For most of us, summer is not a season of stress. For lawns though, it is. Consistent hot and dry weather over a long period of time can lead to heat or moisture stress. This can cause your lawn to turn brown and even invite a variety of weeds and pests. To keep your lawn at its best and limit the hot summer damage, you should familiarize yourself with some of the basics of this issue.

The post Heat Stress on you Lawn appeared first on Cole Landscaping.

Red Thread is one of the most common fungal patch diseases found on lawns during these warm summer months. Other lawn funguses commonly found in turf grasses in New England during this time of year are Pythium and Dollar Spot.

Although it may appear unsightly, the good news is there are several disease-control options available. The best thing you can do for a diseased lawn is to aerate and nourish the soil beneath the turf.

Aeration Heals Your Lawnâ€s Wounds

First, start with proper lawn aeration to ensure that the lawn breathes. Aeration loosens impacted soil and enhances new growth after broadcast seeding. Broadcast seeding coupled with a top-dressing of our own “Black Gold” organic compost is the most cost-effective approach to correcting the problem that “mother nature” has created.  Broadcast Seeding and fertilization enhances new growth by 200% and ensures bare spots grow in.

What is Red Thread?

Red Thread has been running rampant on the North Shore this season. This lawn fungus appears in turf as small pinkish-red spots or patches, usually when temps are high, and humidity is higher. Infected areas eventually turn light tan, and the leaf tips or margins may be covered with fine pink to red threads, giving the turf an overall pink coloration.

Red Thread takes its name from the antler like structures produced by a fungus (Laetisaria fuciformis) on the tips of its blade.  Generally, it is most severe and may cause significant damage to both perennial ryegrass and creeping red fescue. Red thread usually presents itself during warm summer temperatures. We see it most often when there is prolonged high relative humidity, dense fog or overcast skies which commonly occurs this time of year.

Symptoms of Red Thread

The infected grass will firstly be ‘bleached’ in color; the grass will turn pale cream/white. Not all grass blades will be affected, as non-infected blades may exist next to infected blades. In these circumstances the grass will appear visibly messy. In moist conditions the fungus will form the pink branching threads. Once the threads are well developed the lawn will have reddish/pinkish tinge to it in small patches, these patches may join together to form larger patches.

Treating Red Thread

First you should have your lawn evaluated and diagnosed by a professional who will identify and address your lawnâ€s needs. If your lawn has become infected with a fungus, there are two major ways to treat.

The first method is to allow your lawn, and the fungus, to grow out. We apply Triple 19 (19-19-19 – basic lawn fertilizer) to help the lawn with the process. This method is easier, but it takes a considerable amount of time for the lawn to grow out.

The second method is more intense, but it is quicker and more effective. Fungicide, a type of chemical, is applied to the infected area. A good approach to controlling or eliminating Red thread is having your lawn treated with the proper Fungicide. Often times it takes 2 applications of fungicide per year to help your lawn get through the season. Once your lawn has been treated, water deeply and consistently twice weekly.

When to Water your Lawn

Itâ€s best to water your lawn early in the morning or early evening. Never water at night – it makes grass susceptible to disease.

Red Thread Lawn Fungus on the move!

The thing you need to remember is that most turf fungus is NOT a major concern. It will go away on its own with proper care. The first line of defense is aeration with compost top-dressing and broadcast seeding to rejuvenate and add missing nutrients to your soil. Secondly, timely fertilizer and fungicide applications will ensure the health of your lawn throughout the entire growing season. The third component to ensure a lush lawn is keeping up with weekly maintenance, such as a regular irrigation schedule and consistent mowing.

If you are seeing anything that looks like Red Thread on your turf, and you are not currently on our fertilization program, please let us know!   The sooner the lawn is treated the better the outcome.

The post Is Red Thread Ruining Your Lawn? appeared first on Cole Landscaping.

If your lawn is looking a little tired, consider a top-dressing of Black Gold, Cole’s highly organic compost. As the hot summer winds down and we move through August into the fall, it is important to start thinking ahead to the next season. There are many benefits to using compost and applying organic matter to your property. Cole Landscaping is proud to offer this all-natural top-dressing service.

The Process

First we will core aerate the complete property. Then we will broadcast this highly organic matter throughout the area along with seed. This gives you a much greener lawn through the fall and it will come back in the spring lush and beautiful.

What is compost and why should you use it?

Compost is the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth. Above all, organic matter is vital to productive soils and healthy plant growth. Compost is certainly an excellent source of organic matter that promotes biologically active soil by adding beneficial microorganisms.

What else can compost do for your lawn?

• Incorporates slow release nutrients in an organic form
• Leaves pore spaces behind for roots to colonize as it breaks down
• Improves soil moisture retention
• Adds life and organic matter to the soil
• Allows micro-organisms to thrive and multiply to fight many soil-borne diseases

The Power of the Bark Blower

Our Cole crew alongside our powerful  Finn Bark Blower can service your property in no time at all. The Finn Blower is designed specifically to convey considerable volumes of heavy material (loam, stone etc.) as well as lighter materials (bark mulch, compost, playground chips) to large areas very quickly. Therefore, it is perfect for all size areas, including hillsides, tough terrain, and hard to reach places!

Contact Cole if your lawn is looking tired and could use some TLC.

The post Black Gold – Cole’s Compost Top-Dressing appeared first on Cole Landscaping.

First we will core aerate the complete property. Next, with our new Finn Bark Blower we will broadcast this highly organic matter throughout the area along with seed. The end result is a greener lawn in the fall that will translate to a lush and beautiful lawn next spring.

The Bark Blower is the largest and most impressive truck in our fleet. Team Cole is excited to work with this powerful machine. Besides being the most versatile performer, it always delivers high quality results. Most importantly, the Finn Blower is designed specifically to convey considerable volumes of heavy material (loam, stone etc.) as well as lighter materials (bark mulch, compost, playground chips) to large areas very quickly. Therefore, it is perfect for all size areas, including hillsides, tough terrain, and hard to reach places!

What is compost and why should you use it?

Compost is the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth. Above all, organic matter is vital to productive soils and healthy plant growth. Compost is certainly an excellent source of organic matter that promotes biologically active soil by adding beneficial microorganisms.

What else can compost do for your lawn?

• Incorporates slow release nutrients in an organic form
• Leaves pore spaces behind for roots to colonize as it breaks down
• Improves soil moisture retention
• Adds life and organic matter to the soil
• Allows micro-organisms to thrive and multiply to fight many soil-borne diseases

Contact Cole if your lawn is looking tired and could use some TLC.

The post Nourish Your Lawn with Compost appeared first on Cole Landscaping.