Saturday April 24th, 2010
Moncton Times & Transcript
It's time for yard work
Get your lawn and garden in shape for spring
By Susanne MacDonald
Times & Transcript Staff
Hendrickus (Joe) Wynberg, general manager for Signature Landscape Ltd. and Eco Grass 2001 Ltd. says there are a number of things people can do to prepare.
"They should pick up and remove debris such as branches, rocks and garbage. They can fan rake the lawn area to remove smaller debris and, more importantly, to release grass that is matted down. This will allow air, water, sun and nutrients to more easily to reach the soil.
"People should inspect their shrubs and trees for broken branches and properly cut those branches to promote healthy growth. Early spring is the best time to transplant or simply plant new shrubs."
Joe also recommends that dormant oil be applied to trees and shrubs to help prevent pest damage, that a mulch product be applied to planting areas to help retain moisture, and garden soil be amended if needed.
Lawn aeration is another consideration.
David Thompson, president of Greenpoint North Lawn Care Inc. (Weed Man), says it's important to aerate in the spring in order to relieve the areas compacted by ice and snow and to penetrate the thatch layer.
"Thatch is the build up of organic matter from decaying plants. Thatch that becomes too thick can inhibit oxygen circulation in the soil and root systems for grass, inhibiting growth.
"Aeration penetrates the thatch layer and allows oxygen to circulate in the soil and get to the roots. Raking the grass helps, but aeration is the most effective way to deal with thatch."
David says homeowners should also fertilize their lawn to provide it with nutrients to help the grass grow and recommends that they apply lime.
"Liming increases the pH of the soil over time -- more acidic soil means less healthy grass, moss growth and more weeds, which grow better in acidic soil. Liming improves soil health and healthy soil is the foundation for healthy grass."
Joe says that one thing people should not do is try to remove dead grass out of their lawn by heavily raking it.
"This is not necessary and is actually considered counterproductive because this dead matter creates future food for the lawn through the process of decomposition.
"Another mistake people make in the spring is that they over fertilize with nitrogen to help the lawn turn green faster. Though some nitrogen is good, too much will force the lawn to grow faster at a time when grass grows fast anyway.
"This will put a lot of stress on the root system and create excess thatch, which can make proper lawn mowing difficult because the grass will grow faster than it can be cut."
David cautions against using a de-thatcher on lawns.
"We find that de-thatchers tend to damage the root systems of the grass when it tears up thatch. We feel strongly that people are better off aerating their lawn and allowing the thatch to be reduced gradually, by allowing oxygen to move through the thatch layer, which encourages the thatch to break down over time."
If planting grass, Joe says the type of grass used depends where it is being planted and for what reason -- whether it's a shaded area, a high traffic, maintenance requirements etc.
"The most popular seed mixture used in our region is Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, perennial rye grass."
David concurs, explaining that the rye grass provides for quick and early germination and helps the grass fill in more quickly.
"The Kentucky bluegrass does better in sunny areas and stays green longer in the dry summer; however, it does not do well in shade and is not as disease- and insect-resistant as other seed varieties.
"Fescue does better in shady areas, is more resistant to disease and insects, but needs more moisture to stay green. It usually browns up the earliest in the dry summer months."
David says one of the biggest mistakes people make with regards to lawncare is mowing their grass too short.
"This is a common error. They think that mowing lower will mean that they will have to mow less frequently. Many people also like the look of a closely mowed lawn.
"However, if you mow lower than 2-1/2 inches, then you are likely cutting off too much of the plant and damaging it. This leads to plant disease, greater susceptibility to insects and weeds.
"The ideal mowing height is three inches, and you should mow frequently enough that you are taking off no more than one-third of the grass blade. The frequency of mowing depends on the time of year and the climate. It can be as frequently as every four to five days or as long as two weeks.
"It's a fallacy that you need to mow more frequently if you cut higher. If you are using proper mowing techniques by cutting one-third of the grass blade off and mowing to a height of three inches, this means that you will wait for the grass to grow one and a half inches before you have to cut.
"However, if you mow to a height of two inches, you will need to mow after you get one inch of growth."
Brent Ayles, vice-president and general manager, of Ayles Natural Landscaping Ltd. says the biggest mistake with lawn care is trying to take a 'quick fix' approach.
"The road most travelled has been to try to fix things for the visual appearance and fix it fast," he says. "That most often means relying on a control product/pesticide for a quick change in appearance, like a weed control.
"We need to look beneath the lawn. We need to inspect the thatch layer, the dead organic matter that separates the lawn from the soil and the soil depth.
"In order to grow a healthy natural lawn, one that requires no chemical inputs and will out-compete weeds and any infestations, many things must be considered.
"We need to inspect the soil depth (ideally 6 inches), ensure nutrient contents are adequate, check the organic matter, pH (percentage hydrogen), and even look at soil compaction, and proper cultural practices."
Joe says lawn care is a complex process that should be based on science.
"Fertilizing a lawn should be based on a soil test and what nutrients are deficient in the soil," he says. "There are many aspects to a proper lawncare program and (a soil test) is the one service I would urge homeowners to contract out."
When it comes to deciding on the use of pesticides, David says there are many misconceptions about pesticides.
"All the pesticides that are available on store shelves or used by lawncare companies have been approved for use by Health Canada, when used in accordance with the directions on the label." he says.
"We recommend that people use products that they are comfortable with. In some cases, people are more comfortable with the use of organic pesticides than synthetic or chemical pesticides.
"However, people should make sure they educate themselves on the toxicity of the product they do choose to use. In some cases, organic pesticides (such as horticultural vinegars) are more toxic than many of the synthetic products used today.
"Information on toxicity is available on the label of the product and on the Internet, either from the manufacturer or on Health Canada's website.
"If someone hires a lawn-care professional, they should ask for this information from their lawn-care provider. Whatever product people decide to use, they should ensure they follow the instructions on the label for mixing, if required, plus storage and use."
Joe says that pesticides are considered to be any product that eliminates a pest -- whether weeds or insects -- and that this could be either a natural product or a chemical product.
"The only way to reduce the need for pesticides is to grow plants at optimum levels so that the plant can out-compete any pest that will pose a threat. This process is extensive and requires plant knowledge and a fair amount of time. People will also be required to be more tolerant of weeds and insects."
Brent says that his company likes to use pesticides only as a last resort. "Our company policy is to do everything we can for the landscape that avoids using chemicals," he says.
"On occasion we do utilize a control product for infestations but people must realize a hundred per cent weed- or insect-free lawn is not attainable, nor is it a healthy growing environment.
"Pesticides are a quick-fix solution, not a long-term solution. We are committed to building and maintaining landscapes with no chemicals. The trick is to educate the public that this is possible.
"We have been focusing our operation from day one on the model that chemicals are not an option."
If you do use pesticides, Brent recommends following these safety guideline.
"Wear proper protective equipment like a respirator, safety glasses, boots, and cloth suit -- clothing that protects you from any exposure; notify other homeowners in the area and remain off the lawn for 24-48 hours, both humans and pets."
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