Lawn Care NJ Blog 
 

Question 1. What is the proper way to water my lawn?
This is an important practice that if done incorrectly can lead to problems. Amount, frequency and timing are all important factors that need to be considered when watering your lawn. A lawn should receive between 1-1 ½ inches of water per week (extreme conditions may call for more). This can be measured with a rain gauge or simple coffee can. Length of watering time should be consistent and should adequately supply ½ to ¾ inch of water during any single watering. Watering for short periods of time can lead to shallow-rooted grass that can stress out during the hot summer months. Timing is also crucial. Avoid nighttime watering as it can make grass susceptible to disease pathogens. Those without sprinkler systems and who work all week often face the dilemma of either watering at night when you return home or not watering at all.  Try this method instead; it has helped many people caught in this predicament. Set your hose out in the area(s) you want to water the night before. In the morning when you are getting ready for work, turn the sprinklers on and let them run until you are ready to leave. As you leave for work, shut the sprinklers off. That night, move the sprinkler to the next area(s) and repeat this process the following morning. Your lawn will receive the necessary water it needs and you will avoid making conditions more susceptible to disease.

Question 2. What height should my lawn be cut at and why?
While the 2 1/2-inch height for a cool-season grass is optimal for the fall, it is hardly an absolute figure that must be adhered to throughout the mowing season. If you have a crabgrass problem, for instance, you may wish to make an adjustment in spring and summer. That’s because it is during these seasons that crabgrass, an annual weed, competes for space with your lawn grass. We recommend keeping lawn grass around 3 inches or higher during spring and summer. Why? Because the extra shading that results may inhibit crabgrass enough to keep it in check. In fall, you can go back to maintaining the 2 1/2-inch height, since, by then, frost will have killed the tender crabgrass.

Question 3. What is the best time to be watering my lawn?
 The best time to water is dawn between 4-5AM when the dew is still on the lawn. At night your lawn is susceptible to fungus and insects.

Question 4. How often should I water newly planted trees and shrubs?
If there is less then 1” of rainfall per week, thoroughly water new trees and shrubs twice a week during the growing season and three times a week when it gets hot. Flowers, sod and grass seed may need to be watered daily.

Question 5. What is the proper way to water my trees and shrubs?
While watering is important, the truth is that most homeowners over-water their ornamentals. This leads to a condition known as root rot—when a plant receives too much water and begins to rot away at the root structure. Please understand that watering depends on several factors: type of plant, location of plant, weather conditions, soil conditions and area drainage. Our staff can advise you on what practices would be best for your specific needs.

Question 6. What are lawn diseases?
A disease is caused by fungi that are found in a lawn’s soil. When these fungi are presented with optimal conditions, disease lesions will begin to appear within a lawn. There are many different fungi and many different outside factors that work together to bring about a disease. Diseases can develop due to unfavorable growing conditions, poor cultural practices, nutrient deficiencies or excesses, thick thatch layer, extremes in temperature, air humidity, and moisture, etc. This is only a small list of some of the causes. Some of these can be controlled, while others cannot. The best defense against diseases is to practice proper cultural practices (mowing, watering, etc.) and timely fertilization. Together these practices develop healthy turf that can withstand assault.

Question 7.  I regularly mow, water, and fertilize my lawn while my neighbor does nothing. Yet every year I get grub worms and they do not, why?
Quite simply, your lawn is more appealing. White grubs are the larvae of beetles. These beetles need to lay their eggs in the soil in order for their eggs to hatch. When having to choose between burrowing through a hard, dry, compacted soil or a well cared for, healthy soil, the choice is obvious. Your lawn offers the least amount of work for them and is thus a more appealing environment for laying their eggs.

Question 8. How can I get rid of wild grasses in my lawn?
It depends on the grass. Crabgrass and other annuals can be prevented by applying the proper pre-emergent. A timely spring application will keep their seeds from germinating. However, if not prevented once they come up they are difficult to control. Since these grasses are not annuals, they remain from year to year, making them almost impossible to get rid of. Controlling them often involves damaging surrounding desirable grasses and the cost usually outweighs the results that are yielded. Since these wild grasses are everywhere, chances are they will return the following season as well.

