Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Lawns at Machu Picchu


This December, we were privileged to be part of a mission trip to Lima, Peru

If you have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:
or call us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)
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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas

To all

www.hamiltonturfking.ca
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Friday, December 17, 2010

Lawns and mothers-in-law

GEORGE WEIGEL By GEORGE WEIGEL
Q: My mother-in-law and I have different theories about lawn care. She is of the generation where you make regular use of commercial pesticides and fertilizers to get the "golf-course" look to a lawn.
I prefer a natural, environmentally safer approach to lawn care. For the past three seasons, I have been using a mulching mower and have not bagged grass in that time. I use all-organic fertilizer. In season, I cut high at 3½ inches, and in the fall, I spread leaves from various trees on the lawn in a light layer and mulch-mow all of them in as well.
My mother-in-law, however, believes that grass and leaf clippings from the mulching mower simply "lay in clumps" on the top of the lawn, preventing water and other lawn nutrients from getting into the soil. She believes the leaves and grass don't disintegrate and create "bumps" in the lawn, from which she believes makes it difficult for her to walk.
Who is right? If I am right, she bakes me three dozen of my favorite cookies. If she's right, I will take her to dinner at a restaurant of her choice.
A: You want me to get in the middle of a mother-in-law dispute? This could be trouble...
I have to go with you on this one, though. Your regimen is solid from beginning to end, and I'll bet your results back that up.
If your grass clips and mulched leaves just sat there, you'd see them. Or at least you'd be able to rake up a clump and take a closer look to see what might be causing any "bumps."
Nature does a quick and effective job of breaking down organic matter -- especially small pieces like grass clips and leaf fragments. These two also add up to the perfect blend of nitrogen and carbon that's ideal for composting.
Come spring, these materials will be composted into excellent nutrients and organic matter that will help lawn growth. Penn State's research found that letting the clips lie like you're doing is the equivalent nutrition to one fertilizer application per year.
Numerous research also has found that grass clips and leaf fragments are not a significant cause of thatch. Thatch is that thick, spongy layer that can build up at the lawn surface and impede rain and nutrient use. The main component of thatch is dead grass roots, which usually happens from excess fertilization, cutting too low and shallow, frequent irrigation.
Healthy lawn soil is teeming with life, and it's those bio-organisms that help break down organic matter. When you kill off that life with regular applications of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, you're slowing a lawn's ability to break down dead organic matter. In other words, those high-input commercial programs are much more likely to contribute to thatch than the system you're using.
As for bumps in the lawn, a variety of other factors are usually behind those. Soil-tunneling bugs called cicada-killers are a big one that I see, but bumps also come from various lawn fungi (especially "puffballs"), tree roots (roots can easily extend out twice as far as the branch canopy), earthworm activity and the dropping of acorns, sweetgum balls and assorted other tree fruits.
If your mother-in-law notices bumps, a good way to solve it is to dig down and see what they're made of. I don't think you're going to find any little clumps of grass and leaves.
Enjoy your cookies... but stay on mother-in-law's good side by taking her out to dinner, too.mowed.leaves.on.lawn.JPGGeorge WeigelMowed leaves like these on the lawn won't lead to bumpiness.
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Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Turf King Difference

It's summer, it's hot, it's humid, it's been dry.
What should your lawn look like?
Do you care how your lawn looks?
If you care, what do you do to help your lawn look green and healthy?
Does your lawn care provider use products to help cope with summer's stresses?
Our high potassium fertilizer is formulated to help your lawn be better able to handle the heat and drought of the summer.
We recommend regular, deep watering. We recommend a mowing height of 3"
Ask us why


Thanks to Larry who sent this photo of his lawn




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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Thanks HamiltonTurfking.ca

A video thank you from Google
Just ten years ago, a small team added the phrase 'See your ad here' alongside our search results. A few minutes later, the first AdWords customer placed an ad for live mail-order lobsters.
Ten years and billions of ads later, we want to mark AdWords' 10th birthday by thanking you for advertising with us. We hope you enjoy this small token of our appreciation, a personalized video just for you:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/adwords10?x=3c6d69eb9e8d40e0872d73bb9451121a


How did they personalize each video?



