Dandelions are pretty but not in your lawn.

Finally, the landscape is finally awash with color. But not all the color is welcome. Dandelions are popping up everywhere. A customer called this week and was concerned that our first treatment didn’t work. I assured her it had done exactly what it was meant to do- fertilize her lawn but that also means it helped along anything that was hungry for food and warm temperatures which didn’t make an appearance until well into April. Our spring lawn treatment contains a pre-emergent crab grass control. This product only stops the germination of crabgrass. Broadleaf weeds, like dandelions are not treated until they are actively growing. This method allows us to spot spray only where it is needed and not blanket your lawn with product. If you are a customer seeing a sea of gold in your yard- and it’s not loose change from a leprechaun’s pot, give us a call. Customers know, service calls are always free!

Last year many areas were spared from Winter Moth Caterpillars. According to UMass Extension, the numbers could be significantly higher than last year. It is unclear how the extreme cold temperatures will affect the numbers that hatch. While winter moth are historically cold tolerant, temperatures this year were extreme and may help to keep the numbers down. Regardless, your Greenskeeper is ready for them. If you see the start of activity in your area, give us a call. These pests are unpredictable and in recent years we have seen activity in very specific pockets. One neighborhood could be inundated while a few streets over there was no activity.

Who has spring fever?

Last week’s storm was Mother Nature’s wake up call to us all. Here at the Greenskeeper, we had enough. The day before the storm was spent raking, cleaning up branches and burning. Sure we knew that the lawn would be covered again but that little bit of warm weather had given us spring fever.

If you are itching to get out, here are a few things you can do to get ready for spring.

1. Lightly rake your lawn to remove twigs and debris and fluff up the turf to promote growth. Don’t rake too vigorously or you run the risk of pulling out viable dormant grass.

2. Remove any brown perennial foliage from garden plants that you were not able to remove last fall.

3. Trim back ornamental grasses.

4. Edge borders.

5. Look for emerging bulbs!

6. Cut some forsythia and bring it in and force it. Springtime in a vase!

Whatever gets you through the final days of March, go for it. Your Greenskeeper will see you soon!

Brighten up your day!

Mother’s Day is coming and one of the most popular gifts is flowers. I love cut flowers and potted plants. One of my favorite is the Gerbera Daisy.  I was daunted by the thought of growing this South African Native but  have found them to be surprisingly low maintenance and prolific. Gerberas come in a kaleidoscope of colors from muted pastel pinks to saturated coral and red tones. Gerberas like bright light (mine are thriving in a sunny window with fluorescent lights above) They do not like temps above 70 degrees  and during blooming need to be kept evenly moist.  Between blooms, plants should be allowed to dry out slightly before watering.  The flowers are very long lasting both on the plant and off.  A single Gerber bloom in a bud vase is a fun festive pick me up for any spot that needs a little brightening up.

Gerbera plants are also a great value.  At about $4 for a 4” pot, you can make mom a basket of beauty that she can enjoy for weeks indoors and then plant outside for summer enjoyment.

Another great value is lawn service from The Greenskeeper Lawn, Tree & Shrub Service.  What mom wouldn’t love the gift of a lush, green lawn?  Call us to surprise your Mom with the gift of lawn care.

The climate in Massachusetts never ceases to amaze me.  Since living on Cape Cod we have had instances when the kids were let out of school early because of a snow emergency.  While that’s not an unusual occurrence, it is when the school is reporting 3 inches of snow on the ground with no sign of it letting up and it’s raining at our house, only 4 miles away.

On April 23rd I had business on the South Shore.  Driving through Weymouth, I was shocked to see just how far ahead the foliage and flowers on trees and shrubs were in comparison to Cape Cod.  While our maples are just budding, those in South Weymouth were covered with brilliant chartreuse leaves waving in the wind.  Azaleas, cherries, dogwoods and wisteria vines were in full bloom on sunny side streets.  I think the South Shore skipped the month of April and went straight into May.  The Cape is at least 2 weeks behind.

What struck me most was the lack of tell tale holes in the tender leaves.  On the South Shoreat least, it is possible that some of the vulnerable trees leafed out before the Winter Moth Caterpillar  matured.  It’s also possible that they are there, but are not active because of the recent cold wet weather. We are urging customers to be vigilant and let us know what they are seeing. Early reports were that Winter Moth would be invasive in pockets.  With the warm winter and then record warmth in April, UMASS Extension was reporting that the flora in Massachusetts was ahead of schedule but the Winter Moth appeared unaffected by the temperatures and maturation was just on schedule.

We were getting the same mixed reports from our Greenskeepers in the field.  They knew in late April the caterpillars were out  out there but were small and not eating.   As of today, May 3, we are seeing more activity and have been getting calls to spray all over the south shore.

On a walk this weekend, I got further evidence of how even a small distance can make a difference in winter moth activity.

This is a birch leaf from a tree in my yard.  This tree is usually the favorite snack for winter moth.

A perfect birch leaf, spared the ravages of a wintermoth.

This is  a photo from a  tree not far from my house.

