Avoid the Chinch Club

 

The Chinch Bug Club is now open for business on YOUR lawn, causing damage from June 28th to mid July depending on what area you live in.

Those living closer to the lake will experience signs of activity first as your turf buffet gets attacked by this invasive pest.

So, what to do?

Since we are under bylaws that prohibit the ability to kill them outright, we must turn to other methods to make life difficult for this insect.

They don't like deeply hydrated lawns, so keeping it wet is a good idea. Adding a soapy mixture (dish soap will do) to affected areas creates a inhospitable environment also.

Cutting your grass on an angle is another tool you can use. Laying plastic over the infested area at night and then removing it in the morning when they are all clinging to the underside is another method. Some people will tell you to simply Shop-Vac the little buggers up when they are present. 

Which ever way you choose, or what ever combo plan you utilize, this is one club you don't want to join. The dues are too high.

Mother Nature, the raining champion

 

We've had quite a lot of rain this spring and it has been difficult to work around when applying weed control to lawns. In fact, it seemed, every time down pours were expected, we were always the furthest from base on that day.

Working around the weather is not uncommon at this time of the year. However, this season seems different---more challenging. It seems like the rain comes with malicious intent like someone is deliberately trying to sabotage the lawn industry, but as always, those in our occupation will persevere.

On the flip side, the homeowner praised the continuous slop. Rain, meant one more day they didn't have to water there lawns and gardens and Mother Nature began to come across as a gracious host and trusted friend.

Yet, as we turn from one season to another and July is viewable on the horizon, the rain is less so. The false sense of security has lulled many into believing their lawns are healthy and in no need of assistance.

All it takes is a few days without precipitation in higher temperatures, and the cracks begin to appear--- the brown areas become more evident---the insect activity more prolific. Suddenly, your nice, healthy lawn doesn't look so good.

So do yourself a favour and start watering deeply two times a week in the early morning to saturate your soil and give your grass a fighting chance this summer. Very soon, it will be too late and you'll be looking at a sea of brown until it recovers in the fall. 

Here comes the panic

 

It's the same as the first snowfall, when people forget how to drive in the slush, weed season is here and the voices are loud and furious. "I've got weeds! Do something about it! Now!!!!"

As much as we'd (no pun intended) like to do an entire customer base in one day, the prospect of doing so is not realistic.

Plus there is also Mother Nature to contend with, and this year, she has been a cruel mattress. A roller coaster of temperature changes, rain, wind and nastiness have left lawns slow to green and getting weed control applied, challenging.

Yet, we do as we always do: head down, march forward and persevere. Eventually, every lawn will have their first application of weed control and the mumbles of discontent will quiet.

At the end of May, the weeds will, for the most part, be gone, and your lawn provider will be a hero once again...just like every other year before.

So, deep breath everyone...unless you have allergies.

Tariff-ied

 

It's been a minute since the last post, but I felt with current economic concern, I should address the issue.

Lawn care, is by no means essential. However, to believe prices for this service are going to skyrocket over night, is simply not true.

With a few exceptions, most products are manufactured in Canada and therefore, exempt from U.S. tariffs.

The potash in fertilizer comes from Canada, as do many other lawn care products.

The Fiesta used in current weed control does ship from south of the boarder, but with the realization tariffs were a real possibility, we locked in our order prior to the deadline for the 2025 season. Likewise, products manufactured by companies like Bayer and Cargill would also be subject to tariffs if active ingredients are needed from the States, despite having manufacturing plants in the Great White North. 

Subsequently, if you are being forced to pay extra due to tariffs, I would suggest researching the products in question to understand the legitimacy of the bottom line. No one likes a lame excuse for a money grab.

Like many, I have awakened to patriotism, and choose to skip anything with an American label---putting my money where my mouth is.

I would advise; stay strong, shop local, and remain patient...

...and remember, although locally owned and operated, companies like Weedman and TruGreen are U.S. conglomerates--- just sayin'.

Less is more, more or less...

Some people get upset when the lawncare company they hire doesn't make regular visits through the summer months. 

