Posts Tagged ‘lawn care’

An Insider’s View: 2011 Lawn Care Trends

Published by Mr. Grass on February 28th, 2011 - in Green Care Industry Issues, Plant Health Care, Turf

The clock is ticking as companies prepare for the snow melt and the onset of the 2011 lawn care season.  In this blog post I shall briefly cover compost tea, kelp, fertilizer pricing, Mycorrhizae, and other trends worth exploring.

As petroleum prices rise, so does the cost of manufacturing basic fertilizer components.  Lawn care companies can expect to pay more for their fertilizer products in 2011, thus increasing the need to execute an effective and efficient turf program.  There has been one price increase already with perhaps another expected midyear.  Those companies unable to make sound business decisions may become a thing of the past.  Some price increases may inevitably be passed onto the consumer as pressure builds to make a profit in a highly competitive industry.

The bell continues to toll for fundamental changes utilizing basic soil and environmental processes in the lawn care industry to move further away from petroleum dependency. These options include inoculating seed with beneficial fungi called Mycorrhizae.  One inoculation allows this fungus to multiply and spread within a lawn area.  Long used in the tree industry, Mycorrhizae sets up a friendly relationship on the turf root system, breaking down surrounding nutrients and minerals.  The end result generally becomes a lessened demand on the quantity of fertilizer required due to this helpful relationship below ground.

There are still more options available beyond standard fertilizers such as compost tea and kelp both of which utilize actual plant material, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and much more to help improve soil structure and thereby create a healthier lawn.  Compost tea usually contains beneficial bacteria, sugars, and kelp, all helping your grass become stronger while simultaneously improving the defensive mechanism to fight off insect and disease pressure.  Although there are lots of blends and types of compost tea, the general idea is to strengthen the lawn so it can withstand drought, insect, and disease pressure as it appears during the growing season.  Compost tea and kelp both help build the soil which is very often a large limiting factor in improving a lawn.  With many lawns containing high amounts of sand or minimal top soil, adding kelp and or compost tea becomes a very sound decision.

Both sea kelp and compost tea are not inexpensive, but they provide key materials not found in some fertilizers and they improve soil infrastructure.  Compare the investment in compost tea, kelp, or Mycorrhizae versus renovating your lawn and you are looking at saving thousands of dollars at a minimum.  Any lawn treatment that can help reduce fertilizer demand and build the soil is certainly worth exploring and perhaps even using in 2011.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Forecasting for a Rainy Day

Published by Mr. Tree on February 17th, 2011 - in Land Enhancement, Trees

Forecasting the weather has always seemed like the perfect job, at least to me. What other profession can you be employed in where you can make a reasonably good salary (I think) and be wrong better than 50% of the time. Despite the less than stellar prediction performance, people still tune in every day and night? Is that not the best job ever? Well, not as great as a job in the “green care” industry.
Another difficult area to forecast is our nations and our local economies. Will we be seeing greater prosperity in the near future? Is the current recovery long-term or temporary? Is our financial future safe and secure? Although these questions are difficult to answer, we do listen to those that forecast. And although we can’t see the future, the current forecast looks promising. However, it is still prudent to be prepared.
During these times of economic uncertainty there are proactive steps that can be taken. One step could be to establish a “rainy day” property account. Not only can you improve the health of your property, you can improve the health of your pocket. So, how can this “rainy day” property account be established? Forest management is the answer…
There are several key things to remember regarding Forest Management. First and foremost is the health of your forest. I look at the forest just as a gardener does their vegetable garden. A gardener weeds, removing all the bad stuff he or she doesn’t want growing in the garden. Weeding helps the garden crops reach their full potential. As a result, there are more nutrients for the vegetables, flowers and herbs to flourish. Sounds pretty straight forward, right? Let’s take a look at the first step to take regarding your forest…

