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07-25-2011
Crabgrass problems. The excessive rainfall will cause the effectiveness and longevity of crabgrass control to be much less. Crabgrass can sprout at anytime during the season. If you have an excessive crabgrass problem and are on a plan 2 or 3, try a Plan 1 for next season. Plan 1 customers receive a end of June application of pre-emergent control.
06-28-2011
GRUB WORM ALERT
GRUBS FEED ON THE ROOTS OF TURF GRASS AND CAN CAUSE DEAD AREAS TO FORM IN THE LAWN. THIS IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH DROUGHT CONDITIONS. IF YOU HAVE NOTICED ALLOT OF JUNE BEETLES THIS IS ALSO A EARLY WARNING SIGN. TO TEST TO SEE IF YOU SHOULD APPLY A GRUB CONTROL APPLICATION DO THE FOLLOWING TO AT LEAST 3 SPOTS IN YOUR LAWN. CUT A 1' X 1' SQUARE AREA OF A GOOD AREA OF TURF AND PEEL IT BACK FROM THE GROUND. IF THERE ARE 5 OR MORE GRUBS IN ANY OF THE TEST AREAS A GRUB CONTROL SHOULD BE DONE. IF YOU LIVE NEAR A WOODED AREA WHERE RACCOONS OR SKUNKS MAY BE PRESENT WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPLY WITH 2 OR MORE GRUBS FROM ANY TEST AREA TO AVOID DIGGING DAMAGE. WE ARE NOW USING A NEW PRODUCT THAT WILL CONTROL GRUBS AT ANY STAGE OF THERE GROWTH. THE COST OF THIS APPLICATION IS APPROX. 2 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF YOUR REGULAR SINGLE APPLICATION RATE. YOU MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO THIS YOURSELF WITH A PRODUCT YOU PICKUP AT MENARDS, HOME DEPOT... BE SURE YOU READ THE LABEL FOR THE BEST TIME, RATE AND HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD APPLY AS THESE PRODUCT LABELS MUST BE FOLLOWED CORRECTLY FOR THE BEST RESULTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PUT ON OUR SCHEDULE PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS AS WE WILL BE DOING GRUB CONTROL STARTING
04-01-2011
SNOW MOLD - AS THE SNOW MELTS THIS SPRING YOU MAY NOTICE AREAS IN THE LAWN THAT LOOK STRAW LIKE AND HAVE WHAT LOOKS TO BE LIKE SPIDER WEBS ON THE LAWN. THIS WOULD BE SNOW MOLD. THERE IS USUALLY NO NEED TO WORRY AS THIS WILL CORRECT AS THE TURF DRIES OUT AND STARTS TO GROW. A spring dethatching will also help
06-08-11
FUNGUS IN THE LAWN
WITH HIGHER HUMIDITY AND WET CONDITIONS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE LAWN GETS A CHANCE BETWEEN WATERINGS TO DRY OUT COMPLETELY. IF YOU HAVE MUSHROOMS GROWING IN AREAS OF THE LAWN THIS IS A SIGN THAT FUNGUS IS FORMING. YOU MAY SEE DARK GREEN RINGS THAT FORM. THE INSIDE OF THESE RINGS WILL THEN BEGIN TO BROWN. Applying a fungicide will stop the spreading but you will have to reseed the infected areas. Fungicides may have to be applied repeatedly. Do not over fertilize 
05-01-2010 Emerald Ash Borer Alert. This pest can cause severe fatal damage to not only ash trees but may attack other varietys as well. The best treatment is preventative.
Also be aware of the symptoms of an emerald ash borer infested tree. Noticeable damage starts with thinning foliage and dieback in the crown. Epicormic sprouts, or sprouts that emerge from dormant buds, may also form on the trunk and some major branches. You may see vertical splits in the bark, due to callus tissue forming over old galleries. If you remove bark on the trunk, you may find larval galleries, a series of criscrossing tunnels.
We seen 2 cases in 2008. It is predicted that Emerald Ash Borer will spread severly. For more info click here. To purchase a systemic insecticide for your trees click here.
Have you noticed that many plants and shrubs suffered winter kill? Shrub roses, spirea, juniper, arbivida and many more varietys had severe winter kill. Our last snow fall /cold spell of the season caused most of this. You can try trimming most of these back and wait and see how they come back, otherwise you may have to replace them. Most all plants come with a 1 year warranty so save those receipts.
DRY CONDITIONS ALERT
HEAT AND CONTINUOUS WIND WILL CAUSE DROUGHT STRESSED AREAS IN YOUR LAWN. ADDITIONAL STRESS IS PUT ON THESE AREAS FROM MOWING TOO SHORT FOR THESE CONDITIONS. WE URGE YOU TO WATER LONGER AND MORE FREQUENTLY DURING ANY DRY SPELL AND TO MOW HIGHER (3-1/2" MINIMUM HEIGHT). ROOT GROWTH IS ONLY AS DEEP AS THE LENGTH OF YOUR GRASS. HOT SPOTS CAN OCCUR IN ANY AREA WHERE THERE IS SOIL INCONSISTENCIES. SOME AREAS LIKE MOUND SYSTEMS, DRAIN FIELDS, AREAS ADJACENT TO TAR OR CEMENT, HILL SIDES ETC... IRRIGATION SYSTEMS NEED TO BE CONTINUALLY ADJUSTED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. DURING EXTENDED PERIODS WITHOUT RAIN RUST MAY APPEAR FROM WELL WATER AND CHLORINE BURN FROM CITY WATER IS VERY COMMON. THIS WILL CORRECT AFTER WE GET RAINFALL AGAIN. A LAWN NEEDS 1" OF RAINFALL PER WEEK TO THRIVE. WATER IN THE EARLY MORNING OR IN THE EVENING AND NEVER DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY. IF YOU ARE IN AREA WITH A WATERING BAN WATER WHEN YOU CAN TO MAINTAIN ROOT GROWTH. DO NOT LET A SODDED LAWN GO DORMANT FROM DROUGHT STRESS. EVEN A 5-10 YEAR OLD SODDED LAWN ON POOR SOIL WILL NOT COME BACK.
For Grub control, Sod Web worm control, or other lawn insect control email us at dave@daveslawnmaintenance.com or call 763-682-6984
08-01-10
SOD WEB WORMS
Sod web worms feed on the grass causing irregular spots or patches in a lawn. Normally this is a short period and with normal rainfalls and proper watering the grass grows back. They do not feed on the grass roots. In drought situations they may cause greater problems and may need to be treated with an insecticide. In the adult stage they turn into a small narrow winged white moth. You may notice them while mowing, as they fly a short distance and return to the lawn. At this stage they will be laying there eggs for another hatch. For more info click on the following link. entomology.unl.edu/turfent/documnts/swebwrms.htm