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LANDSCAPING TIPS FROM THE GREEN SCENE |
Leaves on my fescue lawn have blotchy spots
Check the new growth just above the crown (at the base of the leaves). If not
green,
then call for a fungicide application. Fescue is susceptible to diseases brought
on be
wet & cold weather conditions. Watered appropriate to the season, properly fed
and
appropriately pruned plants, trees and lawns rarely have serious disease
problems.
Sprinkler timer settings need to be changed -- more often in summer, less often
in fall
thru spring and your gardener's mowing should be monitored to be sure of the
right
height — taller in summer, shorter in winter.m
My sprinkler heads have settled & my gardener is
cutting craters
Most grasses growing in full sun will build up a root-mass after some years and
appear to rise above the original soil-grade. The risers may be extended or the
heads
themselves replaced with modern 3" Hi-Pop types -- provided the old heads &
piping are
still sound. You can drive the best bargains NOW (early spring) to repair summer
watering problems, install electric timers 6 valves. Green Scene has several
talented
irrigation foremen to handle the work.
Surface drains in my yard get clogged when it
rains...
In yards prone to collecting tree debris (pine needles, dead leaves, hillside
runoff), the first rains will quickly collect floating debris and clog the
surface
grills. Excess runoff can create a lake and send water onto your patio and under
patio
doors. Replace your flat surface inserts (they're usually 3" or 4" diameter
plastic)
with atrium drain covers of the same size. OSH, Home Depot and Home Base all
carry.
My tree growing in a Groundcover area looks sick ...
Two possible problems ... (1) The tree cannot compete with aggressive ivy for
water
and nutrients. This spring, have Green Scene deep root feed trees to place
nutrients
below the level where Groundcover roots can interfere. (2) Tree bark may have
rotted
near the base (where the trunk meets the soil) because vegetation has not
allowed that
part of the bark to air out. Keep all vegetation cleared 6" away from the base
of the
trunk. This also helps protect the tree bark from being "whacked" by the
gardener.
Grass next to a planter area looks like it's cut
down to the ground...
If the area resembles a beachhead, rabbits, rats or mice may be feeding on the
grass.
Rabbits particularly relish healthy, well-fed grass. And when deprived of other
food,
rats and mice also go for salads. Set out standard traps for rats and mice using
cheese or peanut butter as baits. Poison baits for rabbits are available or use
the
Have-A-Hart traps available at hardware or pet-supply stores. If the condition
is
uniform all around the edge of the grass, your gardener may be using his
weed-whacker
and chopping the edges too low. Few grasses can survive if cut shorter than 2"
in
shaded areas.
Shrubs and other plants have grown together into a
big mass of foliage...
Proper ornamental pruning allows each plant to have its own space. Unfortunately
most gardeners prune the quick, efficient way — everything is round, flat or
square.
Natural pruning treats each plant like a small tree, so that it develops a
strong
structure and foliage that compliments the surrounding plants. Doing this
properly
takes patience and garden design skills.
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