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Renewal and Remembrance – Lawn Services at Arlington National Cemetery
On Monday, July 22, 2013, over 450 members of Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) along with their families and employees came together for the 17th consecutive year to provide landscape and lawn care services to Arlington National Cemetery. PLANET is the national landscape industry association for the Green Industry. Members came from across the U.S. to donate their time, equipment and products to beautify this national treasure. I
5,674 Cases of West Nile Virus Reported in 2012
**** 5,674 cases may not seem like a lot considering the number of people that live in the US, but when you compare that statistic to the number of reported cases of West Nile Virus in 2011, 712, it seems like we are under attack from mosquitoes. One of my fellow employees at Spring-Green sent me a link from a CBS News show that aired on June 30 titled "Waging a Losing War Against Mosquitoes." The statistics mentioned above come from that broadcast. After watching
They're Back – Understanding and Controlling Japanese Beetles
This is the time of year when the annual onslaught of adult Japanese beetles occurs. These voracious feeders are making leaves look like lace as they feed between the veins. The size of this year's population is anyone's guess, but the likelihood that it will be as big as last year is almost a certainty. Japanese beetles first arrived in the US in the early 20th century and were first reported in New Jersey. They originated in Japan, where they
Who Is Tired Of Mowing Their Lawn Every Four Days?
With all the rain that many parts of the country have received so far this year, mowing once a week is pretty much out of the question. I live in the Chicagoland area and it seems like we have received rain about every other day since March. This is making my lawn grow so fast that I am mowing almost every four days. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to get all the rain. In my 35 plus years in lawn care service, I have been through enough droughts that I
Spring-Green and the Arbor Day Foundation
I am really proud of the fact that Spring-Green has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and sponsors the planting of 10,000 trees each year. We have been doing this for the last four years, so that means we have helped plant 40,000 trees. Each year forest fires burn up huge amounts of forested land. Insects and diseases also take their toll on forests throughout the US. Without organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation, these areas may remain fallow for many years. We often hear
Why Does My Lawn Have a Disease and My Neighbor's Lawn Doesn't?
I have heard this question many times since I have been in the lawn care industry. A customer's lawn develops a disease and their neighbor's lawn looks fine. Both lawns were put in the same time, have received the same basic care, but the neighbor does not have a lawn care service. Is the disease the result of the applications that were applied to the lawn? In answering this question, the first thing to understand is how a disease develops. You have prob
My Evergreen Tree is All Brown, What Should I Do?
Evergreens are prized for their year-round beauty and vibrant foliage, so it can be alarming to see brown patches on your tree. While it’s natural for evergreens to shed some older needles (a process called seasonal needle drop), widespread browning often signals a problem. Here's a guide to why it happens and how to help your tree recover. Common Causes of Browning in Evergreens
Spring-Green Hot Air Balloon to Appear at Lisle Festival
The Spring-Green Lawn Care hot air balloon will be on display at the Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival in Lisle, Illinois, July 3 - 6, 2013. The festival attracts over 150,000 visitors and includes over 15 balloons every year. Spring-Green has participated in the event for over 12 years. Spring-Green’s hot air balloon has been an integral part of community goodwill and has traveled throughout the 26 states we do business in for many years. The balloon made her first appearance more than 12 years ago at the Hot Air Affair winter carnival in Hudson, Wisconsin. It can fly at altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000 feet, but typically floats just a few thousand feet above the ground for better viewing. The 90,000 cubic foot hot air balloon was designed to promote Spring-Green’s higher standards in lawn
Why Are There So Many Mushrooms In My Lawn?
With all the rain much of the country has been experiencing, mushrooms of all sizes and shapes that have been sprouting up in lawns and landscape areas. All the moisture has allowed the fungi that produce mushrooms to proliferate this year. In many cases, mushrooms are growing in places that they may never have grown before, at least not in such abundance. In this picture you will see mushrooms growing in an area where a tree used to be located. The old s
Active Grubs in June?
A co-worker, Dave Dawson, sent me a picture of a grub that he found in his brother's lawn while putting in a French drain. The grub was buried about three or four inches into the soil. He thought it was amazing to see not one, but five or six grubs, while digging a trench about 2 feet long. The life cycle of an annual white grub is considered a complete metamorphosis. It starts off as an egg, laid from May through July, depending on the species and lo