The best way for your Forest to reach its full potential is to consult with a forester that is trained in the art and science of silviculture. Silviculture is the care and cultivation of forest trees; forestry. The forester can with his knowledge, evaluate your forest and develop a plan that meets your Forest Management and “rainy day” property account goals. Also, your forester is knowledgeable of the log markets and would best be able to determine when to harvest selected trees on your forested property. Furthermore, the forester will have relationships with the professionals that would harvest your forested crop. And these professional relationships are paramount to the success of the forest management plan.
Overall, Forest Management can and does have multiple mutually inclusive benefits to you the land owner and your forested property’s health. Additionally, the winter season is one of the best times to perform Forest Management operations. The frozen ground allows for substantially less degradation to the forest soils and minimizes erosion concerns. So take the first step today. Consult with a forester and a reputable company who can assist you in developing a Forest Management Plan and a “rainy day” property account. The result will be enhanced forest health, additional recreational opportunities, and wildlife diversity of your forest.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Seven Weeks Until Spring Is Still Plenty of Time for Winter Tree Work….

Published by Mrs. Chippers on January 31st, 2011 - in Arborist, Firewood, Garden, Land Enhancement, Pruning, Storm Damage Assistance, Trees, Turf

Top 10 Benefits to Performing Tree Work In Your Landscape During the Winter Months:

  1. Improve Your View: Enhancement work during the dormant season is ideal when leaves aren’t blocking the vista potential.
  2. Your Lawn Will Thank You: Frozen ground allows large equipment to access your site while minimizing damage to lawns, gardens and the forest floor.
  3. Prevent Distress: Cold weather prevents the spread of tree disease as well as minimizes shock due to leaf loss.
  4. Timing Is Everything: February and March are preferred times for orchard and fruit tree pruning, and for many other species.
  5. Peace of Mind: Know your trees and shrubs are prepared for fast re-growth during the coming spring, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
  6. Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance: Allows you to begin other spring landscaping projects earlier.
  7. Seeing Is Believing: Identify potential hazards or problems while the entire woody structure of deciduous trees is visible without leaves.
  8. Walk or Talk: Discuss your 2011 goals and plans for your landscape with your representative, either on site or via email/phone.
  9. Our Time Is Yours: Take advantage of more flexible scheduling.
  10. Outstanding Value: Enjoy off-season rates with the same chippers commitment to the highest quality and service.

We take care of everything green outside your door, all winter long.

What can we do for you?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment »

Winter is the time to renew your Turf and Plant Health Care programs.

Published by Mr. Grass on January 18th, 2011 - in Arborist, Green Care Industry Issues, Plant Health Care, Turf

Long and cold winter days and nights often have me daydreaming of once green lush lawns, gardens and trees.  And despite the recent blasts of cold and healthy snowfalls, now is time to think about and prepare for your 2011 Turf and Plant Health Care programs.

Review your Turf and Plant Health Care proposals this winter

The weather plays a large role in the spring, relative to what and when certain treatments can be applied; and success or failure is linked to temperature and moisture levels.  High heat speeds up insect, weed, and disease development; and in some cases by days not weeks.  While this may not seem of great importance, temperature plays a huge role in advancing or retarding certain pathogens, ultimately affecting your landscape.  If you do not have a program “online” or ready to go, this tight window can easily be missed.  Cold weather can slow down the ability of your lawn to recover and green up fast.  The later the first application of fertilizer, compost tea, or lime is applied; the more your grass would be absent the time needed for improved color and recover from winter damage.

I have seen several years in April and May where the temperature rose into the high 70’s to lower 80’s.  This type of rapid spring warm-up can make some types of weed control applications harmful to turf without proper precautions.  The same precautions need to be taken when scheduling early plant health care spray applications.  If not prepared, you simply miss the window of opportunity for obtaining decent results relative to a variety of insect and disease issues.

Moisture content can also wreak havoc on turf and shrubs in the spring; especially if the spring is cold and rainy.  Such weather greatly advances snow molds and leaf spot on turf while creating apple scab on fruit trees.  Low moisture can reduce seed germination without proper irrigation.  Scheduling of overseeding or aeration during the winter insures completion at the proper time frame in the spring.  A great green care company will watch weather trends and activate services during the appropriate time frame.  You deserve and should demand this level of service.

Peace of mind is another reason to have your Turf or Plant Healthcare program set-up during the winter months.  You can relax and rest assured, knowing that your green care needs will be taken care of.  We will insure that all applications are timely and you will see the results.

