Common Lawn Pests

Diseases aren’t the only thing that can wreak havoc on your lawn. New York State is home to a range of bugs, animals, and weeds that can pose a serious threat to your lawn’s health. If your lawn is struggling, it might be because of these:

Insects

There are a range of insects that can harm your lawn. These insects are divided into two categories: above and below ground insects. Above ground insects, such as Sod Webworms and Chinch Bugs tend to attack the exposed part of grass, while below ground insects attack the roots. Grubs and other below ground insects can cause a myriad of other problems, as you will see below.

Animals

Animals can also be a large cause of lawn damage. Animals like moles, crows, and skunks tend to burrow or tear up turf grass. The cause of this damaging behavior is the aforementioned grubs and below ground insects that infest lawns. These animals burrow or pick at your lawn trying to find their next meal. To reduce lawn damage, it is best to implement an effective grub management strategy.

Weeds

Weeds can also pose a serious threat to the health of your lawn, as they can crowd out good grass. Perennial weeds, such as dandelion or ground ivy, maintain a root system from which a new top emerges from every year. Annual weeds, like crabgrass, produce seeds that are stored in the soil and sprout in following years. The best way to avoid weed growth is maintaining overall lawn health by feeding your lawn.

If you need treatment for your lawn or an opinion from one of our professionals, we can help! For an estimate, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit our website today!

Hydrangea macrophylla "Nikko Blue"

Hydrangea macrophylla "Nikko Blue", commonly known as the Nikko blue Hydrangea, is a superb deciduous shrub desired for its clusters of showy blue blooms. Depending on the alkalinity of the soil, however, the Nikko Blue's blooms may appear anywhere from blue to pink. The Nikko Blue Hydrangea does best in semi-shaded environments. The shrub is fantastic for use as an accent, border, or specimen plant.

If you want the Nikko Blue Hydrangea included in your landscape installation today, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000 or request an estimate at tedcollinst-l.com

Lawn Disease Alert (July 2019)

With this summer’s uncharacteristic rainfall, lawns across the area have had an especially hard time. One of the biggest problems that lawns are having is an increase in lawn diseases. While a lawn disease may not seem like a big deal, if not treated they can get terribly out of control, decimating your entire lawn. Here are a few lawn diseases that show up in a New York summer to watch out for.

Brown Patch

The Brown Patch disease is caused by the Rhizoctonia solani fungus. The fungus typically does the most damage on bluegrasses, ryegrasses, and tall fescues. The symptoms of the lawn can be different depending on how it is typically cared for, but the disease can be best spotted by some kind of brown lesions on grass. These lesions appear as a large brown patch from a distance away.

Turf Rust

Caused by fungi, Turf Rust is characterized by yellow-shaded lesions that appear on blades of grass. In later stages of the disease, pustules form on the blades which release rust colored spores, which the disease is named after. All types of grass can be affected by turf rust. The fungi usually causes harm to the plant because of environmental stressors.

Dollar Spot

Dollar spot is one of the most destructive turfgrass diseases, affecting a range of grass species. Dollar spot is caused by two different kinds of fungi, forming straw colored spots anywhere from 2 to 6 inches in diameter. The disease typically manifests with high humidity and low soil moisture.

While it is best to take preventative measures to ensure the health of your lawn, if you need treatment for any lawn diseases, we can help! For an estimate, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit our website today!

To read more about lawn diseases, visit the New York State Turfgrass Association or Cornell Extension websites.

Top Plants for Your Indoor Garden

Want to start a garden but don’t have the money or space to plant outside? Houseplants are the perfect alternative! Buying and taking care of houseplants is the perfect way to bring a bit of outside indoors and give your living space a splash of green. While being cheaper and easier to take care of than an outdoor garden, you will also be able to enjoy plants throughout Rochester’s cold winters.

Here are a few of our favorite houseplants to get your indoor garden started!