Here's why: Given the volatile nature of the weather through the summer  (July/ August) it is better to do less than more when it comes to your grass.

Spraying weed controls like Fiesta can burn the grass when temperatures tip 30 C (including humidity.)

Unchecked fertilization may cause more harm than good and potentially burn the grass. 

Cutting weekly is not advised, especially if the lawn has not been regularly watered. If the turf is dry,  foot traffic will only make it worse. It is wise to keep the mower on the highest setting anyway, to protect the soil from burning. Subsequently, heavy equipment on grass and excessive lawn activity should be minimized. 

A short cropped lawn during the summer will lead to excess crabgrass and insect problems. Insects can be addressed, but the damage caused will have to wait until fall to recover, since seeding or sodding in the heat is a waste of money and resources.. 

Crabgrass is an annual weed and will also die when the weather cools off. But bare patches will have to be addressed by fall seeding (after Labour Day.)

Generally, lawns with major issues in July and August are the ones that have seen neglect, or have been improperly treated at some point in the spring.

Having a healthy lawn takes patience and persistence, and you don't get there by applying everything in your arsenal all at once

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Cutting crew courtesy

Common courtesy among lawn care providers is alive in well for most in the industry. When we show up to a lawn in the middle of it getting cut, we move on to our next job and circle back once the cutters are done. Some of our alliances even receive our schedules ahead of time so we can co-ordinate our routing and everyone is happy.

Yet, as in any industry, you have a few bad apples who ignore Notice signs on lawns, and cut anyway, although they know a 24 hr. grace period is needed for the weed controls to work.

These are the companies who usually cut too low hoping to get a few more days before returning for the next mowing. They are the greedy operations, who value customer count over quality, and who don't give a damn about any entity unless it's within their own crew.

I understand, we've all had to race against Mother Nature, work around the wet weather, and try to keep the customer happy in the process. It's a balancing act we've endured for years and will continue to walk the high-wire for years to come. 

So we need a little common courtesy, if not common sense.

Fighting against the conditions is one thing. Fighting each other doesn't need to be.

Kentucky Blue, blows

Sodding is a multi-million dollar business in Ontario. Consider new housing developments,  a useful tool for landscaping projects, and the homeowner who wants to swop a failing lawn with instant gratification. 

Pallets of the green roles are ubiquitous. Yet, many don't know much about sod, other than it looks fantastic when it's first installed.

What you need to know about this pre-grown grass and soil is, it  mostly consists of Kentucky Blue grass. Although you will be told KBG is a cool season grass, I beg to differ. 

KBG is notoriously slow to green-up in the spring. Every year I see lawns that were sodded within the last year that do not respond well to fertilizer until approximately mid-May. By this time, your weeks behind the emerald green of your neighbours.

KBG does not have a deep root system, making it a poor choice for the health of your lawn unless you plan on over-seeding with diverse species of grass (fescue/ perennial rye) to outcompete the Kentucky Blue.

Be prepared to dump biblical amounts of water on your new sod to get it established, or watch it die a slow drought death. I see this mostly in new subdivisions where the sod is dead and dying within a year of establishment.

KBG rings the dinner bell for chinch bugs and grubs. These insects love the stuff and will blow through it in short order. Raccoons also appreciate a newly sodded lawn. It's easy for them to roll it up and have quick access to food.

Also you should be aware that new sod will keep the weeds out of your lawn for a couple of months, but once the chemicals wear off, it's back to the weed farm for most, and you are right back where you started.

With the cost of sod, it doesn't make sense to me to go this route in the first place.

If I said you needed to put a new roof on your house every three years, would you do it?

All this said, there are options when it comes to sod. RTF is a much better choice, and will give you a fighting chance against the elements. However, be prepared to pay at least $5 more a roll (you get what you pay for.) Even then, I would suggest annual fall over-seeding to strengthen the health of your lawn.

If you are still determined to go the sodding route after all I've said, hopefully it's because your moving and want the instant curb appeal. By the time your sale closes and you move on, that sod will be someone else's problem.