As you are all aware, we have been in the middle of an official heat wave, and signs from temperature changes are visible on all turf throughout our area. As the air temperature rises so do the soil temperatures, and this can cause extreme stresses on turf vigor, in addition to varying lawn service results. As we go through this wave and also attempt to recover, we ask that you PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE during these difficult weather conditions.
A couple facts we all should know:
· Due to the extreme heat during the day and abnormally high temperatures at night , cool season grasses in your lawn may become stressed and lead to dormancy. Weakened grasses can be susceptible to disease and insects.
· High levels of humidity combined with over-watering lawns can actually cause the soil temperatures to rise, doing the opposite of what is trying to be accomplished because it does not allow the water to evaporate from the soil.
· Cool season grasses normally catch a break at night when temperatures drop in the evening. Night time temperatures normally return to a cool (58-64 degrees, allowing grasses to recover from the heat. The past couple of weeks, turf has not had this chance re-cooperate from daytime temperatures.
Until the Day and Night Time Temperatures return to normal please follow the following cultural practices to help your turfgrass:
WATERING
Water at least 2 inches per week during the early morning hours. Never at night.
MECHANICAL STRESSES
Cut grass at 3.5 inches and make sure blades are sharp. Remove clippings to improve air circulation and help prevent disease. When temperatures are above 90 degrees mowing heights should be raised. On days of extreme heat mowing may need to be skipped to reduce stress. Additionally, make sure when trimming near curbs and walkways scalping does not occur.
Adhering to the following steps combined with your management program, turf has a better chance of making it through this stressful period.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the condition of your lawn please feel free to contact the office and speak to Rich Heaton, Tree & Turf Service Manager
We thank you in advance for your patience during these difficult weather conditions
Sincerely,
The Tree & Turf Division JP McHale Pest Management, Inc.
Today Postbulletin.com published a short article with some tips to keep your lawn green, whether its is sunny or cloudy, dry or moist outside. A local lawn expert says you should water each section of your lawn for only 15 minutes each day. The soil can only absorb so much water and after 15 minutes, the water will just wash away the soils nutrients. The best time to water your lawn is between 6 am and 8 am. A common problem homeowners do is cut their lawn too short. Cutting your lawn too short will stress the grass. You should keep your lawn 3 to 4 inches tall. By keeping your grass at this height, it will shade the ground so it will not dry up. JP McHale is a New York lawn care company and for more information on how JP McHale can help you protect your lawn, visit our tree and turf department or contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook.
Yesterday, Fox 5 News did a report about a Long Island landscaper in their evening segment, Shame on You. This landscaper had lost his license two years ago but continued doing business with customers. It was reported that over 30 customers were getting ripped off and not getting the service they had paid for. The landscaper will now face charges from the district attorney for fraud. When you contact JP McHale you can be assured that we are current with our licensing and all state requirements. JP McHale is licensed in pest management and plant health care. All of our products are environmentally sensitive and approved by the EPA. When researching a prospective contractor, you should go on your state/county’s website to try and find a list of licensed professionals as well as fraudulent ones. JP McHale is a Westchester Pest Control company. We would love to help you with your pest or lawn problem! Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook.
On May 13, 2010 our very own Doug McHale who oversees the Tree and Turf Division here at JP McHale Pest Management Inc. had a brief interview with an ABC 7 News correspondent about the rise in mosquitoes in Rockland County. Mosquitoes are know to carry the West Nile Virus which can be spread from mosquitoes to humans and can be very harmful. According to the CDC, some symptoms include headache, fever, rashes on the skin, tiredness, and body aches. If you feel if you have any of these symptoms please contact your local doctor immediately.
If you are interested in learning about our mosquito services or have any questions feel free to contact us via email, twitter, live chat, or on facebook.
This post was written by Nathaniel over at Evans Pest Management, located in San Francisco. Thanks again, Nathaniel.
