Lawn Disease Awareness: Leaf Spot and Melting Out

Been a while since there has been time for a post... this is the busy season for us lawn care providers and our families!

Today's quick post is to give a little bit of insight into a common disease type: Leaf Spot and Melting Out Disease.

According to American Lawns (see link: http://www.american-lawns.com/problems/diseases/leaf_spot.html), "Leaf spot and melting out are among the most frequent and destructive lawn diseases of common bluegrass... Excess thatch, heavy nitrogen fertilization, excess shade, mowing too close, and broadleaf herbicides promote these diseases." Leaf spots cause the death of the blade tips and move their way down. Melting out then occurs as the disease spreads to the crown and the root.

You can read on Turf Files (http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/diseases/Melting_Out.aspx): "Leaf spot symptoms initially appear as small, brown or black spots or flecks on the leaves or sheaths. As the lesions expand, the center of the lesions becomes tan with a dark brown or black border. The lesions may also be surrounded by a yellow halo. As the lesions expand, they coalesce and cause dieback of entire leaves or plants. Melting out symptoms appear as a reddish brown rotting of the sheaths, crowns, rhizomes, or stolons which initially leads to wilting, yellowing, or death of the foliage."

University of Rhode Island has some great steps listed to solve the problem from Leaf Spot and Melting Out- you can read them here: http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/leafspotsetc.html. You can find advice for how to manage as well as eliminate the disease by avoiding excessive nitrogen treatments and using fungicides for treatment.

I hope this info was helpful! If you see this occuring in your lawn- give me a call. I'll be happy to help see what I can do for your situation!

Goats: Naturally Fuelled Field Mowers

Meet our new naturally fuelled field mowers- literally! These little goats, we are hoping, will grow to get bigger and keep the back fields mowed down of all the brush and annoying weeds. I only say we are hoping because although we have read a lot on how goats should help clear vegetation- we want to really see it to believe it.

One website states that goats can "be used for clearing brush, when properly managed. Large counties and cities are finding that "hiring" a herd of goats to clear unwanted vegetation can be both cost effective as well as environmentally much more acceptable." See http://eventsatthefarm.com/whygoats.htm.  

I also read on hobbyfarms.com that: "Weeds are tasty to most goats, which are natural browsers. This makes goats an excellent method to control unwanted vegetation without the use of herbicides or heavy equipment.This method of keeping weeds to a minimum, called “mitigation,” helps reduce the risk of brush fires."

You'll find this list on www.goattrimmers.com (a site advertising goats for hire) on why goats as brush control are a great idea:

"Goats are the ideal weed control and brush clearing solution for:
• New development
• Removing invasive species and restoring native plants
• Fire prevention
• Landscape maintenance"

Of course, there will be the negatives our family will have to consider now that we have more animals to take care of- such as:
- Making sure the goats don't eat poisonous plants
- Feeding the goats in the wintertime when there is no brush available
- Keeping the goats in the fenced area (we've had a couple escapes so far and the goats are pretty tricky!)
- Keeping predators away.
- And being prepared to take care of the goats if they are sick.

Those negatives are hard to think of though when looking at the cute little faces of our field mowers! We're looking forward to having an extended clear area on the property- We hope it works!

Do you use goats or animals to keep your brush down? We'd love to hear your thoughts, stories, and experiences!

Edible Garden Decor

The anxiousness for growth in our garden area has my wife thinking of how "lovely" the whole space will look once everything finally starts taking off. She really was amazed last year at what a pleasant sight the fruits and vegetables were in the garden spot with the varying heights, colors, and leaf types. As of right now the ground is pretty much bare thanks to all of the rain storms we have had, but there is still hope that the view will be up and running here in the next few weeks.

It is incredible to know that such delicious plants can have such an aesthetic affect too. Here are a few examples of what will be found in our garden this year (if everything grows right) that will be great foods as well as eye pleasers. Feel free to share your ideas or share how you've incorporated these edibles into your landscaping decor!

Sunflowers: Yes- the seeds are edible when roasted and salted! These come in varying sizes and colors and can be great house wall covers or fence borders. My wife loves how they seem to stay in bloom for so long.

Various Herbs:
- Chives: A great pot plant with tall, skinny, onion green type leaves that also bloom pretty purple or white flowers when completely maturing. Great to mix in dips, soups, or your breakfast eggs.
- Basil: From small to large bold green leaves, these are a great italian flavor and the dark green is great contrast to a light colored pot.
- Oregano: Little bushy plant- another pot plant or perhaps to be used for border bunches. Another italian favorite!
- Rosemary: Mimics a "shrub" with the thin long leaf types. A good soup and stuffing flavoring.
- Mint: Bright green leaves that spread. A wonderful smelling ground cover. Good garnish for ice cream, drinks, or to make jelly out of (my wife's specialty).

