My neighborhood groundhog is still hibernating, but, if she had wandered out of her den last week on Groundhog Day, she would have seen her shadow and, according to legend, “predicted” six more weeks of winter. Nevertheless, we are busy preparing for the spring season which officially begins with the vernal equinox in 41 days – six more weeks.Late this month we will start performing dormant pruning of deciduous ornamental plants. Spring cleanups begin in March and will be completed by the end of April as we transition into our favorite time of year – the green season!
The rising concern over Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses in both people and pets has led many of our clients to request that we treat their properties with organic tick repellent twice a month instead of monthly. We have found that this increase in applications has been much more effective at repelling ticks.
Boxwood Blight is a fungal disease that can be devastating to mature boxwoods and we have been scouting for it for a few years now. While we have not seen boxwood blight on any of the properties we care for, reports say it is making its way into CT. In response, we have implemented more aggressive preventative measures to help protect your shrubs from potential infection. We will continue to sanitize our pruning equipment and highly recommend that you consider a twice-monthly protective spray program.
The relationship that our entire team has with our clients is important to us and we look forward to continuing that relationship by encouraging you to comment on the services we provide so we may better serve you. As always, please contact your landscape consultant or call the office with any questions. ~Shayne
“The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.” -William C. Bryant
ACCREDITATION MATTERS
Landscape Industry Accredited Company designation is the mark of excellence at the company level and landscape industry accredited companies are the best choice because they are:
- Knowledgeable – Employing well-trained, Landscape Industry Certified employees,
- Safe – Participating in the NALP Safe Company Program,
- Ethical – Providing clear client communications and ethical operating,
- Compliant – With state, local, and federal codes, statutes, and licensing requirements.
IPM – INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Rodenticides are pesticides for killing rodents like mice and rats. Unfortunately, these poisons are killing more than their intended victims. Children, cats, dogs, squirrels, rabbits, racoons, porcupines, beavers and other animals can find and eat the bait. If a second animal consumes the poisoned one, it will die as well – and the death is not humane. READ MORE HERE
Integrated Pest Management is defined as: a process consisting of the balanced use of cultural, biological, and chemical procedures that are environmentally feasible, and
socially acceptable to reduce pest populations to tolerable levels.
The goal of IPM is not to eradicate pests entirely but to maintain population levels below relevant levels. IPM encourages alternate tactics to control pest populations and the use of pesticides only when levels reach intolerable levels.
Above all else, our aim is to improve, and never to harm, the environment we work so tirelessly to maintain. For more information, please visit our website or contact your landscape consultant.
SERVICE CONTRACTS
If you have not received your 2023 service proposal, or if you have any questions regarding its contents, please contact your landscape consultant today.If you have not yet returned your signed contract, we ask that you do so as soon as possible. Thank you!