Notice the www.hamiltonturfking.ca in 3 sections of the video.
It wasn't until the last one that I caught on. Then had to replay the video.


Monday, December 13, 2010

Lawn Care Draw Winners Chosen

Gerry Okimi, of Turf King Hamilton announced that two winners have been selected in the 11th Early Bird Fall Lawn Care Draw. Each fall, 2 winners are selected from those customers who choose Turf King Hamilton as their lawn maintenance program provider for the following season.

Turf King Hamilton would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the winners of this year’ draw. Every year, Turf King Hamilton has been rewarding its invaluable customers by holding an Early Bird Draw for a Free Lawn program.

According to Okimi, “This is just a small endeavour on our part to say ‘Thanks!’ for the priceless trust our customers place in the products and services of our lawn care company. Turf King Hamilton appreciates the opportunity that pre-booking gives us to pre-order supplies and to organize throughout the winter. Fall bookings also lessen the impact of a busy spring booking season.”

Okimi reiterated that “Turf King Hamilton would like to thank everyone who has booked their 2011 lawn package this fall. We are grateful for the confidence that is shown to us, by our many loyal clients. It is through their continued support, and referrals that help us to continue to be a leader in the lawn care industry.”

The lucky winners will receive up to $300.00 towards their 2011 lawn care programs. If they have paid for their programs, the $300.00 will be refunded to them. To be eligible, the lawn programs may be booked in the fall, but can be paid for in the fall, in the spring, or paid on a budget payment plan. To make the process as easy as possible, Turf King Hamilton accepts cheques and major credit cards. Clients can also make payments through their banks internet banking portals.

The winners will be contacted shortly to inform them of their good fortune. Their names will be published in the spring edition of the Turf King Hamilton newsletter TURF NOTES.

Turf King Hamilton has been servicing lawns in the Hamilton area since 1991. Turf King Hamilton, the Lawn Experts since 1962 provides the highest quality products and service in Lawn Care. Turf King Hamilton is a full-service professional Lawn Care provider, servicing residential, commercial and industrial lawns in Hamilton, Grimsby, Beamsville, Burlington, Oakville and Haldimand.

In order to give clients a healthy, green lawn, Turf King Hamilton applies high quality, long-lasting fertilizers to provide needed nutrition to the grass, with minimal impact to the environment.

Gerry Okimi has a degree from the University of Guelph in Environmental Horticulture and has spent all of his working career in various aspects of horticulture. Turf King Hamilton is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LOHTA), and the Professional Lawn Care Association of Ontario (PLCAO). Customer may also earn AIR MILES® reward miles on lawn programs at Turf King Hamilton.

Contact Gerry Okimi
Turf King Hamilton, 95 Hempstead Drive, Hamilton ON L8W 2Y6
Phone: 905-318-6677
www.lawncarehamilton.com
Email hamilton@turfking.ca


Thursday, December 9, 2010

A Dandelion tries to bloom in December

As I was driving today, I noticed a lot of white stuff along the boulevards and lawns along the streets. No, it wasn't snow. Certain weedy lawns along the streets had a lot of dandelions growing in them. Maybe it was the  bright sun on a cold crisp day that made them more noticeable than normal. Of course, once you see a patch or two, you can't help but see a whole lot more wherever you drive.

What are the dandelions intending to do? The flowers, for the most part have bloomed and gone partially to seed. Will these dandelion seed heads still mature and disperse their seeds later? Like, in the spring? or on some warmer sunny day? Or did I just notice them because, they weren't at this stage previously, but add some "fluff" very recently?
 Why did the seed heads form at this time of year?
In this closeup photo, there is one flower head with some yellow showing.

The answer to why - is harder to determine.
The answer to HOW- well call Turf King Hamilton 905-318-6677
We have Fiesta Weed Control applications that can help. Not that it's a miracle cure. But in conjunction with  a program to create a thicker, healthier lawn, weed treatments will go a long ways to giving you the lawn you are looking for. This will take time, but it's worth the time.

