Bessette Lawn & Landscaping, LLC

11/21/2014

Another windy day but the crew is hard at it!!!

11/13/2014

When the leaves won't goto the truck then the truck must goto the leaves..

10/07/2014

Some awesome smashing.

09/29/2014

Frost is coming. Look for it in about two to three weeks. Maps and more here.
http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-connecticut-first-frost-date-map.php

Interactive Map of Connecticut First Frost Dates

09/15/2014

September does not mean it's time to 'sleep' on your lawn. It's round two for fertilization.
A healthy, dense turf is less susceptible to lawn problems like w**d invasions or fungal diseases.
In New England, fertilize your grass once in May and again in September, according to the University of Connecticut. Due to regional weather, the university says that New England lawns shouldn't be fertilized before April or after October.

It's gorgeous out. Get out and take care of business.

08/26/2014

Q: What do I use to kill the w**ds in my lawn without stressing the grass? What fertilizer should I use and how often?

A: There are several products that will kill w**ds without stressing the lawn. You should call your local lawn care provider and ask for their recommendation. If possible, tell them exactly what kind of w**ds you have in your lawn. There are w**d killers used on walks, patios, driveways, and bed areas that will kill grass as well, so make sure they understand what you are trying to do. When treating w**ds in a lawn I like to spot spray. This allows me to only treat the areas that need it, using the least amount of herbicide. On large areas you will probably need to use a granular herbicide peat with a spreader. Be careful to follow all directions on the bag. To stop the lawn from stressing out, make sure it is well watered before any herbicide application. Here in New England I fertilize four times a year: April/May, mid-June, early September, and early November. In the April and November applications, I use a high-phosphorous fertilizer. (The phosphorous content is indicated by the middle number in the formula). This may be labeled as a starter or fall fertilizer. In June and September, I use a fertilizer higher in nitrogen (indicated by the first number in the formula), because nitrogen promotes top growth.

08/24/2014

Lawns

Established lawns - reduce the frequency of mowing now and towards the end of the month. Scarify (rake out the old dead grass and moss) by hand (hard work!) or with a machine, spike to improve drainage again either by hand with a garden fork or with a machine, add a top dressing of soil/sand/compost mixed according to your soil type (ask for advice at your local garden centre if you are unsure) and feed with autumn lawn feed. This low-nitrogen feed strengthens grass in preparation for winter; do not use spring lawn feed as this encourages grass to grow and it may not survive the cold. After all this your lawn will look dreadful, but fear not, it will benefit enormously from the regime. Repair bumps, hollows, bald patches and broken edges too.
New lawns - now is the time to start making a new lawn. Good preparation is vital whether you are laying turf or sowing seed: remove w**ds and stones, dig over thoroughly, adding organic matter and fertiliser, rake smooth, firm by walking up and down and rake again at right angles, repeating the raking and firming process until the area is flat and the surface is a fine crumb texture. Sow seed according to the packet instructions and lay turf in a brick pattern so no joints are in line. Water well and keep off for 4 to 5 weeks.

We offer a wide range of plants online and in our garden centres, as well as garden furniture, flowers and much more.

08/13/2014

Fire pit inspiration.
http://www.houzz.com/backyard-fire-pit-ideas

http://www.houzz.com/backyard-fire-pit-ideas

08/13/2014

Patio inspiration.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/patio

Search for patio designs and find patio furniture, grills, outdoor decor, fire pits and fireplaces for your remodel.

07/28/2014

Lawn Grubs – How To Get Rid Of Grub Worms - lawn grubs

Lawn grubs live in the soil eating grass roots and leaving your yard brown and unattractive. Not only can these pests damage the lawn, but their presence also invites unwelcome wildlife that feed on lawn grubs – digging up patches of grass in search for them. The majority of grub worms come from Japanese beetles, which lay their eggs in midsummer in sunny areas of the lawn. Taking care of this problem is simply a matter of how to detect grub worms and when to apply grub worm treatment.

