Last year, at this time, we were watching the horrors of a second devastating flood in Ellicott City. So far we have been spared, but severe weather still seems to be lurking around in neighboring states.
LAWN CARE
Cool dryer weather this spring has transitioned to hot soggy patterns giving us a surplus of rainfall. Hot humid weather will affect the Cool Weather Grasses in our lawns. Annual blue grass and bentgrass will start to lose color becoming paler and yellow/orange with the hot conditions. These are not desirable grasses so if some die out they should be replaced with better grasses in the fall.
Disease: The cloudy wet conditions are ripe for fungus, especially red thread, brown patch, and leaf spot. This will usually dissipate with sunny dry conditions, if the clouds will leave us! Lawn Diseases are more prevalent in lawns that have acid soil conditions and may need a lime application to sweeten the soil. Mow higher, and when the lawn is dry – evening is best – with a sharp blade so you don’t spread the fungus throughout the lawn. Mowing too short will cause stress and browning as well.
(Images above, left to right: red thread, brown patch and leaf spot)
Weeds: Summer weeds are now popping up in places where the lawn is thin – edges or bare spots. We will be treating the summer weeds throughout the next 3 months (if you are scheduled for summer service). Keep crabgrass from coming up by mowing higher, 3-4 inches in the summer. If weeds appear in thin spots, power seeding this fall is the best approach for keeping the weeds out.
PEST CONTROL
This year will be buggy! It has been reported that we will see a higher incidence of mosquitoes and ticks because of last year’s record rainfall.
YARD ARMOUR property and home protection will keep the unwanted pests under control. Give us a call and tell us what pests you are having problems with, so we can help you have a more enjoyable summer.
PLANT CARE
Disease: All of this unusual wet weather is having an effect on your trees as well. Non-native evergreens are especially prone to Swiss Needlecast, Diplodia and Cancors. Trees affected are Black Pines, Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Leyland Cypress. Powdery Mildew may also be a problem later in the summer.
Mulching: I have seen many landscapes with too much mulch piled up against the base of trees and shrubs!! This is a bad practice that causes many problems – poor oxygen, adventitious roots that can girdle your plants and fungus along the bark and roots. Don’t over mulch, it’s a bad thing!
Pruning: Now is the time to prune back your flowering plants – lilacs, forsythia, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Do it now and you will not jeopardize your blooms for next spring. Clean sharp, angled cuts are best. Easy on the power hedge trimmers– they are designed to trim new growth, not old woody growth from years past.
Bulbs: Don’t cut back your daffodil leaves; wait until they are yellowish-brown. Thick clumps of daffodils should be split after 3-5 years. The time to split your bulbs, hostas and daylilies is in August-September. Put your bulbs in a cool dry area, separate them carefully after the dirt has dried. An old onion sack or mesh bag is a good container. Daffodils can be held safely until October for replanting. Splitting your plants allows for fun get-togethers to share your plants with friends and neighbors. Besides the comradery, you will also have better blooming plants in the coming years.
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***Here’s a link to the Carroll County Farm Museum’s event calendar for anyone interested.***
There are some great events coming up!
Check it out!!
https://carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org/events
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$50.00 BONUS REFERRALS
Refer a friend or family member and receive a $50.00 reward!!!
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Ingredients
- 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
- 2 Golden Delicious apples – peeled, cored and diced
- 8 ounces raspberries
- 1 pound strawberries
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
- 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
- butter flavored cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
Directions
- In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
- Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.
If you see something out of the ordinary, please feel free to contact us for advice. That’s what we are here for!
Please contact us if you have topics you would like to discuss in future newsletters. Email me at [email protected]
Thank you for your business.
Tony Richardson
Lawn Doctor
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