Emerald Ash Borer Alert!

A few weeks ago I called the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to report more ash trees in Vigo County that are infected with Emerald Ash Borer's. We were told that the Emerald Ash Borer infestation in Indiana is so severe that they can no longer manage the database to track it. 

There are 150 million ash trees in Indiana. Without proper identification, care, and maintenance of ash trees, we are facing a very serious problem! 

What is an Emerald Ash Borer?

Emerald Ash Borer's are not native to the United States. This invasive species likely came from Asia through shipping containers and survived for about 10 years before being discovered. As the name suggests, this green insect attacks ash trees. It spreads naturally and through human movement of infested firewood. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) creates D shaped holes in the tree. These holes are random throughout the tree and seem to have no uniform placement. 

Emerald Ash Borer

What does it do?

Simply put, the Emerald Ash Borer destroys ash trees. Burrowing under the bark of an ash tree, it creates tunnels that eventually overtake the trees ability to survive. Over time, the canopy of the tree will start to die back. We use the canopy as a gauge to measure how much damage has been done and how likely we will be able to save the tree. All ash trees are at risk at this time. Because the infestation can only be handled by properly treating the EAB, ash trees MUST be treated in order to survive. It is only a matter of time for an uninfected ash tree to be overcome by the EAB. 

How can this problem be fixed?

Unfortunately, the only way known to address this problem is to treat ash trees. If an ash tree is not infected but is being treated, any EAB that tries to make that tree home will be killed. If a tree is already infected, the treatment will work up through the vascular system of the tree and kill the EAB. 

Why does this matter?

If ash trees are not treated, they will die. If an ash tree dies from EAB damage, it will need to be cut down and disposed of properly. The cost of properly removing an ash tree is far greater than treating! Ash trees are important to our environment in Indiana and around the country. We need to do what we can to protect them from this nasty invasive species. 

We can help!

If you have an ash tree or want us to come identify your tree, give us a call! We will come out and inspect your ash trees for free and give you an estimate of what it would cost to treat them to protect from the Emerald Ash Borer. We have seen several neighborhoods in the Wabash Valley that have a very large EAB infestation. The chances are that if your ash tree is not infested now, it will be soon.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Head over to our website for more information about services we offer.

Turf Treatment: Grubs!

One of the most destructive insects that can infest your lawn is the white grub. If not properly controlled, severe damage can occur in a very short amount of time.

Grub found in garden.

Life Cycle
To understand the grub, we need to understand their life cycle. The grub is the larva stage of several species of beetles, including Japanese beetles. 

Summer- Beetles will feed on common ornamental plants, trees, and grasses. In doing so, they will lay eggs. The eggs protect the new insect from the environment until they hatch. 

Fall- The newly hatched larva begin feeding on the root system of the turf. The damage will cause the turf to quickly deteriorate. The symptoms can include sod that can be easily pulled up, almost like rolling up a rug. Occasionally, animals such as raccoons or skunks will forage the turf for the grubs and cause additional damage. 

Winter- As cold weather takes over, the grubs move to deeper soil and overwinter. This is similar to a hibernation stage for the grub.

Spring- Temperature rises and the grubs begin to move back towards the surface. They undergo several changes from the larva to pupa. In late spring and early summer the adult will finally emerge as a beetle. 

Control Options
As with just about everything, it is always better to be proactive and not reactive! If an insecticide is applied when damage is occurring, it is usually too late. Our grub preventative program utilizes a product with imidacloprid to provide the best results. Because of the life cycle of the grub, the product does not have an impact when the insect is in the egg stage. Once the egg hatches, the grub will ingest the imidaclorprid and die.

An application in spring will ensure that the newly hatched larva in the summer are impacted by the application.  

Common Grub and Japanese Beetle Questions
Treatments-The chemistry behind the products that we use today is different than the products of the past. I have been asked before "Doesn't it take 3 years for the grub control to work?" With applications such as milky spore, it would. However, the application we apply this spring will work this year! 

Moles- Probably 9 out of 10 requests for grub control stems from the thought that it will get rid of moles. We do not sell a grub control with the side effect of treating moles. Grub treatments will get rid of the grubs, but we do not guarantee the elimination of anything else. 

