is running at peak performance.
 
Other tips...   
 * AVOID WATERING DURING THE DAY to
   avoid  evaporation and wind drift.
 * AVOID SHORT RUN TIMES.  Water one time daily at
   least 45-60 minutes per zone for rotary heads, and 20-30
   minutes for stationary misting heads. Adjust accordingly in
   shaded areas.
       
 
SEEDING...
Avoid seeding now, unless absolutely necessary.  Weeds and crabgrass outbreaks are normal as a result of spring and early summer seeding or sodding.  AVOID pulling weeds, and delay any weed or crabgrass control applications.  The new seedlings are very delicate. Applications for weeds can cause more damage than expected.  Controls will be applied later, as the weather changes, to achieve optimum control without damaging the turf.  PATIENCE and UNDERSTANDING is important.  If we seeded for you, and you have subscribed to our lawn fertilizer program, with lime and aeration, your new lawn is GUARANTEED!  If additional seeding is needed, we will automatically schedule that for you this fall.  If you have been thinking about restoring your lawn and filling in thin and bare areas, early fall is the  BEST time to upgrade and install a lawn.  Call us today for an evaluation and consultation for FALL SEEDING.
 
SHRUB TRIMMING/PRUNING...
Summer is the time to trim/prune your shrubs and ornamental trees.  Avoid pruning summer flowering shrubs such as Potentilla, Spirea, Hydrangea and Rose of Sharon.  These can be trimmed when flowering is completed in early to mid fall.  Most of the other ornamental shrubs have hardened off and can be safely trimmed now through fall.
 
SUMMER IS BLUEBERRY SEASON! 
Blueberries are ripe for the picking.  Whether you pick them yourself or buy them at the grocery store or farm stand, blueberries are great right off the bush, in parfaits with yogurt, pancakes and many other recipes.  Blueberries taste great, and have zero calories, as well as being rich in antioxidants! 
 
Here's a great BLUEBERRY MUFFIN RECIPE! (MIX CAN BE STORED IN REFRIGERATOR FOR UP TO TWO MONTHS!!)
 
3 1/2 CUPS FLOUR
1 3/4 CUPS OF SUGAR
1/2 TSP. OF SALT
2 STICKS OF BUTTER OR MARGARINE
2 CUPS OF ROLLED OATS (NOT MINUTE OATS)
 
Sift flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter (softened) until mixture resembles corn meal.  Add rolled oats and mix well.  Store in covered container in refrigerator for up to two (2) months.
 
BATCH OF MUFFINS>
 
3 CUPS OF MIX (RECIPE ABOVE)
1 TSP. OF BAKING POWDER
1/2 TSP. BAKING SODA
1 EGG SLIGHTLY BEATEN
2/3 CUPS OF MILK
1 CUP OF FRESH OR FROZEN BLUEBERRIES
 
PUT MIX IN BOWL, ADD BAKING POWDER AND SODA, STIR.  ADD EGG, MILK AND BLUEBERRIES, STIRRING AFTER EACH ADDITION.  BAKE IN GREASED MUFFIN TINS AT 400 DEGREES FOR 20 MINUTES. (YOU CAN ALSO US CUPCAKE PAPERS)
 

 

Have a great summer! 

 
Sincerely,


Gary Courchesne
G & H Landscaping, Inc.
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