Turf Tips

Landscape Management Company has years of knowledge and experience in all areas of landscape care and maintenance. We would like to share some helpful advice and interesting facts about your lawn and landscape. Select a topic from our list to browse our various tips and articles.

lawn tips
tree & shrub tips
seasonal tips

Lawn:

Weed Control

Simply defined, a weed is any plant growing out of place or growing where it is not wanted. Weeds can be a big nuisance for many homeowners.

To keep lawn weeds in check we must first properly identify them. There are three types of weed classifications: broadleaf weeds (such as dandelion and pennywort), grassy weeds (such as crabgrass and goosegrass), and sedges (such as yellow and purple nutsedge). By identifying what type of weed is growing in your lawn you can properly select the correct herbicide for selective post-emergence weed control.

Choosing the best plan of attack for weed control can be difficult, so landscaping professionals can be a great asset. At Landscape Management Company, we have proven methods for lawn weed control.

We recommend treating fescue lawn areas with a pre-emergent herbicide to inhibit annual broadleaf weed seed germination in late winter and early spring. Post emergent herbicides should also be used throughout the growing season as needed to control broadleaf weeds. These herbicides effectively control a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds and will significantly reduce populations in a lawn that has not been routinely treated.

For more information on our weed control program, contact us today.

Tree and Shrub:

Fertilization

Proper tree and shrub fertilization is very important in urban and suburban areas. Often the good topsoil in these areas is removed during building. Also, heavy machinery compacts soil, which reduces aeration and drainage. These and other factors create an environment that requires extra fertilization measures in order for trees and shrubs to thrive.

Some symptoms of nutrient deficiency in trees and shrubs include pale green or yellow leaves, reduced leaf size and retention, premature fall coloration and leaf drop, yellowing along the leaf veins, and overall reduced plant growth.

The first step in tree and shrub fertilization is choosing the proper fertilizer. Complete fertilizers usually contain the three nutrients plants need for optimum growth; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Whether you use organic or synthetic fertilizers, try to find one with a high percentage of water-insoluble nitrogen. It is a slow-release form of nitrogen that becomes available as the plant needs it.

Once you choose your fertilizer, you need to apply it properly. When you apply a fertilizer to a tree or shrub, you should apply it over the entire root zone. The most effective method of applying fertilizer is broadcasting, or spreading granular fertilizer evenly over the entire root zone.

The timing for applying fertilizer can vary. Usually early spring or late fall is most effective since this is when roots are growing but top growth is slow or dormant. For the best results, do not water before fertilizing. Spread the fertilizer and then irrigate so the water will wash the fertilizer into the soil and root system.

For more information on proper tree and shrub fertilization, or to develop a fertilization program for your landscaping, contact us today.

For more information on our turf fertilization programs, contact us today.

Pruning

Pruning your trees and shrubs is an important step in maintaining healthy and vibrant looking plants. Before you begin pruning however, you need to keep the three Ts in mind - timing, tools, and technique.

It is vital to know when to prune your trees or shrubs since most can only be pruned at certain times of year - usually when they are dormant. Therefore, your first step should always be ensuring your timing is right. If you’re unsure of the proper timing, contact your local landscaping company.

Once the proper timing is established make sure you have the proper tools. We recommend using pruning shears with curved blades. These type of shears do less damage to branch ends.

Last, using the proper pruning technique will ensure you get the most out of your pruning. Whether you’re pruning a young or mature tree or a shrub, you should always look at the plant from a few angles and decide what you would like to accomplish.

When you start pruning you first need to cut the dead, crossed, and misdirected branches back to the base, because these types of branches hinder growth. Next, trim the branches as needed to shape the plant. Always cut just above a bud on the outside of the branch to encourage outward growth.

Pruning can be a complex process. For help with your pruning needs, contact Landscape Management Company today.

Seasonal:

Fire Ant Control
After first entering the U.S. in the 1920s, fire ants spread and quickly became a serious pest for more than 40 million people in the southeast. Fire ants build shallow mounds on lawns, and they often remain undetected until a person or pet gets too close.

When a fire ant nest is disturbed, a silent alert, or pheromone, is sent out telling the ants to begin stinging. Each ant can sting multiple times, and with colonies containing as many as 500,000 ants, the danger level is high. The ant stings can cause itching, burning, swelling and, in the most severe cases, can be life threatening.

There are countless products currently on the market to manage fire ant mounds. However, many provide only short-term solutions. They may provide temporary control, but they don’t control the mounds you can’t see, or prevent new ants from moving in.

For a long-term solution to fire ants, contact a local lawn care or pest control professional. Often, only professionals can apply special products that will control the ants in the long term.

Landscape Management Company applies fire ant control measures to lawn areas, planting beds, and natural areas in the spring and fall. Our aggressive fire ant reduction program consists of broadcast bait followed by individual insecticide mound treatments. For more information on how to control fire ants, contact us today.

Proper Time to Plant
Many people want to enjoy beautiful spring flowers or colorful autumn leaves as part of their landscaping. To attain this beauty some forethought is required. But if you’re like most people, every year you ask, “When is the right time to plant?”

Do you plant bulbs in the fall or is it perennials? What about trees and shrubs? How about vegetables?

If you have a hard time remembering when to plant what because of all the different rules - relax, you’re not alone. As you become more experienced, the answer to these questions will become easier. In the meantime, just ask your local nursery or landscaper.

First, remember that planting dates aren’t necessarily determined by a calendar. The best determining factor is the current weather conditions. Here are some other basic tips to help you through:

Trees and shrubs can be planted whenever the ground can be worked. However, in Georgia fall planting is usually the best time of year since our winters are mild and our summers are hot.
Fall is always the best time to plant spring flowering bulbs.
Some perennials (like wildflowers) can be planted in the fall, but planting them in the spring after the danger of frost has passed is usually best.
The timing of planting turf grass usually depends on the type of grass you’re using. Bermuda is a warm season grass that germinates best when temperatures are around 70 to 80 degrees.
The planting of vegetables varies greatly. A quick guide: spring vegetables should be planted in late winter, summer vegetables in early spring, and fall vegetables in mid to late summer.

For more detailed information on proper planting times, contact one of our landscaping experts today.

10.18.11
Quick Tip #1
Paying attention to your watering system is important for maintaining an attractive, healthy lawn and protecting the environment.