On the subject of trees and shrubs, let’s turn our focus to insects which impact trees and shrubs in spring and summer and how to manage them.
Have you noticed curling of leaves, insect droppings, webbing/nesting, or trees and shrubs stripped of leaves? If you have had an insect problem like this in the past, chances are high that insect eggs overwintered in the bark or in the soil beneath the affected tree/shrub and they may have already emerged, preparing to attack your plants again this year.
Common insects are aphids, leaf eating caterpillars such as tent caterpillars and fall webworms, spider mites, and scale insects. These insects damage your trees and shrubs in a variety of ways such as piercing the stems and feeding on the sap, causing curled or yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and even complete defoliation.
If you notice signs of insect damage, please contact us for tree and shrub pest control measures to gain control of pests throughout the season, and plan for a winter application as a preventative for next season.
About those pesky weeds...
Next, let’s briefly touch on the subject of weeds. Spring is underway here and lawns are being enhanced with fertilizers and pre-emergents, with a goal of achieving a lawn which is thick and healthy enough to crowd out weeds with minimal, but regular, management.
Green Horizon has you covered with balancing nutrients through our fertilization program, with recommendations, as needed, to amend the soil through the application of lime or aeration to alleviate compaction. Our #1 goal is to make your underlying SOIL healthy enough that even GRASS will grow.
Sounds odd, right?
Grass requires special care while weeds thrive on neglect. And weeds compete with grass for vital nutrients and water. The idea of “no weeds” is not reasonable because seeds are continually introduced by way of wind, animals, and birds. However, providing a balance of nutrients, proper watering, regular mowing, and soil aeration will help grass THRIVE and crowd out mass weeds, allowing Green Horizon to do minimal post-emergent control.
What is your lawn telling you?
- Is your lawn uniformly green and healthy with occasional weeds? Or do you have an area or two that has more weeds than the rest of your lawn?
- Does that area have poor drainage, or is it in full sun and not getting enough water?
- Is it underneath shade canopy all day, or compacted due to heavy traffic?
By following homeowner lawn care guidelines from Green Horizon, recommendations from your technician for additional services, as needed, and maintaining your fertilization program, you’ll achieve a lush, thick, weed resistant lawn. Please call or text 540-216-3145 and we’ll get you set up for a lawn evaluation with recommendations!
