News from Turf Pro Inc.

April Newsletter

In This Issue

When Will We Start Fertilizing?

Vole/Field Mice Damage

Deep Root Fertilization

Being aware of Crab Apple Spot

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April/2013

Dear Valued Customer,

We would like to thank all our longtime customers and our new customers this season for your business. These email news letters are send out on a monthly basis to give you information on what we are seeing out there. They also will include helpful hints for you about turf and landscape as well as things for you to be on the look out for.

If you ever have any questions regarding your lawn and/or landscape feel free to contact us either by calling (734) 699-0010 or through e-mail at info@no-weeds.com

Our newest office staff member Danielle DuLong will be happy to answer your account questions. She also can take your payments on account over the phone or set up additional services. More technical questions that she may be unable to fully answer she will forward to myself or a technician so that we can address the issue in a timely manner.

We have started our first round of applications. We are working from our location of Belleville outward. Please see next article for an explanation of why timing is important with the first application.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Weakland

Turf Pro Inc. President/Owner

Spring Crabgrass Pre-emergent Application

We do not start the first round of fertilizer/pre-emergent until soil temperatures reach 45-50 degrees, not to be confused with air temperatures. Until the soil reaches this temperature range, the grass won't start growing and applying fertilizer will be wasteful and not environmentally

responsible. Fertilizer that sits on the soil while the grass is not growing can and will volatilize into the air, be leached through the soil or washed off the soil surface.

Vole/Field mice damage

vole pic

After the snow melts, it is common to find vole damage in your lawn. Usually you will see small trails zigzagging through the grass, often near flower beds and the edges of the lawn. The voles leave your lawn once snow cover is gone and will not be an issue over the summer. The best way to repair your lawn is to rake up the dead grass to allow the grass plants to regrow and fill back in, or if the damage is severe enough you can put down grass seed after it has been raked.

vole pic 2

Now is the time to sign up for Spring Deep Root Tree and Shrub Fertilization!

Common Questions About Deep Root Tree and Shrub Fertilization.

Why do trees and shrubs need to be fertilized?

Just like your lawn, trees and shrubs also need care. Healthy trees and shrubs are less susceptible to plant stresses such as drought, disease, and insect damage. By the time most stress and damage on trees and shrubs becomes visible to you it has been there for a few year. Keeping trees and shrubs properly feed helps prevent this from happening.

How often does this need to be done?

We recommend to our customers that they have their trees and shrubs deep root fertilized Once per season. This process is normally done in the early fall with a heavy slow release fertilizer with micro nutrients. The trees & shrubs store this product over winter for energy the following growing season. system. Spring is also a good time for those customers that have not done a fall root feeding on their trees & shrubs. Our spring Root feeding uses a more available fertilizer source so that the trees & shrubs can take it up right away and start using it. We then recommend that you follow up in the fall with a fall root feeding so that you are on a once a year slow release program.

What is the process?

Using a probe, fertilizer and micro nutrients are injected using pressure about 10 to 12 inches down into the soil. This allows for the fertilizer to reach the roots of the trees and shrubs efficiently. This also aerates the soil around the root zone.

How soon should I notice a change in my trees and shrubs?

The fertilizer will start to help your trees and shrubs immediately but a change in appearance may not be noticeable for weeks or months after the fertilizer is applied. Applications done in the fall will be stored in the root system and be used the following spring. You will notice that your trees and shrubs will be brighter, more full, and have a better overall appearance. You also must remember if you noticed the damage or stress it was there a few years before in the beginning stages. In this case a one year or one time treatment is not going to show as much of an effect right a way.

Be aware of Leaf Spot on Crab Apples!

As mentioned in previous newsletters, spring is the time to be treating for Leaf Spot on Crab Apples. This is a common fungal disease that covers the leaves with brown spots and causes leaves to prematurely drop in late summer. To prevent this the trees must be sprayed in early spring while the leaves are still budding out. If the trees are sprayed after they have leafed out there is little that can be done. Certain newer varieties of flowering crab apples are less susceptible to this disease and you might not have issues, but many older varieties are much more prone to leaf spot scab breakouts. If your crab apples have looked bad in the past feel free to give us a call and we can talk to you further.

As always, feel free to call if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Michael Weakland

Turf Pro Inc.

Save $20 with our customer referral program.	We will credit your account $20 for each customer that signs up for a lawn fertilization program. They too will receive a $15 credit to their account. In some cases, customers pay for over half of their lawn fertilization program this way. There is no limit on the number of customers you can refer!