Question 9. When is the best time to seed?
The best time for lawn seeding is from late August to mid September. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about seeding their lawns in the fall after drought and damaged areas have been created throughout the summer. Instead, most people think about lawn seeding in the spring, which is not an effective time to get consistent results. It is important to choose the correct seed when preparing to reseed an area. For example, shady bluegrass for shady areas or a sunny mixture for exposed areas.

Question10. How long after you spray will my weeds die?
Weed control begins working almost immediately, curling and browning the weeds. When this occurs the weeds are dying. However, it usually takes 10-14 days before dead weeds fully disappear from view. This is aided by mowing (give it about 2-3 mowings). After that, if weeds are still present, or new weeds appear, call us and we will rectify the problem promptly.

Question 11. Why do I need to fertilize my trees and shrubs?
In nature, soils are rich with nutrients due to natural decomposition of leaf and twig materials that keep trees and plants healthy. In contrast, most landscapes surrounding homes are typically planted in soils low in organic matter and thus low in nutrients.  Most nutrient-rich soils are typically removed during the construction process, leaving behind only nutrient deficient soil, primarily clay. Planting ornamentals in these poor soil conditions will usually result in stunted plant growth, poor appearance and in some cases death of the plant. Fertilizing gives these new plants the necessary nutrients they need to help them adapt to these conditions. While it is very beneficial to fertilize your ornamentals regularly, it is absolutely critical that newer plants are fertilized for the first five years after they are planted to ensure proper growth and a healthy lifespan.

Questions 12. What are tree and shrub diseases?
Most diseases are caused by fungi that are opportunistic pathogens, which are ever present awaiting the opportune time. When these fungi are presented with optimal conditions, disease lesions will begin to appear on a plant. There are many different fungi and many different outside factors that work together to bring about a disease. Diseases can develop due to unfavorable growing conditions, poor cultural practices, nutrient deficiencies, plant species, extremes in temperature, air humidity, and moisture, etc. This is only a small list of some of the causes. Prevention and timely treatments greatly assist in keeping disease damage from destroying your valuable plants.

Question 13. Why are insects a concern for some of my plants but not others?
Quite simply, some trees and shrubs are just more susceptible to insect invasion than others. Due to their make-up and accessibility to specific invading insect, some trees and shrubs make inviting targets. To the untrained eye many of these early symptoms can go unnoticed. Our staff is trained to correctly identify which plants are at risk and then treat these problems before they become serious. Once the insect type is determined, the correct method of control must be administered (example: contact or systemic pesticide).

Question 14. Why should I prune my trees and shrubs?
There are many benefits to pruning your trees and shrubs:

1. The aesthetic benefits.
2. Healthier and more vigorous plant growth.
3. Allows more air and light in, which aids the plant as well as any turfgrasses surrounding the plant.
4. Maintains or reduces the size of the plant which prevents it from outgrowing its location.
5. Removes dead, diseased and/or broken branches, which assists in the plants growth, overall health and reduces potential hazards to people.
6. Returns the plant to its more natural growth pattern by removing water sprouts, suckers and weak branches, thus making the plant stronger. 

Question 15. What is the best time for my house to be pruned?           
 Generally the best time for pruning shrubs is when they begin to look untidy; however, shrub pruning is ideally preformed between late Spring and late Summer. Flowering shrubs should be pruned after blooming.
Again it depends on the types of trees or shrubs you have. Some should be pruned in the spring, others in the fall, and some can be pruned at any time of the year. Knowing the proper time to prune can mean the difference between having healthy plants and causing costly damage to your valuable landscape. Also, knowing what to prune is as vitally important as knowing when. Removing the wrong branches, or incorrectly removing branches and limbs can cause serious damage to your plants by opening them up to insect invasion. Damage can be evident for years to come and in severe cases can lead to the death of the plant.

Question 16. What are softscapes and hardscapes?
Softscape comprises of animate, horticultural elements of landscape design i.e. plants. Hardscape are the non animate design elements, such as edging, stone walls, paver patios and brick walkways.

Question17. How soon can I mow my lawn after winter?
When the magnolia trees begin to bloom, that is a sign that you can go ahead and mow your lawn. Magnolia’s are one of the earlier flowering trees and are a sign that the upper soil temperatures are climbing, meaning your grass is also beginning to wake up. When the magnolia blooms, cut your grass for the first time.