The last fabulous reason to schedule your green care treatments during the winter includes financial incentives.  You may qualify for multiple incentives.  For example, if you prepay or return a signed contract before a certain deadline, you may qualify.  Look for these kinds of financial incentives; and look to see if you are partnering with an accredited, licensed, high quality and diversified ‘green care’ company.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Review your 2011 lawn contract before renewing

Published by Mr. Grass on November 23rd, 2010 - in Landscaping, Turf

Did your doctor ever advise you to get a second opinion? Or have you decided to get a second opinion when something just didn’t seem right? Keep that thought in mind while reading this post…
Hundreds of commercial lawn care contracts will be mailed out shortly to residential homes in VT and NH. Even more lawn contracts will be mailed out to commercial customers in the hopes that decision makers like you will just sign, mail, or simply fax it back with no questions asked. I propose that each contract deserves not only a second opinion, but a thorough examination line by line. Let me explain…
Most lawns are not being examined to determine its true treatment needs. Contracts for lawn accounts are being auto-renewed from prior year information like a CD player on repeat. While this automated process may lock you in and generate revenue for national and larger regional lawn care companies, I sincerely doubt you are receiving a turf care program worthy of your hard earned dollars. That is why I recommend that you schedule a complimentary turf & soil evaluation. But, I have more reasons…
Many lawns treated by the competition utilize heavy machines called Perma-greens, Turf-Trackers, or tractors. These machines do an adequate job on large properties or fields but are very heavy and are not ideally suited for your lawn. An operator can inadvertently cause damage while running the machine over frost covered lawns, shaded locations, and the sloped areas of your lawn. Turf can be easily compacted, torn, and ripped up without careful attention from the operator. If these facts don’t cause you to raise an eyebrow, please read on…
Does your treatment price seem great? The low price simply cannot be beat you say! Did you get a free lime treatment? Hmmm…did you really get a free lime treatment? If you get a free or reduced lime, you may receive it combined with a fertilizer treatment with a reduced amount of pelletized lime mixed into one application. The bottom line here is that you get what you pay for. If the price is lower, you are getting less product and/ or time treating your lawn. Are you ready for that free consultation yet? I have more…
Customer Service! Simply put, the large national chains do not provide adequate customer service. It is often outsourced to inexperienced customer service call centers. When you call, does your phone call get forwarded to a call center or does a local person answer your call? Are you able to reach the manager if you have a concern? Do they call you back promptly? Are you supporting your local economy or contributing to a national organization’s bottom line?
Before you sign on the dotted line this year, and before you pre-pay for your entire year upfront…get a second opinion from a local lawn care company. We welcome your questions and the opportunity to make your lawn healthy, green, and beautiful! So, give us a call to schedule a complimentary turf & soil evaluation. You will see and feel the difference…
If you are not in our service area, I have qualified companies I can recommend to you. Just leave a comment and I will get back to you.

Competition vs Chippers (green lawn is treated by Chippers)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment »

Raking Your Lawn Is More Important Than You Know

Published by Mr. Grass on October 11th, 2010 - in Turf

As the autumn air cools into piles of colored leaves, your lawn beckons attention before the snow covers it with a blanket of white. Some lawn projects can be simple like raking on a regular basis or mowing with a vacuum bag style tractor system. Raking, or specifically a lack of leaves, allows your lawn to capture more sunlight as the deciduous trees lose their green canopy. Increased sunlight can really help shaded and weak areas capture additional energy to help prepare for the winter. In some cases, this vital time period could be a month or more of growing before slowing to the point of near dormancy with the onset of freezing weather. Any leaves left on the lawn can cause a mulching action by inhibiting sunlight from reaching the leaf blades below.

Don’t allow piles of leaves to sit for weeks on end, or the grass underneath will suffer potentially damaging consequences. Keeping your lawn clean in the fall can really improve the chances of winter survival and minimize damage. Turf that is left covered with leaves or pine needles face a lack of air, light, and often succumbs to ice damage. As simple as raking or leaf removal is, it is very important to all lawns to approach winter clear as opposed to buried out of sight under leaf litter.
Autumn is also a great time harden your lawn off for winter. A wonderful mowing height during the growing season is 3″ as a standard. Your mowing height should be lowered as October fades into November. Drop your mowing deck a half-inch a week starting in mid to late October with the final cut in November being between 1 to 1.5 inches in height. The slow drop in mowing height helps harden your lawn off and slows growth in addition to falling temperatures.