Raspberries and/or Blueberries: Instead of bushes that do nothing- get some floral and fruitful ones that are great for attraction of butterflies and birds- as well as small children who love to nibble on the bright blue or red berries.

Rhubarb: Instead of ornamental showy leaf plants- use rhubarb! Then pies can be made.

Strawberry plants: Another great ground cover with floral and fruitful aspects.

Pumpkins: It will be easy to decorate your front garden area with pumpkins for Halloween if you just plant the viny plants directly there! Train the vines to wind around trellaces, around porch beams, or stakes you've set up. Beautiful broad leaves, orang flowers through the summer, then bright big fruits during the fall.

Hopefully all of these plants will work out for us this year and the weather will cooperate. We're looking forward to the look and flavor!

Have a good week!

Pros and Cons of Multiple Rainy Days

Pros for the few rainy days IN A ROW that we've had in or area (trying to think on the positive here):

1. Soaked flower beds make pulling weeds a little easier (see above).
2. No need to water the lawn or the garden when it's being naturally watered!
3. OK... Need a little help here. Share your pros!

Cons (can't help but think the negative too):

1. The garden is OVERWATERED and the cold weather is killing things! (Poor Tomato Baby!)
2. No sunshine means it's difficult to get to work outside on the lawn and my wife can't finish planting anything else that needs to be put in the garden.
3. The kids are inside the house all weekend making you crazy! :)
4. The darkness is dreary.
5. The lawn is oversoaked and waterlogged.
6. Share why else you think too much rain is bad...

I guess we're supposed to have sunshine soon... I hope! Looking forward to being back outside again without getting soaked to the bone!

Have a good week!

Summer Lawn Memories

Just want to take a moment to dedicate a post to all those wonderful memories we build and cherish that are associated with our lawns during the summer season of our beautiful northwest area.

Do you remember as a kid- running through the sprinklers in your shorts and slipping all over the wet and slippery grass?

Did you have a dog that couldn't wait for you to get home and when you did he'd knock you down onto the grass and lick your face with doggy slobber love?

Did you ever kick around a soccer ball as soon as the sun started coming out and end up falling and staining those jeans your mom just bought you?

Did you play tag with your friends and get tagged to hard that you fell- but got right back up after hitting the soft lawn laughing and running right back after everyone who yelled that you were "it"?

Do you still have all your crazy family members from around the states come up for a reunion of love, laughter, and arguing while lounging in lawn chairs?

Do you reminisce times laying there under the stars with thoughts of summer love floating through your mind?

Do you remember lying a towel down and falling asleep tanning only to be awakened by your younger sibling tickling your nose with the grass blades?

Are 4th of July barbecues with a blanket on the grass watching the fireworks at the neighbors still a tradition (and legal) in your area?

Do memories of bouncing on a trampoline before hopping off and resting on the grass bring back those same feelings of thrill?

My point is- there are so many memories associated with a lawn that we don't even realize and perhaps take for granted. So take care of your grass so you can enjoy the peaceful "being a kid" feeling when standing in your lawn and looking back at what you loved about your green yard when you were growing up.

PS: Please share any other specific memories you may have that are associated with a nice and green lawn. We'd love to see them

Lawn and Garden Decor Ideas

When you take pride in your lawn, you may occasionally want to add your own personality to it as well. You can speak through your lawn with the detailed decor you choose to add in your flowerbeds, garden, or lawn areas. Sometimes it can take years to build a style that you're looking for, but everything starts somewhere. Here are just some examples we have begun in our own gardening areas that you can creatively take and make your own. We'd love to hear about your examples so please share in a comment!

A Humble Gardener's Resting Place

Simple themed flowerbed decor using "here and there" items: Small bench from a family member, small watering can filled with rocks so it doesn't blow away, large planter (hopefully soon to be blooming with flowers), rocks from around the property, and a children's toy shovel, rake, and hoe leaning up against the wall. My wife's creative talent at work.

Natural Attraction

This is self explanatory. Floral shrubs- such as these gorgeous Lilacs- are an easy addition to any yard area to lighten it up and show off good taste. We were blessed to have these already here at the house when we moved in last year and they are full of sweet smelling blossoms!

Redneck Upcycled Berry Patch

This past year has been difficult in terms of windstorms. We had both a gazebo and small greenhouse destroyed due to wind blow overs. The pieces to each still serve as useful, however, in the building blocks of this bird an deer repelling berry patch. Note the tall black "poles" of sorts holding up some berry netting- those are from our once nice gazebo. See the small green poles stuck in the ground? Those, topped with some brown bottles, keep the berry netting lower to the ground in those areas for the strawberries. Again, my wife's thought processes on this one!

Flower Beds not Grass Beds!

This Memorial Day Weekend is one of outdoor accomplishment at our household. The garden is getting finished up, the lawn is being taken care of, areas are being set aside for farm animals, etc. There are those things that need done, however, that seem like just a nuisance and a waste of time. One such chore that has been very frustrating for my wife this weekend was going through the flowerbeds and clearing all the overgrown grass.

