Question: What can I put on moss to get rid of it? Answer: A Rake! We have been getting a lot of calls about moss this year, with customers wanting to know why they have it and if there is a product that can be applied to get rid of it. Hopefully the information below […]
Read MoreGeorge F., from Ashland asked, “Why are there so many acorns?” We have been bombarded by acorns over the last week. Not just a few, but hundreds and hundreds of nuts. The weather was perfect for oaks were in bloom in 2016. As such, we’ve had an unusually high set for acorns in 2016. The […]
Read MoreDavid M. from Charlottesville asked, “My neighbor said my trees are infested with armor scales. Can you tell me what that is?” Armor scales are one of the many pests that damage our landscapes. They don’t get much notice themselves because they don’t look like normal insects. Most are flat or may look like a […]
Read MoreFreddie F. from Yorktown asked, “Is it too early to expect insects would be on my trees and shrubs?” Why Winter Is a Great Time to Find Lawn Insects Most people don’t worry about lawn insects in the winter. Now is a good time of year to scout your trees and shrubs for insects because […]
Read MoreShould I cut my lawn low before winter? No. Taller mowing heights enables more tillering, resulting in thicker turf. Also, shoot growth is proportional to root growth. The taller the leaf material, the deeper the root. Therefore, you should always mow the lawn at 3.5-4” to allow for a thicker stand of grass and encourage deeper […]
Read MoreWhen is the right time to turn off my irrigation system in Virginia? Yards with an irrigation system should winterize their system toward the end of November. Thanksgiving is a good reminder. Virginia tends to have some mild, dry weather into November, and newly seeded lawns will continue to need irrigation.
Read MoreWhy are my leaves turning black? Leaves turn black due to aphids, or plant lice, which are small, soft-bodied insects. There are hundreds of different species of aphids, some of which attack only one host plant while others attack numerous hosts. Most aphids are about 1/10 inch long (2.54 mm), and though green and black […]
Read MoreWhy do my compacta hollies have dead spots in them? Dead spots on compacta hollies are called Black Root Rot. Black Root Rot manifests as softball to basketball shaped dead or dying areas in the plant. Most compacta hollies like cool, moist, well-draining soils. In the Virginia area those conditions are hard to duplicate and […]
Read MoreQ: “Why am I seeing these little pine cones hanging from my arborvitae?” Cindy, Williamsburg A: Well Cindy, those aren’t pine cones. They are bagworms. The bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, is an interesting pest of ornamental shrubs and trees. The spindle-shaped bag that the larva carries around as it feeds characterizes this insect. The larva constructs […]
Read MoreShould I Turn Off My Irrigation When It Rains? Your lawn requires between one and one and one half inches of rain each week. Use a rain gauge to determine weekly rainfall amount will help you know exactly how much you need to supplement with irrigation. Watering is one of the most important parts of […]
Read More