Many folks put their mowers away much too early in October when the lawn continues to grow well into November in many years sometimes to the Thanksgiving holiday break in NH or VT. Some of the most simple cultural practices like mowing and raking can make or break some lawns. The preventative care in raking and mowing can yield big dividends over a harsh winter- aiding in survival and spring recovery. Turf that goes into the winter long – and by that I mean a normal height of 3″ or more – will be predisposed to snow mold and ice damage, even more so with leaf or needle debris.

Plan ahead now and rest easy this winter knowing you did all you could to help your lawn make it into a new year!

Tags: , , , , , ,
1 Comment »

High Heat and Brown Grass

Published by Mr. Grass on July 12th, 2010 - in Landscaping, Turf

High heat and a lack of rainfall is double trouble as it relates to the health of your lawn.  Brown grass results in weeks or even days after prolonged high temperatures and an absence of rainfall.  So, what is a homeowner to do?

At this time of year, the best action is preventative.  First, ensuring your mower is adjusted to the proper cutting height of 3-3.5” and not mowing during the heat of the day is just as important.  Applying slow release fertilizer, lime, or mulched clippings to enhance organic matter is very beneficial.  And over seeding with a drought tolerant turf as well.  In terms of precipitation, unless you have an irrigation system or a very shaded lawn, browning is as inevitable as bacon in the skillet on Sunday morning.  Hmmm, you can just hear the sizzle and smell of the lawn drying to a crispy golden brown!

On a serious note, it’s not the browning of your lawn that is most concerning, but what might eat it while it is brown.  It is much more difficult to notice an attack by hungry pests as the lawn may already be discolored.  Now is the time to monitor for chinch bug, grub, or sod webworm activity.  If you can’t monitor yourself, hire a professional licensed lawn care company.

In terms of watering, anything is helpful but don’t expect that magical green you may see in the spring or fall.  Providing an inch or more of water may not even be allowed if there is a ban like many towns have in place here in NH.  And since most grass needs about an inch of water per week, anything will help to keep the dormant turf alive as it remains in a hibernation state.  High heat will brown out and cause all kinds of blotches and spots in a treated or non-treated lawn setting.  Frankly, it is just too hot for cool season grass when the mercury rises above 85 or 90 degrees.  High heat can cause white blotches on the leaf blade and create drought stress appearing as dull blue or purple sections.  Additional stress may result in a tan or light brown lawn as the plant shuts down to preserve itself.  Remember, grass blades are 99% water, so no water = no grass to grow!

By the way, now is not the time to apply liquid fertilizer or herbicides. The result can be a disaster resulting in what I call “corner to corner grey or brown turf”.  A trained eye can easily spot this kind of chemical induced stress.  Also, high soluble fertilizers place undue stress on a lawn that may already be on the edge. Mowing during the heat of the day is like lying on your driveway at noon (hot and unpleasant).  Any remaining moisture is quickly lost from the fresh cuts as the lawn literally wilts. Massive browning can result in a very short period of time (sometimes hours).  Stressed turf is highly susceptible to mower tracks from the weight of a tractor as well.  This is also true when lawn care companies that use perma-greens and other powered equipment to apply fertilizer, lime, or herbicides.  A light touch using smaller spreaders should be used to prevent this type of damage.

In short, high summer heat is not “the norm” in NH or VT.  However, follow these simple steps to insure a healthy summer lawn:

  1. Watch out for insect damage
  2. Water if you can, and what you can
  3. Don’t mow if you don’t have to (especially from 11am to 3pm). And cut high 3” to 3.5”.  Don’t feel obligated to mow when not mowing is really the best course of action.

Take a vacation and have some fun- but make sure you take care of your investment!