Question 18. How do I grow grass underneath evergreen trees or bushes?
You cannot! The soil beneath evergreen trees is too acidic from the tree’s dropped needles. You will never get thick turf to grow in acidic soil.

Question 19. Is moldy mulch harmful?
Raking some older mulch may give you a good look at mold on the wood chips or decaying plant material. Mold is actually one of the factors that work along with the decomposition of the wood chips. The mold is not harmful. You can decrease the amount of mold by raking your mulch periodically which helps dry out the mulch and reduces mold in the process. As long as you have plant based materials and some wet weather, you will probably not totally get rid of the mold. The only way I know of getting rid of the mold is to replace the mulch with stone. Wood based molds will not grow on stone.

Question 20. Why use landscape lighting?
Landscape lighting is visually attractive. When placed correctly throughout the front yard, landscape lighting accentuates your home and landscape in such away it draws attention to focal points. The brickwork you enjoy is highlighted and that special ornamental tree stands out even more when illuminated. Your hard work in the garden will be enjoyed even at night with strategically placed garden landscape lights.
Landscape lighting provides security. A well-lit house cuts down on the chances that your home will be a target for burglars. The lighting draws attention to the house increasing the chance that passersby and neighbors would see a burglar in action. Burglars will want to operate their bad deeds in the cover of darkness, not flock toward the light. With landscape lighting, when you arrive home at night you can see your house, look for shadows and feel more confident that someone isn’t lurking around the perimeter of your home.
Landscape lighting adds value. Even if your home is modest, landscape lighting can give it a bit more character and charm. It shows that you are proud of your home and appreciate what it has to offer. By using electric or solar lighting to accentuate the positives, you add value to your property. You will also have an advantage when it comes time to sell your house because the landscape lighting will already be installed for the next homeowner.

Question 21. Why is it good to have a Fall Cleanup?
Don’t leave the leaves
The leaves are a sight to see on the trees during their color change. But watching them fall to the ground may leave property owners feeling that there is a long road of work ahead of them. Not many people enjoy spending hours and hours of raking leaves and bagging them. But it is an important step in the fall cleanup process because once the snow flies, an unraked layer of leaves will get matted down over your lawn and smother it all winter long. This will result in dead patches and give rodents a cozy home to live in.

Question 22. Why is it good to mulch every year?
Benefits of Mulch
Mulch is a great weed suppressant.
A nice, thick layer of mulch inhibits weeds in two important ways. First, by thoroughly covering the soil and depriving weed seeds of the light they need to germinate, mulch prevents them from gaining a foothold in the first place. Secondly, bare dirt is the perfect place for weed seeds to land and germinate. By covering all of your bare soil with mulch, most weeds will never be able to come into contact with the soil.
Mulch helps retain soil moisture.
Maintaining a consistent level of moisture in your soil is a big part of growing healthy plants. A plant that has a constant level of adequate moisture is less likely to become stressed, which means that it will be better able to resist insects and diseases. In tandem with keeping the soil moist, mulch also keeps the soil cooler in hot weather, which will prolong the amount of time it takes for many plants to bolt or go dormant. Some plants bloom best in cooler conditions, and mulch will aid in keeping these plants blooming longer.
Mulch feeds the soil.
Organic mulches (as opposed to inorganic ones like glass, plastic, or rubber) will break down over time, adding nutrients and organic matter to your soil. The worms and microbes in the soil will break down organic mulches over time, which will result in healthier soil life.

Question 23. Deer have been eating my vegetable plants and shrubs. What should I do?
There are several temporary solutions such as human hair balls and commercial deer repellents, and we’ve had luck planting some deer resistant shrubs, but it will actually take some good deer fencing to keep them out.
Try Deeroff: Rutgers University ranked deeroff number 1 out of 35 repellents tested. Now labeled for rabbits and squirrels.

Question 24.  What are 5 key tips to a healthy green lawn?
A well maintained healthy lawn is a joy to look at, adds to your home’s appeal and sharpens the look of the whole neighborhood.

• Develop healthy soil. Periodically leave grass clippings on your lawn as organic material/ fertilizer. Organic topsoil contains decaying organic matter and rock material broken down by climate and weather. You can make your own compost by creating a pile with leaves, branches, vegetable scraps, saw shavings etc… Do not use meat scraps. Add water to the pile or wait for rain and periodically turn the pile with a pitch fork. This process will take several months and the best material is at the bottom of the pile. Spread it on what you want fertilized.
• Choose a grass type that thrives in your climate. For our area use Tall Fescue or Kentucky Blue grass.
• Mow at a higher setting
• Water your lawn heavily but not too often (see question 1).
• Consistently weed and fertilize.

