What are these tan areas in my lawn?  

Are you seeing tan areas in your fescue lawn this winter? If so, you have begun to witness dormant Bermudagrass. Bermudagrass is a warm-season grass that goes dormant (turns tan) over the winter months. While Fescue grass is typically green year-round but may be discolored or yellow in harsh, wet winter months. When winter temperatures consistently fall below 50 degrees, fescue will go dormant because weather conditions aren’t ideal for development and growth. 

What is this vine-like, spreading grass in my lawn? 

Common Bermudagrass, also known as wiregrass, is a warm-season perennial turfgrass. It spreads laterally through stems called rhizomes and stolons. It has excellent heat and drought tolerance but cannot handle shade. It can be a very invasive and difficult grass to control. 

Bermudagrass Expectations During the Spring Months 

Each spring, Bermudagrass comes out of dormancy at different times. Some years Bermudagrass will start turning green in March, and other times as late as the start of May. Once the Bermudagrass comes out of dormancy, it will not grow like it does after a good July thunderstorm in the Williamsburg area.  Air temperatures in Williamsburg in late May average highs of 83 degrees and lows of 63 degrees. In our experience, Bermudagrass does not really start to grow to its full potential until after Memorial weekend.

What is Crabgrass? 

Crabgrass is a summer annual weed occurring in lawns during spring through summer months in many areas. Crabgrass is a very easy summer annual to control in many Virginia areas. With preparation and pre-emergence, you can easily handle crabgrass. 

Do I need to water my grass in the fall?  

Fall is here and many of our customers have the same question. Is it ok to stop watering? NO! Now is the prime growing season for your fescue lawn. 

Your grass is working hard to repair itself from the stress and heat of the summer and to prepare itself for the winter to come. Fertility and water are essential to this process. We at Virginia Green have your fertility covered, but watering your grass is up to you and mother nature. 

When Do I Prune Spring Shrubs? 

Why Prune? 

Pruning is the selective removal of specific plant parts for the benefit of the whole plant. Some reasons to prune are to train a plant, maintain plant health, improve the quality of flowers, fruits, and stems, restrict growth, remove damaged and diseased branches, and to increase air circulation that can decrease specific plant diseases 

What are Common Tree & Shrub Issues in the Summer? 

In Virginia, we often notice several common issues involving your plant material during the summer. In most cases, these issues are already present but become more prevalent during the summer due to heat stress. In the image below, you’ll see lace bug damage on the underside of plant leaf. Lace bugs are very small insects, measuring only about 1/8 inch long, however they can cause considerable damage to the foliage of ornamental shrubs and trees.

When Should I Prune Trees and Shrubs?

While you can generally prune dead, diseased, or damaged branches year-round, it’s important to prune at timely intervals to create healthy blooms in Trees and Shrubs.   Pruning cuts should be made with a sharp pruning tool that’s appropriate for the job and should be limited to no more than roughly 25% of the tree canopy. 

Proper pruning paired with Virginia Green’s Premium Tree and Shrub Program will help to provide you with healthy plants in your yard and keep them looking good year round. 

How Can I Identify Scale on Plants and What to Do About Them? 

It can be tricky to identify scale as the cause of your plant’s deterioration because there is generally no movement throughout a scale insect’s life cycle. If you suspect scale, the best thing to look for is unusual bumpy growth on the stems and undersides of the leaves. Brown shell-like scale can indicate an infestation. You might also see evidence of a sticky substance called honeydew or sooty mold. Ants might also appear on these plants as they are attracted to the honeydew.