July-2009

Turf:

What happened to all the rain? The dog days of summer are here! Well, we knew it was coming, didn't we? If you
haven't noticed, the heat & drought over the last couple weeks has begun to take its toll on the lush lawns we enjoyed
for much of May & June. Believe it or not, the recent wet spring has actually accelerated the effects of drought stress
During periods of frequent moisture, plant roots begin to creep closer to the soil to retrieve necessary moisture rather
than finding it deep. Therefore, when moisture is sparse near the soil level, the plant begins to shut down & go dormant. The best way to counteract this process is to irrigate properly during hot, dry periods. Watering deeper, & less frequently will train roots to dive deep rather than shallow for their needed moisture. Please see our homepage & blog for recommended watering techniques.

We are currently applying round 5 applications. This month we're targeting primarily nutsedge & broadleaf weeds. We'll
also be closely inspecting the lawn for drought, grassy weeds, disease, & insects. If your turf manager notices any of
these problems during his visit, he'll alert you immediately. Please be sure to keep your eyes open for the following
types of problems this month:
FUNGAL DISEASES including brown patch, dollar spot, summer patch, smut, & rust are all fungal diseases affecting
fescue & bluegrass lawns. We're seeing an inordinate amount of Summer patch on Bluegrass and Brown patch on Fescue as of July 2nd. Please be aware these diseases are often be confused with drought stress, and it's important you're familiar with the warning signs.. If you have any questions, please contact the office immediately.
INSECT DAMAGE most common in this area include: White grub & sod webworm damage.
DROUGHT STRESS damage is the most common & damaging occurence during July. As temperatures begin to
approach 100 degrees +, it's imperative that you're practicing proper watering techniques.

--+ Warning signs, pictures, & descriptions can be found by going to the Links page of our website and clicking on the
K-State horticulture site icon.

Design & Build:

"Let's make a deal!" Summer is here & we're offering can't miss specials on landscaping projects
during the month of July. Outdoor kitchens, patios, walls, are perfect July projects. Plant installation is
still an option, although irrigation is highly recommended to keep new plants moist until a healthy root system has had time to establish. Drainage solutions should be performed now while the soil is dry and easier to work;
get your drainage problems fixed now before the rains return this Fall. 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 guests this summer
Bed mulching is complete for the season; If you would still like to dress your landscape up a bit for summer, we can
certainly entertain that request. Spring shrub trimming is almost complete for the season. If you would still like to
have your shrubs trimmed, please call us to immediately schedule an appointment before it gets too hot.

HOT SUMMER SPECIALS!

FREE Winterizer with new enrollment to Annual Turf Program
50% Quarterly Pest Control Program
FREE start up & shut down when your friend or family installs an irrigation system
FREE Aspen Rain Gauge with full service estimate
$200.00 OFF your next project (minimum $2000.00)

Mowing:

Help your lawn beat the heat! Mowing height should remain high this month. Recommended mowing heights are
3.5"-4.0". Mowing high during drought like conditions reduces the stress on the plant during stressed conditions.
Cutting 1-2" off the plant during high heat is the equivalent of shaving your head & standing in the full sun all day...it
burns!
Traffic is also a problem during heat stressed periods; changing directions when you mow will prevent the plant from laying over in the same direction, thus limiting damage to the plant.
Be very careful when trimming or weedeating. Concrete edges & along foundations are going to be especially hotter
than other areas, thus burning much easier when scalped. If you would like information on our "custom mowing,"
please contact the office.

Arborist's Corner:

***See our blog entry on 7/2 for the PROPER way to plant your new tree!

And the pests of the month are: Bagworms and Spider mites! Spider Mites & Bagworms are a major problem on ornamental trees & shrubs alike during midwest summers.