How to Detect Grub Worms

Knowing how to detect grub worms is key to treating them. Visible lawn grub damage can be seen from late summer to early fall. Look for irregular brown patches of lawn that peel away easily from the soil, like carpet. To determine the extent of infestation or which areas require treatment, dig up small sections of lawn. Typically, more than five grub worms per ¼ square foot warrants treatment and lawn grub control.

When to Apply Grub Worm Treatment

Once lawn grubs have been detected and treatment is necessary, you need to know when to apply grub worm treatment. The best time for treating grub worms is in late summer or early fall while the grub worms are still small and close to the surface.

Grub worms are less susceptible to treatment in the spring, as they are too large and no longer feeding. For this reason, insecticides are less effective. Spring rains can also make this difficult, as applications may be washed away.

When choosing insecticides for lawn grubs, it’s important to consider the various types. For fall treatment, Dylox is the most effective and fast acting available. However, two products worth consideration for use early in the season, Merit and Mach-2, can be helpful for prevention. These target the pests before they lay their eggs, killing them and any hatchlings before infestation occurs. Always read and follow instructions carefully when using these types of products.

07/17/2014

28 new ideas to share,

http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/garden-tours/landscaping-ideas -1

Update your backyard design with shrubbery, gardens, walkways, and more.

07/07/2014

Couple tips for Monday... Provided by Bessette Lawn and Landscaping

Hand raking.
Hand raking can be done whenever there are clippings in your lawn that are just too long. When you do this, there are actually lots of benefits you can derive from it. Hand raking can give you the exercise that you need. Aside from that, the clippings can be added on to your compost to convert them into something more useful.

Visit your friends lawn.
Visiting a friend who has a very beautiful lawn can offer you a lot of benefits. When you check out his lawn, it would inspire you more in taking care of yours. Aside from that, when you talk about lawn care, he may be able to help you out by giving you more tips about it.

Reseeding.
Once the grass in your lawn has grown, you may be able to see bald spots in it. Aside from that, there may also be parts of your lawn where the grass is thin. To make sure that the lawn would look perfect, you can always reseed in those spots. Practice proper reseeding procedure, so that you can expect its growth to be perfect.

Spot treating the w**ds.

When you see w**ds, you may be tempted to make use of herbicide for them. However, since herbicides can also affect the grass and the soil negatively, its usage should be kept to a minimum. To do that, you can actually make use of vinegar to spot treat the w**ds. When you do this, there is no need to make use of herbicide, in making your lawn w**d free.

Buying the nutrients your soil needs.

When it comes to buying the nutrients for the needs of your soil, such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur, you can always visit any garden shop for it. However, prior to purchasing these nutrients, you should know what your soil needs first. To achieve that, you can always get your soil tested by a professional or do it yourself.

Check out beautiful lawns online.
There are lots of pictures of beautiful lawns that you can see through the internet. Viewing these pictures can actually inspire you to work harder for your lawn to become more attractive and beautiful. Check out the pictures soon, so that you would have the motivation to improve the condition of your lawn.

Ask how to apply the fertilizer.
When you purchase a bag of fertilizer from the shop, make sure to ask the attendant about how to apply it. Let him demonstrate it for you if it is possible, so that you can really see how it should be applied. It is best if you know how to apply the fertilizer, so that your investment would be worth it.

Do not burn your lawn with your fertilizer.
There are certain types of fertilizers that contain too much nitrogen. These types of fertilizers can burn your lawn due to excessive nitrogen, which is why it is best to avoid them. Choose a fertilizer that has time released nitrogen, which is water soluble, so that the roots of your grass can only absorb the amount of nitrogen that it needs.

Make use of your lawn.
It is best to make use of your lawn once you are able to make it grow and develop. There are lots of things that you can do on your lawn. You can use it for playing for your kids, having a picnic, or having a barbeque with. Whatever it is that you like to do, you should make use of your lawn since you have worked hard for it.