Natures Choice Lawn Care

07/07/2022

For many of our customers we incorporate Organic lawn products into our applications during the hot summer month’s to avoid getting summer burn created by applying to much Nitrogen during those hot days. Your yard will thank you later!

05/05/2022

CT Confirms First Powassan Virus Case Of 2022
Powassan virus infections are spread by ticks and are relatively rare, but they cause severe illness or death in some instances.

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Rich Scinto,
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Posted Wed, May 4, 2022 at 12:54 pm ET
Updated Wed, May 4, 2022 at 1:35 pm ET
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Connecticut confirmed the first Powassan virus case of 2022. It is rare, but can be fatal in some instances.
Connecticut confirmed the first Powassan virus case of 2022. It is rare, but can be fatal in some instances. (Shutterstock)
CONNECTICUT — A Connecticut resident is recovering after being infected with the rare and sometimes fatal Powassan virus. It's the state's first confirmed infection in 2022.

The man is in his 50s and lives in Windham. He had a known tick bite and became ill in late March, officials said. He was hospitalized with a central nervous system disease and is now recovering at home.

"The identification of a Connecticut resident with Powassan virus associated illness emphasizes the need to take actions to prevent tick bites from now through the late fall," said DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani. "Using insect repellent, avoiding areas where ticks are likely, and checking carefully for ticks after being outside can reduce the chance of you or your children being infected with this virus."

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There were 12 confirmed Powassan viral infections between 2017 and 2021 in Connecticut. Of those, two were fatal.

The virus is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged or deer tick, Juthani said. It takes a week to a month after the bite to develop symptoms of the disease. The virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes by an infected tick bite.

04/16/2022

Spring is the Time to Think About Summer Patch
April 15, 2022
There is a good reason summer patch is called summer patch - the symptoms appear in the summer! However, Magnaporthe poae, the fungus that causes summer patch, is most active in spring when soil temperatures reach 65ºF. This is why the best time to apply fungicides for summer patch management is when soil temperatures reach approximately 65ºF for 3 consecutive days. The aim is to prevent the root damage that will result in symptom appearance later in the season.

How do you know when the soil temperature reaches 65ºF? One way is to buy a probe thermometer and insert it into the soil in the early afternoon at a depth of about 3-4 inches. Leave the probe in the soil for at least 5 minutes before reading the temperature. Another way is to follow UMass Extension’s Landscape Message: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/landscape-message
Fungicide applications for summer patch are only necessary on turf that has a history of the disease. Drenches should be applied in enough water to carry the fungicide down into the turf root zone.
Most cases of summer patch on lawns can be alleviated without the use of fungicides. Fungicide applications in summer, after symptoms of summer patch have appeared, are generally ineffective on lawns. This is because high temperatures impede root and shoot growth, resulting in slow turf recovery. There are, however, several cultural management techniques that can be used to mitigate damage:
Promote root development and reduce stress on the turf in any way possible.
Avoid low mowing heights, especially during periods of heat stress.
Avoid excessive nitrogen applications in spring. In summer, light application of nitrogen may help mask symptoms once they have developed.
Maintain adequate fertility as determined by soil tests. Use acidifying fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate. Wash ammonium sulfate off leaves in warm temperatures to prevent foliar burn. Avoid the use of nitrate fertilizers which can intensify symptoms.
Maintain soil pH between 5.5-6.0 (in situations where summer patch management is a priority)
Annually, apply manganese sulfate at a rate of 2 lb/acre in the spring.
The disease is most damaging in warm, saturated soil. Aerify to relieve compaction, improve soil drainage, and improve oxygen pe*******on into the soil. Water deeply and infrequently.
Reseed affected areas with resistant cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass. For best results, use mixtures or blends of resistant grasses.

The Landscape Message is an educational newsletter and update intended to inform and guide horticultural professionals in the management of our collective landscape. Scouts compile and record environmental and phenological data for locations throughout Massachusetts to aid in the monitoring of plant...

03/28/2022

Checkout website: natureschoicelawn.com

03/25/2022

We offer environmentally responsible and organic fertilization and enrichment services. Our natural products are high quality and safe to use around children, pets and water sources.

09/10/2021

https://www.landscapemanagement.net/fall-armyworms-destroying-lawns-from-illinois-to-connecticut/?fbclid=IwAR23UbAaw4UKiYIO5Dh6LLBUbO9urxlZCjTj8ZVdUL9rJGRZGqVpMT-pyx8

Fall armyworms are hitting areas of the Midwest and Northeast not used to seeing the turf-killing caterpillar more associated in the South.

07/26/2021

Did you know liming is one of the BEST things you can do for your lawn, let us tell you why!

Lime raises your soil pH and is extremely important for growing healthy turf. Lime helps to improve lawn color and density, helps to control thatch, and increases root development.

So give your lawn a summer treat and sign up for your summer lime application!

07/22/2021

How to Water Your Lawn

Water is an essential component of all plant life, but especially important to growing a healthy, green lawn. No lawn is the same, so it’s important to water your lawn on a consistent schedule that is tailored according to your specific climate, soil condition, and grass type. This will provide your lawn with the necessary hydration it needs to grow strong and healthy all year long.

How Often Should I Water My Lawn?
In order to have a green lawn you can be proud of, keep your lawn on a proper watering schedule. Less frequent, longer soakings will allow the water to pe*****te into the soil, resulting in deeper roots and healthier grass. Watering your lawn three times a week and 15 – 20 minutes per zone during the growing season (March-October) should be sufficient for most cool-season lawns.

Newly seeded lawns should be watered more frequently, with light soakings two to three times a day to encourage germination. This is best done in the early morning, late morning, and early afternoon. Care must be taken to keep the soil moist for the first few weeks after planting seed. If the seedlings dry out, they will likely not germinate and grow.