Mole Control

Posted on January 14, 2013 with No Comments

Now is the time to prepare your yard for the inevitable, Mole Control!

Moles typically hibernate in the winter but will start to reappear in the spring.  Also, if your grass is brown because of the cold winter weather, now is the time to start thinking about having spring time green grass!

Protecting Trees and Shrubs Against Winter Damage

Posted on November 9, 2012 with No Comments

Winter burn injury is leaf damage caused by cold winds that dry out the leaves of evergreens. J.P. McHale Pest Management offers the services needed to reduce damage. Our service create a barrier over the pores in the leaves which allows the plant to breath but reduces water loss through transpiration (daily leaf sweating).

Winter burn injury can take place whenever the soil freezes and wintery winds blow drawing moisture from leaves. Plant roots cannot uptake water from frozen soil to replace the losses experienced in the leaves. The longer these conditions exist, the more moisture is lost and death of leaf tissue results. Plants that hold their leaves (evergreens) over the winter are vulnerable, broad leaf types are more susceptible than the needle type evergreens due to the larger surface area of their leaves.

The location of plants in the landscape is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to apply an anti-desiccant. Windy sites are obviously more prone to this type of damage than protected locations. Soil moisture is also a factor.

To prevent winter burn injury J.P. McHale Pest Management Arbor Care Program can apply an anti-desiccant in December and again in late January.  One of our arborist’s can ensure this will get done properly.

Prevent Ticks From Taking Over Your Yard This Fall!

Posted on November 9, 2012 with No Comments

With concerns about Lyme disease, the management of tick populations is of utmost concern to many of our customers.  J.P. McHale Pest Management offers a variety of ways to manage ticks including on-going programs and customized comprehensive programs.  Did you know that the pile of leaves you raked for your kids to jump in in your yard could be a great place for ticks to harbor?   Along with our environmentally sensitive methods to effectively reduce the tick population on your property, you may also consider one of our lawn care programs.

For ticks we treat areas most conducive to tick activity, and consistently provide you with important recommendations based on observations during our routine visits. Removing leaf litter, reducing overgrown shrubbery, cutting the grass frequently, are just some of the cultural practices you can do to combine our efforts and reduce your family and pets exposure to ticks.

The life cycle of the deer tick comprises three growth stages: the larva, nymph and adult. It takes about two years for the tick to hatch from the egg, go through all three stages, reproduce, and then die. Humans are at the greatest risk of Lyme Disease and other co-infections in late spring and summer.

Lawn Care and Tree Maintenance Westchester County

Posted on September 24, 2012 with No Comments

We recently discussed some common fall grass diseases with one of our customers.  While it may be something on your to do list this fall, many of our customers simply can’t find the time to care for their lawns or simply just don’t want to take on the extra task.  That’s where we come in!  If you are struggling with wanting to keep your yard looking great this fall, JP McHale Pest Managment has the solution!

We offer many lawn and tree care programs designed to suit your yard’s needs.

We have eight programs that are geared towards our customers needs.  All of our programs are developed by our own staff plant pathologist and follow an integrated approach to plant and lawn health care (IPM). We only use controls when necessary; all of our products are environmentally sensitive and approved by the EPA.

Not sure which of our lawn care program is best for you? Just give our office a call at 800-479-2284 and our staff will guide you in the right direction.

Lawn and Tree Care | Westchester County

Posted on September 17, 2012 with No Comments

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures begin to drop, the fall season is a critical time to prepare your yard for the long winter ahead.

During the fall, your lawn is starting to prepare itself to go dormant.  Providing vital nutrients to your grass will give it the boost it needs during dormancy.  Roots actually continue to grow underground throughout the winter and rely on the stored food until spring.

Plants suffer from unhealthy conditions just like we do. Diseases, fungi, insects, and poor nutrition are all factors that prevent your property from looking its best, To realize the full potential of your property, your options range from basic fertilization and weed control to a six step program that includes deep root feeding, deer repellant, anti-desiccant applications, soil enhancements, core aeration and power seeding. We also offer precision tree and shrub pruning, as well as other arbor care for a beautiful, healthy landscape.

Visit JP McHale Pest Management’s Tree and Lawn Care Information to find out which one of our plans best suits your needs and contact our office at 800-479-2284 to schedule an appointment.

New York State Mosquito News from the EPA

Posted on September 13, 2012 with No Comments

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has reorganized its resources on controlling mosquitoes and preventing bites, the agency announced.

Though the summer is winding down, the EPA advises the public that mosquitoes can still present a serious risk to public health. The new resource directory includes prevention methods such as removal of standing water, tips to prevent bites and information about pesticides commonly used in mosquito control programs.

“The agency understands that Americans are concerns about recent increases in mosquito-borne diseases across the United States, especially the West Nile virus, and is committed to helping people understand how they can be more vigilant in protecting themselves from risks posed by mosquitoes,” the EPA said in a statement.

The directory can be accessed here.

Are You Prepared for Tick Season?

Posted on March 27, 2012 with No Comments

Warm weather  means that ticks will be out early and spring and summer are on track to be a horrific season for lyme disease.  Are you prepared?