Tags: , , , , ,
5 Comments »

Spring Aeration & Overseeding of Your Lawn

Published by Mr. Grass on May 11th, 2010 - in Turf

May is a great month to help your lawn move forward by aerating and seeding it afterward, often called overseeding.  This is normally a great time to aerate because the moisture content in the soil is high, allowing wonderful plugs to be removed by the assistance of deeper penetration by the machine.  Dry, compacted soil is very difficult to aerate even with professional grade equipment.  While you can rent small aerators, they are not the same in terms of weight, width, and tine health (length of the steel hollow spikes).  I maintain new tines on our machines that are key in breaking up the soil by removing 1″ diameter plug up to 3-4″ in depth.  Why aerate?

Benefits of Aeration.

-      Increases moisture penetration

-      Enhances oxygen exchange (important for healthy roots)

-      Reduces soil compaction (especially soils high in clay)

-      Facilitates penetration of fertilizers and other lawn products

-      Increases rate of thatch decomposition

-      Enhances root development

Want more turf information? Visit Mr. Grass….

Tags: , , , ,
1 Comment »

Time to Take Action

Published by Mr. Grass on March 27th, 2010 - in Arborist, Plant Health Care, Pruning, Turf

Spring is in the air and now is a super time to invest just a few moments for planning a landscape improvement project.  The first step to success is gathering proper information from experts that will pay dividends later in the season.  Some companies, like ours, will provide complimentary site evaluations for your trees, shrubs and turf.  The question then becomes: where to begin?  Start with a priority- what is important to you?  What would you like to see look healthier, greener perhaps, or is there a hazardous tree leaning in the wrong direction?  An expert will see things you simply cannot and save you lots of time and effort working on dead-end projects or applying products that will not work.

As a rule, many trees can be pruned to remove hazards, reduce disease, and provide both structural and aesthetic value.  A landscape can be improved “as is” with proper fertilization and/or treatments to reduce insect and disease issues.  If your current landscape is dying, dead, or unhealthy, get input on why things went south or better yet, what shrubs would be better replacementS for the site?  Get a free quote on the cost of installation, plant guarantee, and types of shrubs/trees used for maximum value in terms of flowering and hardiness.  Improving your yard not only provides visual enjoyment to you, the homeowner, but it raises the value of your property and can promote native birds and other desirable wildlife.  And, it just plain feels good!

The lawn is often the most affordable improvement in terms of quick visual impact.  Most turf areas can be improved “as is” and do not require costly major renovations.  Often a basic plan of natural fertilizer, calcium lime, kelp, and aeration with overseeding can really provide a dramatic impact within months if not weeks versus years for trees.  Lucky for you, we provide free estimates in all of these areas.  So pickup that phone or click on your e-mail account and make the first step: ask for help!  You won’t regret the time spent and even if you decide not to do a single thing this year, you will have a written plan on how to improve your own little paradise!

For more information, sign up for our free email newsletter at our website www.chippersinc.com. It is packed with nuggets you can use all year long!  Good luck and may this be your best summer yet!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Your Lawn, Your Mower, Your Choice

Published by Mr. Grass on October 14th, 2009 - in Turf

I am often fascinated at how many home owners mistreat their lawn in terms of mowing.  This not only covers the obvious cutting height, but the size of the mower used to complete the project such as a tractor.  More often than not, the mower may very well be too heavy for the site and the blade too low.  The result is soil compaction, permanent tire marks, and injured turf resulting in a shallow root system.

University studies clearly show that mowing cool season turf grass between 2.5 and 3 inches is optimum for promoting more roots, deeper roots, and a healthier lawn over time.  Most turf grasses in NH and VT are a combination of grasses such as bluegrass, tall fescue, bentgrass, fine fescue, and rye grass.  Within these types, there are a huge amount of hybrid or improved strains that will hold a deeper green color or have greater drought tolerance.  Regardless of type, the standard for mowing holds true as seen in the picture below depicting what mowing short does to your lawn.

mowing

What reason do you have for mowing short?

1.  I won’t have to cut it as often.

2.  I like the short, military look.

3.  It will brown it out and then I know I don’t have to mow my lawn. (summer)

4.  I did not know it caused long term damage.

5.  I don’t know how to adjust my mower deck.

In my next article, I will discuss “mulching thy clippings” and why it is so important.  Give me your feedback.  Remember, I love grass- it should be enjoyable to look at, use, and care for during the growing season.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments »
© This Old Yard- The blog for all your green care needs
CyberChimps WordPress Themes