LATE FALL 2003 ONLINE NEWSLETTER

Your Lawn

Well, it’s been another season for the record books. We do tend to hit the extremes lately. This year’s rainfall has recovered the groundwater lost over the past several years. Lawns and planting remained green all year— what a change!

Today’s service will provide all the nutrients that your lawn requires to get it through the winter. You will not notice an immediate green-up as you do with the other fertilization treatments. This one will build up the carbohydrate reserves in the roots and crowns of your grass plants. This improves the winter hardiness of your grass and promotes earlier spring greening and general health of your lawn.

As we mentioned in the last newsletter, crabgrass control has been an issue in a few lawns this year. We are continuing our research through the winter in order to be able to provide your lawn with the best crabgrass control available in 2004.

Please do not allow leaves to accumulate on your lawn and remain all winter. They will smother and kill the grass plants.

For your last mowing of the season, your mowing height should remain at the same height (3 - 3 1/2 inches) that you’ve mowed all year. Do not give in to the temptation to mow shorter. The plants will be going dormant and will not be growing. Mowing shorter exposes the crowns of your plants to the harsh winter elements causing damage.

At the same time, forgoing that last mowing is a no - no. Leaving the grass blades too long over the winter months does not allow air and water exchange and will smother your grass plants.

TIP:

To keep bugs from infesting the soil of your houseplants, try this one. Sprinkle pencil sharpener shavings onto the soil. You can also put a 3 inch piece of cedar pencil into the soil for every 3 inches of pot diameter.

YOUR LANDSCAPE

The single most important part of winterizing you ornamental trees and shrubs is to make sure there is adequate moisture in the soil before the ground freezes. Even though most of the plants are dormant at this time of year, they still need and use water. This does not seem to be an issue this year but give the soil in your beds a good look in December and water if necessary.

Now is a good time to fertilize your trees and shrubs with a 100% slow - release balanced fertilizer with micro - nutrients.

Again this year we are pleased to be offering a special Deep Root fertilization for your ornamental trees and shrubs. This service restores the essential nutrients and micro-nutrients required by your plants. It will improve the overall health and vigor, and increase your plants resistance to disease and insect damage. Call us or talk to your service technician to schedule this important service.

December and January are good months to prune your deciduous trees and shrubs. Don’t prune plants that have set buds (azaleas, rhododendrons) for next year’s blooms.
You can trim wayward limbs on evergreens now, or raid the backs of your evergreens for quick and easy holiday greenery.

Do a good job cleaning your beds. Numerous pests and diseases live from one year to the next in dead leaves, stems and roots. Cut back foliage from your perennials and pull out the annuals.

For many of you, this will be your last visit of the 2003 season. We would like the opportunity to say thank you for you business. We will be sending out information in late December/early January for your 2004 services. We look forward to continuing our service to you.

Remember - the proper mowing height is 3 - 3 1/2 inches.