Beneficial Insect

A common green lacewing (scientifically known as Chrysoperla rufilabris) is widely used in various situations to control many different pests. Many species of adult lacewings do not kill pest insects, they actually subsist on foods such as nectar, pollen and honeydew. It is their predacious offspring that get the job done.

Record Setting Rains

We have had over 18inches of rain since April which is eight inches above normal at this point. Soils are saturated and we are seeing a lot of root rot problems and fungus problems as a result.

Going into Summer...

If you know in advance that rainfall is not expected for some time, or if you are already in a drought, you need to help protect your garden.
-Mulch everything, including trees and shrubs, to conserve moisture.
-If necessary, only water the most substantial vegetation, such as the trees and shrubs.
-Ignore the lawn, annuals, and perennials, if necessary. The lawn will rejuvenate in the Fall, and the flowers can be replaced.

Do Your Watering Early...

Watering early in the morning (between 4a.m. & 8a.m.), it saves money and water, and keeps a healthier lawn and landscape.
Watering Early:
-reduces water loss from evaporation
-improves soil absorption, so the water gets to the plants roots
-avoids stronger daytime winds that may blow water away

Beneficial Beetles

Lady bugs are actually beetles. They are out in force, and there is nothing lady-like about their
appetite for insects. They eat a wide variety of insects. Scales, aphids, mealybugs, and even mites are consumed by adults and their larvae. Lady bugs come in a wide assortment of sizes, colors, and even shapes. They can be black,orange, red, and even pink. The presence of ladybugs, their larvae, or orange football shaped eggs means that biological control is underway.

Too Much Water?

According to the Irrigation Association, established lawns and landscape only need about an inch of water each week in temperate climates.
Plan to water every two to three days. On watering days:
-set the run time for spray heads to 12-20 minutes
-set the run time on rotors for only 25-40 minutes
-turn your system off or have a rain sensor installed, when there is enough rain to soak the soil

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a group of diseases found on many deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. Often called leaf, shoot, or twig blight, anthracnose results from infection by any of several different fungi. Infections on deciduous plants are more severe in areas where prolonged spring rains occur after new growth is produced. Anthracnose fungi need water to be disseminated and infect; they do not spread under dry conditions.
With careful management, some cultivars of susceptible landscape plants can be grown at a high level of aesthetic quality, despite the presence of anthracnose. For new plantings, choose varieties that are resistant to the anthracnose fungi. Plant them widely apart to maximize air circulation and increase sunlight, both of which facilitate faster drying of leaf surfaces when trees are fully grown. Once symptoms develop or become severe, anthracnose cannot be effectively controlled during the current season. Rake and dispose of fallen leaves and twigs during the growing season and during the fall. Prune during winter to increase air circulation in the canopy and remove the previous season’s infected twigs and branches.

Rain Barrels

Rain water harvesting is important because it decreases the high demand for domestic water in which residential irrigation can account for up to 40% of consumption. By collecting rain water and storing it in a rain barrel you’ll have water for future use, whether it’s for watering the garden or just keeping it on hand for emergency situations.

Japanese Beetles

Japanese beetles adults have been spotted feeding on knockout roses this week.

Scales

Scales are a diverse group of sucking insects that are common pests of ornamental trees and shrubs. These insects vary considerably in color. They can be black, brown, green, gray, orange, yellow, red, or white. Scale is difficult to control. The life stage most susceptible to insecticides is the crawler stage, which typically appears in the Spring. Crawlers can be controlled by oils and contact insecticides, but successful control depends on precise application timing. Scale nearly always act stressed plants.

Outdoor Spaces

J.D. Power ranks outdoor spaces as one of the best home improvement investments, adding up to 20% to a property's value.

Ticks in the Garden

During early spring and summer, as the weather warms up and the garden springs back to life from its winter dormancy, many gardeners -- and ticks -- eagerly return to their outdoor activities. If you are working in your garden you should be aware of the risks and know how to protect themselves from becoming hosts to disease-carrying ticks.
1-Always be alert for ticks during the spring and summer months (April through September) when they are most active.
2-When possible, avoid tick habitats such as tall grass, leaf litter, bushes, and woods.
3-Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against weeds and tall grasses.
4-When working outdoors or in these areas, cover as much skin as possible. Wear long sleeve shirts tucked into pants, and long pants tucked into socks. Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks more easily.
5-When pruning bushes, weeding, or otherwise handling vegetation, wear light-colored gloves and check them often for ticks.
6-Wear close-toed shoes or boots.
7-Keep long hair pulled back.
8-Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on open stone walls.
9-Spray clothes with insect repellant containing DEET or Permethrin (only DEET can be used on bare skin, but not in high concentrations--follow manufacturer's directions).
10-Spot check yourself and others frequently. Don't forget to check pets! If one tick is found, check thoroughly--there may be others.
11-After working outdoors, wash and dry clothing as soon as possible to eliminate unseen ticks. Shower and shampoo, and check skin thoroughly.
12-Keep lawns mowed and underbrush cut and thinned.
13-Clear brush and leaf litter around houses, stone walls, and at the edge of gardens.
14-Stack woodpiles in an open, dry location preferably off the ground.

Lace Bugs

Lace bugs are small insects, 1/4 to 1/8 inch long, broad, flattened and somewhat rectangular in shape. Their bodies are usually brown or black, but their wings are partially transparent and lace-like.

Lace bugs damage plants by inserting their piercing-sucking mouthparts into the underside of leaves and withdrawing chlorophyll and other plant fluids. Females generally cause more damage than males. The upper surface of lightly-infested leaves has a white-dotted, or stippled appearance.

Plants that are commonly attacked include azalea, hawthorn, lantana, oak, pyracantha and sycamore.

Please contact us if you begin seeing this type of damage to your plants, so we can begin treating for this insect.

Irrigation

With all of the rain we have been having make sure your irrigation is not running too often. Plants should be moist, not wet. You may find that the irrigation system is not needed at this point in the year, because rain water has been sufficient for your garden.

Rejuvenating Your Garden

Even in an increasingly challenging world, you continue to want to nurture and make beautiful your garden. The Scott Brinitzer Design Associates team understands this tension and would like to offer you a constructive manner to improve your garden while avoiding a costly or full-scale redesign.
Guided by the eye of a good designer, you can find your garden's theme that may have been lost over the years, establish a theme that was never clearly defined, provide a needed cleanup to the garden or make the most of that overgrown patio you have. It will also increase the value of your home.
Set up a consultation and ensure your garden's makeover is a success!
We suggest you read Adrian Higgins article 'A Guide to Sprucing Up the Yard on a Budget' that appeared in the Washington Post on March 19, 2009. We hope it will spark some great ideas on how to rejuvenate your garden. Please see the article at:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/18/AR2009031801496.html?nav=emailpage
Contact us at your convenience, so we can help you attain your landscaping goals on a budget you feel at ease with.

Protecting your Hands

While gardening it is important that you protect your hands. Your hands are your most valuable tool when it comes to working in the garden. Purchase a pair of gloves which are comfortable and durable to keep your hands safe.

Featured in Home & Design

Scott Brinitzer Design Associates was recently featured in Home & Design in the Editor's Picks article. You can visit the website using this link:
http://www.homeanddesign.com/content.asp?admin=Y&contentid=923.
Click on the second thumbnail at the bottom for a virtual tour of our gardens.