This is the season when your yard is at its greenest and most flourishing. Taking careful steps now for the treatment and protection against weeds and pests for your landscaping in Denver will ensure that your lawn looks lush throughout the rest of summer. The scorching heat of July makes some treatments, such as fertilization, unavailable, so it’s best to act in the next two or three weeks.
Broadleaf Control
Different in appearance and biology than normal turf grasses, broadleaf weeds are easy to identify and control without causing damage to surrounding vegetation. After your spring pre-emergent application of broadleaf weed control, to prevent seed germination, it’s time for the first of three rounds of balanced fertilization applications. Also, post-emergent spot spray treatment of lawn weeds that had already sprouted will continue.
Japanese Beetles
Keep an eye out for grub activity in your lawn at this time of year, particularly Japanese beetles. They are an invasive species with no effective natural enemies and voracious appetites for hundreds of different plant species. Metallic green with copper-colored wings, these insects emerge from the ground and begin feeding on surrounding plant life in late June or early July. Before that time, females will burrow several inches into the ground after mating to lay their eggs. They are attracted to damp, grassy areas with loose soil, so irrigated turf lawns are in danger of infestation. The grubs spend ten months developing and feed on the roots of turf grass, which causes the grass to lose its ability to absorb water. The result in the summer months is unsightly dead patches of lawn. These beetles can be controlled by properly-timed soil applications by lawncare professionals during the grub stage; the earlier any damage is noticed, the faster their destruction can be prevented.
Ascochyta Leaf Blight
Another potential lawn problem during this season is a plant disease called ascochyta leaf blight. It causes large swaths of turf to brown and die, and may appear as drought-stricken conditions at first. Ascochyta infests lawns quickly, however, and causes damage faster than drought. Grass that has been wet and then subjected to extreme heat is most at risk of infection, especially after a yard mowing. There are no necessary disease treatments for ascochyta; the best course of action is to over-fertilize the lawn, encouraging the turf to outgrow the blight, and to avoid mowing during wet weather to prevent its spread. Your expert local landscapers can help you select and apportion the correct type and amount of fertilizer for your turfgrass.
Necrotic Ring Spot
A fungal disease that targets the roots of turf grass, necrotic ring spot thrives all across the country and is easily confused with other patch diseases. Circular areas of dead grass can begin to appear two to three years after a lawn is put in, though the symptoms intensify in the hottest months of the year, July and August. NRS can be eradicated with professional fungicide application and by taking good care of your turf by using properly prepared soil, overseeding infected patches, and not over watering.
American Arbor Care is your total Denver lawn care and fertilization specialists, offering all the services you need to protect and maintain the health and beauty of your landscape. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about your lawn! Please call us at 303-639-8584.