Japanese Beetle Traps- I have been asked about the yellow Japanese beetle traps or bags and if they work. One main problem with these traps is that it attracts beetles to it. When the beetles are attracted, they will lay eggs. This will cause a problem with future grub damage. If you insist on using a Japanese beetle trap, the best place to put it is in your neighbors lawn. Since that likely is not an option, the far back corner of your property away from ornamental plants, trees, and high traffic areas would be better. 

Brown Spots- Far too often we will meet with potential customers and they will tell us that "XYZ Lawn Care" said we needed grub control because we have brown spots. Brown spots do not instantly mean you have grubs. If a company tries to sell you something over the phone by just looking at a satellite image, be very cautious. A brown spot can be a result of hundreds of factors, not just grubs.
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Grubs and other common Indiana insects can cause a lot of destruction to your lawn. Unfortunately, they tend to migrate towards the healthiest lawns to feed on. A well maintained lawn with a strong root system can in turn cause become a smorgasbord for feeding insects. It is important to properly identify what symptoms your lawn has and determine the desired solution with realistic expectations.

We will never sell anything over the phone or just by looking at a picture. The only thing we use satellite images for is to measure a property. Visual inspections are required for us to adequately asses each customers needs and find the best solutions. 

We would love to hear back from you! Leave comments below or write us on our Facebook page. We also have a new website! Be sure follow us on Instagram and Twitter! 

"Why do I have weeds?"

This is Indiana. We all know how the weather is here. We joke about how one day it will be 75 and sunny and that same afternoon it can be snowing. Spring in Indiana is probably one of the most changing times for weather patterns. Why is this important to lawn care and weeds? The reality is that weather plays a huge role in all lawn care programs.

We receive several phone calls every day with the same simple question. 

"Why do I have insert weed name here?"

While this may be a simple question, it is not a simple answer. There are several factors that control how we address weeds. 

Soil Temperature

Herbicides are only effective when soil temperatures are just right. We might have a few nice days of 50-60 degree weather but the soil temperatures may still be well below what is required for the herbicide to be effective. We use charts and scientific trackers to follow when the temperatures are right to begin using the products. We can spray for weeds during our Early Spring application but it would be a waste of product, money, and environmentally irresponsible. 

Timing

The products that we use are of high quality, however, the proper timing and technique of the use of these products determines the results. We cannot guess on when we should make applications. Everything that we do has science behind it. Timing is one of the most important parts of the science. Like with soil temperature, we could apply products when the timing is least optimal but we would see less than satisfying results. 

Plant Type

Weeds are classified into several different categories. Grassy weeds, broad leaf weeds, winter annuals, summer annuals, not all weeds are the same. Each kind of weed also can require a different product to be effective. Some grassy weeds may not be affected by products that kill broad leaf weeds. Proper plant identification is very important in determining the product used. 

Many consumers buy products based on the picture on the bottle. They then apply that product at the first chance they get and disregard most of the printed label. Results are never as expected because misapplication likely happens. 

Misunderstanding of Application Terms

I have visited Facebook pages of several stores and product manufactures and see the same statements. "I applied the crabgrass pre-emergent and I still have dandelions. Your product doesn't work!" We also hear this from time to time here. 

A crab grass pre-emergent specifically targets crabgrass and the germination process of crabgrass. As stated above, different weeds are affected by different kinds of products. A grassy weed such as crabgrass takes a specific product to control. Dandelions and purple dead nettle take a different product. 

Many products on the market for residential consumer use are very misleading because they say things such as "Total Weed Control" when really it is just a pre-emergent. This label confusion has caused a lot of misled consumers with high expectations that are never met. Properly reading the label of what weeds are controlled will help you gain an understanding of what the application will manage.

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Nothing of what we do is a secret. Many lawn care professionals have spent years perfecting their lawn care management programs. Universities have entire degree, masters, and PhD programs on Turf Management and Lawn Care. I am not making any of these facts up either. For a very detailed article that goes into more about the specific science of weed control, click here!

