Common Questions
and Answers

Question concerning arborvitae
Q: I have a question concerning arborvitae. We installed super-nice arborvitaes last fall. The plants looked green and lush at the time. The plants have a lot of browning, I suspect sun damage, although we sprayed them with Wilt-Pruf late in the fall. What can be done about it? Is there a chemical, fertilizer or some product that could be sprayed on the trees to bring the plants back? Is it going to take wrapping them in burlap to protect them during the winter? (e-mail reference Rockford, IL)

A: This is the most commonly asked question about arborvitae. It is winter desiccation that is causing the discoloration. For now, it is a problem you will have to accept. In nearly every case, the arborvitae recovers. I would stay away from using Wilt-Pruf in the future because the product doesn’t seem to do arborvitae any good for some reason. A couple of tricks can be used before winter to help minimize winter damage. Don't baby these plants with perpetual watering right up to freeze-up and do not fertilize the plants any more than absolutely necessary. The objective is to get them "conditioned" for the winter by slowing or stopping cell growth, getting the cell protoplasm more viscous and less apt to be lost to winter desiccation.

Who can I speak with when the Always Greener, Inc. crew is at my property?
All of Always Greener employees speak English. Also for your convenience there is an owner or foreman on site at all times to answer any questions you may have.(e-mail reference Belvidere, IL)  

Do you offer Dethatching?
We do not recommend it,  Dethatching a lawn can stress a lawn out.  The dethatching machine beats 100% of the area it is covering.  This can cause the root system to be uprooted and damaged.  Your lawn is being dethatched while being core aerated, but only every 6 inches, leaving some of the thatch behind and saving the root system.   If you remove all of the thatch from a lawn, you are stealing valuable natural fertilizers.(e-mail reference Roscoe, IL)

The termites are coming! The termites are coming! But they aren't coming in mulch, Please click here to learn more.

Cutting Heights:
There is no one mowing height for all grasses. The general rule to follow is not to cut more than one third of leaf surface off  at once. Leaving the grass longer develops a deep root system, and protection for invading weeds.

*Facts About Grass Clippings.
Using grass clippings as a nutrient source for your lawn can save time and money and protect the environment. Grass clippings don't cause thatch. Leave grass clippings on lawn! Grass clippings are 70 to 80 percent water and contain 4% nitrogen, 2% potassium and 0.5% phosphorus.  Leaving the clippings on the lawn also reduces the amount of waste deposited in our landfills.

When and How Much Water? 
The best time to water your lawn are in early morning and late afternoon when there is generally less wind and heat. The least desirable times are in the heat of the afternoon, when the water evaporates too quickly, and very late in the evening, which can cause the lawn to stay wet all night, encouraging disease development. The amount of water depends on the temperature, soil type & condition. One inch of water will penetrate 12 inches into sandy soil. The same amount will soak in six to ten inches in loam and only four to five inches in clay. Compacted soil will more likely to allow water run off. Grasses need an average of about 2 inches of water weekly to carry on the life cycle. Some grasses will survive on 1 inch. (e-mail reference Rockford, IL)

Dog Spots? 
Well, first of all, I'll assume you want to keep your dog. That being decided, if there are spots in your lawn from where your dog does his duty, there is no magic way to prevent or fix the problem. The spots are caused by the highly acidic urine from the animal. If you can, immediately flush the area with plenty of water after the dog has urinated. This may prevent the spot from dying. If this is not possible, and the area has already turned yellow, then repair is required. Rake out any old grass and use a lawn-patch material or grass seed with a little soil to bring up the level. Keep the repair moist to allow the seed to germinate. 
Some sources suggest that tomato juice in the dog's food will reduce the acid in the urine, although equal amounts of sources say that won't work any better than additives available at pet stores. Another possibility is to create a "dog-run" area that you designate as a Special Spot. Don't even bother to try and grow grass in that zone!

