April-2010

Turf: 

GOT WEEDS? Greener grass isn't the only thing April showers bring. Have you started to notice the small flecks of yellow popping up in the dark shades of green? Yup, you guessed right, that not so pretty reminder of spring is back, Dandelions. Clover & Henbit are other pesky weeds that will try to invade your lawn this spring, unless....your lawn is an Aspen lawn! Round 2 applications have begun. Your Turf manager will be contacting you soon to let you know your lawn is safe, protected, & green. During April & May, we will continue adding defense for crabgrass, eliminate annoying weeds, plus provide a little spring boost. NOTE: Round 2 is a liquid round. It is important to keep kids & pets off of the lawn until the product has had time to dry. Please contact the office with any concerns.

If you plan on doing spring seeding over the next couple weeks, please make sure to call the office so we can treat it accordingly. 

Design & Build: 

Spring has sprung! The forsythia is in full bloom finally, which means our welcome back to spring is here. We are receiving weekly shipments of beautiful trees & shrubs ready to be planted in your lawn. We should start receiving annual color around the first part of May to add a splash of color to your landscape. Give us a call for a plant installation consultation.

Spring Trimming will begin around May 15th, after the Spring flush of growth has ended. It is a good idea to start calling around the end of April to get on the top of the list.

Design & Build patios, walls, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, drainage solutions....Maybe you already have an idea of what you are looking for? Or just know you want to do something to enhance the beauty of your home? Our Aspen designers are ready to work with you from design to build to turn your vision into reality.
SPRING RAINS.....are coming to a lawn near you! We offer all types of drainage solutions to help keep you afloat this spring. We've all heard the horror stories about flooded, molded basements...We can ensure this isn't your story; call us today for a site drainage analysis.
Aspen lights up the night with our low voltage outdoor lighting options. Lighting up your most important investment isn't only safe & practical; it also creates an ambiance & inviting appeal making your home the perfect place for entertaining your guests this spring.
SPRUCE UP FOR SPRING! Our spring mulch schedule is filling up fast, call us if you'd like to be added to our list. Our house mulch this season is "MOCHA BROWN".

Mowing: 

Snow white to Spring Green!  Once the snow finally melted this spring, the grass started growing.  Over the first week of April we've seen the fasted greenup and grow up in a long time.  Be sure to get you lawn mowed early and often this spring.  By cutting the tips of the plant off, it will be stimulated to push new lush growth. Before the 1st mowing; it is very important to make sure your mower's blades are sharp. Dull blades will cause tissue damage to new spring growth, which slows rebound time. The best way to determine blade sharpness is to inspect the plants edge, if the cut is clean, blades are sharp. If there is a tattered brown appearence, blades are dull & need sharpening. During spring, turfgrass experiences extensive top growth that requires regular mowing, sometimes twice weekly. Allowing too much time between cuttings is a serious detriment to the health of your lawn. If you have questions about mowing practices, or are interested in our weekly mowing services, give us a call, We love the smell and look of fresh cut grass!

Arborist's Corner: 

Our dormant oil applications have been applied for this spring, but we can talk to you about other insect protection options for your ornamentals with our 5 round program. Pine & Crabapple fungicides targeting blights, rust, & scab need to be applied in early Spring before heavy spring rains & wind begin to transfer fungal spores. Deep root feedings are great for trees & shrubs at least 1 year old. Now is the time to feed for spring green & root establishment. Iron Injections: Add Iron supplements to your Pin Oaks now to help remedy Iron deficiencies. We offer bi-yearly options for protecting your Oaks from Iron Chlorosis, a severe nutrient deficiency that can be fatal if un-treated.

"ASH KILLER ON IT"S WAY!" If you haven't heard of the Emerald Ash Borer; you will. This insect has become a huge concern among the green industry because of it's quick, fatal knockdown of nearly 30 million ash trees in the USA. Even more alarming, this incredible # of fatalities was reached in only eight states. These states include: Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and the latest being Missouri in July 2008. This means that the borer is less than 200 miles away and possibly moving this way.... The emerald ash borer is a small (1/8 inch long), metallic green beetle that is native to Asia. The larvae of the beetle tunnel into bark of Ash trees causing starvation and eventual death. Emerging beetles leave an approx. 1/8 inch D-shape hole in the tree when exiting. The insects are primarily spread by firewood.

If you have Ash trees that you're concerned about, please call us today for more information. You can also visit- http://www.emeraldashborer.info/ for detailed information. Additionally, the Kansas Forest Service has developed a kit that provides helpful information on identifying the insect. For information on obtaining one of these kits, please visit www.kansasforests.org. We can help! Preventative treatments are the ONLY method available to save your ashes. Once infested, treatment is not an option. Please call us today to learn how we can save our Ash trees.

Irrigation: 

Plants need water in April too! We are in the process of performing irrigation start-ups for the season. If you haven't called to reserve your spot, call the office to schedule immediately. The schedule fills up very quickly this time of year. It is very important to have your system started by May to ensure drought symptoms don't begin to occur...Believe it or not, a semi-drought in late April - early May is very possible. Your lawn should be receiving a minimum of 1" per week for proper growth & development this spring. Our Irrigation maintenance programs are our worry-free options perfect for the homeowner who doesn't have time to worry with monitering their lawn or those looking to save as much $ on their water bill as possible. The SILVER program includes: annual start-up, winterization, & 2 maintenance checks during the season to make necessary adjustments and/or repairs. Our GOLD program includes all of the above, plus an in-depth system calibration. This calibration is guaranteed to save you $ on your water bill. Call us for more details or to sign up. Irrigation System Installation Remind us to give you a FREE start up and shut down when your family member or friend has a new Aspen system installed.

Landscape Maintenance: 

 

Remember these following tips and your annual container gardens will love you!

1. Similar needs- Remember to plant flowers & plants that have the same needs. Your pots will have great success with similar light and watering necessities. Do not mix plants that love water with drought tolerant succulents.

2. Container Requirements- The bigger the pot, the better. The more room you give your plantings the better they will grow, bloom and perform. The best part is the less you will have to water! The plantings will be able to retain the water longer when they are able to store more in the soil. Use fiberglass or resin pots to obtain the larger pot size without the heavy weight. Remember to put gravel or rock in the bottom of the pot to avoid blowing over and to ensure proper drainage.

3. Drainage Holes- Make sure to purchase containers with holes at the base for good drainage. If you find a great pot without a hole, you can always drill a hole. Make sure the planting gets enough water and can drain properly in order for it to not to start getting mildew. Empty out all standing water in saucers to avoid mosquitoes and overwatering of plants.

We've got some great ideas for container gardening if you're interested.  Please call the office for a consultation or if you simply want help creating your own.

Did you know?: 

Bugs are our specialty outside and INSIDE!  Don't be fooled by those who say that the long, cold winter will reduce bug infestations this spring/summer.  Actually, the amount of snow cover we had all winter may cause just the opposite.  Snow acts a blanket over the top of the soil, keeping temperatures at a much higher level then the temps. above ground.  I measured a soil temp of 31 degrees on a -4 degree day in January.  That is a 27 degree differance.  Please call us if you're having trouble keeping the bugs out of your home and SAVE UP TO 50% OFF OF WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR PEST CONTROL!

Aspen Pest Management also offers termite control options.  Please call us if you have any questions about our pest management options.