Never Complain About the Rain*
Looking back on the newsletters from both 2014 and 2015, we seem to be in a pattern of starting May with lows In the forties and lots of rain. The forecast for Tuesday morning will be mid forties and may even dip into the upper thirties outside of the city heat island! May is historically our rainiest month so nothing unusual about that, but due to the El Nino effect our wet spring began in March and really ramped up in April. The cool nights have kept weeds growing fast and lawns somewhat slow, but that should all change soon and grass will start to dominate.
Leave sprinklers off until rains disappear for a week or more, but keep an eye on any new plants. As you well know, we can jump into 90 degree afternoons without warning and that can wilt newly planted flowers in just a day or so. But right now the dominant issues are drainage and fungal problems. Wet springs cause numerous problems, including TARR (Take All Root Rot) and brown patch in St. Augustine. Leaf spot on hawthorns and photinias is showing up too. Issues like these have to be addressed periodically, but again, we should be happy and take the rain over drought conditions anytime.* unless you live in Spain and it is mainly on the plain, or just like me you are mildly insane
Rainy Days and Seasonal Color
The pattern of heavy rains every week throughout the last few weeks has meant that most of our properties have had to be mowed while they were wet. This is certainly not our preference, but the reality is that if we skip a wet property this week and it is raining again the following week, and then the following week… well, you can see where this is going. We try to avoid mowing the properties or areas of properties that have the worst drainage, we send crews out late and work 14 hour days to make up, but there will always be the potential for your property to be missed or mowed while it is wetter than either of us would prefer.Annual flowers are going in the ground just as fast as we can get to them, and all properties should be finished in the next 3 weeks. We love planting this time of year because we are almost always assured a few good rains to water our flowers in, and nothing is better than natural rainwater. However, the cool rainy weather also affects what and when we can plant. Zinnias, pentas, and periwinkles are some of our most requested plants, but cool wet weather is instant death for periwinkles and sometimes zinnias. And although the pentas we have planted so far are nice and healthy, they need more sun to start blooming. So please don’t be impatient if these are the plants destined for your property. There is still plenty of time to get them started.
What Can We Help You With?
A reminder to both our new clients and long-time clients as well.Prime is a full service landscape company, offering all types of outdoor services. Along with typical maintenance chores like mowing, shrub and tree trimming, fertilizing, and weed control, we can help you with many other professional services.- Landscape Design and Installation
- Landscape Architect
- Outdoor LED Lighting
- Christmas Lighting
- Outdoor Pest Control
- Deep Root Feeding
- Aeration
- Swimming Pool Design and Construction
- Sprinkler System Design, Installation, and Repair
- Drainage Systems
- Stone Masonry and Concrete Work
- Koi Ponds and Waterfalls
- Pondless Water Features and Fountains
- Trash and Debris Haul Off
- Pressure Washing
May is for Maintenance
The key word for May is maintenance! This is probably the hardest time of the year to try and keep up with everything. With the heavy rains and warmer temperatures all our plants will be growing fast. That means weeds in the beds seem to be in a race to see who can reach the roof first. Shrubs too are flushing out and put on some of their heaviest growth of the year during the next 2 months. Our lawns should now be mowed weekly for the rest of the growing season. Remember, mowing too infrequently stresses the grass and can contribute to disease and weed problems.
Scale on crape myrtles has been an increasing problem now for about 6 years and is causing severe stress for these beloved plants. We can apply a systemic in the spring. Do not delay if you see an infestation as a systemic takes several weeks to work.
Entomosporium leaf spot is rampant right now affecting hawthorns, cleyera, and a variety of shrubs. Two applications of a fungicide should provide good control. Not treating may result in defoliation and death.
Fire ants will be popping up everywhere after big rains. It’s not too late to apply the product that controls for a full season, or you can periodically apply baits and mound treatments. Baits are still one of the most effective controls but do not give results overnight. A slow steady reduction of ant populations is the goal.
Mosquito Season is Here
Wet conditions are going to make mosquitoes a major problem this spring. Cities are already starting control efforts and you should too. The street-side applications made by most cities do not extend much past your fence or hedges so you receive little benefit in your back yard where you spend most of your time. Follow the guidelines of eliminating stagnant standing water, put mosquito dunks in rain barrels and drain basins, and wear insect repellent during peak hours if you are going to be outside. We cannot eliminate all mosquitoes from your yard, but we can reduce the populations in your immediate area. We use a fogging system to treat shady spots and shrubs where mosquitoes hide during daylight hours with an insecticide that has a 3 to 4 week residual. This means that a monthly application during mosquito season will help you to enjoy your yard again. Zika and West Nile are real concerns. Shouldn’t you be doing everything you can to protect yourself and your family? Prices start at just $95 for a residence depending on the amount of landscaping that needs to be covered. We can also treat your drain boxes for just $25 each. Call to get on our next round of applications!
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