Articles

  1. A Springtime Cut Could Save You a Bundle: 7 Ways Properly Scalping Can Reduce Lawn Maintenance Costs

    A springtime cut could save you a bundle! Here are seven ways properly scalping can reduce lawn maintenance costs: Green with Envy: Removing old, brown growth will help your lawn be the first to green up this spring. Thatch-versary: Bagging the clippings when you scalp will help slow down thatch accumulation. A thick thatch layer is expensive and time consuming to remove. Prevention is the best me…Read More

  2. Scalping: 6 Dos to Ensure You’re Doing it Right

    Once you start to feel that “Ahhhh... spring is coming” feeling, it is time to start thinking about scalping your lawn. Scalping means cutting your lawn at the lowest possible mower setting. If you scalp too early, you risk damaging roots due to being exposed to the cold. Too late, you may scalp off new growth (which totally defeats the purpose). Ideal times for scalping Bermuda and Zoysia law…Read More

  3. Fireweed: The Pesky Springtime Weed

    As spring sneaks up on summer we are seeing a “bloom” of a pesky little weed known as Fireweed. Although some varieties of Fireweed produce beautiful, vivid flowers, it is an un-welcomed addition to residential lawns. Fireweed is more difficult to control that broadleaf and grassy weeds. The roots of the Fireweed plant do not stretch down into the soil. Instead, the plant grows exclusively in …Read More

  4. Managing Tree Seedlings

    It is officially SPRING!  Along with pretty flowers and green grass, here in the mid-south it also means that tree seedlings will be sprouting. Tree seedlings can be found in most yards this time of year because, just like their partner in crime fireweed, they germinate in the thatch layer of your lawn, not in the soil. Therefore, pre-emergent treatments are less effective. Also, those little t…Read More

  5. Irrigation: What, When, Why

    Whether you are using an installed irrigation system or a manual (eg. sprinkler or hand watering) irrigation system, there are several points to consider to keep your lawn healthy and vibrant. How much water? For established grass, once the temperatures get into the 80’s, Cullen recommends 1” of water in each area once a week. A great way to measure this is to take an empty can (soup, vegetab…Read More

  6. 6 Things to Do Before Seeding Fescue

    1.  Know Your pH Testing your soil 6 to 8 weeks before you plant will allow your tiny seedlings the most comfortable environment in which to spread their tender roots. To learn more about soil testing, check with this soil test guide. 2.  Remove Debris Look for anything on or just below the soil (i.e. wood, pipe, rock, discarded cement, brush, construction scrap) that may obstruct the growth of…Read More

  7. Dormant Fertilizations

    Why do I need to fertilize when my grass is dormant? Now that we have all put away our sprinklers and lawn mowers for the winter, you might be wondering why your lawn would need fertilizer if the grass is dormant and no longer growing.  That is an excellent question! First, grass roots continue to grow for several weeks after frost.  The roots grow more slowly as the soil temperatures cool but t…Read More

  8. Wildflower Gardening Part 1: Common-Sense Gardening

    What’s the latest news about gardening? It’s native plants (wildflowers). It is high time to have a focused discussion about native plants: Common sense gardening, doing it mother nature’s way. Native plants offer us a wonderful alternative to transplants brought in from other parts of the country. We can reduce our workload because nature is remarkably self-sufficient. After all, they’ve…Read More

  9. Know How to Defend Yourself against BAGWORMS!

    Early June is the time of year bagworms become most destructive. You may be familiar with the Christmas tree ornament like silken bags attached to branches of evergreens. These interesting cocoon-like casings expel hundreds of bagworm larvae that go to work on your prized plants. Bagworms are particularly destructive in early summer. The caterpillars (larvae) emerge from their bags (that Christmas…Read More