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All About Maple Tar Spot, the Black Spots on Your Maple Trees
I recently was conducting some training classes with the Field Service Professionals in Mequon, WI and I saw a tree disease that seems to be increasing in frequency over the last couple of years – Maple Tar Spot. The black spots on Maples are very distinct in their shape and color, but pose no real danger to the trees the disease infects, except for the loss of aesthetic appeal. Besides showing on several species of Maples, Tar Spot can also develop o
Stinkhorns: What Is This Fungus Among Us?
Earlier this summer, I spoke about slime molds growing in the mulch of landscape beds. The one that most people see is called Dog Vomit slime mold since the name describes the appearance of the slime mold—slimy, yellowish and gelatinous. Another type of fungal growth is showing up in a number of mulch beds right now – stinkhorns. Stinkhorns are common in the US and usually show up i
Is Your Lawn Mower Turning Orange? You May Have Lawn Rust Problems
My lawn was doing great. We enjoyed a wetter-than-normal summer and the temperatures have been warm, but not blazing hot. About three weeks ago, that all changed and we shifted into a normal hot and dry summer. If you live in the Midwest and your lawn has perennial ryegrass in it, you may have noticed your lawn mower turning orange after you mow your lawn. Your shoes also seem to have taken on an orange-ish sheen. This is all happening du
What You Need to Know About Bagworms
If you have junipers or arbor vitae in your landscape, you could have bagworms! To determine if you do have these little fellows in your plants, you can check for small, teardrop shaped bags or cases of tied-up plant material. These cases will be anywhere from ¼ to 1 inch in length. The larvae that are within the bags will emerge to feed on evergreens as well as deciduous trees and shrubs. The overwintering larvae hatch in June and climb to the top of the pl
Don't Let Mushrooms Take Over Your Lawn
First comes rain, then comes the mushrooms! Not only does an abundance of rain mean that your grass is going to be growing at an unstoppable pace, it means that you’ll probably start seeing some mushrooms peaking up through the green. Mushrooms are fungi and in many cases they are beneficial since they are the fruiting bodies the organisms that break down organic matter, like thatch,
Get Smart with your Sprinkler System
July is Smart Irrigation Month Did you know that July is Smart Irrigation Month? The Irrigation Association dedicated this month to smart practices for your sprinkler system, which makes sense since July tends to be the hottest month of the year due to scorching temperatures and high humidity. The initiative was started in 2005, focusing on providing consumers information on the value of water as well as increase awareness in water saving products, practices and services . Using water wisely and being efficient when watering, starts with have a properly working and calibrated controller. Today’s controllers have “smart” technology that ca
Mosquitoes 101
Mosquitoes. They are the true pests of the summer months. Always ruining our outdoor activities with their buzzing and biting, our swatting and smacking, not to mention that smelly bug spray – gross! Why are they even around? Where do they come from and, more importantly, how do we get rid of them? Here's the scoop on these buzzing pests: Where do mosquitoes come from? Mosquitoes are believed to hav
How to Control Mosquitoes by Reducing Standing Water
American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has designated June 21 to June 27, 2015 as National Mosquito Control Awareness Week. The AMCA is an international organization of nearly 2,000 public health professionals who are dedicated to protecting the public’s health and well-being through safe, environmentally sound mosquito control programs since 1935.
How Grass Grows: Seed Heads, Flowers and Fertilizer
I recently attend a training class on identifying grasses and grassy weeds led by Dr. Tom Voigt, Associate Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist from the University of Illinois. Even though I knew all the grasses and how to go about identifying them, I am usually always able to learn something new at these events—in this case, I took away valuable information on grass seed heads and flowers, as well as how grass grows. Flowering and Seed Heads
Smart Sprinkler Systems: Upgrade Today to Save Money and Water
Saving water should be everyone’s concern. Water is a limited resource and its availability is becoming a greater concern every year. Unfortunately, as homeowners, we don’t think about water usage as frequently as we should. We turn on the faucet and water comes out, we turn on our garden hose or sprinkler system and water our lawns and landscapes without hesitation - Everything is good! Being smart about how much water we use is going to become a gr