As lawn care professionals. we are constantly learning from publications and attending courses hosted by Purdue University. We take our industry very serious. Lawn care is not just a hobby. Our industry provides over 800,000 jobs and $57.9 billion in economic impact. We want everyone to know that we are proud of what we do and our knowledge and expertise show it! 

We would love to hear back from you! Leave comments below or write us on our Facebook page. We also have a new website! Be sure follow us on Instagram and Twitter! 

Lawn Care Myths...

Since it is April 1st, we wanted to write about some topics that are myths but commonly are mistaken as fact. 

This is not an April Fools Joke blog...

Getting rid of grub worms gets rid of moles! FALSE

The primary food source for moles are earth worms. Your lawn may be infested with moles and not grub worms. If grub worms are present, moles will eat them but they will consider it a special treat. Also, when moles feed, they follow their food source. When the soil is dry, the earth worms move to deeper soil that is moist and cool and the moles follow. When it rains a lot the earth worms move to the top. This is often when we see a lot of mole damage because they are closer to the surface.

I got rid of my moles so that should mean we will not get any more! FALSE

Moles do not care about property lines or if there were moles in your yard previously. New families of moles will come and go. There is no "mole preventer" on the market that will actually act as a barrier to keep new moles from moving into your yard. 

I used a product that said year long control so I will not have any more weeds this year! FALSE

Year long or season long control is hardly a real thing. To understand why, you need to understand the biology of plants and the weeds that you are trying to fight. Different species of weeds germinate and grow at different times of the year. One application of one product will not provide year long control from all weeds. 

When you are sick with a cold you use one medicine. If you have strep throat you use a different medicine. It is the same with weeds. You might have killed one weed, but other weeds may not be affected. And just because you killed one, does not mean it will prevent new weeds from growing. 

Lawn care is nothing more than just throwing some fertilizer on a lawn. It can't be that hard! FALSE

In the lawn care industry, everything that we do has a scientific reason behind it. From the fertilizer analysis we choose, to the time we apply products, we calculate everything. It is not as simple as some people try to make it sound. If proper timing is not closely monitored or the wrong product used in an area not designated safe, a lot can go wrong. 

It is extremely important to hire someone who knows what they are doing. A cheap price tag might be appealing but if they truly do not have an understanding of plant and insect biology and the chemical makeup of products, you will pay for it in the long run.

I picked up some grass seed that can be planted in heavy shade and at any time of the year and get full results! This is going to be easy! FALSE

Unfortunately, there is no grass that can truly thrive in heavily shaded areas. If you go to state park, look around and see how much grass is growing in the woods. Chances are you will see moss, ferns, and other plants...but not grass. Grass needs at least 8 hours of sunlight a day to thrive. Heavily shaded areas require a lot of care to build up the turf. 

Irrigation, seeding timing, and soil preparation all need to be carefully analyzed to ensure that any seed has a chance to germinate and grow. 

I saw on the TV that the bee population is dying and that pesticides have killed them all. FALSE

The USDA has released a study showing that the bee population has actually been on the rise over the last 10 years! The number one killer of bees are mites. Mites are tiny insects or parasites that attach themselves to the bee and live off of the bee. Many bee keepers use pesticides to kill the mites that have infected their bee colonies. 

The EPA and other governing agencies including the Office of the Indiana State Chemist have put strict regulations into place regarding the use of pesticides around bees and other pollinators. We are always looking out for our little bee friends. You can find out more about what we are doing to help the bees in our blog "Our Commitment To Bees!"
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Here at Bowman's Pro Turf, Co. we take pride in working with our customers to provide the best quality service in the Wabash Valley. We are not going to sell you something that you do not need, that will not work, or you do not want. When anyone calls us, we provide the facts. We work to ensure the integrity of the Lawn Care Industry is upheld. We work to provide an experience that builds trust and confidence in our company. Anything less is unacceptable. 

From our 28 years in the Lawn Care Industry, to constantly attending training, we have the knowledge and understanding to properly address your lawn care needs.  

We would love to hear back from you! Leave comments below or write us on our Facebook page. We also have a new website! Be sure follow us on Instagram and Twitter!