Landscaping tips: rhododendrons, red thread and grubs
First and foremost, I would like to personally thank all of our active service men and women that put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we hold so dear. Also, a big thank you to all of the veterans that have served years past!
Rhododendron tips: most of your rhodi’s are in bloom and will be done blooming soon. For optimum blooms next year you should go out and snap the dead flowers off once your rhodi has completed its blooming cycle. This will allow for new flowers to start growing for next season. If your blooms were a little weak this year, consider fertilizing with a product like super phosphate. This will put the plants energy into generating flowers.
Lawn tips: make sure you are cutting with sharp blades. We sharpen our blades 2 to 3 times per week on average. Also, if you are noticing a pinkish/reddish tint to your lawn you may have red thread! Red thread is a fungus generally caused by a lack of nitrogen. With the heavy rains of this spring we have noticed red thread is starting to rear its ugly head. Be especially aware if you have a newer lawn as they tend to be more susceptible. With newer lawns a fungicide may also be required as well as a high nitrogen based fertilizer. If your lawn is more established a heavy dose of fertilizer should be sufficient. Apply at a rate of 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet (regular application should be around 2 to 3 pounds per 1000 square feet).
Have you noticed crows digging at your lawn? Does it appear as though something has been digging in your lawn? You may have grubs! Don’t panic, but act swiftly! First thing is to go out and see if you actually have grubs. What does a grub look like? It will be about an inch or so long. They tend to be curled up, a milkyish white color at a depth of the root system of your grass (grass roots is their food source). Cut out a 1 square foot area near the damage and see how many grubs you may have. If you only have 1 or 2 you don’t have a total infestation. More likely you will find 5 or more if there is active searching from skunks, crows, moles, etc… and you need to act. Apply a product like dylox. It will be a good idea to check the lawn again in the fall, a second application at this time may be necessary. Also be sure to follow the directions carefully for the application of your grub control.
Enjoy your holiday weekend and feel free to send us an email if you have any landscaping questions you would like to see answered here!