The Wall Street Journal reports that The Center for Disease control (CDC ) is conducting the first study of its kind to determine whether spraying the yard for ticks can not only kill pests, but also reduce human disease.  “Paul Mead, chief of epidemiology and surveillance activity at CDC’s bacterial-illness branch, says preliminary results from about 1,500 households indicate that a spray reduced the tick population by 60%.”

The Wall Street Journal Online has an interactive display that you can click on to learn how to prepare your yard for tick season.  Some of the recommendations include:

Firewood piles and bird feeders should be kept away from your house.
Restrict the use of ground cover and plants that may attract deer.
Keep your grass mowed.
Keep your pets out of the woods.
Consider having targeted pesticides applied as a targeted treatment barrier.

How Do I Get Rid of Brown Spots in my Lawn?

Posted on March 26, 2012 with No Comments

If you have brown spots in your yard typically they are referred to as dollar spots, the name of a disease that effects certain type of grasses. It is named dollar spot because the disease resembles the size of a silver dollar, which are used to mark golf balls out on putting greens. The spots look like the color of dead straw. They are mostly prevalent during times where there is low rainfall. The grass types it effects the most are bluegrasses, bentgrasses, fescues, and zoysia.

These spots are usually 3-6 cm in diameter. If one were to mow the grass short, it will become obviously when the grass is infected, as the outline of the dollar spot shows up usually pretty early. If the grass is grown higher, in the morning, there will be a white fungus over the grass. This will indicate a dollar spot. The infected areas turn the dead straw color after the grass begins to dry after it was wet with dew from the morning. As it dries, not only does it turn the straw color, but the border turns reddish-brown. Individual blades are infected, and after they all dry, it gives the overall look of the dollar spot infection.

JP McHale Pest Management’s Tree and Turf Division can conduct an inspection of your lawn and recommend the right course of treatment so that your grass will return to green in no time!

Westchester County Lawn Care

Posted on March 23, 2012 with No Comments

"Do you think that corner over there is starting to green up a little?"

Is your grass still brown from winter?  Are you sitting and waiting for your grass to turn green?

At JP McHale Pest Managment, all of our lawn care programs are developed by our own staff plant pathologist and follow an integrated approach to plant and lawn health care (IPM). We only use controls when necessary; all of our products are environmentally sensitive and approved by the EPA.

Contact our office today and to see how we can help you have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood!

New York Plant Health Care and Organic Lawn Fertilization – Different Types of Grass

Posted on January 25, 2012 with No Comments

Warm season grasses are the choice of many in warmer climates. Examples of common warm season grasses include:

• Bermudagrass- It has common and improved varieties and is the most commonly used warm season grass. It grows wild in many lawns and can be invasive if it is not wanted. It can also become a thick, quality turf when properly maintained. The uses of the improved varieties range from golf greens and fairways, to home lawns. One of the disavantages to bermudagrass is that it has very poor shade tolerance.
• Zoysiagrass- This grass has its origins in the Japan. It makes a thick turf and can be started from plugs, seed or sod. Seed is expensive and slow to establish. It has become a popular grass in the transitions zone.
• St. Augustinegrass- Commonly used in the south from Florida and all along the Gulf Coast states as far as Texas. It doesn’t have the cold tolerance so it is restricted to the south. Dallas Texas is approaching its most northern range. Currently, there is no seeded varieties. It must be started by plugs or sod.
• Centipedegrass- It is not as widely used as the other warm season grasses, but is on the increase. Range is from Florida along the Gulf coastal regions as far as Texas.
• Kikuyugrass-It is used as turfgrass, but only in the tropics and is considered a noxious weed in most of the U.S. Only a few counties in a few states allow it. It is one of the fastest spreading grasses and can be extremely invasive. It will cover over shrubs, fences, light poles and will displace other grasses. It is not recommend.
• Buffalograss- Blue-green in appearance. It is native to the arid prairie regions of the U.S. For that reason, it is often used in arid areas because of its lower water requirements. It has one of the widest north to south ranges of a warm season grass from Mexico to Canada. However, it can only grow west of the Mississippi River where there is less rainfall each year. It can’t survive in wet states. Improved varieties can make excellent turf grass.

Some grasses that tend to do better in cooler climates include:

• The fescues- There are two major groups of fescue grass: Fine fescues and coarse fescues. Fine fescue originated in Europe and in the U.S. is primarily marketed as a shade gras only.
• Bluegrass- The two basic types are common bluegrass and improved bluegrass varieties. The common or “public” variety is best used on sites that receive only occasional fertilization because of disease problems. Improved varieties of bluegrass are the better choice if the site is receiving regular fertilizer treatments.
• Ryegrass- Perennial and annual types. Annual ryegrass has a one year life cycle and will need to be reseeded each year. Both types are often used for overseeding dormant warm season grasses in fall. It is also used in seed mixtures because of fast germination and quick establishment. Some varieties of perennial ryegrass form quality turf.
• Bentgrass- Creeping bentgrass is most often used on putting greens because it tolerates low mowing necessary for a putting surface. It is considered a high maintenance turfgrass and rarely used by homeowners.
• Brome, Timothy, and Orchard Grass are field grasses that are sometimes found in home lawns, but generally will not produce a quality turf. They are often used in roadside seed mixtures.