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Schedule Updates

AUGUST 2017

Irrigation Installation, Service & Repairs
We are performing the Sprinkler System Checks & Repair services. You should have your irrigation set to run 4-5 days per week, 10 minutes on pop-up zones and 20-25 minutes on rotating zones. Give us a call if you are ready to get on the schedule. If you are interested in having an irrigation system installed, please give the office a call at 913-829-6135.

Turf Maintenance
We are applying Round 5 of our 7 Round Turf Program. Round 5 is a liquid application targeting nutsedge, broadleaf, and grassy weeds in the lawn. Turf Managers will also assess lawns at this time to determine if and what is needed as far as a Fall Lawn Renovation. Aeration, verticutting and overseeding being the common items to be done in order to keep the lawn full and thick. If you are interested in starting your personalized turf health plan please give us a call.

Plant Health Care
We are currently applying Round 3 of our plant insecticide program for the 2017 season. Round 3 is a treatment to control primarily spider mites on spruce, junipers and burning bush. Please call to schedule a consultation with one of our certified Arborist today.

Mowing Service
The mowing season has begun and will run weekly from now until the end of October. Due to the rainy weather they may be behind a day or two but will work weekends to catch up. If you are interested in the weekly mowing service, please contact the office.

Drought stress…the real truth!

The article below is fantastic and explains drought stress.  This is off of Kansas State's Turfgrass blog 5/28/13

We talk about “drought stress” all the time, but what is actually going on inside the plant?

Drought stress affects a lot of tree processes both in the short term and long term. Here is a website with a short (5 easy pages), clear description of physiological effects of drought that may help you to better understand what drought stress actually is.

https://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/service/library/for99-010/for99-010.pdf

Here are some “Cliffnotes”, but be sure to read the above link for more details.

  • Lack of water = lack of turgor pressure, hence the wilting symptom
  • Stomates (gas exchange pores) close to reduce water loss, but closed stomates = less carbon dioxide for photosynthesis = less food. (During photosynthesis, plants use the sun’s energy to turn Co2 and water into sugars/carbohydrates.)
  • Trees  shed leaves to reduce water loss. In some cases they undergo the organized abscission process, an active plant process in which they draw materials back in and make a separation layer. But in extreme drought they sometimes skip that step, shedding leaves quickly and therefore losing valuable nutrients and other materials.
  • Reduced growth during the drought year and beyond. The current year’s growth is affected, but to make it worse, the buds set during the drought might have less growth when it is “their turn” to grow into shoots next year. In addition, in the growth ring of the tree, drought stress this year will affect next year’s growth, too. So, growth “upward” and “outward” are affected for at least 2 years.
  • Susceptibility to insect pests and diseases. Plants produce defensive compounds to protect themselves from attack. When food reserves are low, the plants have less materials available to dedicate to those defenses.

 

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