Winter Moth activity 4/10 of a mile from the birch tree that is usually a winter moth favorite.

Whatever the case may be in your own neighborhood, your Greenskeeper is here to help.  If you see any Winter Moth activity we would appreciate an email.  Your Greenskeepers are on the South Shore everyday but just as in my own neighborhood, a short distance can mean a big difference in activity.

We are currently scheduling tree spraying on days that are predicted to be dry.    Please call if you would like to get on the list.

For more information  check out the UMASS Extension website.  http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/message/lm-62012

Annual blue grass gone to seed.

Mellow Yellow??

No thank you!  Lawns were meant to be green and lush. This spring, things are ahead of schedule.  Here is what we are seeing:

Annual Blue Grass:  That fuzzy yellow grass in the lawn is annual blue grass going to seed.  It’s a natural occurrence and depending on how much of this grass you have in your turf, your lawn might look like a patchwork quilt.  The good news, is the seed will grow out and the blue grass will become a lush green and blend in with the rest of your lawn.  There is no need to do anything but just watch it grow.

Drought Stress:  This is usually a problem we see in summer, not early spring.  But the lack of rain (until today) and record warmth have put many lawns into drought stress.  If this weather pattern continues, watering is a must.  At least 3 days per week (every other day is best) for 30-40 minutes is all it takes to keep your grass hydrated.  Fortunately, the rain we are getting on 4/23 and cool temps predicted for the rest of the week should help many lawns bounce back.

Weeds:  Many broad leaf weeds did not die off during this winter that wasn’t and we are seeing more clover and dandelions than usual.  For those still waiting for their fertilizer application, that’s not a bad thing.  Your Greenskeeper will be able to take care of those visible broad leaf weeds, making them not so fond memory by Memorial Day.

To our valued customers, if your Greenskeeper has not been out yet, we are on our way.  As you know, the first round of treatment starts April 1st and goes right through mid May.  If you have any questions about your lawn prior to our first visit, please do not hesitate to call or email.  If you aren’t a Greenskeeper customer, we’d love to hear from you too.  The Greenskeeper Lawn, Tree & Shrub is always happy to provide a free, no obligation lawn analysis.

Why hire an ordinary lawn care company when you can have  a Greenskeeper?

Your Greenskeeper is!  If the emails and phone calls we are getting are any indication so are our customers.  Here are a handful of tips that will help you and your lawn get off to a great start.

Rake:  Spring raking should not be a work out.  If you rake too hard, you run the risk of pulling up dormant grass by the roots.  The goal here is to remove debris and lightly fluff your grass so that air can adequately circulate.

 Clean Up: Pick up sticks, pinecones, stones and anything else that can dull your mower blade or become a projectile when mowing.

 Get your motor running:   An annual spring tune up is the best way to improve mower longevity and performance.  It’s as simple as changing the oil, replacing the spark plug and cleaning or replacing the air filter.  If you didn’t do it in the fall, remove the old gas from the gas tank. Check your mower blades and if necessary have them sharpened.  Dull blades tear and shred grass making it susceptible to disease. Finally, clean the deck of your mower.  Not a do it yourselfer?  Be sure to get your mower in for its annual tune up early so your mower is ready when you are.

  Call the Greenskeeper Lawn, Tree & Shrub:  Spring is the time for fertilizing and crabgrass preventative. Applied through mid May, this first round of treatment has all the right nutrients your lawn needs to get a jump start on the growing season.   If you are already a customer, just sit tight, we will be there!   Not yet a Greenskeeper customer?  Sign up for a free lawn analysis and estimate on our home page.  There is no obligation and you might decide that you too deserve a Greenskeeper!

Many gardeners lament that they love pansies but think they aren’t worth the cost or effort. They are great for early spring color in planters and window boxes but it seems just when they are at their finest, the summer annuals are available and ready for planting.

But pansies are not just for springtime anymore! With some careful planning, you can get 3 seasons of enjoyment from what most of us think of as merely a spring annual. Every March I plant my window boxes with pansies in a variety of colors. While I am partial to the Watercolors Mix, a paintbox of muted and bright tones, in recent years I have mixed in an extra flat dof Delta Orange, a sunny, golden orange and Matrix Blue with Blotch , a deep lavender with a striking purple and yellow center. From March through May we enjoy the burst of color they provide against the emerging spring landscape. .

In May, when tender annuals are safe to put outside, I carefully dig out the pansies and simply relocate them to their summer home. At my house, it’s an afternoon shade flower bed that cries out for color from something other than impatiens. With careful pinching back and fertilizing, my pansies bloom and provide gorgeous tones throughout the summer.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you of the versatility of pansies, in late summer, when the summer annuals are starting to peter out, I dig up the pansies and bring them back to their former spring home. The cool temperatures of are perfect for pansies! The Delta Orange and Matrix Blue are a wonderful compliment for fall crops and the vivid tones of autumn.

So if you are thinking that pansies are just a short term spring time investment, think again. With a little care, pansies can enhance the beauty of your home spring, summer and fall- and this year, they were even blooming all winter.