Spring Weed and Feed Turf Application

Get your lawn started off on the right foot and prevent summer weeds from establishing with a well-timed spring weed and feed. 

The Weed

Most summer annual weeds, especially crabgrass, can be prevented from ever surfacing with this application.   In a spring weed and feed, a slow release pre-emergent herbicide is applied with the fertilizer in a granular form.  This creates a barrier of herbicide on the surface of the soil profile within your lawn.  As a weed seed germinates and starts to sprout towards the surface, it will come into contact with the barrier of herbicide and die.  This is far and away the most effective method for controlling crabgrass weeds in your lawn because post emergence control needs to take place in a short time window when the plant is not yet fully mature.  Post emergence applications can also be injurious and can discolor the desirable turf.  Timing is crucial when applying a spring pre-emergence treatment.  Applications should take place when the soil temperature is 50 to 55 degrees.  A good indicator of this is the Forsythia bloom.  We as landscape professionals often use yellow flowers to perfectly time our pre-emergence applications in all different parts of our service area.

The Feed

The second part of our favorite spring lawn application is the fertilization.  Fertilizing in the spring provides a number of healthy benefits to turf.  A spring fertilization will give a quick “green up” that will have you yard looking great.  Fertilizing in the spring will also strengthen our lawn’s root system to choke out any weeds and quickly recover from high traffic and drought.  Cedar Springs takes a professional approach to fertilizing.  After taking a soil sample and analyzing the deficiencies and imbalances in the soil, we can create a custom fertilization plan unique to your lawn for optimum results.  This also prevents over fertilizing which can be costly, damaging to the turf, and harmful to the environment. 

Post written by:

Daniel Carl

Landscape Contracting & Design

Cedar Springs Landscape Nursery

Cell: (484) 880-5059

Office: (610) 932-8827

Ice Storm Damage and How to Strengthen Your Trees

  

How to Strengthen Your Trees      

During this last winter ice storm we just experienced in Chester County, many large and small trees were inflicted with severe damage and breakage from the weight of heavy coatings of ice.  The question now becomes, can I save my trees that have suffered this ice damage?   

There are two general rules that arborists use to determine if a tree can be saved.  One is how much of the tree’s canopy was broken off?  Typically, a tree can survive losing about 25% of its canopy at one time.  If your tree has lost more than this, the tree will most likely not survive and should be removed.  The second rule is if any branches larger than 50% of the trunk’s diameter have broken off, the tree will not survive and should be removed. 

            This type of tree damage caused by ice storms, and periods of heavy wind and rain can be prevented.  The easiest way to strengthen the architecture of your tree is annual pruning by a trained arborist or horticulturalist.  By regularly pruning a tree, one can essentially “train” a tree to grow in a way that will encourage strong branch unions and prevent breakage from happening.  In the case of old large trees, cables can be installed to instantly add strength and hold large branches together.  This should only be done by a certified arborist.

Dan Carl is a senior at Penn State, College of Agricultural Sciences, Landscape Contracting major.

Importance of Fall Clean up

Red sunset red maple and patio installed 2000

Fall is a great time to spruce up your yard. 

Putting a little work into your landscape now will pay off next growing season.

• Take advantage of the wet weather and cooler temperatures by planting trees, shrubs and bulbs.
• Rake up the leaves, if not, they will harbor detrimental insects and kill the grass leaving dead patches in the spring.
• Fertilize your lawn with a slow release fertilizer and put down grub control.
• Remove thatch and aerate your turf.  This will allow air, water and nutrients to get down to the roots.
• Trees and shrubs planted in the past 2 years should be thoroughly watered by the end of November.  This will help them get through the long winter.

Our knowledgeable friendly staff can complete your landscape fall clean up within a day or two.
Call Dave now to schedule  (610) 932-8827.

Keep Your Trees out of the Woodshed

The Woodshed at Cedar Springs

Early spring is a great time to evaluate tree health before leaves break out.  The structure of the trees are easily visible and dormant.

We will check for crossing branches and broken limbs that make trees susceptible for disease, decay and pests.

Girdling roots are deadly, especially for maples.

Contact Dave with a Penn State degree in ornamental horticulture for a consultation 610-932-8827.

Tree Planting Guide - Conserving Energy

     One of your biggest opportunities to conserve energy is right outside your living room window. 

     By working with a horticulturalist to select and plant trees around your home, you can stop chilling winds in winter, create cooling shade in summer and reduce your energy use year round.

    Winter wind breaks:  For energy efficiency in winter, plant rows of shrubs and evergreens on the north and west sides of your home.  Pine, spruce and cypress make good wind break trees.  Yews and hollies are useful for screening and hedges.

     Summer shade:  Proper shading can help you reduce your summer cooling costs.  Well selected and placed deciduous trees can provide summer shade and allow incoming solar heat in winter.  To shade your home on summer mornings, plant trees like oaks or zelkova on the east and southeast side.  If your house get a lot of hot afternoon sun, plant maples on the southwest side.  Don't forget to shade your air conditioner unit.

     Year Round Comfort:  Low trees and shrubs planted close to your home reduce wind currents and creates a dead air space that helps reduce heat loss in the winter and buffers your home from summer hot weather.

     Call Dave, a Penn State graduate in Ornamental Horticulture to discuss how we can help you cut energy costs with trees.  We work with many local quality nurseries and they can still dig trees to suit your requests.

                  Cedar Springs Landscape Nursery, Inc.  (610) 932-8827   
 

 

Fall is the best time to plant trees

     During the cooler weather, trees are dormant, less active and handling them now will be less disruptive.  While dormant, the tree will focus on growing a stronger root system.

    We will be planting trees until the ground freezes.  Call Dave now to get on the list, large selection of quality trees from local nurseries available.

     Now is a good time to give your new plantings a thorough watering before winter.