It has been a little while since the flowerbeds have really had some good attention due to other household and garden duties taking priority. So, with time taking its toll and allowing the grass to grow, having to get down and dirty with pulling the LONG blades and roots of grass was backbreaking and time consuming work.

My wife then began to ask the question- how can this be avoided?

Various resources being read in a Google search for "keeping grass out of flower beds" mentioned these ideas:

- Invest in some good edging.

- Have raised flower beds.

- Mulch around your plants after killing and pulling the grass/weeds out.

- Take a foam paintbrush soaked in "Round-Up" and brush it on the grass/weeds you want gone (careful not to get it on your wanted plants).

- Kill the grass while it is young and remove root systems before starting fresh on worked up and mulched soil.

- Get on your hands and knees and pull everything- though this is the most tedious.

All of these seem like great ideas (with the exception of the last one!)- and we'd love to hear if you have any other advice. Please leave a comment with your thoughts for the future work that will inevitably need to be done again in our flower beds- we'd love to hear your "tricks" on keeping your flower beds instead of grass beds!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Natural Fertilizers

A couple of weeks ago our family went out and bought a pig. In honor of this little creature, this post is going to highlight some of naturally produced fertilizers that are out there and that are great for lawn and garden usage.

Pig Manure (see our piglet above!):

According to http://farmingfriends.com/pig-manure/: "Pig manure makes good compost as the pig muck is mixed with straw.Pig manure has a very high nutrient content and is rich in potash and phosphorus.Not only does pig manure enrich the soil which helps plants to grow but it also helps improve the soil structure as the straw (plant material content) in the manure helps the soil to hold water. Pig manure can be applied to root crops especially leeks and potatoes. It is important to remember not to apply fresh manure to plants and crops as the manure will scorch the plants. Let the manure mature or apply the manure and work into the soil four weeks prior to planting.

Cow Manure:

Well-aged cow manure is one of the best organic fertilizers you can apply to lawn turf. It is high in nitrogen and many other trace nutrients but releases its benefits slowly over time so burn and stress on the grass are not an issue

Read more: How to Put Cow Manure on Grass | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/81319-put-cow-manure-grass.html#ixzz1velnlAoY

Chicken Manure (we also have some of these on our small household farm!):

Per: http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Can-I-use-chicken-manure-in-my-garden-H66.aspx- Chicken manure makes great compost for fertilizing your garden. However, we recommend you compost it first: don't add it directly in quantity. Uncomposted chicken manure is very "hot": too much nitrogen can burn your plants. Once your manure is composted, it is great for your garden, however.

Chicken manure does not acidify soil: it tends to raise the pH. Actually, one study demonstrates that chicken manure is as effective as lime in raising soil pH (making it more basic rather than more acidic). That same study shows that plants can absorb more calcium from the manure than from lime due to the fact that so much calcium and magnesium are contained in the manure. Poultry litter contains about 100 lbs. calcium per ton (dry weight). Composted chicken manure supplies nutrients and organic matter for your soil--improving its "tilth"--makes phosphorus more available and reduces your soil's aluminum toxicity.

Horse Manure:

Horse manure stands out as by the far the best manure around for soil improvement. It is usually very cheap or free and it is readily available around horse stables. Horse manure is not as strong a fertiliser as chook, cow or pig poo – but it is the best organic additive for soils. Get more details at: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/article.php?id=6087.

Do you have any other ideas on natural and organic fertilizers for lawn and garden? Please share! Comments are open!



Enjoy the Sun- But Protect Yourself From It Too!

It has been so nice having the sun shining this last week. It gives us the feeling that we are going to have a long, hot summer to enjoy. This is just a quick post reminder to protect yourself from the not so pleasant part of having sun shining on you while outside working in your yard.

We all hear and read about the risks of skin cancer and have felt the pain of sunburns and so we are constantly making sure our children are protected adequately. But sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves as we’re tilling the garden, weeding the flowerbeds, or enjoying other outdoor activities with our families.

Some reminder tips to avoid that nasty burning, itching, and peeling feelings that follow a terrible sunburn:

• Obvious first one: Wear some sort of sunscreen. The more SPF the better, but of course this will depend on your skin type and preference. According to http://skincare.about.com/od/sunkissedglow/f/SPFratings.htm "Higher SPF's aren't always necessary. You need to look at a couple of things when you are shopping for sunscreen. First, how light is your skin tone? Those with lighter skin will usually burn faster than those with darker or olive skin. If your skin starts to turn red fast, you'll want a higher SPF."
• Wear a large brimmed hat (straw or cowboy) to shade your head, eyes, face, and neck from taking the brunt of the sunrays.
• Wear a very light colored long sleeved cotton shirt while being in the sun for a long period of time to avoid affecting your arms.
• Take the occasional break and go sit in a shaded area to rehydrate your body and assess how your skin is feeling.

