JUNE LAWN CARE AND FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITY

All of us here at GR Robinson (Steve Ladi, George Kippenberger and myself) would like to invite you to visit our new location (10747 Trenton Ave, 63132). We like to call our new location “The Institute for Higher Turf Grass Education” building. We are proud of the fact that you will leave with the right information about how to treat your lawn, not necessarily the products. Too many times, our customers want immediate solutions to their turf grass problems, when it’s better to wait or have someone else do it for them. Usually it take anywhere from 15-30 minutes of questions and answers to determine what is the best solution to your lawn problems, so come equipped ready to exchange some information.

If you want a quick fix…please go to a big box store and buy some junk. Or, just put your money in a wheel barrel and light it on fire…same result. Whether it’s an exercise program or a financial plan, there is now quick fix…that last. All things worth having are a process and we will go through a very good process for your lawn designed specifically for you. Afternoons are usually better, but just give us a call and we’ll set something up! We’ll look forward to seeing you…

JUNE COURSE OF ACTION

*Raise your mower to 3.5 inches or more if youa re mowing “cool season” lawns. Lower it to 2” for zoysia or warm season lawns

*Sharpen you blade after 8-10 hours of mowing

*Start applying fungicides to cool season lawns

*Apply grub/insect controls (Acelepryn or Merit) right now. Especially to zoysia lawns that show “decline” symptoms!

*Spot spray weeds as needed (NEVER apply a “Weed-N-Feed” product. They are pure junk and should be banned by the United Nations. Please call me if you don’t agree with this sentence!)

*Don’t over water the lawn. We are way above our rain fall for the spring. Hold off on regular watering until your air conditioner has been running for a week straight (62 degrees as 8 am today).

*Aerate or power rake your zoysia lawns this month. Remember to reapply your pre-emergent after doing this.

Lastly, tell your dad you love him for Fathers Day. Even if he is gone from this earth, he’ll hear you. I’m fortunate to have a father who is very active in my life. He is an excellent role model for me and my children and I welcome the opportunity to say…”Dad, I love you and thank you for your wisdom. I only wish I had listened earlier in my life”

Remember folks…It’s just grass!

Glennon Kraemer

314-427-0300

June 2013 “Rain, rain go away, come again another day! …By the way, this theme just can’t keep up all summer!

We are experiencing an extended wet spell that may end abruptly or hopefully not so fast that we flip into another extreme.  Either way cool season grass is growing fast for now!

The high humidity and relatively cool night time temperatures are major contributors to the lushness we are experiencing with the cool season lawns. When we hit around 80% humidity at night along with 80 degree temperatures, we could be seeing Brown Patch disease like crazy. We are likely to have some disease problems so call if you don’t know what you are dealing with so you can treat appropriately!

Follow these steps for the first few weeks of June:

Cool Season Lawns:

*Continue to mow at 3 ½ inches MINIMUM!  Sharpen the blade after 8-10 hours of mowing too!

*Fertilize with 100% organic fertilizers or don’t fertilize at all (10#/1000 ft. sq of Milorganite ® is what I suggest).

*Spot spray weeds very early in the morning to avoid burning the good grass. READ THE LABEL!

*Apply fungicides as the label recommends. Usually every 25-28 days. Remember, they are like antibiotics…they control from inside of the plant, not in the ground!

*Apply Merit for grubs right now. Be sure to water in any granule application

*Water has been plentiful recently but the turf is able to take up a lot of water as well when it is growing so fast. 

Warm Season Lawn:

*Totally different then our cool season lawns! TOTALLY!

*Mow at 2” MAXIMUM! For best results

*Fertilize with High Nitrogen fertilizers or Organics now and again in 30 days for best results

*Apply both quick killing and long last insecticides. Most zoysia problems are misdiagnosed as fungus, when they are actually insect problems. http://turfpath.missouri.edu/reports/update06_05_12.htm

Click on the above link for the best information possible related zoysia and the insect problems we are having here!

* As long as we are this wet just continue to monitor the ground moisture levels, eventually we will get to normal summer water routine!

I feel like any day this advice might change as we dry down so keep checking back!

Happy Fathers Day to all Fathers out there.  Prayers to those  in Oklahoma and all those with storm damage and blessings

to those who are working hard on clean up…be careful!

Life is like the weather, it changes.

Life is unpredictable, just like the weather.

Extreme weather teaches us to appreciate the days of warm sunshine.

The weather also teaches us that we have no control over life!

Good luck to all those parents and budding lawn gurus out there! Stay Sharp!