The Spring-Green blog is your go-to resource for up-to-date, expert content, created and curated by our in-house professionals. Here you can find seasonal tips, myths and misconceptions, and answers to all your common lawn care questions. We also feature queries that come in from our readers, answered by Harold Enger, the Director of Education at Spring-Green.
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What Makes A Plant A Weed? Characteristics of Weeds and What They Are
There are approximately 250,000 species of plants throughout the world and it is estimated that about 8,000 or so of these species can be considered a weed. Per the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), there are about 312 common weeds that can be found in the U.S. Take a look at the common weeds and their weed identification information. It is interesting to look through the list to see what plants are considered weeds, but can also be considered desired plants, such as birch, spruce and yews. What Makes […]
Blog Post Provided From Roland Freund, Spring-Green Franchise Owner of Spring, Texas This past winter will be remembered as an unusually cold one in the South region, and landscapes are now telling the story. Homeowners are busy trying to replace dead plants and repair lawn areas. Since Eastern Redbuds are blooming, there is a very good chance the freezing cold weather is behind us. Lawn Care companies and the Extension Offices have been inundated with phone calls regarding dead areas in lawns. Everyone is quick to blame someone, but the […]
Harold Enger’s Lawn Care Journey That Began 40 Years Ago
On February 20, 1978, I started what has become a journey that has lasted 40 years. It was on that date that I walked into the office of a lawn care company in Wheeling, IL, but I was only there for training. I was going to work in an office that was about 15 minutes from where I worked. Wheeling was about 45 minutes from where I lived, but in 1978, gasoline was $.63 a gallon and I drove a Volkswagen Super Beetle, so it was not that expensive to […]
Life Cycle of Winter Annual Weeds In Your Lawn and Landscape
In the world of weeds, there are three different life cycles – annual, biennial and perennial. Annuals only live for one growing period, biennials live for two years and perennials live for more than two years. Among these life cycles, there is also a distinct as to when the initial germination takes place. The common thought is that all weeds germinate in the spring, but many of them germinate in the fall, such as Dandelions, Henbit and Shepard’s Purse. These life cycles are referred to as winter germinating weeds. Winter […]
How Cooler Temperatures Are Affecting Lawn and Landscape
Is It Spring Yet? As is the case with most years, sometimes it will warm up early, fooling a lot of plants, including turfgrasses, to start the annual spring green-up. Only to be broadsided with an arctic blast and cooler temperatures that pushes plants back into winter dormancy. Cool-season turfgrasses like bluegrass, ryegrass and the fescues are somewhat accustomed to these weather fluctuations, but the warm-season grasses, such as Centipede, St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses can be greatly affected by a cold snap after they have been coaxed into an […]
How to Get Your Lawn and Landscape Ready For Spring
If you live in the southern part of the U.S., you may have already started getting your lawn and landscape in shape for the coming spring. For those that live in the more northern parts of the U.S., you are most likely wishing that it will start to get warmer so that the snow will melt and you can see your lawn, but there are still things that you can do to start getting your landscape in shape for the coming year. I conduct regional training programs across the U.S. […]
Destructive Tree Insect Beetle: The Emerald Ash Borer
There is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture entitled APHIS, which stands for The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This agency oversees protecting animal health, animal welfare, and plant health. APHIS collaborates with other agencies to protect U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and diseases. One if these invasive pests is the Emerald Ash Borer. Much has been written about this incredibly destructive insect that has decimated the ash tree population for much of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. It is slowly spreading farther west and north […]
White or Gray Matted Web-Like Grass? It’s Snow Mold!
There are two types of Snow Mold that can develop on residential lawns, Pink and Grey. Although all grasses are susceptible to the diseases, they are most common on bluegrass, ryegrass, bentgrass and fescues. Pink Snow Mold, also called Microdochium Patch and Gray Snow Mold, also called Typhula Blight. Although they are both associated with snow cover, Gray Snow Mold requires at least 60 days of snow cover for it to develop. Both types of Snow Mold are most severe when snow falls on unfrozen turf, but Pink Snow Mold […]
How to Protect Your Lawn and Landscape from Winter Salt
If you are like most people, you go to the hardware store and pick up two or three bags of rock salt to use on your driveway and sidewalks. Some products claim not to damage grass or plants (like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride), but if you use too much, it can still cause damage. There are also products that are safer for pets, but those products can cost 7 to 10 times more than common rock salt. So what’s the best way to protect your lawn and landscape plants […]
How Winter Mulch Can Protect Your Garden This Season!
Adding mulch around garden and landscape plants is a great idea as it will help protect the roots of overwintering perennials from the ravages of winter temperatures. When temperatures fluctuate during the winter, mulch helps to keep soil temperature around more steady than uncovered soil. Even though it is winter, plants still need moisture, especially evergreen plants like yews, junipers, arborvitae and many broad-leafed evergreen plants still require water. Common Mulch to Use in the Winter When bare soil freezes, the moisture in the frozen soil is less available to […]