Have a safe and fun weekend in the little bit cooler weather we're expecting in our beautiful North Spokane area! Enjoy the sunshine and don't let it hurt you!

Don't Make that Dandelion Wish!

As children we are shown to make a wish then try to blow ALL the dandelion seeds off at once so it can come true. As adults we don't want any of those seeds spreading through our beautiful lawns!

As many of you already know, Dandelions are a pest to a lawn due to "They aggressively compete with grass and ornamental plants for sunlight, water and nutrients. Dandelions are perennial weeds that reproduce seedlings rapidly during the spring and fall seasons. Once established, they continue to appear unless eliminated."Read more: How to Permanently Kill Dandelions in Your Lawn | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4857581_permanently-kill-dandelions-lawn.html#ixzz1usTmhFRx

And eliminating dandelions is also a pesky thing to do- According to landscaping.about.com at http://landscaping.about.com/od/weedsdiseases/a/kill_dandelions.htm "Above-ground, their seeds ride the wind currents, poised to drop into the slightest opening in your lawn to propagate the species. Meanwhile, below-ground, they strike down a taproot up to 10" long. Pulling the taproot as a means of dandelion removal is problematic. Thick but brittle, the taproot easily fractures -- and any fraction of the taproot that remains in the ground will regenerate." This means that dandelion wishes made with the natural wind, and the regrowth of dandelion roots that are attempted at being picked, make these annoying weeds difficult to get rid of.

According to www.richsoil.com, "Dandelions love a pH of about 7.5. Grass loves a pH of about 6.5. So if your pH is 7.5 or higher, your grass will probably never beat out the dandelion. Lower the pH to 6.5 and your grass has the advantage!" So pH levels can help... what else?

As www.better-lawn-care.com states, there are some organic ways:

The best time to attack them is right after they flower - when they have finished blooming, not when flowers are present - they are weakened by low food reserves in their roots. Dandelions flower in the spring and again in the fall.

You can control them by pulling or digging. Make sure the soil is moist and remove as much of the taproot as possible. Weeding tools - like the Weed Twister, Weed Hound or a large flat-head screwdriver - are helpful. You will probably have to dig a dandelion several times before it is eliminated. Keep digging the new plants as they return and before they form a large taproot.

Horticultural vinegar (20% acetic acid) can be used to spot spray dandelions. Kitchen grade vinegar is not an effective herbicide, its acetic acid concentration is only 5%. The acetic acid concentration needs to be at least 20% to be an effective natural organic weed control. Vinegar will only kill dandelion foliage - not the taproot - new plants will return from the taproot. Vinegar is also non-selective, take care to spray only weed foliage because it will kill any foliage that you spray - including your grass!

Corn Gluten Meal can sometimes be used as natural organic weed and feed. It has been observed to work as a pre-emergent herbicide - it prevents seedlings from developing a root system - it will not kill mature dandelions. Just be aware that CGM can be difficult to use as an herbicide - timing and environmental conditions must be perfect for it to work. It is 10% nitrogen by weight - making it a good natural organic fertilizer.

Read more from original site: How to Kill Dandelions and Keep Them Off Your Lawn http://www.better-lawn-care.com/kill_dandelions.html#ixzz1usXTbqyC

And of course, there is the option of using chemical removers and herbicides-as long as they are the right ones, done in the right way, and at the right time.

Have a great week and I wish you a dandelion free summer! Get in touch and we'd love to help!

Pay In Full Discount... Limited Time Left!

This year Green Jeans Lawn Service began offering a 5% Pay in Full discount for clients who sign up for weekly services. This discount normally applies for pre-payment of 26 weeks of weekly mowing services with any additional weeks of services (weather dependent at the end of the season) being billed at the 5% off rate. Full payment would be due on or before the first date of service...

Some clients are getting a later start on their first mow with Green Jeans Lawn Service, so there is an adjustment to the offer for this year and new clients. As of today there are estimated about 20-22 more weeks left for weekly services. This offer will still stand as an option with the 5% discount to apply if weekly services are signed up for and started in the next 2 weeks. We hope you'll take advantage of this great offer and allow us to service you and make you proud of your yard this year. Call us for more details!

We service the Suncrest, Nine Mile Falls, and North Spokane, WA areas.

Let us maintain your yard while you just enjoy it!

Licensed, Insured, and Bonded

For your ease of knowing you can trust your Green Jeans Lawn Service provider!

Mushrooms in the lawn- Not as bad as on pizza...

I have noticed some of those unsightly images of fungi sprouting up in our lawn. Round white or brown colored polka dots that are completely out of place and don't really fit with the nice cut of the green grass blades... Irritating.

