Grounds Maintenance Blog

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the rise in the tick population this year. There are a couple factors that have contributed to this upswing in the population. First, the recent mild winter’s void of snow and ice and prolonged deep freeze periods has extended the lifecycle of the ticks.

The two most common species of surface insects that can destroy your lawn are billbugs and chinch bugs. The damage occurs typically in the hot summer months when the turf is already stressed out, but can also occur in wet weather.

I have a puppy. Well, I have an 8-month-old, 65 pound yellow Labrador Retriever (her name is Abby). In fact, I’ve always had dogs. Man’s best friend indeed!

Did you happen to hear a lot of noise this past May and June coming from the trees around your office building or home? That unique noise was the periodical, or 17-year, cicadas.I find it fascinating that periodical cicadas started as eggs back in 1999 and lived underground in the nymphal stage, feeding on sap from tree roots until recently emerging in 2016.

A grub is the larval stage in the life cycle of various types of flying beetles. The three most common species of white grubs in North America are Japanese beetle grubs, June beetle grubs and European chafer beetle grubs. Grub worm damage is usually the worst in September and October when they migrate to the soil surface.

Early spring is the time to be aware of Viburnum Leaf Beetle and treat your plants to prevent them from breeding and damaging your shrubs. Viburnum leaf beetle attack Arrowwood and European cranberrybush which are Viburnums in the tri-lobe family.

If you're mystified by tiny, black spots appearing on your property's siding, wooden deck, windows, plants, rocks or other surfaces, there's a chance you may be encountering shotgun fungus (also called artillery fungus).