The Lawn Care Experts at Turf King will help you.

www.hamiltonturfking.ca
www.lawncarehamilton.com
www.lawncarehaldimand.com
www.lawncaregrimsby.com

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Snow & the Seed Catalog


We're happy to not be in the SNOWMAGEDDON in  London, Ontario which is reeling under a metre of snow that's fallen in the last day or so. While Hamilton and Stoney Creek had just a light dusting of flurries, here in Hagersville, we got about a couple of inches.

What should appear but the William Dam seed catalog. 
Gardening can be a lot of fun, relaxation, - a fine hobby, but it can be a lot of work too.
Maybe we should cut back next year? But when you start looking at all the new varieties...
then well, maybe we could try growing some of those.

Ah the challenges of gardening- they always start with the seed catalog. Spring can't be that far away. . .  .


www.hamiltonturfking.ca
www.lawncarehamilton.com
www.lawncarehaldimand.com
www.lawncaregrimsby.com

Monday, December 6, 2010

Compare Lawn Care Hamilton Programs to Get the Best One for You

Author: Denny Phillips

Everyone wants to have a beautiful green lawn accentuating their house and helping to make it as attractive as possible.  They also want their lawn to be easy to maintain and free of pests and weeds.  With busy schedules, many people like you don't have the time or energy to put into your lawn care program.  That is why hiring one of the many lawn care companies in Hamilton, Ontario might be the answer to your problem.  What you do need to do however, is to compare lawn care services to find the one that suits you best—and the one that offers you the most for your money.

Here are a few things you should look for before you commit to a professional lawn care service:
First of all, you need to decide whether you need a lawn care service to provide spring, summer, fall and/or winter lawn maintenance.  If you do, try to choose a company that will fertilize your lawn in all seasons so that you end up with the greenest and healthiest grass possible.

You also need to decide if you want an organic lawn care service that uses only as much control products as is necessary to keep weeds and pests under control.  Organic lawn care products, geared to different seasons, are your best option for the best lawn and for environmentally friendly purposes.  Of course, you may want to delve into the blend and type of fertilizer that is used on your lawn, but sometimes it is best decided by the professional lawn care company you hire.

The professional lawn care service you decide on should guard against various pests as well.  They should offer protection against chinch bugs and white grubs, while still remaining within the restraints of using as many environmentally friendly products as possible.  A good option for dealing with grubs is the use of Nematode (biological) grub control.  This method uses microscopic worms to kill grubs in your lawn.  Ask if this type of treatment is available in the lawn care program you choose.

Professional lawn care companies should also provide treatments for fungus problems, do professional soil tests, and use soil supplements and additives to give you the best lawn possible.  They should provide core aeration, in which plugs of soil are removed to increase oxygenation to improve your soil structure and allow grass to grow better.  They should also offer weed control protection and management for broadleaf weeds (such as dandelions, plantain, clover and others), creeping charlie (that thrives in moist, shady areas) and crabgrass.

Some lawn maintenance companies go beyond only looking after your lawn.  Some lawn care services will also help with vegetation control for driveways, patios and walkways.  Some will also help control insects in your trees, or provide deep root feeding of your trees and shrubs.  Lawn care companies like these go above and beyond in their lawn care programs, and if you require these services it is good to ask at the onset if the professional lawn care company you decide on provides these options.

While comparing all of the products and lawn care programs offered, you still need to look at costs.  Compare the products and services of one professional lawn care program with another and find out which is most cost effective.  Remember to compare ‘apples with apples' so that you know you are getting the best price for your lawn care service.

If you are looking for lawn care Hamilton companies can certainly offer you what you need.  You only have to be aware of what options the lawn care service you choose offers with respect to your personal wants and needs.  Whether you just want professional lawn care services, creeping charlie control, or organic lawn care products, there are many lawn care companies to choose from, so do your homework, decide which features you need and want, and choose a lawn care Hamilton company that fits your needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/compare-lawn-care-hamilton-programs-to-get-the-best-one-for-you-3775622.html

About the AuthorThis article was prepared on behalf of Turf King Hamilton (http://www.hamiltonturfking.ca) located at 95 Hempstead Dr., Unit 14, Hamilton, Ontario, offering the highest quality and service in lawn care.