...and the survey says!

It's climate ties.

While I agree with many of the positions stated in this article, I am disappointed by the omission of how this problem started and how easily we could solve it by amending the pesticide bylaw. 

Same as it ever was

 

To borrow a phrase from the band Talking Heads, "This ain't no party. This ain't no disco. This ain't no fooling around."

Which is exactly how I and many other lawn care operators feel when the weeds emerge, turning green to yellow and eventually a sea of white spores.

Every year since the bylaw was unfairly dumped on Lawn Care and homeowners we have dealt with this scenario. But some things never changed.

Same as it ever was? The number of people who hold their noses when they walk by as I'm spraying a lawn (although Fiesta is odourless), and those who believe by stepping on the wet grass means they better call their next of kin.

Same as it ever was? The customer who complains when the first dandelion pops on their lawn and wonders what "they're paying us for," even when we have yet to do one application of weed control.

Same as it ever was? The vast amount of cheating. Since it is a Provincial bylaw and a Federal border, all a homeowner has to do is purchase Killex state-side and bring it back. From the ubiquitous curling of weeds noticed on many a lawn, American business is brisk. 

Same as it ever was? The feckless political climate. Every year there are whispers of an amendment to the bylaw. After all there are effective alternatives (like Civitas) used right now in other Canadian provinces. However with the backlash to Green Belt development, the Ford government did a scrotal tuck and ran for the shadows.

Same as it ever was? The number of exemptions under the bylaw including, golf courses, farmers, sod growers, government owned lands, and cemeteries, accounting for over 90% of pesticide usage.

Same as it ever was? Fiesta (pictured above), the so-called "TURF WEED KILLER" is anything but that. It injures top growth only and does not kill the root. Neudorf, the makers of Fiesta, need to be called out on this shameless false advertising. Fiesta is a control, not a killer. People need to know.

Same as it ever was? Me bitching about all of the above.

But it doesn't have to be this way, and everyone in the lawn industry knows it.

Fiesta? "This ain't no party. This ain't no disco. This ain't no fooling around."

It's time to get your grass in gear!

 So you've picked up loose clutter, tree branches, leaves, etc. You've raked lightly to get rid of any thatch. You've decided to push both seeding and core aeration off to the fall in order to cut down on weeds, and you've given your lawn an initial kick with some slow-release spring fertilizer.

What now?

After all the rain, your grass should be getting long and in need of its first hair cut.

The most important consideration is the height of your mower. It should be at 3 1/2 inches, (the distance from the blade to the soil.)  Never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade as it will stress the lawn, and weaken it to the elements.

I always make sure, once finished, the grass is ankle-high. This is an excellent benchmark to know whether to raise or lower the mower deck.  

Leave the clippings on the lawn if there is not excessive mounds. This is known as grass-cycling, and returns nitrogen back into your lawn. Frequent mowing may be necessary in the early months but the results will be worth the labour.

It is the small things that will keep you happy with the grass more resistant to weed infestation, and a healthier, thicker, more robust lawn.

Your lawn = raccoon grub hub

This year we've seen more damage from digging raccoons and skunks than previous years. As always, they are looking for the protein in your lawn which is the White Grub.

Sure every lawn has grubs. Under normal circumstances that means approximately four grubs per square foot. When that number doubles, you have the damage you see above, and treatment may be recommended.

Another reason for the ubiquitous digging this spring is a milder winter. The ground never had the chance to freeze, and in doing so, would have helped cull the grub population.

The problem now is timing. Grub treatments such as Grub Out, or Grub Terminator, the effectiveness is better realized when you apply the products in late June or early July. With nematodes you have the same issue; too early and the grubs are too big to control effectively. Also with nematodes you must consider other elements like weather. If it's too sunny, you've just sprayed your lawn with dead nematodes.

It can be quite frustrating as night after night critters rough-up your lawn like it owes them money.

In the spring , we feel, the best course is to apply Coyote Urine Pellets (raccoons), or Fox Urine Pellets (skunks.) These products will trick the diggers into believing a larger predictor is near, and (hopefully) avoid your grass. 

Yet, you must understand that these products come with conditions, so make sure you follow the instructions. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait for the appropriate window of application while you replace the divots and pray for the restaurant to run out of food.

Looks like the season of the thatch

 

This year we are getting an unusually large number of calls from people wanting to dethatch their lawns.

Yes, there seems to be a higher ratio of lawns with excessive thatch, but a light raking is all that is needed to remove most of the dead grass and promote new growth.

Going to the extreme and using a Dethatcher is not recommended in our opinion.

Dethatching at this time of the year can be very harsh on your lawn and soil. It dredges up weed seeds that will create massive problems in May, and given the lack of effective weed control in Ontario, you'll be chasing weeds all season, cursing while you do.

The easier way to attack this problem is with, as mentioned, light raking. If it hurts to do this then you're applying too much force. If you seeded in the fall, you must be vigilant not to rip up new growth with over zealous physicality.

Another avenue is aeration to breakdown thatch. However, traditional mechanical core aeration will give you the same weed headaches, and presto, back to square one. We would suggest liquid aeration if you are hell bent on aerating in the spring. (We will discuss the benefits of this application in another post.)

Also, I'm glad people are getting the memo to leave their grass 3 to 3 1/2 inches high when cutting. Yet, this practice does not include the fall. When the leaves start to fall, so should your mower height. The last cut of the season should be roughly 1 1/2 inches in height. 

This way come next spring you'll have less thatch to rake, your grass and your muscles will thank you, and dethatching will be a nasty word from last year.

Early Spring?

 

Wiarton Willie seems to think so, breaking from the ranks of his fellow rodents. He called for an early spring in Ontario.

However, I would rather rely on something else, like the Farmer's Almanac to provide a clearer picture of when we can expect decent weather.

According to Ol' Faithful, we start to run into mild temperatures the second week of March. But expect the battle between winter and all things green to see-saw into April as it does most every other year to be on the safe side. 

To put all your trust in a fury marmot is not an effective strategy. I would suggest to keep an eye on the  weather trends as previously stated, and send the groundhog novelty act back into hibernation.

It's all about that green

 Am I trying to say Happy St. Patrick's Day? Maybe hello to Spring? Perhaps making money or lamenting about inflation and the money it's going to cost us all? Hey, then again, could it be I'm just optimistic about the lawns and their change from winter brown to forest green?

Actually it's all of the above. This will be a year, pleasant in some respects and challenging in others. The rising prices is of concern, and operating a business is definitely more difficult than it was 12 months ago when we enjoyed Covid gas prices, pre-wild fire grass seed, and pre-war fertilizer. Yet, whether you're a home owner or a lawn care provider, one must learn to adapt. That's why Spring is a time to look forward with hope instead of despair, of watching growth, and taking a collective breath. Stop for a moment to appreciate what you have and admire the clover because things can always be worse.

So, Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Tomorrow's a different story.