Aloe

You might know Aloe from curing your sunburns, Aloe is a wonderful addition to any home garden. The succulent grows up to 3 feet high and wide, making it a great mid-sized plant to brighten up your home.

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful, arching cactus usually planted best in a pot. Don’t worry about poking yourself with needles, the Christmas Cactus’s leaves won’t hurt if you touch them. The Cactus is filled with beautiful red blooms around Christmastime, giving your garden a needed pop during the winter. The Cactus is also well known for its ability to propagate by cutting, meaning you can fill your house with Christmas Cacti!

Spider Plant

The Spider Plant is a sprawling green and white leafed plant, most striking in a big pot or in a hanging basket. While it looks great, the Spider Plant is very sensitive to contaminated water, low humidity, dry soil conditions, and over fertilization. If your water is fluoridated, be sure to water your Spider Plant with distilled water or rainwater.

Hibuscus syriacus "Rose of Sharon"

Hibiscus syriacus, or Rose of Sharon, is a Hibiscus plant native to China and India. Growing up to 15 feet tall, the Rose of Sharon is covered with purple and pink flowers. Despite being an exotic plant, the Rose of Sharon thrives in a range of climate zone, including in Rochester’s climate zones. The Rose of Sharon is incredibly easy to grow and will flower year after year with little to no maintenance. The plant is also easily propagated by stem cuttings.

To have the Rose of Sharon included in your landscape installation today, call us or visit our website today for an estimate!

Mosquito Alert (June 2019)

As June comes to a close, mosquito season is here. With this year’s mild winter and wet spring, mosquito populations will be bigger than ever this year.

While mosquitoes are typically just a nuisance, they can pose a severe threat to your and your family’s health. Mosquitoes are an extremely effective transmitter of a range of diseases. While mosquito-transmitted diseases like malaria and the Zika virus are uncommon in the Northeast, West Nile can pose a serious threat. The first case was discovered in New York in 1999, and since has claimed the lives of 39 people.

There is no existing vaccine for the virus. Therefore, the best way to prevent West Nile is take measures to prevent mosquito bites. Take precautions such as using bug repellent and covering your skin as much as possible when going outside. Ted Collins also offers mosquito treatment programs for your yard, sure to eliminate any mosquito problems you may have. Call us today at (585) 381-9000 or visit our website today for an estimate.

 For more information, see the New York State Department of Health’s website.

Planting a Native Garden

When deciding what to plant in your garden, you should consider including native trees and plants in your landscape installation. There are many ways that planting native plants will be beneficial for both you and the environment. Here are a few benefits:

Habitat for Wild Animals

Installing native plants on your property will make it a hub for wild animals. Along with deer, squirrels, and other animals, fostering native plants will draw huge numbers of bird and butterfly species. Because of the introduction of nonnative plants and climate change, the habitats and migration stopping points of birds and butterflies has been severely altered. These native birds and insects simply cannot survive on introduced plants and trees. By planting native plants, your yard will become a safe haven to migratory birds such as hummingbirds and ducks, as well as Monarch and Painted Lady Butterflies.

Saves Money

While native plants are great for the environment, they are also great for your wallet! Planting native plants helps you to save money in the long run, requiring less maintenance than many other plants. Native plants require less fertilizer and pesticide treatments as well as less watering.  

Here are some of our favorite native plants that you can include in your garden today:

Common Milkweed

Don’t let the name fool you, the Common Milkweed is a great addition to your garden! The Common Milkweed can grow up to 5 feet tall, bearing baseball sized clumps of pink flowers. The Milkweed, along with bearing beautiful flowers, is essential food for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars.

Highbush Blueberry

The Highbush Blueberry is a native blueberry bush found across New York State. Along with bearing clusters of blueberries, the bush also has spectacular fall foliage. The bush does best in full sun or light shade.

