It's hard to believe we will start applying fertilizer in just two short months (winter where are you?!), but here we are on the cusp of Spring and grass waits for no one to grow! While we love the change of pace snow removal brings, nothing can quite top the excitement of seeing those first peaks of vibrant green grass blades pop up. Unfortunately, lush lawns full of green grass also means weeds and pests, which we are much less excited for.
Early preparation is key for a successful fertilization season. 2021 fertilization and weed control contracts have gone out to our current customers along with our newsletter. Read on to see what services we have to offer for the 2021 season. Be sure to email us at office@clarkscuttingedge.com to get a free estimate and be on our list for 2021!
We are now offering Pre-Emergent Crabgrass Control as an add-on service! Crabgrass is a common, invasive weed found in Midwest lawns. It is best controlled with a pre-emergent herbicide applied in the early Spring. This service was previously only offered with our Gold and higher packages, so we are very excited to now offer it as an add-on!
Did you know that CCE offers insecticide and miticide application services to combat common backyard pests such as bagworms, Japanese beetles, emerald ash borer, and spider mites? A simple treatment can save you hundreds of dollars down the road in replacing and removing dead plants! We are also licensed in fungicide application and offer a variety of treatment plans for plants and trees most prone to disease. Be sure to check out our previous blog posts and our page on insecticide for more information on bagworms and Japanese beetles.
All our applicators hold their Registered Technician license with the OISC and participate in annual continuing education training. Owners, Ron & Braden Clark, have their Category 3a, 3b, and 6 licenses as well. CCE is also a member of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) and Indiana Nursery and Landscaping Association (INLA). We work closely with the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry to ensure we are providing the best service to our customers.
Temperature, wind, and rain play a key role in the success of lawncare applications. While weather delays may change our day to day schedule, we always complete your service in the recommended application time to ensure the best results. We also monitors growing degree days (GDD) to accurately time our applications.
We offer five standard fertilization and weed control packages: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Elite. In addition to these packages, we also offer four add-on services. If you don't see what you are looking for, we can create a customized package to fit your lawns specific needs.
Interested in a service? Contact us today for a free quote at (219) 261-2861 or office@clarkscuttingedge.com. We'd love to help you achieve your lawncare goals in 2021!
Bagworms are an invasive insect found in both rural and urban areas. A type of caterpillar that turns into a moth after the chrysalis stage, they live inside a spindle shaped bag made of silken threads and foliage. These protective bags blend in so well they look like part of the tree, which is why these invasive insects typically go unnoticed. Bagworms prefer evergreen trees and shrubs such as juniper, arborvitae, spruce, pine, and cedar, but will also attack deciduous trees. On evergreens, they eat away the buds and foliage causing branch tips to turn brown and die.
Bagworms hatch in early June from winterized eggs found in old bags. As soon as the young worms appear, they start to spin a new silk bag and prepare to mature. They secure these bags to branches as they transition into the adult stage. Although you may not notice the actual caterpillar, their camouflaged cocoons are easily identifiable upon inspection. Bagworms lay their eggs inside their bags where they remain throughout the winter. Did you know one single bag can hold up to 1,000 eggs?
Bagworms are most active in July and August, which is when they cause the most damage. Bagworms partially crawl out of their bags to eat, causing significant damage to trees and shrubs. Once done, they retreat safely bag inside their bag. In fact, once inside their bag they are almost impossible to pull out. This is why early intervention is critical to saving your evergreen!
Bagworms mature in late August through early September. Once their bags reach 2+ inches long they usually cannot be killed by insecticide. The best way to control this invasive species is by spraying the foliage with insecticide after eggs have hatched and small bags are seen on the trees, typically mid-June to late July. Bagworms must consume the treated foliage for 1-2 days in order to consume a lethal dose of the insecticide. In order to determine if additional treatment is needed, inspect the infested plant approximately two weeks after the application for look live bagworms.
For more information or help treating your property for Japanese Beetles, call us today at (219) 261-2861 or email us at office@clarkscuttingedge.com.
Purdue University Extension and Entomology is also another great resource! Landscape & Ornamentals: Bagworms
Japanese beetles are an invasive insect found in both rural and urban areas throughout Indiana and the Midwest. They feed on over 400 different species of plants and are most damaging to lawns, trees, flowers, fruits, and gardens in the modern landscape.
Grubs lay eggs in lawns and turf during the summer and feed on soil, thatch, and grass roots. The grubs remain during the winter, complete growth in the Spring, and emerge mid-summer around June. Any landscape can also attract adult beetles without the presence of grubs due to their ability to fly long distances. Adult beetles can also fly up to 2 miles to feed on plants and lay eggs.
Adult beetles are most active mid-June through August. This is when you will see injury to foliage and flowers on plants. Grubs can significantly damage lawns and turf during their feeding season as well.
Japanese beetles are approximately ½ inch long and are metallic green and bronze in color with a row of white hairy tufts along each side of the body. Their grubs have a soft light-colored c-shaped body with a light brown head. Japanese beetles feed on the tissue of leaves, leaving behind skeleton like leaves with the veins still intact. They also completely devour the buds, flowers, and fruits of plants. Brown, dying patches in your lawn that can be rolled back or lifted like carpet is a sure sign of grub damage.
There are several strategies for treating these pesky invaders! For grubs, you can apply a preventative (May-July), early curative (July-August), or late curative (August-November). Timing for treating grubs is key. If you treat when the grubs are too small or too big, it will not be effective. The history of grub presence and density of grubs will help determine the best approach.
During the adult flight period, ornamental plants should be treated with an insecticide before damage is intolerable, but beetles are abundant. Typically, two treatments are best during peak season, June through September. Trap bags are actually counter intuitive to your goal of ridding your landscaping of Japanese Beetles as they actually attract beetles from neighboring properties.
For more information or help treating your property for Japanese Beetles, call us today at (219) 261-2861 or email us at office@clarkscuttingedge.com.
Purdue University Extension and Entomology is also another great resource! Japanese Beetles in the Urban Landscape