Soil Test for Lawn Success

Use a soil test to determine what deficiencies may exist in the soil. Soil is made up of a combination of sand, silt, clay, air, water and organic matter. Organic matter is the universal soil improver, helping the soil hold moisture and nutrients. Key results we look at are the soil pH, the ratio of calcium to magnesium and level of calcium and the the important Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). The CEC is a measure of the soil’s ability to hold and exchange cations such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. Also important, the Percent Base Saturation (next to the CEC on the UMASS Soil Test Report) shows values for potassium (target 2 to 5%), magnesium (target 10 to 15%) and calcium (target 65 to 75%).
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Fall Pests

Fall brings rodents coming back in during cooler weather and longer nights. Inspect the outside of garage and basement doors for worn seals and replace or repair. Exclusion is the single most effective tool in combating rodent infestations and the foundation of an integrated pest management plan for mice.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Powder Post Beetles

Powderpost beetles. These destructive pests show evidence of their presence by the small exit holes, compare to a push pin hole, and by the presence of frass, or a powdery like sawdust falling from a hole or void. These beetles can occur in new or old homes, but are most commonly found in older homes built with field dried timber and with high air moisture. Activity levels are driven by humidity level of wood and temperature. The good news is, exposed untreated, unvarnished or unpainted timbers can be treated with a boric acid material sprayed onto the wood, which acts as a stomach toxicant for the larva (or destructive) stage. The humidity can then be addressed with a high efficiency dehumidifier.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Soil Conditioner

Aerations are underway at many customer lawns. If you are considering aerating your lawn, make sure you also overseed at the same time. An additional step that can vastly improve your lawn is the addition of soil conditioner. A soil conditioner can be many different types, and is used to improve drainage while improving water retention. We use the Turface brand soil conditioner, specifically Emerald Field and Fairway to permanently improve soil conditions at customer sites.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Rainy Days and Rainwater Harvesting

On rainy days like today, my thoughts go to rainwater harvesting. A roof will collect around a gallon of water per square foot of area during a one inch rainstorm. The metro Boston area receives 40 to 55 inches of rain annually, with around 30 to 40 inches occurring during the catchment time of year (spring to fall). For a 1.97 inch rainfall event on a 900 square foot (30x30 residential home) roof, catchment could be calculated as follows. 900 x 0.5 gallons/in. rain/sq. ft. = 886 gallons/4 downspouts= around 221 gallons available to store per downspout. Over a season, each gutter might produce up to 4400 gallons to store. Pictured to the right is a traditional rain box set up in a 3 box combination with offset diverter and gravel bed with steel edging. Each rain box can hold 75 gallons, or 225 gallons per 3 box set up.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Spiders

In late summer spider populations can become noticeable and may aggravate some people with their presence in and around structures. Integrated pest management is critical to spider control. After identifying the type of spider causing the problem through an inspection, steps should be taken to prevent spiders from entering. That includes sealing entry holes, caulking around windows and doors and screening windows. In addition, switching the lighting to "bug" lights (yellow bulbs) or on commercial buildings using sodium vapor instead of mercury vapor lamps. Reducing and eliminating clutter, such as stored items, books, boxes, lumber, will reduce spiders. Outside, keep turf and lawn areas mowed, and keep vegetation off the structure. Inside, utilize a dehumidifier in humid areas, such as basements. Most important, remove spider webs and egg sacs with either a vacuum or a brush.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Green News

Recently Sean was interviewed by the Lowell Sun as part of the Green Column written by Hiroko Sato. You can link directly to the column in the Lowell Sun here. It discusses integrated pest management, the employment of cultural, mechanical, physical as well as chemical strategies to manage pest populations.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.