It feels like summer is almost here in the Carolina’s with temperatures holding steady in the 80′s and some days climbing close to 90 degrees!  

If you haven’t already turned on your irrigation system, now is the time to do so!  The next step, determine if your system is working at its full potential and ready to tackle the demands of the summer season! 

We recommend hiring a landscaping professional to visually inspect each zone of your system to pinpoint problem areas, clean clogged nozzles or sprinkler heads and make any required repairs or adjustments.  Re-programming of the irrigation controller may also be necessary in order to accommodate increased watering schedules. 

During normal usage, sprinkler heads can become mis-aligned and out of adjustment which could lead to inconsistent watering throughout your landscape.  Simply adjusting the sprinkler heads so they water your landscape and not sidewalks or pavement will make a huge difference.  Also, making sure their spray isn’t blocked by plants or other materials will lead to the ultimate goal…accurate spray patterns.

 Leaking heads, broken sprinklers and lateral or mainline leaks can also lead to large amounts of wasted water.  It’s essential to fix these items immediately as the cost of repairs will be much lower than the amount of water that is wasted.  With the continued possibility of water restrictions during the summer months, our goal at Green Earth Landscaping, Inc. is to alleviate leaks in the systems we maintain, promoting water conservation throughout our communities.

Protecting your investment, while conserving our natural resources, is Green Earth Landscaping, Inc.’s top priority!

Fire ants can be very dangerous to sensitive individuals as well as children and pets.  If you accidentally step on a mound, the ants will rush to the surface and attack in mass.  When they sting, they inject venom that creates a burning sensation.  If you notice fire ant mounds on or around your property, treatments should be made to slow or stop infestations immediately.

Top Choice is the best fire ant control with a guaranteed control of one year.  However, there are other options such as mound baits which are more cost effective but they only control for 30-45 days.  Regardless of which treatment option you choose, our goal at Green Earth Landscaping, Inc. is to help you control your environment in order to protect your family and pets from these dangerous pests!

How you attack weeds throughout your property, depends upon which type of weed you have.  Turf weeds fall under three broad categories:

• Unwanted grasses
• Grass like plants called sedges 
• Broadleaf plants

Most weeds are either annuals or perennials.  Annuals complete their life cycle in one season and reproduce from seeds.  Perennials live several years and spread underground as well as by seed, making them harder to control.  Crabgrass, common in the Charlotte area, is an annual weed that thrives in lawns mowed shorter than 2 inches, underfed lawns and those watered frequently and lightly.  The best way to control weeds is to grow a thick, vigorous lawn.  Dense, healthy grass crowds out weeds and blocks the sunlight their seeds need to germinate.    

To achieve healthy turf, a yearly fertilization and weed control regimen including applications of fertilizers and herbicides can stop weed problems before they have a chance to start.  Pre-Emergent herbicides kill germinating seeds before seedlings break through the soil…crabgrass is the primary target!  Post-Emergent herbicides kill existing weeds that are actively growing.  Post-Emergent herbicides come in two basic forms: contact and systemic.  Contact herbicides kill only the part of the plant they touch, which is best for annual weeds.  Systemic herbicides circulate inside the plant, killing the whole thing.  Systemic herbicides are more effective than contact herbicides on perennial weeds but repeat treatments may be necessary.

The frequency and timing of your fertilization efforts are crucial to achieving desired results…consistency is key!  Contact Green Earth Landscaping, Inc. today – Our knowledgable staff will meet with you to customize a yearly fertilization and weed control program tailored to suit your properties needs.  The results will definitely justify the cost!

Lime is applied to the soil to increase the soil pH.  Soil pH, a measure of the soils acidity or alkalinity, can directly influence the vigor and quality of the the lawn.  When the pH is below 7.0, the soil is acidic – When it is above 7.0 it is alkaline.  For turfgrass, a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal.

Several factors cause the formation of acidic soil conditions.  The primary cause is the leaching of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium from the soil.  Another cause is the use of acidifying nitrogen fertilizers.  Most of the fertilizer applications will affect soil pH in a number of ways including:

• Type of nitrogen applied
• Amount applied
• Types of nutrients present in the fertilizer
• Soil type
• Irrigation frequency

When the soil pH drops below 6.0, a number of nutrients necessary for proper growth become less available for use by the turfgrass.  These nutrients include:

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Sulfur
• Calcium
• Magnesium

As these nutrients become less available, the lawn’s color, vigor and ability to resist or recover from heat, drought or stress will be reduced.  Applications of enough lime to raise the soil pH above 6.0 can increase the availability of these nutrients, making it easier to maintain the quality and vigor of the lawn.  The key to the liming process is utilizing a soil test to determine whether or not liming is needed plus how much lime will be required to reach the desired pH.  A state or commercial soil testing laboratory can perform the test and make accurate recommendations based upon the soil report. 

**NOTE: A soil pH above 8.0 is just as undesirable as a pH below 6.0.  When in doubt, utilize a landscape company or soil testing facility to provide you with the correct information for liming and fertilization – not all lime materials and fertilizers are created equal.  Guessing can cause more harm than good.

1. Assess the available light, moisture, and soil pH at your planting site.
2. Have your soil tested to learn the pH and whether the soil needs to be improved.
3. Choose native plants which match your site conditions. Use our list of native plant recommendations as a guide.

Green Earth Landscaping, of Indian Trail, is managed by a professional team of expert landscape technicians. Owner Edward Dubisz is personally involved in the planning of each new project.

You can be assured your commercial or residential property will be professionally detailed with Green Earth Landscaping on your side. Remember, landscaping with native plants is art imitating nature. For ideas, look to a nearby natural area to observe how native plants naturally occur.