Wooly aphids are one of the more stubborn insects to infest trees. Some species feed on bark or roots causing cankers and burls to develop on tree limbs. On roots, nodular masses of gall tissues may form. The species that feed on foliage cause leaves of infested trees to curl, distort, and discolor. Many species secrete honeydew which results in blackish, sooty mold on foliage or pale waxy secretions which drip copiously onto everything beneath the canopy of the infested tree. (This can be very messy!)
Wooly aphids are most commonly a problem on apple, ash, oak, and elm trees.
These tiny insects (about a tenth of an inch in length) can be more easily identified by the damage they do than by their actual appearance.
If you notice that any of the above descriptions match what appears to be happening with your trees, call for professional help immediately. Homeowners without professional equipment can do little to control such stubborn pests. There are quite a few different products that a qualified pest management professional can apply, in season and at the necessary rates. When made correctly, these applications can control wooly aphids quite effectively, whereas, left unchecked, they may eventually kill a tree or entirely ruin its aesthetic value.
Nutsedge is a weed commonly found on lawns. Nutsedge is green, with yellow tips that grow faster then grass. Nutsedge grows flower-like, spouting from one central steam. This bottom of the nutsedge, is often called “tubers”, which are also referred to as “Nuts” or “Nutlets” is found underground. If you can eliminate the tuber, the nutsedge can no longer survive.
Lawns will begin to see nutsedge growth because of the massive amount of rain the northeast has seen. There are several control methods you can follow.
There are many different ways to control nutsedge. The first is to remove the weed along with the soil around it. You must then replace the hole with topsoil and grass seed. Dehydration of the weed can also be down, but poses a risk to surrounding grass and plants. You must disable the irrigation zone near the nutsedge and make sure rain doesn’t help feed it. This method is also very hard to carry out because that risk of rain. This method can only be used in early stages of the nutsedge’s lifecycle. If more then 3-5 blades of nutsedge are spotted, more intensive measures must be taken.
Nutsedge is also commonly found in beds of mulch. When mulch is applied, a weed fabrics is typically installed. Many over the counter fabrics cannot protect from nutsedge because the tips of the weed are so thin. The University of California did a test of the most effective weed fabrics. The results showed that Geoscape landscaper fabric and Dupont Typar 307/ 312 are the most effective.
Herbicides can be used to manage the weed, when applied correctly by a pest control operator.
This information is brought to you by the Tree and Turf Department of JP McHale Pest Management.
We have had a lot of rain lately, so the mosquitoes, tick and carpenter ants will be out in full swing. We would like to give you a tip on keeping your landscape’s mosquito population to a minimum.
Get Rid of Stagnant Water
A perfect example is a bird bath. The picture on the right shows a typical bird bath in someone’s garden. While they do look nice, they attract mosquitoes. Other areas on your property that mosquitoes love are old tires. Old tires collect rain water and sit for months and even years. We previously wrote about foreclosed homes, and why they are perfect areas for mosquitoes, mainly because of the pool. Ensure that your pool is up kept properly to avoid breeding areas.
These are just a few tips on reducing the pest population on your property this summer. These tips are part of a program called Integrated Pest Management. IPM is a program designed that will keep pest populations to a minimum with reduced amounts of pesticides, and keeping a clean living area.
As you are all aware, we have been in the middle of an official heat wave, and signs from temperature changes are visible on all turf throughout our area. As the air temperature rises so do the soil temperatures, and this can cause extreme stresses on turf vigor, in addition to varying lawn service results. As we go through this wave and also attempt to recover, we ask that you PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE during these difficult weather conditions.
Nutsedge is a weed commonly found on lawns. Nutsedge is green, with yellow tips that grow faster then grass. Nutsedge grows flower-like, spouting from one central steam. This bottom of the nutsedge, is often called “tubers”, which are also referred to as “Nuts” or “Nutlets” is found underground. If you can eliminate the tuber, the nutsedge can no longer survive.
A perfect example is a bird bath. The picture on the right shows a typical bird bath in someone’s garden. While they do look nice, they attract mosquitoes. Other areas on your property that mosquitoes love are old tires. Old tires collect rain water and sit for months and even years. We previously wrote about 
