Greetings!   

What a gorgeous spring!  The flowering trees and shrubs were beautiful this year!

We've noticed a couple of things - dandelions are extraordinarily prolific this year and there is a lot of Poa annua, or annual bluegrass in our lawns. Both of these pesky weeds are difficult to eradicate. Below, you can find out more about the Poa annua. And there are only a few options for dandelions - keep spraying them with weed killer, don't spray them and brew them as tea or put the greens in your salad, or pretend you like the pretty yellow flowers!  We spray them along with our fertilization programs, of course!

Call today to get on the schedule for spring pruning.  As soon as your shrubs have finished flowering, we are able to prune and shape them. Pruning helps them stay healthy and keeps them the correct size for your planting beds. Once they get too overgrown, when they are pruned, they look like a bunch of sticks and they have to be replaced.

To make your appointment for your Spring Sprinkler Turn-on, please call the office and leave a message on the Sprinkler Hotline, x5.  We will return your call as soon as possible to schedule a convenient time for us to stop by.

And, don't forget to stop by and take a look at our Auto Center!

Regards,

Steve

Dandelions!

  Dent de Lion Facts - 

·         The name "Dandelion" comes from the French "dent de lion," meaning the tooth of the lion. 

·         Like the coconut tree, every single part of the dandelion plant is useful. The roots, leaves, flowers, and stem can be used either for medicinal or culinary purposes.

·         Dandelion is grown as a crop in Belgium.

·         Dandelions are sensitive to light. The flowers close at night and remain closed on a very cloudy day. 

·         Dandelions are smart. Their response to frequent mowing is to grow flowers on shorter stalks.

·         Vineland, New Jersey, has the distinction of being named the "Dandelion Capital of the World.

·         It is against the law to cultivate dandelions within the city limits of Pueblo, Colorado.

Dandelion Tea -

6 dandelion leaves - (Please note - If you have ever used herbicides or fertilizers on your property, please do not consume the dandelions.) 

Tear leaves into strips first and remove the center vein. Place on the bottom of the cup. Pour boiling fresh water over the dandelion leaves. Let stand for 5-10 minutes. Strain before drinking. For a sweeter tasting tea, add one teaspoon of honey. Enjoy!

Price matters to you and quality matters to us.

Choose Steve's for the best of both!

Annual Bluegrass

    Poa annua - Poa annua is a winter annual that is considered 

undesirable because it is a lighter green color than Kentucky Bluegrass. Poa annua germinates in the late summer/early fall once soil temperatures fall below 70º F.

Seedlings mature in the fall and produce seed in late spring and early summer. Annual bluegrass is a prolific seed producer and the seed may lie dormant in the soil for many years before germinating. Poa grows well during the short days and cool conditions of early spring, and it will outcompete other turf species during late fall and early spring. Poa often dies in the heat of the summer.

The best methods of control are to apply pre-emergent weed control fertilizer in early spring to combat the seeds, water deeply yet infrequently, cut the lawn at 3" or above, and aerify as often as possible.

If you choose, you may live with the annual bluegrass until the hot summer sun burns it away, but be ready next spring to have pre-emergent fertilizer applied as early as possible! 

Our fertilization programs will help the desirable grass varieties in your lawn combat weeds, insects and disease.  We have plans that fit all budgets.  Call today to get started! 

Spring Yard Care 

Proper pruning not only makes your shrubs and trees more pleasing to look at, it also helps them resist diseases and insects, and promotes flowering.  Now is the time to prune - call today to get on our schedule!

For more Spring Yard Care tips, visit our website!

Sprinkler Turn-on

The weather experts are predicting that this summer will be hot and dry. Don't wait until your plants are parched before calling to schedule your Spring Turn-on Service.

In addition to turning the water on, our service technician tests your control box, makes certain all the heads work and are spraying water correctly, and that the heads are below the level of the lawn mower.

Please call today, x5 to set up your spring turn on appointment, or visit our webiste.

"Be like a flower and turn your face to the sun."  

                                                             Kahlil Gibran