April Showers?

What the heck happened to the saying "April showers bring May flowers?" Apparently this year the rain happened in February, the flowers in March, and now we are facing a summer drought in April! In fact, February 29 was the last time we had a good soaking rain that totaled 1.44 inches. Since then we have only had two moderate rains.

So are we really in a drought? Actually, while we have had significanlty less precipitation this year, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor much of Maryland, Northern Virginia and Southeast Virginia are “Abnormally Dry.” So while we are dry we are not YET in a drought.

What does this mean for your lawn? Well, hopefully you all have irrigation systems that you were able to turn on early. For those of you that don't have an irrigation system, here are some watering tips to make sure your lawn is receiving enough water:

• Lawn needs about one inch of water per week (including precipitation).  Use a can or rain gauge to determine the amount of water applied by sprinkler system and rainfall.
• Apply water only when needed.  Too much water can cause diseases.
• One simple test to determine if lawn needs water is  to walk on the lawn. If you leave footprints, it is time to water.
• A good soaking once  or  twice a week is better than watering every day.  Allowing the soil to dry between watering will allow the roots to grow to greater depths and help make turf more drought tolerant.
• Water in the early morning (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.). 
• Do not water during midday hours when it is hot and sunny to avoid scalding the turf.
• Do not water at night because the lawn stays wet for a long period which can promote diseases.
• If you have a sprinkler system, set the system to turn on for three 10 minute sessions with each session 1/2 hour apart to improve water infiltration and reduce runoff.

In addition, you will want to make sure your plants are receiving enough water. Ths dry weather comes at a time when your plants are using more energy than any other time of year. Flowering and opening new leaves takes a lot out of your plants, especially those plants that are under a year old.  Soil around the edge of root balls should be moist 3-4 inches deep.  You can check this with your finger.  If soil is moist, hold off on watering.  If soil is dry, water thoroughly. Infrequent deep watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering.  With larger trees and shrubs you should check every 2-3 days.  With smaller shrubs and perennials, which are grown in lighter soil mixtures with a lower water holding capacity, check the moisture content every 1-2 days.

Mild Winter + Early Spring = Early Tick Season

Deer Tick

I am not one to complain about May temperatures in March. I love the warm weather, the smell of flowers in the air, the return of kids playing outside, the green grass and colorful landscapes (and its not bad for business either). But this warm weather comes at a price. It also means the early appearance of pesky gnats, mosquitoes, and most alarmingly... TICKS! With a house bordering woods, two dogs, a toddler who loves to play outside, a baby on the way, and a husband who continues to deal with residual effects of Lyme Disease 6 years after treatments, to say I loathe ticks is an understatement. In fact, I self admittedly suffer from acaraphobia - the fear of ticks.

So what is an acaraphobe like myself to do in what is predicted to be the worst tick season to date? The first thing I did was have our lawn care crew apply Allectus to our lawn and landscape, especially along the areas bordering the woods. Allectus is an EPA approved insecticide that is used to treat pests below soil surfaces, such as grubs, and above ground, such as ticks and mites. For those of you that don't own a landscape company or have a VA Chemical Applicator's License, lucky for you Kane Landscapes can help.

Now I feel better about letting my dogs and toddler roam freely in our yard. But the acaraphobe in me still takes other precautions as recommended by the Virginia Department of Health:

Avoid tick infested areas such as tall grass and dense vegetation

Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against weeds and tall grass

Keep grass and underbrush cut and thinned

Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be found easily

Tuck pant legs into socks so ticks stay on the outside of pants

Conduct tick checks on children and pets every 4 hours

Keep pets outside from April to September to help keep ticks out of the house

Use tick repellents that contain at least 30% DEET

Ask your veterinarian to recommend tick controls for your pets

Treat your lawn with an approved pesticide for tick control

Treat clothes with permanone (be sure to follow all label precautions)

The majority of ticks in our area are American Dog Ticks or Lone Star Ticks, which do not carry Lyme Disease but may carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, so it is important to be able to identify types of ticks in case you, your family, or your pet is bitten.

PLANET Day of Service

April is National Lawn Care Month, and the month in which National Arbor Day and Earth Day occur. April is also the time of year when many people start thinking about getting outside again. It is important for all of us to take the time to think about the positive impact of the green environment - the aesthetic as well as the environmental and economic impact.

This month, Kane Landscapes, will take part in a nationwide volunteer event, the PLANET Day of Service, which will be held on April 20. This Day of Service was created by the lawn care and landscape industry to draw attention to the importance of green spaces and so that its members could organize volunteer projects in their hometowns and also be part of an event with nationwide impact.

