Forsythia starting to bloom - this is an indicator of how the season is progressing. Probably we are about 7-10 days behind normal: not that we seem to get a normal season very often. Last year the season was about two weeks ahead of normal.

Chinch bug damage -eight months later

This lawn was damaged by chinch bugs last summer. Now the lawn has died on over 80% of its area.

We recommend that the lawn be aerated and overseeded. This will allow the lawn to fill back in about six weeks.

First dandelions of 2013 starting to bloom. On the north side of an east-west street., so this lawn get the full southern exposure of the sun

The season of the yellow invaders awaits the #lawncare times

Garlic mustard- tried a potful. Not a plat pot full but a kitchen pot full. A frying pan full actually. Ate some last spring an they tasted like rapini. This year they were very bitter. So will try again when they have grown a little more- more like the stage they were last year. Maybe the young leaves, while tender areole bitter than the bigger leaves. Did manage to get rid of a few plants but it looked like there ere hundreds of new seedlings coming up.

Daffodils are a yellow flowered bloom that #lawncare folks don't mind. Great perennial bloomer, great for naturalizing, easy to care for. You just have to plan ahead as they are purchased and planted on the autumn

Dusting of winter this morning with a hint of a Bluebird

Chiondoxa flowering perennial bulbs that sometimes escapes into lawn. Fortunately it's foliage is grass like and the foliage soon dies down and disappears. So if you find this in your lawn, just enjoy the blooms. At least the flowers are not yellow.

Crocus Bee on a warm spring day. Looking at a lawn where there was as beautiful display of crocus blossoms. An added bonus was a few bees gathering nectar.

Is that a dandelion flower bud?

This dandelion is growing in the veggie garden so it is likely ahead of the dandelions in the lawn. The garden is mostly bare soil so it is likely to warm up quicker than the lawn.

How long before that bud rises up and blooms?

Finally the weather has warmed up enough so that the grass has finally started to green up. Here is a patch of turf that has been waiting for spring to arrive. Just like the rest of us - waiting for the opportunity to kick back and stretch out on the lawn. Or to tiptoe through the grass in our bare feet.

Forsythia branches brought inside 6 days ago. Last year they were almost ready to bloom outdoors

Freezing rain today is creating some icy beauty on trees and shrubs. So far the roads here in Hamilton are just wet. Lawns and walks are okay too

Grub More Questions than Answers

How well do Nematodes work?

 

We were at a Turf Seminar earlier this year Sponsored by Landscape Ontario. Pam from the Guelph Turfgrass Institute and OMAFRA presented her research findings on nematodes. Under her laboratory conditions she was getting 50-60% control of the grubs. (Okay it is an outdoor laboratory, but the conditions are somewhat controlled and everything is done according to specifications.)

 

So under real life conditions, we are are going to be lucky to get 50% control. 

 

And we have found that nematodes take 4 weeks or more to kill the grubs. 

Unfortunately, sometimes the skunks and raccoons will dig up a lawn even if the midnight buffet is not a plentiful as it was before.

 

 

 

If we remove soil, will we be getting rid of some grub eggs?

There is not benefit in terms of grubs to removing soil. Grub eggs are laid in the lawn in June-July. Any that did not hatch last year are no longer viable. When the adults lay eggs this summer there is no way of knowing which spots they will decide to lay their eggs.

 

On the other hand, if the lawn is too high and needs to be re-leveled, or lowered or even raised up with more soil, this may be an opportune time to re-grade the level of the lawn.