ILCA May 2005 Landscaping Hints

What to do in May

May is the time for flowers but unfortunately also the time to check for damage causing insects.  Below the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) shares information on the possible demise of our Illinois ash trees which could be the next target for the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

Stretch your flower enjoyment

-- Naturalize daffodil bulbs by removing them from flowerbeds after blooms have faded and immediately transplanting to where they can remain year round such as edges of woods and ground cover beds.  It is not wise to leave bulbs in annual beds, which will receive a lot of water during the summer, so why not 'recycle' them?

Installing a Brick or Paver Walkway

The key to installing a Brick or Paver Walkway is to first
properly prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be
installed. The area should be dug out at least a foot down,
removing all topsoil and clay soil.

Once the area has been dug down, 3/4" gravel stone should be laid in and tamped down tightly. Then sand, or stone dust
should be spread over the gravel. Again the sand/stone dust
should be tamped down. Stone dust is preferred.

I read this on another list and thought it would be of interest. I've used Round-up for years, but never for residual control. Read on...

From the Landscape_Pro_Tips list:

I wonder if any of our Landscapers or professional licensed applicators have
seen the NEW Roundup Extended Control and looked at the formulation? I
wonder if they have added another active ingredient for the extended
control, or simply increased the strength of the mix?

In warm areas, fertilize cool season grasses such as fescue and ryegrass with a fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate every three weeks. This type of fertilizer is fast acting in winter's cool soil conditions.

Source: National Gardening Association

To protect young trees from hungry mice and rabbits eating their bark, wrap trunks with plastic tree wrap. Wrap the covering around the trunk up about 1 foot off the ground and 2 to 3 inches into the soil.

Content provided by the National Gardening Association.

National Gardening Association Tip:

Fall is a good time to tune up your gardening tools. For hand tools such as pruners, trowels and hoes, remove dirt and plant debris, apply all-purpose oil to the wooden handles to preserve them and sharpen the blades.

As temperatures rise, plant growth slows, so there's no need to continue fertilizing or pruning. Wait until temperatures cool before fertilizing and pruning again. Pruning trees and shrubs now can lead to sunburn from exposure to the hot sun.

Ok this is really basic... When ever I start to work somewhere, I start at the farthest possible point and work back to my truck. This is for a couple of reasons.
1) When carrying pruning, leaves etc some will usually fall out on the way. By starting at the end and working closer, you will be cleaning up your mess along the way, not making more.

It Works for Me...

For small 1 gallon hand sprayers that you use for water - cleaned out milk bottles filled with water so you can pour it right into the sprayer.