How low can you go...

...or more appropriately; how low should you go?

Given the heat we are experiencing, I would hope no lower than 3 inches when cutting your lawn. In fact, 3 1/2 is preferable.

It amazes me when I see turf scalped to a putting green in extreme conditions like our current summer heat and humidity.

No matter how much you water, you are just asking for problems in the way of insects, weeds, crabgrass and burning from the sun.

For some, leaving grass longer for drought tolerance and overall health looks unsightly and unkempt, but it doesn't have to be that way.

A lawn cut at 3 1/2 inches, to me, looks much better and healthier than one shaved to barely an inch above the soil.

I much prefer a healthy green  (long) lawn than one going dormant and the colour of straw. Generally the higher the grass the less water you will need on a weekly basis.

Ultimately it is a choice of personal preference, but keep in mind; if you aren't going to practice proper cutting techniques under extreme heat conditions, it really doesn't matter what your lawn care provider does. The results will be the same...absolutely nothing.

Making amends

I'm not one to dance on someone's grave, but I must admit there was a fair bit of tap-dancing at the Liberal's crushing defeat in the recent Provincial election.

With a blue majority back in town there is hope, (however small), an amendment to the cosmetic pesticide bylaw might be on the table.

Now, before you swing your arms up in protest, I'm not expecting carte blanche for the lawn care industry. I don't advocate a return to the days where everyone and their mother had access to 2-4-D.
I do however, expect equality where the lawn care industry is given exemption under the bylaw and  to be included with the likes of the farmers, the golf industry, sod growers and forestry who already benefit from exemption status.

I would love to be able to offer my customers absolutes and guarantees again and put an end to the creeping weeds that now dominate the home landscape.

In fact, why not make it so only licenced professionals are allowed to apply the products. This would assure an army of students, with one day of training, wouldn't be spraying your lawn.

And if it means I have to fill out an annual report on my usage and operate under IPM protocols only, I am happy to do so. These are concessions I am willing to make.

We are talking a less than 4% increase in pesticides already in use to save a struggling industry, perhaps a decrease in health related incidents from allergies and I can stop watching Fiesta and its iron-base weed control eat my equipment from the inside out.

Maybe I'm dreaming, like when you buy a lottery ticket and think of what might be, but for now, it's a possibility that makes me smile and dream on.

Here comes Spring!

With April on the horizon, we have been fortunate to dodge the bullet of extreme weather other areas have suffered---most notably the east coast---and are simply waiting for more warmth before charging to the great outdoors.

Here is a sample of what we can expect over the next month or so...

APRIL 2018 LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Dates	Weather Conditions
Apr 1-6	Snow showers, cold
Apr 7-12	Sunny, turning mild
Apr 13-16	A few showers, warm
Apr 17-20	Sunny, cool
Apr 21-24	Rainy east, sunny west; cool
Apr 25-30	Rainy periods, cool
April	temperature 5°C (avg.) precipitation 40mm (20mm below avg. east, avg. west)

In all an average April, with the Farmer's Almanac touting the following for the rest of the lawn-care season. 

April and May will be a bit cooler than normal, with near-normal precipitation. Summer will be hotter than normal, with rainfall below normal in Southwest Ontario and above normal elsewhere. The hottest periods will be in early and late June, early July, and mid- to late August. September and October will be warmer and slightly drier than normal.

Not ideal but...

As long as I'm not trudging through soggy slop, or watching lawns whither and die in a crispy golden brown, I'm a happy camper.

So here's hoping with fingers crossed.