October, 2017 | Superior Lawn Care

As you head into winter, it’s time to think about preparing your shrubs and ornamental trees for the winter. Although you may not give much thought to this kind of vegetation in the fall – after all, you don’t worry about them during the winter, because you know they’re coming back – but they need special care to prepare them for the cold weather.

Your trees and shrubs will benefit from root fertilization to ensure that they’re healthy, can resist disease, and be ready for freezing temperatures. These plants are often a significant investment in your home that provide curb appeal. If they’re lacking the nutrients that are needed to keep them growing, you’ll start to see problems from poor soil composition.

Benefits of Root Fertilization in the Fall

This treatment can be used on any age tree or shrub, including recently-planted vegetation. It’s a great idea to use this kind of application so that your trees can grow and mature before the winter arrives.
The right mix of fertilization will cause your trees and shrubs to flower more quickly.
Although tree roots, especially those of more mature trees, can be large and go deep into the ground, root fertilization should be applied somewhat close to the top soil layer. The roots here need the nutrients that easily become depleted throughout the year.

Your trees may or may not need to be fertilized, depending on where they are located and if they have been fertilized already in the past few months. If your trees haven’t been growing as they should, have an experienced lawn care professional look at signs of soil compaction or disease.

The type and amount of fertilizer that should be used can be determined by an expert. Special care should be given to mature, transplanted, and young trees and shrubs, but fertilization methods and timing should be considered depending on several factors.

Fall Maintenance Programs for Your Shrubs and Trees

Your shrubs and ornamental trees are investments that will pay dividends as the years go by. Let Superior Lawn Care’s experts keep your planting healthy and beautiful. We service all areas in southwestern PA, including Cranberry, Penn Township, Mt. Lebanon, Indiana, Wexford, Moon Township, and North Huntingdon. Call us today.

An orange-colored lawn usually means that your grass has rust disease. This lawn disease can appear in the fall during periods of time when little rain falls – which sounds just like September’s weather in the Pittsburgh area.

What Does Rust Disease Look Like?
Most of the grasses common to the western Pennsylvania area can be affected by rust disease. Because of its color, rust disease is easy to spot. It looks like your grass has become an orangish or yellowish-orange color, much like rust. It will gradually turn larger areas of your lawn yellow, orange, or brown. You may also notice that the disease’s spores come off on your shoes, and that there are some rust-like particles that have been tracked into your entryway or your home. You may also see that the spores are sticking to your pets’ fur.

As a spore, it’s particularly good at spreading through your lawn and can be carried through the air, water, footsteps, and even your lawnmower.

The environment for rust disease is prevalent in Pittsburgh. Lots of rain in the early part of summer, followed by sunny, dry days in the late summer and early fall can allow rust disease to take hold in your lawn. Compact soil that doesn’t allow water or nutrients, particularly nitrogen, to enter the ground is also a factor. Warm days during the fall and cool nights create dewy conditions that can also make your grass open to infection.

How Do I Control Rust Disease?
Rust disease can be prevented and controlled by having needed nutrients in your lawn and by using the proper cultural practices (such as when you water your lawn and how often you cut your grass). Mow your grass at 2 ½ inches and make sure that core aeration is performed to allow the right nutrients and enough water into your grass’ roots. Fertilization in the early fall will help deliver much-needed nitrogen to the ground, and if rainfall is scare, you can water lightly in the morning.

Call Superior Lawn Care to learn more about our lawn care maintenance program that’s developed to ensure your lawn remains green, lush, and disease-free. We service most of southwestern PA, including Pittsburgh, Indiana, Moon, Cranberry, Wexford, Penn Township, Upper St. Clair, and North Huntingdon.