I have been reading, however, that mushrooms in my lawn can actually be a positive thing... According to an article on www.gardeningknowhow.com "While mushrooms in the lawn may look unsightly, they are actually beneficial to the lawn. The extensive root system of lawn mushrooms help the soil retain water and lawn mushrooms also help to break down organic materials which help add nutrients to the lawn." And www.skynursery.com states: "Mushrooms do not normally damage grass or other plants. The only problem is aesthetic."

Even though mushrooms can help in a yard, or at least not damage one, you may still make the decision that you don't like them there. And that's ok too. The article in www.skynursery.com says "one solution is to just mow or break off the mushrooms.". The information on www.gardeningknowhow.com goes into a bit more detail, however... First- identify what causes mushrooms to grow in a lawn and why they'd be growing in yours. Mushrooms are fungi that like to break down organic material; what organic materials could be found in your yard? Animal waste? Retained moisture in a shady spot? Perhaps the solutions are just to pick up some of the waste. Maybe some bushes or trees can be trimmed back a bit to eliminate some shady areas. "You can also treat your lawn with a fungicide, but if you do not address the issues that cause mushrooms to grow in your lawn, chances are that the mushrooms will just come back."

And again- the other suggestion is just to leave them alone. It is of course, your preference. Just as my wife wouldn't mind mushrooms on her part of the pizza- but my kids and I would rather have them not even near our pieces.

Have a good week!

Insurance on Your Landscaping... Are You Well Covered?

With my wife being an insurance agent, she has some knowledge on the topic of what a home insurance policy covers. She brought up to me tonight the issue of how landscaping is also something that is covered on your home insurance policy. Of course insurance policies can vary between company or type, but occasionally there are limitations to how much will be paid out on trees, shrubs, and plants. It is definetely a recommendation to make sure you've talked to your agent about whether your lawn and landscaping decor are covered to their complete value if there is a loss.

Picture this scenario:

Your house is surrounded by quite a few pruned and tall Juniper bushes and you have well- maintained colored rose bushes under all of your windows. One day you are in a rush to get to work and in your haste to make the kids breakfast, you forgot to turn your gas stove off all the way. After everyone has left the house, the potholder you left by the stove catches flame. Eventually the whole house goes, and all of your surrounding landscaping. You can only imagine how you'd be feeling. During the claims process of making sure everything gets replaced, the thought of your yard and landscaping doesn't even come to mind. After all is said and done, and you've had your house rebuilt and your belongings all replaced- you look out your window and wonder what is missing?

Where are those gorgeous pink, purple, and reddish roses you would stop and smell every day while opening your kitchen window to air the house out? Why don't you hear the little songbirds that would nestle in the bushes surrounding the house? Perhaps, due to their growth over the years and or the breeds of roses you had, there was not enough coverage to make sure each item was replaced to it's full value. After all of the work you had put in, and the time you took to obtain the beauty you've wanted in your yard, you are very disappointed with your policy to not have that replaced as well.

Just the word of advice- check with your insurance agent to make sure the beauty you have worked hard to build and continually work hard to maintain is covered in the event of a devastating loss.

For Arbor Day- Just an idea...

Many of my clients in this beautiful Northwest area have a few trees in their yard or on their general property. This is something my family envies just a bit because when we purchased our first house this last year, we ended up with a gorgeous house and 10 wide open acres. No large trees- just a few young maples that the prior owner probably recently put in. And we know what the benefit of more trees would do for us! They could provide more shaded areas for our kids to play in during the hot summer days. They could serve as a wind break because we get MANY windstorms throughout the year in our prairie area. Not only would they be a wind break, but also a sound break from the traffic on the road near our house. Dependent on the tree, they could be a habitat for some different varieties of wildlife for our family to enjoy. And trees would also just be something pleasant to look at while sitting on our deck enjoying a summer sunset.

Because of our lack of trees, my wife and I kept our eyes open for opportunities to try and gain trees without the terrible cost. This is when I started noticing during spring clean-ups last year and throughout the year mowing, that many of my clients end up with small pine tree starts and maple tree starts near their already tall beautiful trees! My clients wanted them out of the yard... and I offered to take them. Needless to say the tiny little starts didn't last very long in our soil and we didn't really have the knowledge or the time to care for such young starts to get them strong enough to encourage growth. I do want to say though, that the gesture of my clients allowing my family to have the baby starts instead of just tossing them was a good one and I am reminded of that while thinking of Arbor Day being tomorrow...

Just an idea: If you're being overwhelmed with tiny little tree starts surrounding your yard, I might suggest to dig them up and pot them. Then post ads on craigslist, churches, or at grocery stores offering free baby tree starts. This may take a bit of your personal time and funds, but you'd be doing something good for someone else- and great for our planet by giving the possibility for more trees to be planted and to grow!

Have a great rest of the week!

Earth Day- A "Green" Garden Weed Killer

In honor of earth day, I’d like to make an “organic” solution suggestion to weed control in your flowerbeds and gardens (note- I did not say to use it on your lawn). I have heard this suggestion a few times from neighbors, clients, and my wife. Below you will find some notes and resources on how to use vinegar as a weed control.

