The Importance of Aeration and Over-Seeding your Lawn
September 4, 2011 By 1 Comment
Lawn Aeration and Over-seeding – An important part of the overall health of a lawn is the soil condition. Most of the yards around Northeast Ohio have hard compacted soil. This compaction does not allow the roots of the grass to grow freely, and also restricts the movement of water. Even with irrigation or wet weather such as this year, the compacted soil will cause the water to run off leaving the roots of the lawn dry.
Another factor in the root health is the thatch layer. The thatch is the layer of organic material between the grass and the soil. It is comprised of grass clippings, stems, leaves and other matter. Overtime this layer will build thicker and thicker and will begin to choke the lawn. Thatch can constrict the movement of oxygen, water, and evaporation. This can cause a lawn difficulty when trying to move and make its food. The trapped moisture in the thatch layer will contribute to fungi and diseases that can damage the lawn.
The best way to fix and prevent these problems is to have the lawn aerated at least once per year. With aeration, 2-3 inch deep plugs are pulled from the soil and then left on top. This breaks up the compaction of the soil as well as the thatch layer. Oxygen and water is then able to move freely throughout the plant and the roots are able to grow freely.
After aeration is done, it is also recommended to over seed with a high quality mixture of bluegrass, rye, and fescues depending on the environment of your lawn. This seed will germinate since the soil is broken up by the aeration. Introducing new and/or better varieties of seed to your lawn will help with the health, thickness, color, and may be resistant to certain insects and diseases.
Controlling the Japanese Beetle
July 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Japanese beetles are out and feeding! These adult forms of the same grubs that infest your lawn are beginning to feed on some of their favorite plants and trees. They are not yet at their worst, so it is a great time to get them taken care of.
Japanese beetle damange compliments of Iowa State University
Japanese beetles emerge from the turf around the last week of June through July. After emerging they will feed, mate, and lay eggs through the middle of August. During this time period is when you will see them doing damage to your landscape. Japanese beetles skelotonize the leaves by eating the tissue between the stems and veins of the leaf. They can feed very quickly and cause a lot of damage. With over 300 host plants, the list of what they will not eat is shorter than what they will!
Recently beetle bags or beetle traps have become popular in residential landscapes. These traps work by emitting a pheromone to attract the beetles and once they fly into the bag they are unable to fly out. These bags work great at attracting beetles, but that is the exact problem you want to avoid. We do not recommend using these beetle bags as they will just attract more beetles than they will trap. I think the only good use they would have for your beetle problem is when your neighbors use them!
An insecticidal application to the affected/threatened plants and trees is effective in protecting them from damage. Since their feeding lasts only 6-8 weeks one application is usually sufficient to control the damage to a tolerable level. We are currently spraying these applications and are achieving great control this year.
Viburnum Leaf Beetle
June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We are seeing a huge increase in the amount of viburnum bushes affected with the viburnum leaf beetle. The damage from these pests can be quick and devastating. The beetles “skeletonize” the leaves of the viburnums with damage looking strikingly similar to Japanese beetle feeding, but of course we will not have the pleasure of those pests for another month or so. The larvae feed on the leaves of the shrubs and in some cases can nearly completely defoliate them.
Viburnum Leaf Beetle Larvae
Later this spring the larvae will drop off the leaves into the soil below. At this point they will pupate and emerge sometime in July as adult beetles. The adults will also feed on the viburnum leaves. The adults will then fly (and they fly very well, which allows the pest to spread quickly) and find a viburnum suitable to be the host for their eggs over winter. The adults lay the eggs in pits that are chewed into the stems of the bushes and they will remain there until the next spring.
Adult Viburnum Leaf Beetles
Pyrethroids as well as insecticidal soaps and horticulture oils have shown varied control in studies. We have found the best results from a once per year treatment of imidacloprid. We now feel we can control these pests with no problems if they are found before too much damage has been done. This has halted and prevented new damage from occurring in our customers’ landscapes.
Overall, this is a very aggressive pest that can devastate viburnums. I recommend an inspection of all viburnum shrubs whether or not damage is yet to be seen. If the beetles and/or damage is found, I highly recommended to quickly find the treatment option that best suits you.
Protect your Ash Trees from the Emerald Ash Borers
May 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
The Emerald Ash Borer is now established in Northeast Ohio and is making a huge impact. University agriculture programs recommend that all ash trees be treated whether or not an infestation is currently present. Once infested with the EAB, an ash tree will die within 3 years. We have found multiple instances of the Emerald Ash Borer affecting our customers here at Custom Spray.
Fortunately, there ARE options to protect your ash trees.
There are 2 treatment options that we have available to protect your ash trees. The first treatment will protect your trees for 12 months, and the second option protects your trees for a full 24 months.
Please call us today and speak with our arborist about the options for your trees and receive a FREE ash tree evaluation to determine the best plan for your home.
Ash Tree
Ash Tree Leaf
