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Landscape Services
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Helpful Tips
 MANAGING LAWNS DURING DROUGHT
Once turfgrass has gone dormant (stopped active growth, turned off-color) it's best to leave it in that condition. Breaking dormancy drains reserves from the plant, and if conditions remain dry and hot, the plant is not likely to replace those reserves. The downside of dormancy is a brown appearance and weed invasions. When lawns show the first signs of drought stress, deep, infrequent watering to the depth of the root system is ideal. Water 1/4-1/2" every 2-4 weeks. Mow lawns higher in summer months, 2.5 - 3" is suggested. Limit traffic of any type on the lawn. Wait until early September to fertilize. **from "Lawn Talk" University of Illinois Extension**
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2010 Lawn Season 6-10-10
This lawn season is two to three weeks earlier than normal due to excessive rain and warm growing conditions. Our priority first and foremost is to get your property looking well maintained as soon as possible between rain storms and standing water. With rain forecasted for 6 out of the next 10 days, we ask for your patience in working through these varied weather conditions and will complete pruning and bed maintenance as soon as humanly possible.
Pruning
New growth on shrubs is extreme, and again is two to three weeks earlier than normal due to excessive rain and warm growing conditions. Pruning has begun and you will be notified when the first round is completed.
Weeds
Broadleaf weeds and weed grasses are prolific in lawns and plant beds with/without mulch this season, again due to excessive rain and warm growing conditions as well as two winters of snow cover providing moisture for deep down weed seeds. Dandelions have been noted to have root structure 2’ deep. The spring weed killer has been applied to all lawns for broadleaf weeds, however breakthrough is occurring due to the rain and heat. Crews are addressing this on a spot kill basis.
Grubs
Lush lawns may become early feeding grounds for grubs, and possibly cause severe damage. Typically, grub preventative is applied two weeks either side of the 4th of July, this year probably earlier. Ward grubs off by applying a grub preventative treatment with the summer fertilizer application in late June. Please contact us for a quote on application of summer fertilizer with grub control.
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 MAY 2010 LAWN SERVICE CALANDAR
Cultivation, edging and weeding continue. First turf weed control applied, weather permitting. 1st pruning begins when new growth hardens off (late May to 2nd week of June). Sidewalks edged.
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2010 LANDSCAPE SERVICE CALENDAR *
APRIL:
Lawn Care Practices.
Spring cleanup and snowplow turf repair.
1st turf fertilizer.
Fertilize trees & shrubs.
Mowing begins mid to late April.
1st cultivation, edging & weeding of plant beds begins late April to early May-weather dependant.
MAY:
Cultivation, edging and weeding of plant beds continues.
1st turf weed control.
1st pruning begins when new growth hardens off, late May to 2nd week of June.
Sidewalks edged.
JUNE: 2nd turf fertilizer-grub treatment available on T&M.
Plant & turf watering programs begin-available on T&M.
Sidewalks edged.
Annual property walk with PM.
JULY: Monitor turf for pests/problems.
2nd pruning of shrubs as needed begins late July.
2nd cultivation, edging and weeding of plant beds as needed begins.
Sidewalks edged.
AUGUST: Monitor turf for pests.
Sidewalks edged.
Landscape budgets submitted to property managers.
Turf renovation** begins last week of month (optimum time) - available on T& M.
SEPTEMBER: Turf renovation continues through end of month-available on T&M.
3rd turf fertilizer.
2nd turf weed control.
Plant material installation begins - available on T&M.
Sidewalks edged.
Fall cleanup begins end of month including 3rd pruning of shrubs, cultivation & edging of plant beds, & shrub fertilizer.
OCTOBER: Fall cleanup continues.
Plant material installation continues.
NOVEMBER:Fall cleanup completed.
Final turf mowing.
November 15th - END OF SEASON
*This calendar is a general outline of lawn care services. Consult individual contract for specific services and fertilizer applications.
** Turf renovation includes core aeration, dethatching and slit seeding performed spring or fall annually on T&M. Note some practices cannot be done in conjunction with another; such as reseeding and applying most herbicides, or fertilizing new seedlings at rates for established lawns.
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Archived Tips RECORD WARMTH FOR APRIL 2010
FROST WARNING 04/27/2010
Winter 2009/10 CHICAGO CLIMATE SUMMARY 03-01-2010
02/18/2010 BACKYARD GARDEN
LANDSCAPE CLEAN UP BEGINS 4/1/2010!
SNOWFALL TOTALS FOR 1/7 & 1/8/2010
Totals from Saturday 12/26 Snow
PROTECTING YOUR TREES AND SHRUBS
SNOW SEASON BID REQUESTS
HOMEOWNER SNOW LETTER
FALL TURF RENOVATION 2010
CARE OF NEW PERENNIAL FLOWERS, SMALL SHRUBS AND TREES
WATERING NEWLY SODDED LAWNS
SUGGESTED LANDSCAPE BUDGET
JAPANESE BEETLES
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
The Right Kind of Landscape Contractor
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
LANDSCAPE CLEANUP
FALL CLEAN UP AND WINTER PROTECTION
MULTI-FAMILY SNOW PROCEDURES
DEICING CHEMICAL COMPARISON
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