Question 25.  What are the top 5 tips for maintaining your sprinkler system?

1. Blow out pipes in the fall to prevent freezing and bursting.
2. Make sure the heads pop up by checking to see if dirt is blocking it or if there is a leak around the head.
3. Over time a sprinkler head may get knocked off its intended target. This is a quick fix. You can consult us or your sprinkler manual.
4. Check the water supply and pressure.
5. Reset automatic controllers according to seasonal needs.

Question 26. Stink bug- Where did it come from and why are we seeing so many lately?
In the late summer and early fall the brown marmorated stink bugs invade our homes looking for a cozy place for the winter. They were first reported around Allentown Pa. in 1996, probably arriving in the packing material of shipped goods from China. Like most invasive species, they have no natural predators and are therefore spreading in alarming numbers. While they are little more than an annoyance to most homeowners, there is concern for damage to agriculture in the region. Last year, apple growers in Virginia and West Virginia were reporting damage to their fruit at levels of 45 to 50 percent. The problem continued this year and has expanded to Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  

Question 27. What are some safety tips for shoveling snow this winter?

1. Stretch
2. Drink plenty of water because shoveling is a workout and you must be hydrated.
3. Dress in several layers which you can remove later.
4. Lift with your legs, not your back.
5. Create some distance in your hands to create some leverage.   

Pick the right shovel.

1. Avoid shovels with plastic blades - they will break more easily. Look for metal shovels with handles made of wood or metal.
2. Buy as large a shovel as you think you can handle properly when full of snow.
3. Look for a shovel that has open sides to facilitate sliding the snow off of the shovel.
4. Make sure the shovel you select "fits" you. Is the length good? Is the handle the right size? Shoveling snow is hard work; a shovel that is a poor fit can increase the likelihood of soreness or injury.

Question 28. What is organic fertilizer all about?
The basic principle to natural/ organic fertilizing is this: feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants and lawn. With our organic program nitrates and phosphates will be cut in half. There are no fungicides and the pesticides will be down aswell. No stripping or burning your lawn and it is safer for the waterways. New Jersey is one of the first states in the nation to enact aggressive legislation to control nutrient pollution from fertilizer run off.

Question 29. My lawn has raised ridges running all over it. Any idea what it is or how to get rid of it?
Sounds like a problem with moles tunneling around looking for food. One mole can eat up to 40 lbs of worms and insects per year! Some experts say trapping is the only effective method for reducing a mole population. Home remedy mole control includes everything from Juicy Fruit gum to half buried coke bottles. A few homeowners reported fair results from having battery operated ultra sonic emitters buried several places.

Question 30. I planted a hydrangea bush 3 years ago and it still hasn’t bloomed. What’s wrong with it?
More then likely your hydrangea bush is getting pruned at the wrong time, whether it’s by deer or summer pruning. Only trim hydrangeas within one month after they bloom. This would be early fall.

Question 31. The trees in my lawn have silky thick webs in them! What is it?
Spring brings Eastern Tent Caterpillars with it and the smaller lower tents can be rubbed out using gloves or sprayed with insecticide properly.

Question 32. My White Pine trees have lots of inner needles that have just recently turned yellow. Are the trees dying?
Pines commonly shed some of their old, inner needles in the late summer. Some of the wet summers we have had seem to have delayed this occurance by a couple months. Your trees should be fine.

Question 33.  My dog causes damage to my lawn. What can I do about it?
Unfortunately there is no quick, easy fix for brown spots caused by dog urine. But heavy watering and baking soda can help to avoid this damage in the future.  Watering helps to dilute the concentration of nitrogen in your yard, and using a full watering can mixed with baking soda can help you neutralize the area.
Question 34. What are the benefits of a mulching lawn mower?

Mulching lawn mowers return grass clippings to your lawn which provides many benefits: The clippings serve as an excellent fertilizer and help retain needed moisture, giving you a much healthier lawn.

