BlogMulching for a Healthy LandscapeFrom Jay’s DeskFor as long as trees have grown in forests, leaves and needles have fallen to the ground and formed a natural protective layer over the soil. This same protection can be given to the plants in our landscapes by mulching. Mulching can make a big difference in the success of your landscape. Mulches conserve soil moisture, allowing you to water less often; keep down weeds; reduce erosion; keep plant roots cool; provide winter protection; and make your yard more attractive. Mulches also simplify lawn mowing around trees and shrubs. A ring of mulch allows you to bring your lawn mower right up to the edge of the mulch, eliminating the need for string weeders. At the same time you are protecting tree trunks and surface roots from damage by mowing and clipping equipment. Many materials can be used for mulching. How do you decide which mulch is best for you? All mulches have different characteristics. Before choosing a mulch, consider how you will use it. Summertime mulches are in place during the growing season and are used primarily for flowers and vegetables. Their roles are to retain moisture, reduce weed growth, and moderate soil temperatures. They are often left in place through the winter to reduce erosion. Winter mulches are used primarily to protect shrubs and flowers from severe winter temperatures and frost. They are laid down in late fall and serve as insulation during the winter. Give us a call today for more information on mulch and how we can help! Call 804-798-049 AerationFrom Jay’s DeskPower core aeration is one of the most important cultural practices available for your lawn. Aeration helps control thatch, improves the soil structure, helps create growth pockets for new roots, and opens the way for water and fertilizer to reach the root zone of your lawn. Annual or semi-annual aeration is advised for all lawns on heavy clay soils, those with a thatch buildup, and any lawn that needs to be “thickened up.” HOW AERATION WORKS Aeration removes thousands of small cores of soil 1” to 3” in length from your lawn. These cores “melt” back onto the lawn after a few rainfalls, mixing with whatever thatch exists on your lawn. The holes created by aeration catch fertilizer and water. Turf roots naturally grow toward these growth pockets and thicken in the process. Aeration holes also relieve pressure from compacted soils, letting oxygen and water move more freely into the root zone.
REGULAR AERATION CAN HELP AVOID COSTLY LAWN RENOVATION Thatch on your lawn works like a thatched roof. This layer of roots, stems and other plant parts sheds water and prevents fertilizers and insect controls from moving freely into the soil. Thatch that is too heavy can make major lawn renovation necessary. Regular aeration helps thatch breakdown naturally by mixing the soil cores into the thatch and speeding up decomposition. Performed once or twice per year, aeration significantly reduces thatch and improves turf growth. Give us a call today to schedule your aeration and other lawn services! Call 804-798-0492 Professional PruningFrom Jay’s DeskProfessional pruning saves you money while increasing the value and curb appeal of your whole property. Regular pruning of your trees and shrubs not only keeps them healthier and better looking now, but protects them from a whole host of potential problems as they grow and continue to mature. Why Professional Pruning?
Your landscape is a big investment. With maintenance-level pruning performed by professionals, you’ll be helping that investment to grow in beauty and value. Now is a great time to schedule a tree and shrub evaluation to determine what types of pruning are needed on your property. Give us a call today to schedule your pruning service. Call 804-798-0492 Act Now to Stop Pest DamageFrom Jay’s DeskAll sorts of harmful pests overwinter in our landscapes, just waiting for this warm weather to return so they can get to work damaging our valuable trees and shrubs. Four of the most common include: Scales - These tiny, sucking insects use their threadlike mouth parts to puncture and suck sap from leaves and bark. Infested plants appear unhealthy, grow poorly, and foliage may be small and pale yellow due to a lack of chlorophyll. Aphids - These small, soft-bodied pests suck plant juices from various plant parts. Their feeding activity can lead to off-color foliage, twisted and curled leaves, poor plant growth, branch dieback and more. Spider mites - These tiny arachnids may be red, green, orange, brown or black in color. They cause harm by sucking plant juices from evergreen foliage. Since chlorophyll is destroyed through their feeding activity, foliage color usually changes to greenish gray, then yellow, then brown. Thrips - These small, narrow-bodied, sucking insects cause a distinct splotchy appearance on leaves, and in some cases leaf drops can occur. They feed on woody stems and foliage. Dormant oils and other treatments can stop harmful pests like these, which may already be in your trees and shrubs in larva, egg, or adult form, from causing damage or multiplying. Give us a call now so we can properly identify and treat the destructive pests in your lawn!Fall Fertilizer - Why Fertilize