Sneezeweed

The Sneezeweed is a popular perennial but is naturally found in New York’s meadows and open fields.  The tall yellow flowers are a valuable source of food for the state’s butterfly and pollinating insects. The Sneezeweed enjoys a wonderful long blooming period in the summer.

If interested in a garden made from native plants, give us a call at (585) 381-9000 or visit us at tedcollinst-l.com for an estimate.

Dahlia "Purple Gem" (Purple Gem Dahlia)

The Purple Gem Dahlia is a cactus dahlia, most easily identified by its rich purple cactus shaped blossoms. The Purple Gem grows up to three feet in height, looking best when clustered together. The Purple Gem blooms nonstop throughout the summer, only ceasing to bloom at the first frost. In addition, the Purple Gem is easily cut and transplanted. The Purple Gem is a wonderful pick to keep your garden bright and lively all summer long!

If you want the Purple gem Dahlia in a landscape installation today, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000!

3 Tree Planting Tips

In the Rochester area, we’re approaching the best time of year for planting trees and shrubs. Here are a few tips to make sure your trees flourish!

Pick the Right Trees

Probably the most important step of the tree planting process is picking the right tree! It is necessary to pick trees that will thrive in your USDA climate zone. Here are some of our favorite trees and shrubs to plant this summer:

Juniper

While there are many species of juniper, all of them serve as a great addition to your yard. Junipers are hearty deer resistant plants that can serve as a great screens to place along property lines. You can’t go wrong with a juniper for your yard!

Japanese Maple

The Japanese Maple, best known for its spectacular dark red and purple color, can grow up to 30 feet tall. The tree’s foliage puts on a spectacular show, especially in the fall months.

Green Mountain Boxwood

The Boxwood is another plant that stands up to the test of the elements. The plant performs well in both sunlight and partial shade, will survive in a drought, and is deer resistant. The Green Mountain Boxwood is wonderful for an accent plant to your garden.

Call Before Digging

Because of the depth required to plant trees, it is important to check your property for any existing utility pipes or lines. Striking utility lines can knock out service to entire areas, make you liable for huge service fees, and may even cause significant bodily injury. Before starting any project make sure to call 811 to have your utility lines marked for free. Avoid planting your tree in any area near utility lines.

Protect Your Tree

Once your tree is planted, it is extremely important that you protect it. When mowing, be sure to steer clear from the tree. It may be beneficial to construct a buffer area to make it easier to avoid. In addition, you may want to purchase a plastic tube wrap to protect the tree’s stem.

If you would like us to assist you with planting or selecting your tree, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000.

How to Make a Hummingbird Sanctuary

One of the best parts of summer is the possibility of seeing a hummingbird flying around your garden. However, because of climate change, hummingbirds may become a rarer sight. The changing environment has altered what plants grow on migration routes, eliminating food resources. Help keep hummingbirds thriving by making your own hummingbird sanctuary! Here are a couple of tips for how to attract hummingbirds to your garden.

Select the Right Plants

One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds is to plant the right plants in your garden. There are several things to keep in mind when selecting plants that will attract hummingbirds. First, hummingbirds are especially attracted to the color red, so be sure to include red tubular flowers in your garden. Also, hummingbirds are especially attracted to native plants, such as honeysuckle and bee balm. These plants produce more nectar than exotics. In addition, make sure to plant several different kinds of flowers with different blooming periods to attract hummingbirds throughout the year.

In addition to flowers, hummingbirds also love deciduous trees and shrubs close to nectar sources. These plants give hummingbirds cover and a place to nest.

Put Up Feeders

While hummingbirds love nectar rich tubular flowers, they also love hummingbird feeders. You can buy these feeders at your local hardware or garden store. It is best to fill your feeder with your own mix of one part sugar and four parts water. Be sure not to include any artificial dye or sweeteners. Make sure to hang it in a shady place to avoid fermentation and change the feed regularily.

Include a Water Source

Hummingbirds love to bathe in water and love water drip sources or a misting device. Hummingbirds will flock to your garden to bathe!