Fairy Ring

Fairy Rings can grow in most grasses, and are distinguishable by circular rings filled with fast-growing, dark-green grass. Around the perimeter of the ring, the grass will typically turn brown and often times grow mushrooms. Fairy rings typically grow in soils that contain wood debris and/or old decaying tree stumps.
The best prevention for fairy ring is to aerate the diseased area, water well in the morning hours, and follow a fertilization schedule to help increase the amount of nitrogen levels in your lawn.
No cure once established

Slime Mold
Question: We have a creamy yellow (creamy tan?) substance on the mulch and some plants in the mulch. It seems to appear after the lawn is watered. At first, we mistook it for animal excrement. When it gets wet, it make a brown powdery dust. What is is??? How can we get rid of it???(e-mail reference Schaumburg, IL)

Answer: What you are likely observing is a type of fungus, called a slime mold. These fungi live on dead organic matter, such as wood mulch. The slime mold is yellow-tan in color and has no definite shape. Although slime molds may grow on plants, they do not harm plants. They thrive in moist conditions, therefore, they may be appearing now as a result of recent watering. Slime molds will eventually disappear on their own



Mushrooms in my yard?
Question:  I need to find a way to get rid of mushrooms that are growing in my yard. Are there any pesticides or home remedies that will kill them? Any help would be appreciated.
(e-mail reference Huntley, IL)

Answer:  Mushrooms do not normally damage grass or other plants. The only problem is aesthetic. In fact, fungi are decomposers, breaking down thatch and other dead matter; 

They can be removed by raking or sweeping, however no compound will kill mushrooms and toadstools without injury to the grass. You will not be rid of the mushrooms until the buried material has completely decayed or until you dig up these pieces of rotting debris.

Why should I mulch?
Weed growth in and around your ornamental borders and gardens can be a major problem. Mulching is a very effective way to help prevent weeds. Mulch deters light from the soil surface and does not give young weeds a firm material to build a root system in. As well as preventing weed growth, organic mulches can help add nutrients to the soil as it decays. A quality weed fabric barrier is often used between the mulch and the soil surface to further inhibit weed growth while allowing water and nutrients to flow to the soil. A layer of 2-5 inches of bark mulch is recommended for a good effective covering. Done right, mulching can eliminate or greatly reduce trimming and weed removing in your lawn and garden. It can also provide a very attractive ground covering in your display beds.

When is a good time to mulch?
Applying mulch can be done anytime through out the year. However, because of the insulating factor mulch possess, there are some seasons it is more desirable. In the cold winter months, if you desire to insulate bulbs, apply it only 1 inch thick in order to assist with insulating the ground to prevent soil warming. Since spring is the planting season, remember to push aside mulch from newly planted seeds, seedlings, and bulbs. In a vegetable garden, mulching should not be done until the tomatoes blossom. In the fall when mulching around transplants, a 5 inch coverage is needed to delay frost penetration, allowing more time for root growth.

Why is there a big flock of Black Birds on my lawn all the time?
Chances are you have an infestation of Sod Webworms and the birds are having a group lunch .  You will also notice small round holes in the sod where they have worked their beaks into the turf.  You may need to treat your lawn with an insecticide. Call today.

Why is there mower tire marks in my lawn?
These stripes result from mowing when the plant is entering the early stages of drought stress. The wheels, mower housing, blade, and/or feet apparently destroy the integrity of the leaves and thus even when the area is watered, the leaves will not green-up. The plant will regrow from the given four weeks or more with regular irrigation or rainfall and the stripes should disappear.  

Why should I aerate my lawn?
Aerating helps to insure that air and water get down to the root zone. It is especially helpful during extremely dry and extremely wet conditions. For example, during periods of heavy rainfall, aerating allows air to penetrate deeply into the soil to dry up excess moisture. Aerating also helps to reduce thatch. The extracted soil cores contain microorganisms that "feed" on dead and decaying plant material (thatch). When the microorganisms come in direct contact with the thatch layer, they break it down, releasing valuable nutrients back into the soil. Call today.

Thank you for you questions,
Send your lawn care questions to:
info@alwaysgreenerlawn.com