What is vinegar? According to The Vinegar Institute’s site: http://www.versatilevinegar.org/faqs.html, “Vinegar can be made from any fruit, or from any material containing sugar.” It is “is made by two distinct biological processes, both the result of the action of harmless microorganisms (yeast and “Acetobacter”) that turn sugars (carbohydrates) into acetic acid”. In other words- vinegar is a vary organic material. It is also relatively inexpensive ($5.00-$10.00 or so dependent on size of container). The organic material and inexpensive cost makes vinegar a great option for being “green” with the weed control in your garden or flower beds.

According to the Garden Counselor site: http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/home-made-weed-killer.html: vinegar is basically stated as something that can be used to kill plants in general. The ingredient in vinegar “removes moisture. When sprayed on plant foliage, the water in the leaves is drawn out, and the top growth of the plant is killed” and “Full strength vinegar, not diluted with water, will be strongest”. The trick would be to only apply the vinegar to the weeds in a garden and not to get too close to the good plants. It is also good to point out that “Some plants may be more resistant to absorbing it. Leaves with a waxy or hairy covering may absorb less of the solution and suffer less damage. Some plants may die above ground, but send up new growth from the root.”

In other words- vinegar will have its advantages and disadvantages. I know my wife will be trying it out in our vegetable garden this year to avoid going out and picking so many of the tiny starts of spreading weeds. Why don’t you give it a try and post here how it turned out for you?

Happy Earth Day! See you around soon with all this nice weather!

Grass Back from the Dead...

After a strange winter in our area, many lawns may have ended up with some random dead spots through the yard. According to this website: http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/wronglawn.html some of those problems can be due to spring frost damage to new growth, molding after a snow meltoff, salt damage from de-icing your walks and driveways, etc. A good spring cleanup and re-seeding of your dead patches may be all that is needed to solve the problems you're seeing.

Spring cleaning of your lawn should probably include the following: dethatching, aeration, and fertilization that will promote growth of the new seeds. After you've prepared your lawn and cleaned it up, now it time to spread your seeds. According to: http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/outdoor-living/lawn-care/seeding/tips-reseeding-lawn "Sow at a rate of about 6 seeds per square inch of soil... Then, water the entire reseeded area with a fine mist, just enough to get the soil moist. Water twice a day until the seeds sprout, which should be in 2 weeks. Water a couple of times a week (depending in your climate) until the grass is about 3 inches tall." As you can see- the key to this growth and bringing your grass back from the dead is making sure you water regularly and give way for new little grass roots to get the nutrients and air needed.

After you've got a great lawn, sometimes through the summer you will notice that your lawn will begin to look like it is dying again. This in turn may make you lose hope in restoring your lawn and feel there is no point. However, "In hot, dry weather, grass often goes into a semi-dormant state, appearing as "dead grass," but will come back when weather conditions improve." (See http://www.moneypit.com/question-and-answer/restoring-dead-grass). You can help keep your lawn green by keeping a consistent watering schedule. "It's best to water in early morning, very early, like 5 a.m. [It's] much better to water early only a couple of times a week than to water lightly more often. Deep soaking encourages deep root growth, whereas light watering encourages the roots to stay close to the surface of the soil, making your lawn more susceptible to heat and drought." (See http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14262213/ns/today-today_home_and_garden/t/keep-it-green-tips-save-your-summer-lawn/).

I hope this info was helpful. If you have other questions or would like to see what I can do for you personally in maintaining your yard's lush green in the Nine Mile, Suncrest, and North Spokane County areas please get in touch. It's also that time of year for the spring cleaning activities- and I offer professional dethatching, aerating, and fertilizing services to promote a good start to your season and help your grass come back from the dead.

Look forward to hearing from you!

James, Owner and Operator of Green Jeans Lawn Service

A Dog's Grass Habit

My name is Miles. James and his family are my friends. They give me a warm place to sleep, cuddle with me, let me run around outside, and feed me daily. I wouldn’t necessarily say we are all “best friends” though, because I have a scavenging eating habit that doesn’t agree with James or his family. I am constantly being told I can’t eat certain things. The kitchen is off limits to me- though occasionally I can sneak a bite behind that forbidden cupboard or the kids will drop a tasty morsel that I can quickly scurry to. James’ wife doesn’t like me in her garden, either. But why would you restrict me from such tasty treats such as carrots, radishes, tomatoes, lettuce, and corn?

Anyway- there’s one eating habit that only seems restricted to a point. I can basically eat all the grass I want. Whenever my stomach is a bit queasy from sneaking into the compost bin, I may walk on over and find some wonderful spring grass to wash it down with and make it come back up. (See www.petmd.com: “A dog will seek out a natural remedy for a gassy or upset stomach, and grass, it seems, may do the trick. When ingested, the grass blade tickles the throat and stomach lining; this sensation, in turn, may cause the dog to vomit, especially if the grass is gulped down rather than chewed.”)