Question 35. I have a shady, mossy area in my lawn where grass just doesn't seem to grow. I seed the area every fall, the grass comes up just fine, then dies the next summer and the moss comes back. Am I doing something wrong?
Repeated aeration treatments over several growing seasons may help along with re-seeding with a grass type that is better suited to shade. Some grass types won't tolerate shade and therefore won't thrive. Moss however, loves the cool shady conditions. It however, is not the cause of the dying grass. If possible try to reduce the amount of shade in the area. Thinning the tree canopy might make a healthy difference in your lawn.
If removing some or all of the shade is out of the question, extending the bedding areas or 'natural' areas with pine straw or mulch would probably be the best solution. If you've tried the above recommendations several times, it sounds like nature is telling you grass just won't work in that situation. It's probably too shady.

Question 36. What are drip irrigation systems and how do they promote water conservation.
Drip irrigation system, at the most basic level, are constituted by a series of tubes that have holes opened along them at intervals. The location of the open holes is tailored so as to irrigate most efficiently the specific garden beds in which drip irrigation systems will be buried, promoting water conservation. Sprinklers, in contrast with drip irrigation systems, spray water into the air first, before it ever reaches the ground.

Question 37. What is an annual flower?
An annual grows from seed and blooms and sets seed and then dies in just one growing season. Petunia and marigold are examples of flowers widely grown as annuals. Annuals need to be replanted each spring. Most annuals bloom continuously from spring through fall.

Question 38. What is a perennial flower?
A perennial flower lives for three or more seasons. It may or may not be mature enough to bloom the first year from seed. (Hint: P is for Permanent and for Perennial). Perennials will need periodic rejuvenation and/or replacement, typically every three to five years. Most perennials bloom for only a short period -- a week or two or three -- once a year.

39. Fragrant Flowers
We often hear the exhortation, "Stop and smell the roses!" Indeed, roses are perhaps first to come to mind when mention is made of "fragrant flowers." However, the floral world offers many other fragrant flowers, and none need take a backseat to roses when it comes to aroma. So along with information on growing roses, below I give equal time to 5 other fragrant flowers, linking to resources with information on each.
Shrubs with Fragrant Flowers: Lilacs:  If there's one fragrant flower I associate with the merry month of May, it's the bloom of lilacs. Their scent, wafted on a gentle evening breeze, and perhaps mixed with the smell of freshly mown grass, is the very essence of May:
Shrubs With Fragrant Flowers: Korean Spice Viburnum: Lilacs are fragrant flowers familiar to most everyone, even non-gardeners. But only the initiated have experienced the robust aroma of Korean spice viburnum's fragrant flowers. If you're still one of the uninitiated, my only question to you is, What are you waiting for?
Daphne Plants: Like Korean spice viburnum, daphne may not be familiar to everyone. In fact, if you've spent more time in your life in front of a TV set than out in the garden, hearing mention of "daphne" may evoke images not of a shrub, but of a character in the American TV series, Frasier! But daphne's pleasant fragrance bridges the gap nicely in my garden between the demise of Korean spice viburnum (early May) and the rise of the lilacs (later in May).
Perennials With Fragrant Flowers: Peonies: Peonies are another classic olfactory delight from the floral world. Lilacs and peonies wage an annual battle for bragging rights with my nose. Both of these fragrant flowers put forth an extraordinary effort to win me over, in late spring. But I refuse to choose between them. My attitude: let them return year after year and try to convince me which is superior, all over again! Peonies have been grown and admired for centuries, due in part to the beauty of their blooms and foliage, their fragrance and their longevity:
Perennials With Fragrant Flowers: Irises:  Many new homeowners plant those old-time favorites, the irises, remembering the fragrant flowers from their childhoods. But when selecting an iris to plant, don't be misled by thinking, "Irises are irises." If it's fragrant flowers you're after, you'll have to make that a priority during the selection process. Here's some information on an iris I've selected specifically for the way it smells:
Aromatic Herbs: English Lavender: English lavender, too, is famous for its fragrance. But in the case of English lavender, it's the dried, harvested product (used, e.g., in potpourris) that has such an impact on the olfactory nerve:
Aromatic Woodland Plant: Lily-of-the-Valley: Lily-of-the-valley is filled with Old-World romance. Many of us remember the little white bells of this ground cover from our grandparents' gardens. A natural in woodland gardens, a great virtue of lily-of-the-valley is that it can take more shade than many other plants will tolerate.