Natural Tree and Lawn
Each year, our lawns and landscapes face unique challenges. This year-in-review blog captures the biggest obstacles we dealt with here in Massachusetts. Drought Drought was a significant feature in the landscape this year. From roughly May through September, we saw significantly less rain than we typically do in that time frame. Most of the growing… View Article
Ticks & Mosquitoes Positive West Nile Virus (WNV) mosquito samples were identified in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties. During the course of this year 7 human cases of WNV were detected in in Bristol, Essex, and Middlesex Counties, according to the MA Department of Public Health…. View Article
Japanese knotweed, (Fallopia japonica syn. Polygonum cuspidatum) is an invasive herbaceous perennial weed introduced from East Asia in the late 1800s as an ornamental and to stabilize streambanks. This has partially aided in dispersal of the plant along streams as seed and other plant parts can be carried downstream and establish new populations. Where does… View Article
If you’ve ever had a rash from poison ivy, you probably take precautions to assure the plant isn’t growing in and around your yard and avoid it as best possible. Each year, we receive calls from homeowners about poison ivy and the best way to remove the troublesome plant. We’ve put together this list, answering… View Article
Red Thread in lawns looks like its name suggests, light pink or reddish threadlike patches. Infected turfgrass will turn light tan, and the leaf tips or margins may be covered with fine pink to red threads, giving the turf an overall pink coloration. How? When? Red Thread, also known as Pink Patch, appears within lawns… View Article
Lawns, trees and shrubs are living organisms and therefore face their own battles throughout the year. Now is the perfect time to recap many of the diseases, pests and environmental factors that took place in 2020. As professionals, we try our best to aid these living organisms to remain healthy or provide solutions as needed…. View Article
Have you ever noticed how rhododendron leaves curl themselves and droop in the winter? This is a natural phenomenon to reduce transpiration. Transpiration is a process by which plants naturally lose water through their leaves in order to draw more water up from the roots. Read on to learn more on how to protect plants… View Article
As we welcome fall, it is also the best time of year for homeowners’ to plan new trees and shrubs. We’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts for planting trees and shrubs to help as a guide for success: Plant Choice Do: The first thing to do when deciding to plant something is… View Article
Watering trees and shrubs is very important particularly this time of year. As of August 13th, in Massachusetts 35% of the state is abnormally dry and 65% is in moderate drought, over 6” below normal rainfall. Drought does not only affect trees in the short term, but it can cause damage that may not be… View Article
There are primarily 2 mosquito borne diseases in Massachusetts that have special concern. These 2 diseases are eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV). These Arboviruses, viruses transmitted by insects, though rare, are capable of causing serious disease. These viruses are found in birds and are transmitted from bird biting mosquitos to… View Article