Burning Bush and Dwf. Alberta Spruce are the most susceptible host plants for Spider mites. Mite damage during favorable conditions can be very destructive and and fatal if left un-treated. Hot, drought like conditions favor these
insects as stressed plants put up little resistance towards invasion. Treatment is difficult due to the rapid rate in which the mites reproduce. Another element making treatment difficult is the limited availability of products that kill both the eggs and adults. Additionally, mites are difficult to diagnose because of their microscopic size. The best way to determine an infestation is by shaking the plant foliage onto a white peice of paper. If you notice small flecks of brown that resemble pepper, treatment is recommended.

Bagworms pose an even larger threat to plantings during summer months because of the time in which an infestation call kill a tree. Often times a severe infestation can be kill a tree within days. Host plants are typically Juniper, and Arborvitae. However, it is not uncommon for these insects to attack spruces, birches, and other trees. Unlike spider mites,
control is easily achieved if treatment is timed while the bag is still very small and the worms are still feeding readily on the
plant. Once the bag has expanded and feeding has slowed, treatment is nearly impossible.

Round 4 tree & shrub applications have begun. This application will continue to target problem insects on ornamentals.
Our main focus during this round will be Spider mite and bagworm control.

Irrigation:

Gotta love the midwest? Rain soaked spring & a sultry, dry summer...well at least we've got variety?

Please make sure that proper watering techniques are being used right now. 2-3 days of watering is NOT ENOUGH!
Watering properly today will save you money later during lawn renovation season in the fall. Recommended run times
this time of year for Turf areas are:

Rotors- 4-5 days per week; 30-35 minutes per zone
Pop up's- 4-5 days per week; 10-12 minutes per zone

Note: Please make sure concrete edges are getting good coverage, these are the first areas to dry out in the heat.
Recommended times for your Bedding areas are:

Sprays- 3 days per week @ 7-10 minutes per zone
If you would like us to set your clock for the summer or make seasonal adjustments, feel free to call us to set up an
appointment.

Have you heard?

Our Irrigation maintenance programs are our worry-free options perfect for the homeowner who doesn't have time to worry with watering their lawn. We call these programs "insurance for your sprinkler system". You pay a one-time yearly rate for the program, and the only costs you incur are for parts used on any needed repairs made during regularly scheduled visits. 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:

Need our help in the garden?

We would just like to remind our customers on the maintenance program that if they have any extra jobs they would
like the the team to do during our regular visits, please call the office with your wishlist. We are more than happy to remove
extra debris for you or even pick up small outdoor tasks that you haven't found time to accomplish. The team's focus
this month will be bed weeding, deadheading, & pruning. We will be adding miracid to hydrangeas, azaleas &
rhododendrons. If we tend to your vegetable gardens, we are using a new organic plant food for vegetables from the
producers of Miracle-Gro.

Proven Winners has released a new exciting variety of a plant we have all grown to love....the butterfly bush. However
this time 'Blue Chip' offers even more perks than the parent plant. It possesses all the great qualities of a hardy
perennial that we look for here in Kansas: continuously blooming, drought tolerant, deer resistant, fragrant and
tidy/attractive habit.

'Blue Chip' miniature butterfly bush is great for perennial gardens, containers and mass plantings. 'Blue Chip' is purple
to blue in color and is fully of fragrant flowers. It would make a great, colorful fill to empty tree rings around the
property. It's non-invasive and does not aquire the messy, untamed look you make associate with the regular butterfly
bush varieties. 'Blue Chip' maintains this look without needing pruning or deadheading! They're working on coming out
with a variety of colors in the future, check out the progress at www.provenwinners.co

Did you know?:

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Your friends at Aspen wish you a safe & happy Independence day. Have a great time celebrating our freedom!

If you're interested in signing up for our email list or have any questions you can call the office Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, or simply just send an email to office@aspenlawn.com.

Did you know? you can enroll in our automatic payment system and not worry about the hassle of paying bills? You are now able to register your credit card with us and have an automatic debit at the beginning of each month’s balance. You will still receive a paper copy to be able to review your charges each month & keep for your records. Please call the office for more details.