Some grass I enjoy eating, even though I’ve almost died from eating it before, is that grass that’s been piled up for a long time after James goes over our yard with that big machine. It’s been a quite a while since he’s had that available- pretty much since that scary incident I went through from eating it- but if I find it laying around someday the scavenger in me will probably tempt me to eat it again. I know the vet I had to go to a couple years ago said that there’s some sort of bacteria in the rotting grass that just doesn’t agree with me and it made me very sick. I guess James must love me and that’s why he makes sure the clippings are spread around and dried out so they don't have a chance to rot. At least then I can roll around in the soft padding. I still get yelled at when I do that though, because apparently James’ wife uses it to cover her potato hills and mulch into her strawberry patches.

What can I say, I have a grass habit. J Happy Spring Everyone!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

With Spring Fever creeping up on all of us, this rain, and SNOW in some areas, is not something we like to wake up to daily in our Spokane area. However, as the saying goes… April Showers Brings May Grass! Ok- so I changed the saying a bit. J

Although water is good for a lush lawn, there are some downfalls to nature being involved in ‘over-watering’ the lawn. As stated by organolawn.com: “Some signs of over watering are standing water, over abundance of insects, molds, and a shallow root system. Over watering causes the soil to become poorly aerated and increases the lawn’s susceptibility to disease. Too much water fills the soil’s air pockets and makes it so little or no air can reach the root system.” (Read more at http://www.organolawn.com/lawn_tips.php). Of course there is still hope for your yard after all this wet stuff has bogged us down. It is just a matter of taking time and care into making sure your yard has a good plan for recovering. One example would be setting up good drainage or filling up shallow spots with soil. It is also important to kill any pests, weeds, or diseases that you have noticed taking over ASAP. And of course dead spots can always be re-seeded and fertilized to encourage growth. This may seem like a lot of work- but well worth it to fully enjoy your yard all season.

And although the rain can be discouraging- I want to remind everyone that with a hopefully warmer summer coming to remember to take advantage of our natural watering system. It may be a good idea to set up a rain gauge (parhaps a marked coffee can or bucket) so you can measure after a rainfall how much watering has taken place on your lawn. Then you’ll know how much more watering, if any, you’ll need to do yourself which will help to avoid overwatering. According to allaboutlawns.com: “A general rule of thumb is that your lawn should receive at least 1 inch of water per week… Basically, your lawn needs moisture (water), nutrients, and air to grow.” So measuring how much water already has been done on your yard through the natural process of raining, you’ll diminish the problem of watering too much and “saturat[ing] your soil to a point [where] the grass roots lack air and cannot grow deep enough”. (See http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/watering/how-much-should-i-water.php)

Have a great rest of your week and stay dry!

Power Raking VS Dethatching

It is that time of the season where I begin to get calls asking about power raking and dethatching. Many people interchange the two terms and have an idea that they are both the same lawn maintenance procedure. Although power raking and dethatching are similar, they are also two different services that each serve its own purpose for making sure a lawn has optimum growth.

I like how this article on ehow.com explains that although the two concepts are similar, they are different to an extent: "Power raking differs from dethatching in extent. While dethatching tears deeply into the soul, removing both dead layers and healthy root systems, power raking is a gentle process design[ed] to tear out only the grass material at the surface of the soil." See: http://www.ehow.com/about_5114936_power-raking.html#ixzz1qR51M77o

And according to Nutrilawn.com-

"Dethatching and power raking are both performed with the same machine. The difference in the two services is how deep the cutting knives are set on the dethatcher, as well as the type of cutting knives used. Dethatching generally involves the use of flail type blades that are designed to rip out excessive thatch. [Whereas] Power Raking generally involves using fixed knife type blades that slice the thatch as opposed to ripping it out."

See: http://www.nutrilawn.com/Your-Lawn/dethatching-a-power-raking/641.html

I hope this information was helpful... Give me a call and I'd be happy to review with you what you need to have done to make sure you can enjoy your lawn to its fullest extent this season. I use professional equipment to perform the thatch processes and would be happy to discuss with you what other options may be needed to make sure your lawn is lush and healthy.

Have a great day and hopefully the sun will peek out and see us in our Spokane area soon...

Let Me Pay You to Send Me Business!

I have learned over the past couple of years doing business that word of mouth is the best advertising for my services because it speaks not only for the quality of work I do, but for how someone views me as a professional and individual. I would like to reward anyone who can send business my way- regardless if they are my client or not.

This is why I have implemented the new “Referrals Pay” program this year for both clients and non-clients. Whoever you are- send me a referral and I’ll send you a check*!

For example...

Send me a $25 weekly yard I’ll send you a $25 check

Send me a $100 weekly yard I’ll send you a $100 check

Residential or commercial accounts welcome!

