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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Your ornamental trees can benefit from nutrients to help them grow, as well as oils to help keep pests at bay. In a previous post we talked about what to do with tree roots underground. Now, come above ground and take charge of the pests before they have a chance to appear.

Dormant oil spray is a highly refined oil that is sprayed on the bark of the tree. It coats the tree and covers the dormant insects that reside there, actually smothering them. Fall is a great time to apply a dormant oil in Harford County, because there will be no damage to new buds on the trees. Never spray a tree that is in full bloom. Apply the dormant oil on a clear day when temperatures will range between 40 and 70 degrees F. for at least 24 hours. In Harford County, the time frame extends until at least mid- to late-October. This will help the oil to spread properly and seep into all areas of the bark.

In addition, dormant oil applications can be done in the spring to be sure any new pests are eliminated. Again, spray before the buds begin to swell to avoid damaging the blooms. Giving your ornamental trees the right attention both above and below the ground in the Fall will make them the healthiest they can be in spring time.  

Homeowners in Harford, Cecil and Baltimore Counties who are interested in professionally applied dormant oils to protect their ornamental trees should contact us very soon. Dormant oil application may also be purchased as part of our regular tree and shrub maintenance service.

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Now that your lawn is ready for fall, turn your attention to your ornamental trees. Get to the root of tree health by focusing on the area that feeds the entire tree. Use root zone fertilization. It will insure that necessary nutrients, microbes and oxygen get to the tree.  

Normally done once or twice a year, root zone fertilization directly targets the root area in a grid pattern, starting at the trunk and extending under the canopy and beyond the drip line. The fertilizer solution is injected under pressure from just below the soil surface to 14-inches deep, and about two to three feet apart. The pressure aerates the soil and provides important oxygen to the root system.

Deep root fertilization provides what roots in Harford County need most: oxygen, nutrients and moisture. If roots are damaged, the frequency of fertilization should increase. Don’t neglect your trees – just because they are dormant doesn’t mean they aren’t in need of nutrients.

Contact us here at Hillside Lawn Service if we can be of assistance in maintaining the health of your ornamental trees.

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