Lawn Care Blog

Our lawn technicians attended the Maryland Turf Grass Council Conference in early January.  Held at the University of Maryland in College Park, the conference is a fundraiser for turf grass research at the University.  Hillside Lawn Service attendees experienced a variety of seminars and trade show booths showcasing the latest lawn and turf technologies.  

The general session opened with a discussion of the 2011 Fertilizer Act, moderated by Dr. Gary Felton of the University’s Department of Environmental Science and Technology.  Our professional lawn care specialists attended Lawn Care and Lawn Turf Sessions that highlighted nitrogen fertility, organic weed control, green lawn projects, water conservation with irrigation, and white grub behavior and disease management, among other topics.  Ornamental Care presentations educated our staff on healthy trees, the Emerald Ash Borer and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and pest control for ornamental trees.  The conference also covered golf course turf and athletic field turf technologies.

"Attending the conference allows us to stay current on industry trends and improvements and stay compliant with the MDA. The end result is a better product for everyone involved. Simply put: It's better for business, it's better for the customer and it's better for the environment," says Rob Rosolowski, one of our lawn and tree specialists.

You can be sure that all of our technicians will apply their newly acquired knowledge to the customers of our Harford County lawn service, giving them the latest in ornamental and professional lawn care in Maryland.  

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No, we’re not trying to manage only green pests – we’re trying to be green while managing all pests!

Low-toxin products are easy to use, better for the environment and another way for homeowners to “go green.” We recommend using safer chemicals that both rid your yard of pests and are harmless for humans and animals. Other tips to look for in going green with pest control are:

• Look for widely researched pesticides like 2, 4-D, which has been subject to over 4300 studies, showing the risk to public health is negligible.
• Use low-toxin traps inside and outside. Or, use natural ingredients. A quick search of the internet will give you some effective remedies that use every day household, non-toxic items. 
• Use plant-based oils on trees and shrubbery. We talked about this last month – now is the time to apply these oils to protect trees for the winter.
• Natural dusts made from ground-up plants or natural minerals are also effective. But they must be used in dry conditions, for obvious reasons.

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Cottony maple scale can be unsightly and a general nuisance in the landscape.  It can also damage the plants, so HillSide recommends treating with dormant oil or the appropriate insecticide for good control.

Oftentimes, as in this picture, it can be hard to find because it occurs in the middle of the plant, on the stems.  That's why if you see this insect activity you should call a HillSide Lawn Service professional for a free tree/shrub analysis of your entire landscape.

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We are starting to see a lot of insects residing in the turf.  This early feeder is out and munching on the turf as we speak.  This sod webworm is capable of damaging the turf by feeding on the sheath of the grass blades.

The cure is simple:  apply surface feeding insect control to stop them before they wreak havoc on your lawn.  Call HillSide today for a price to have your lawn inspected and treated.

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Scale insect are unusual growths that appear on the branches of woody ornamentals. There are different types in our area. This one is called Armored Scale and is seen on the branches of an ornamental tree here.

Other types of scale found in our area are: Woolly Aphids, Mealybugs, Soft scales, and Cottony cushion scales.  All of these scales respond to insecticide applications.  Sometimes they take repeat applications to be managed properly. Call Hillside Lawn Service for a free Tree/Shrub analysis today if you think you have scale insects feeding on your plants.

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