* All accounts (referee’s and referrer’s if applicable) must be in good standing after 120 days of new client’s service to be eligible. Rewards only apply for referrals of new accounts to be serviced weekly. Any one person can earn up to $600 in rewards yearly. Checks will be mailed towards the end of October or November dependent on start date of referred account.

Thanks for thinking of me and I look forward to working together often this year- whether I provide you or someone you know with high quality service.  Be sure to have your referral mention that you sent them- so I can gather your info and prepare to pay you!

Have a great day!

James

Owner/Operator of Green Jeans Lawn Service
Servicing the Suncrest, Nine Mile, and North Spokane County Areas
PH: 509.315.6516
Email: greenjeans509@yahoo.com

Spring Cleanup Time!

Ahhh the beauty of spring: Birds chirping, warmth of the sun, and longer days. With the official “first day of spring” coming up on March 20^th it is natural to get the Spring Fever of wanting to be outside and enjoy all of the wonders that refresh us after a long and cold winter.

But wait- Are you seeing an instantly beautiful yard when you take that first step outside after the snow has melted? Ugh- no- you are seeing the dreaded and dead yard debris left over. You feel for your grass while it is struggling to push through and breath. The bare spots and untrimmed areas are disgusting you and overwhelming you. Your overgrown bushes and shrubs are beginning to look like monsters.

Green Jeans Lawn Service would love to be involved in helping you with your spring clean up. There are many things that can be done to ensure the aesthetic enjoyment of your yard through the warmer seasons:

1.       Get your yard dethatched. What is dethatching and why do it? According to www.managemylife.com “Thatch is a layer of living and dead organic matter — primarily grass leaves and stems — that knit together just above the soil surface... When too thick… thatch is water repellent. [You]  may think [you] are watering enough, when in fact the water never reaches the soil…Insects and diseases find thatch a particularly suitable place to inhabit. Since water does not penetrate it readily, neither do pest and disease control products...Finally, because the thickness and density of thatch varies, lawn mowers are more likely to cut unevenly, causing scalping."

2.       Have Core Aerating done on your lawn. You can see why this is important by reading this note according to http://lawn-aerate.com: “When you aerate [your] lawn, you make holes in your yard that allow it to absorb more water, stimulate deeper root growth and reduce soil compaction. A lawn aerator also allows air and nutrients direct access to the root system. By removing cores from your lawn, it gives your soil room for expansion, this reduces stress on the roots and give you a nice looking lawn throughout the year.”

3.       Get your turf fertilized! You can read various reasons why this is a good idea on http://www.american-lawns.com/lawns/why_fertilize.html.  “Turf fertilization contributes greatly to lawn color, density, uniformity, and growth. Properly fertilized grass can compete with weeds and is able recover from damage caused by environmental stresses faster than improperly fertilized lawns.”

4.       Have your bushes and shrubs trimmed and pruned. Trimming and pruning helps encourage growth and blooming, manages the shape of the bush/shrub, and promotes overall health for the plant.

5.       First mow of the season- Get the grass down to a healthy level! 

Green Jeans has promotions available for new clients as well as some great opportunities for current clients! Give us a call or send us an email today!

James Halstead

509.315.6516
greenjeans509@yahoo.com

Hello All-
Although there is snow on the ground here in the beautiful Spokane area, it is not a hinder to thoughts of a promising spring and summer season ahead. 2011 was an interesting year for our weather but I am looking forward to 2012 being a great year of green grass to work with, and great clients to help maintain yards for.

Because this is a new Blog in place, I'd like to introduce myself to those who do not know me. I am James, owner and operator of Green Jeans Lawn Service.

I have been in the lawn care servicing industry for the last 18 years. I have learned and begun to master the arts of mowing, trimming, fertilizing, and general maintenance. Two years ago I branched out to own and operate my own lawn care service company and accomplish the tasks that running a small business entails. Because I am owner and operator of Green Jeans Lawn Service it is my top priority to make sure all my clients (commercial, residential, or one-time need) are treated with the utmost respect and show of responsibility and accountability by both me and any workers I may have associated with me.

As a small business owner, I offer very personalized service with attention to detail. I enjoy working with my customers in making sure they are completely satisfied with what I offer them. I have the necessary requirements to run my business and offer many services to my clients by being licensed, insured, and bonded and by having top of the line equipment. I also have the needed support from my wonderful wife and two young children to keep up with the demands of client needs and office organization, and to encourage me through it all.

I will be offering many promotions to new and current clients this year that I service in the North Spokane, Nine Mile Falls , and Suncrest area. Keep up with this blog for posts on what I can take care of for you, how much you can save on my services, and for interesting tidbits of information on lawn maintenance, lawn equipment, and other related thoughts.

I look forward to getting to know you and to working with you in this new year.

Let Me Maintain Your Yard, You Just Enjoy It!