Did anyone see this on the maple trees?

Tar spot on the maple trees was very common this season with the early summer-like weather in early spring. The development of disease pathogens started much earlier than normal and were allowed to thrive in the warmer temperatures with adequate moisture in late spring. This created a large population growth for all disease-causing spores including several different fungi in the genus
Rhytisma, which infect maple leaves causing tar spot. The summer drought conditions delayed further development until August when rains returned to the area. Although it is a non-serious plant disease, tar spot can become an unsightly problem for homeowners if the symptoms arent identified and treated early. One way to combat tar spot is by collecting, mulching and removing the leaves in fall. The fungi spores can survive over winter on previous years leaves and then easily spread to the new leaves from the spring winds.
At Lawn Doctor we combat these plant health problems every day. Call us for a plan to keep your trees and shrubs growing along a healthier path today.

Free quotes Click here sign in and request a estimate.

Comments

The Importance of Early Spring Pre-Emergent Weed Control

The Key to a Weed-Free Lawn: Early Spring Pre-Emergent Weed Control As the first signs of spring begin to appear, homeowners across the country start dreaming of lush, green lawns. However, achieving that picture-perfect yard requires more than just hope and sunshine. At Lawn Doctor, we know that the secret to a beautiful lawn lies in proactive care, and one of the most crucial steps is early spring pre-emergent weed control. Let's explore why this treatment is so important and how it sets the stage for a successful lawn care season. What is Pre-Emergent Weed Control? Pre-emergent weed control is a preventative measure that targets weed seeds before they have a chance to germinate and grow. Unlike post-emergent treatments that kill existing weeds, pre-emergent herbicides create a barrier in the soil that stops weed seeds from developing into mature plants. The Importance of Timing When it comes to pre-emergent weed control, timing is everything. Early spring application is crucial ...

Benefits of Rhizome grasses

Bluegrass and Turf-type Tall Fescue Bluegrass and Turf-type tall fescue grass seed blends are both cool season grasses that can thrive in our cool humid growing zone. One reason they are so popular in the green industry is because they produce rhizomes as part of their reproductive process. What does this mean? It means the plant sends out new shoots below ground to repair itself and reproduce across open areas in the lawn. The picture above is a patch of lawn that died in the early heat and drought this summer. As the cooler temperatures of August and September arrived, along with some much-needed rainfall, the surviving bluegrass plants began their process of reproducing. The result is a fuller appearance of turf that will eventually fill in completely without any over-seeding. This unique characteristic of these grass types is why experienced turfgrass professionals have preferred them for high-maintenance lawns. Many lawn...

Heat tracking in lawns

We have recently noticed a few instances of a somewhat rare phenomenon in the lawn care industry that we would like to point out in an effort to better communicate to both our customers and those interested in lawn care. Along with the previously posted summer stress issues for the lawn in this blog, we wanted to bring up a more recent issue which is very rare but is currently a potential for lawns across the Antioch, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Gurnee, Lake Forest and Waukegan area. This recent phenomenon is referred to by some in the industry as heat tracking. Heat tracking occurs when pressure is applied to the lawn from foot traffic, lawn mowers, fertilizer spreaders or anything else that can compress the leaf tissue down to the ground below. When this pressure is applied at the exact time frame (usually early afternoon at the peak heat of the day) that the turf is at its wilting point or entering dormancy stage it breaks the leaf tissue at the base o...

Search This Blog