Lawns?From Jay's Desk To keep your lawns green, growing and looking its best, a consistent program of fertilization is essential. Regular fertilization will lead to a thicker, healthier lawn that reduces erosion, filters pollutants, provides natural cooling and cleans the air. Plus, your lawn will be less likely to suffer from weed, insect and disease problems when it's fertilized on a regular basis. And perhaps best of all, your lawn will need less water when it gets the nutrients it needs throughout the year. What's in fertilizer, anyway? Fertilizer contains three primary (and many secondary) nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen promotes strong color and top growth, phosphorus stimulates root development, and potassium helps with disease resistance and water retention. For the best results, your lawn should be given these nutrients in evenly spaced treatments throughout the year. How do lawns use fertilizer? After fertilizer becomes mixed with the nutrients in the soil, it’s absorbed by the plants through hair-like feeder roots. Once inside the plant, nutrients are distributed to the areas where they’re needed and can go to work building new roots, promoting fuller leaf growth, warding off diseases and helping the grass hold water throughout the seasons. Based on our local history, we know the best fertilizer for your particular needs, and we can apply it in the right amount at the right times or year to ensure beautiful, healthy growth. Call us today for more information on our fertilization program, or to schedule your lawn for this very important service. Call us today to schedule your fall fertilizer application. 804-798-0492. Aeration and Overseeding From Jay’s Desk Is your lawn getting thin, turning brown or developing spots that just don’t look as good as they should? Over time, most soil becomes compacted or hard, and your turf has trouble filling in those thin and browning spots. Drought, disease and insects can take their toll. If any of this sounds familiar, aeration and overseeding might be just what you need. All lawns, regardless of their condition, can benefit from some level of renovation every year or so. One of the best means of rejuvenating turf is to combine the power of professional aeration with overseeding. During aeration, a machine known as a core aerator pulls plugs of soil and thatch up from the lawn to break up compacted soil and create more room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. This results in expansion of the root system for thicker, healthier grass. Aeration also helps to break up thatch, which can prevent water, fertilizer and insect controls from reaching the soil if it gets too thick. Following up aeration with overseeding is a great way to thicken up a thin lawn or add a harder, more drought-resistant grass variety to your property. Good seed-to-soil contact is essential for seeding success, and the new grass seed will have an easier time grossing in the holes left behind by aeration. Keep in mind that if your lawn has been seeded, the soil should be kept moist with light, frequent sprinklings until the new grass is well established. For more information on lawn renovation, or to schedule aeration and overseeding, give us a call today. 804-798-0492 Seasonal Clean-Ups From Jay’s Desk There are many details to consider in keeping your lawn and landscape in top condition. Seasonal clean-ups scheduled throughout the year, for example, are especially important if you want your property to look its best. Tidying up your lawn and landscape two or three times a year can help to improve the health of your plantings too. At the very least, leaves and other debris should be cleared from all lawn and bed areas. In addition to enhancing your landscape’s looks, this will prevent your lawn from becoming smothered by leaves. If leaves are left on your lawn or planting beds, air, water and nutrients will have a harder time reaching the root system, and sunlight will be blocked as well. Plus, a layer of leaves on your lawn or beds serves as the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of harmful fungi and insects.
Deadheading of spent flowers Give us a call today for more information on seasonal clean-ups and how we can help! Irrigation Winterization From Jay’s Desk Irrigation winterization, also known as a sprinkler blowout, can help prevent costly damage to your irrigation system. After using your irrigation system, water remains in the intricate network of valves, pipes, and other crucial parts. R.J. Davis Lawncare is currently scheduling irrigation winterizations. Give us a call today for more information on seasonal clean-ups and how we can help! Tree & Shrub Care From Jay’s Desk Your trees and shrubs represent a growing investment that’s worth protecting. Our program of scheduled inspections and treatment helps to keep all of your ornamentals healthy and in top growing condition. There are hundreds of insects and diseases that can attack and infect your landscape. Our trained and licensed staff can identify and control these problems before severe damage or plant loss occurs.
Give us a call today for more information on seasonal clean-ups and how we can help! |
|
|||||||||||||||
