What’s Bugging You?
When spring returns, lawn insects do too. As the weather warms up during the days ahead, here are some of the lawn insects that may make a meal out of your lawn:
- Chinch Bugs
Winged insects that are black or gray in color. They suck juices from grass blades and tend to thrive in hot weather.
- Cutworms
Dark, 1" to 2" larvae that feed on grass leaves and crowns.
- White Grubs
White and gray beetle larvae that feed on grass roots.
- Billbugs
Brownish-black weevils that feed on grass roots and crowns.
- Leafhoppers
Tiny, grasshopper-like bugs that fly up in swarms as you walk by. They suck juices from grass blades.
If you suspect these or any other insect pests in your lawn, have your lawn inspected as soon as possible to arrange for treatment.
Save Mulching for Later
Make no mistake: Mulch is a very beneficial addition to your landscape plants and flower beds. It prevents many weeds and grasses from sprouting by blocking sunlight from the soil, it helps to retain moisture in the soil around the root zone, and it can keep soil up to 10 degrees cooler in the summer to reduce plant stress. But to get all of these benefits from mulch, it has to be applied at the right time of year.
If mulch is applied too early, it can do more harm than good. For example, in the early spring, the soil is still cool. Applying mulch over cool or cold soil will keep the soil cool and slow down important root growth.
For best results, mulch should be applied after the soil has warmed up and dried out a bit. And be sure not to overdo it. A 3" to 4" layer is enough to slow down weeds, conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures. Any more than that can keep the soil too wet and reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the roots. Mulch also shouldn’t be placed against tree and shrub trunks and stems, since this can bring on diseases by keeping the plant bases too moist.
When it comes to mulching, remember - mulch later, and mulch in moderation!
Question & Answer
Q. When is the best time to prune flowering shrubs?
A. Pruning is a regular, important part of keeping your flowering plants healthy, contained and looking their best. The right time depends on when the flowers appear.
Plants that bloom in early spring on old wood (or growth from the previous season) should be pruned a week or two after flowers drop. Those that bloom in late summer on stem growth from the current growing season shouldn’t be pruned until they’re dormant.
It’s good to keep after your shrubs, because pruning removes diseased and damaged plant parts, helps air circulate and sunlight get in, and stops structural problems in future plant growth. Flowering plants, in particular, produce more flowers and fruit when pruned at the right time.
Don’t Let Your Landscape Go Down the Drain!
All plants need water to survive. But too much water can be just as bad as too little. If your property has poor drainage, some action is needed to move excess water away.
Are Your Plants Drowning?
Plant roots need oxygen. Water collecting in low areas forces oxygen out of the soil and can starve plant roots of the air they need.
Also, wet areas usually have more weeds, and grass plants in these spots are more susceptible to waterborne diseases. What’s worse, turf growing in a wet area doesn’t develop a deep root system. As a result, shallow-rooted lawns dry up in times of drought.
Helping Nature Along
There are many things to consider in fixing a drainage problem, and professional help is a good idea. The solution might be as simple as adding soil to a low area, or constructing a surface swale that runs downhill. Or, your situation may demand more sophisticated subsurface drainage.
Installed systems involve digging a trench; lining it with pea gravel; adding perforated, flexible pipe; and covering the pipe with more gravel (and maybe soil). The exact procedure will depend on your location and soil type. However it’s done, every system needs to flow downhill and away from the wet areas.
Avoiding “wet feet” with good drainage will reward you with a healthier, more beautiful and more valuable landscape!