IN THIS ISSUE
◻️ What is IPM?
◻️ Tick Control
◻️ Full Fertilization
◻️ Mulch Madness
March has a lot going for it! Although it will be rainy this week, there is still so much to look forward to as we approach the 2024 spring season.
March is Women’s History Month
- March 10th – ? Daylight Saving Time Begins
- March 17th – ☘️ 12 Hours of Daylight and the sun sets after 7PM, St. Paddy’s Day
- March 19th – ? Vernal Equinox – 1st Day of Spring!
- March 21st – ? International Day of Forests
- March 25th – ? Full Worm Moon
- March 31st – ? Easter Sunday
Although the weather has been a bit mild and it’s very tempting, you should wait on some of those garden tasks until the soil warms up. Many beneficial insects like butterflies, luna moths, fireflies, ladybugs and lacewings overwinter in leaf litter, hollow stems, or tiny burrows just below the surface. Resist the urge to clean out the garden too early in the season to help these good guys thrive. By preserving their habitat, you encourage them to stay in the garden where they help control the “undesirable” pests once spring arrives.
If you simply cannot wait to get your hands dirty, March is the month to start any seeds indoors so they will be ready to once it’s time to plant them outdoors in May. ~Shayne
IPM – INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
A pest is any unwanted insect, mite, plant or organism that causes disease or damage to trees, ornamental plants, turf grasses, fruits and vegetables. Integrated pest management is a comprehensive, environmentally responsible approach to pest control. which combines the use of different strategies to help manage pests while also minimizing the impact to the environment.
The most effective method is for our technicians to simply look for pests and monitor the landscape so that any populations can be noted. Small populations can be removed by hand or sprayed off the plant with water. By regular observation, it is easy to tell If a pest population has grown beyond the tolerable level so it can be dealt with before becoming an infestation. By knowing the life cycles of different pests, remedies are utilized at the proper time(s) and any use of pesticides is minimal.
Biological control uses living organisms, or a pests natural enemy, to help control them. Green lacewing eggs hatch quickly and prey on soft-bodies pests like the aphids pictured below. Lady beetles also love aphids, as well as spider mites and thrips making them very popular with home gardeners. Beneficial nematodes are organisms that actively seek out pests in the soil like grubs and root weevils.
Some insects in and around your property are normal, and many are beneficial to your garden and the landscape in general so the final goal of IPM is not to exterminate all insects, but to better balance the landscape ecosystem so that the conditions are more agreeable to the plants in your garden than the pests.
TICK CONTROL
Connecticut, the “birthplace” of Lyme Disease, consistently has among the highest number of reported cases in the country each year. The tiny deer tick is responsible for transmitting the disease to humans and our pets and symptoms can be debilitating for some. We offer environmentally friendly solutions to help minimize tick populations in and around your property.
Deer ticks are extremely tiny and difficult to detect. Nymphs appear in the spring and are very small—about the size of a poppy seed. This is the most critical time to avoid exposure as we begin spending more time enjoying the outdoors again. Unfortunately, they remain a nuisance throughout spring, summer, and fall until we start to move into freezing temperatures.
YardScapes offers a few environmentally friendly solutions to help reduce tick populations on your property.
- We identify and monitor areas ticks find desirable and use landscape management to reduce their habitats.
- Ticks don’t like cedar oil, so it is sprayed around the property perimeter, as well as on shrubs, walkways, and other high-traffic areas. 100% natural, it does not pose any health risks to children, pets, or wildlife.
- A brilliant solution, Damminix Tick Tubes, uses biodegradable cardboard tubes filled with solution-soaked cotton balls. Mice, the main host carrier of ticks, will then use the cotton for bedding killing the ticks with no adverse effects to the mouse – or their predators!
“Springtime is the land awakening; the March winds are the morning yawn.” —Lewis Grizzard
FULL FERTILIZATION PROGRAM
Our organic-based fertilization program identifies and then addresses any deficiencies or pH issues your lawn might be experiencing. If there are no issues, a standard fertilization program is followed.
Timing is everything.
After a complete soil analysis, broadleaf weeds and crabgrass are treated if necessary.
Next comes the application of the controlled-release organic-based fertilizer to nourish the lawn, followed by a lawn inspection that scouts for insects and disease.
In mid-summer, lawn aeration is performed and is one of the most important practices for a healthy lawn. By fall, another round of weed control and fertilizer will have been applied.
In mid-autumn another lawn inspection takes place before the ground freezes and the snow starts.
Give us a call or speak to your landscape consultant if your lawn could benefit from this comprehensive fertilization program.
MULCH MADNESS
Quality mulch with skillful application is one of the many services offered by our estate management division. Not only does a fresh layer of mulch look impressive and smell fantastic, it also provides your landscape with many key benefits that contribute to the overall health and aesthetics of your property, not just weed control.
- A proper layer of mulch helps the soil to retain moisture and regulate its temperature.
- Mulch keeps the soil moist and plant roots cool in summer by reducing evaporation
- Mulch insulates roots from extreme cold in the winter.
- Over time, bark mulch breaks down to enrich the soil as it provides essential nutrients and promotes beneficial soil organisms.
- Lastly, proper mulch application adds visual appeal to a landscape. It provides a neat and cohesive appearance, and the right color and texture can really compliment the overall design.