While March is generally the snowiest month, this year may prove that theory wrong! Here are some tips to help you and your landscape survive the unseasonably warm and dry weather, and information about spring services:
Watering – your sprinkler system is still susceptible to damage from below freezing temperatures, so turning it on now would not be a good idea. The best plan is to water with a hose-end sprinkler or nozzle. Deep-root (turn the hose on very low) watering of new trees and shrubs is best, which may take 30 minutes or for each. Established trees and shrubs will benefit from even a short 5-10 minute watering. Your grass will also benefit from a drink, especially south and west facing areas, or sloped areas. Watering now will help mitigate turf mite damage as well. Don’t forget to disconnect your hose from the house spigot to prevent freeze damage. And drain the water from the hose!
Aeration – root growth is accelerated in the spring, (April through June). The roots need oxygen and nutrients. Aeration removes plugs of compacted soil to allow air and fertilizer into the root zone, ensuring more vigorous growth. Leave the plugs to break down back into the lawn.
Snow mold – in a typical Colorado winter, this is not a problem. But this year it seems to be quite prevalent. The colder temperatures didn’t allow the snow to melt, creating “the perfect storm” for it to grow. Often, just raking the matted areas will help the situation by drying out the patch.
Fertilization – Panorama offers two kinds of fertilizer. One is a traditional, nitrogen based, slow release fertilizer that requires just one application in the spring. It releases nutrients throughout the growing season. It does NOT provide any weed control. The second is an alfalfa based, organic fertilizer that has 3 recommended applications, once each in spring, early summer, and fall. It does NOT provide any weed control.
Weed control – Applying a pre-emergent in March will prevent many weeds from germinating once regular watering begins (in the form of spring snow, rain, or turning on the sprinkler system.) Pre-emergence means that the product prevents the germination of broadleaf and annual grass seed.
For those of you that feel more comfortable having the details of the product we use, please read the following: the pre-emergent product that Panorama applies to turf and non-turf area is called Lesco PreM. It contains the active ingredient pendimethalin. It has a yellow appearance when applied, and has an offensive odor. Approved for use in Europe, Asia, North and South America, it is used in both agriculture and landscapes to control undesirable vegetation that competes with desirable turf for light, water, and available nutrients. Practically insoluble in water, it will not leach in most soils, and is a minimal risk of groundwater contamination. When applied to landscapes it is mixed with water, and is less than 1% chemical and more than 99% water mixture. Pendimethalin is not absorbed by leaves of grasses, and very small amounts are taken up by roots of plants from the soil, which are usually below detectable levels. Areas of application are safe for re-entry after the application has dried, which depends on environmental conditions such as air temperature, sun exposure, and air circulation. Please do not allow pets to ingest any grass/plant material until the application has been watered in by either mother-nature, or your irrigation system.
The US environmental protection agency (EPA) has classified it as low toxicity, with a signal word of CAUTION due to moderate eye irritation, and harm if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Long term studies and research by government agencies and advisory institutes have ranked pendimethalin as an efficient herbicide in regard to weed control and environmental impact, and it is not regulated as a carcinogen.
Please call the Panorama office to have us create a grounds management service plan exclusively for your property. 303/774-9449