Will Rogers once said “If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute and it’ll change.”  That has definitely been the case lately.  We have bounced from flooding rains to very hot and dry conditions, back to flooding rains all in the course of 30 days. Today as I write this blog we have more rain coming down, but also have a forecast that includes an excessive heat warning for the next couple days!

While all the back and forth weather can make it hard to spend time at the lake or plan that backyard bar-b-que with the neighbors, it can also have a negative impact on your lawn and landscape.

One common problem that creeps up this time of year is Brown Patch in Fescue lawns.  Brown Patch is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Brown Patch is more prevalent when temperatures are above 85, when humidity is high and when soil is moist for extended periods of time.  It can be spread by wind, animals, foot traffic, mowers or just about anything that is exposed to the fungus.  Left untreated it will cause an otherwise healthy stand of Fescue to deteriorate quickly, leaving your lawn bare and unsightly.  The good news is that it can be controlled with applications of a fungicide.  LawnAmerica offers both preventative and curative applications.  A fungicide application will generally offer 3-4 weeks of control under normal conditions.  If conditions stay excessively warm and moist, repeat applications may be needed sooner.  Give us a call or email if you suspect that your lawn is suffering from Brown Patch.

Bermuda grass can also be affected by extended periods of rain.  In most cases Bermuda grass lawns tend to lose some of their green color.  This usually isn’t because of a lack of fertilizer, but can be attributed to mowing practices. We all know the drill, it keeps raining, and the grass keeps getting taller and taller.  So what do you do? You cut it as short as you can, not knowing when the next opportunity to mow will come.  In some cases more than half the height of the grass is removed.  As a general rule of thumb, when mowing you should remove no more than 1/3 of the height of the grass in a single mowing.  Anytime more than 1/3 of the grass is removed, the turf can become stressed and have a pale green or even brown appearance.  The good news is that as the grass begins to grow again the color will return.

There is an alternative to scalping your lawn in between storms, it is a product called Primo Maxx. Primo Maxx is a turf grass regulator that actually slows down how fast your lawn grows.  It is applied as blanket spray to the entire lawn and can reduce the amount you have to mow by more than half.  Primo Maxx temporarily alters the way grass grows, causing it to spread laterally, rather than getting taller.  It not only reduces the frequency that you have to mow but also leaves Bermuda grass lawns looking thicker and healthier. And when you do have to mow there is less of the grass plant that has to be removed, therefore the lawn retains a better color.  If you haven’t tried Primo Maxx for yourself, you should.  Once you do, you will fall in love with it.

Primo Maxx can be applied as early as May. Some people opt for one application each season to help keep their lawn from getting too tall while on vacation.  Others take full advantage of Primo Maxx by having it applied every 6 weeks through the course of the summer months.

Last but not least, excessive rain can cause pre-emergents to break down prematurely opening up your lawn to spotty crabgrass.  LawnAmerica uses the pre-emergent Barricade, because it has the overall best performance for preventing weeds and lasting the longest.  We apply Barricade at a rate to offer 6 to 8 months of control, but as with all pre-emergents on the market, the length of control is dependent on heat and moisture.  If you are experiencing some breakthrough of crabgrass, or any other weeds for that matter, go ahead and give us a call or email.  We are more than happy to come back between regular applications to spot treat your lawn.  Remember for our full service customers (5,6, 0r 7 step) service calls are no charge.

If you have noticed any of the issues we mentioned, or have something else going in your lawn that you need diagnosed, just let us know.  We love helping you Make Your Neighborhood More Beautiful! You can go here to sign up for the optional Primo service.

AT2010 Update

I just wanted to take a minute and update everyone on our AT2010 – Compassionate Journey.  Brad has been hiking the Appalachian Trail since May 28th.  He is currently around Catawba Mountain – Just outside of Roanoke, Virginia.  He has met a lot of interesting people and got some great pictures, but beyond that we have raised over $67,730 of $100,000 goal.  This money is being raised for great organizations like The Little Light House, Folds of Honor, Young Life-Rogers, Habitat for Humanity, and The Salvation Army.  If you would like to donate to one of these great organizations or would like to keep up Brad’s progress – go to www.at2010tulsa.com.