Kane Landscapes will be volunteering at Main Street Child Development Center in Fairfax, VA. Main Street provides child care services for ages 2 to 5 to low income, working families in Fairfax County. Kane Landscapes will send volunteers to Main Street to restore a memorial garden planted in memory of a former student that passed away. The garden will include several edible plants including tomatoes, lettuce, peas, squash, watermellon, and sunflowers. In addition, Kane’s volunteers will teach the children how to plant and care for tomato seeds in a pot which they will bring home to their families.

It is our hope, that we will not only beautify an important part of the landscape, but also instill the love of nature in these young students. It is important that everyone  find ways to enhance the green spaces around us and to consider our personal responsibility to the communities we live in.

Crabgrass Already?

The unusually warm winter had its perks, but it will likely cause one problem in lawns across the area; namely, CRABGRASS. Usually, we do not see the first seeds of crabgrass germinate until late March or early April when soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees. However, our managers have already spotted crabgrass in lawns of homeowners that have requested estimates from us.

So what is crabgrass? This weed gets its name because it grows from a central root low across the ground, resembling a crab. It is a warm season annual weed that reproduces quickly in hot, dry conditions. Unfortunately, even a cold winter cannot kill this weed. Before the actual weed dies in the fall it distributes thousands of seeds which germinate in the spring. That is why it is so important to maintain a healthy lawn and have a prevention plan.

Prevention and Maintenance

·         Set a higher mowing height. This allows the grasses to shade and prevent the germination of crabgrass seeds.

·         Water lawns deeply and less frequently to strengthen grass and discourage weeds. Water the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches. This usually requires the equivalent of 1/2-1 inch of rainfall.

·         Have a lawn care program that includes at least two applications of pre-emergent in the spring to kill crabgrass seedlings as they germinate (Note: If you choose spread seed in your lawn during the spring you cannot use pre-emergent as it will kill the seed. Instead use Tupersan which will not damage grass seed).

·         Fertilize your grass with slow releasing fertilizers and, better yet, compro. Remember, maintaining a healthy lawn is the best way to prevent all types of weeds.

Kane Landscapes’ 6-step lawn care program includes the pre-emergent applications, fertilizer, and spot treatments necessary to supress weeds and maintain a healthy lawn. Please contact us if you would like us to design a lawn care program to keep your lawn healthy all year long.

Habitat for Humanity Masquerade Ball

On March 3, 2012 Loudoun Habitat for Humanity previewed Mardi Gras locally with a gala fundraising event to support its ongoing efforts to continue to build more homes for those in need within the county. The event was a combination masquerade ball and silent auction held at the River Creek Country Club located in Leesburg.

Kane Landscapes has contributed to Loudoun Habitat for Humanity over the past five years and showed continued support at the masquerade ball with a $1,000 donation.  "There is an increasing need for affordable housing options within the county, and we want to do our part to address this important community issue" stated Josh Kane, President of Kane Landscapes.

The event was a huge success with an evening full of dinner, dancing, games, and fun. To see a list of other contributors to the event or to find out how you can help, visit Loudoun Habitat's website at http://www.loudounhabitat.org/

Mulch Volcanoes

Spring is the air and so is the smell of newly laid mulch.  In many yards and landscape beds you will see mulch that was haphazardly piled into mounds around tree trunks, creating what many call “mulch volcanoes.”  Many people, and companies, feel the more mulch the better and as a result, they are harming and in some cases, slowly killing these trees.

It is important to note that mulch has its values, including its ability to retain soil moisture during times of drought, moderate temperature in during extreme temperatures associated with winter and summer, and suppress weeds. However, the value is lost when the mulch is misapplied, or over-applied as is the case with “mulch volcanoes.”  Mounding mulch against tree trunks causes existing surface roots to suffocate and new roots to grow into the mulch instead of the soil, which leaves them at risk of drying and dying once the mulch decays. In addition, mulch volcanoes soften the bark of young trees, and invite insects, rodents, and disease to invade the tree.

Kane Landscapes’ crews are trained to properly apply the correct amount of mulch so that it is beneficial to your trees and plants.  If you are interested in our Fall Mulching service to keep your plants and trees safe this winter, please contact us for an estimate.

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce

Kane Landscapes is proud to announce its membership with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1968, the Loudoun County Chamber has grown to become the largest Chamber of Commerce in Northern Virginia. Our more than 1,200 members form the premier network of businesses and community leaders in the nation’s most economically vibrant and fastest growing counties. Northern Virginia’s finest businesses are Loudoun County Chamber members because they need the finest networking, marketing, information and leadership opportunities in this very competitive market.

As members of the Chamber, we come in contact with the best businesses and contractors in the area, meaning we can provide our customers with dependable referrals. Whether you are looking for an accountant, plumber, electrician, mortgage lender, insurance agent, etc.. we can steer you in the right direction.