SHEPHERD LAWN CARE
LATEST NEWS & SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATES
LATEST NEWS & SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATES
SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATE Aug 16 to Sept 10
PLEASE NOTE - Our office will be closed from Aug 14th to Aug 21st. We will return all phone calls and emails after that. We will be starting our late summer aeration and seeding services starting Aug 23rd and it should take us about 3 weeks to get through everyone. The lawns have really dried out over the last week with very little rain and extremely high temperatures. We are seeing some localized dry areas and browning caused by this. The other problem we have been seeing in the week is lawn rust. This is a fungus that leaves rust coloured spots on the grass and stains your shoes an orange tint. This is weather related and is caused by cool, damp nights and warm dry days. Increase your watering and raise your mower and this problem usually outgrows itself in a couple weeks. Believe it or not, once we are done the aerations we will be starting the Fall (and final) service. Where did the Summer go? Stay safe and enjoy what's left of the year.
PLEASE NOTE - Our office will be closed from Aug 14th to Aug 21st. We will return all phone calls and emails after that. We will be starting our late summer aeration and seeding services starting Aug 23rd and it should take us about 3 weeks to get through everyone. The lawns have really dried out over the last week with very little rain and extremely high temperatures. We are seeing some localized dry areas and browning caused by this. The other problem we have been seeing in the week is lawn rust. This is a fungus that leaves rust coloured spots on the grass and stains your shoes an orange tint. This is weather related and is caused by cool, damp nights and warm dry days. Increase your watering and raise your mower and this problem usually outgrows itself in a couple weeks. Believe it or not, once we are done the aerations we will be starting the Fall (and final) service. Where did the Summer go? Stay safe and enjoy what's left of the year.
SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATE June 24th to Aug 6th
We will be starting the next service on June 24th (about a week ahead of schedule). We start with the programs that have weed control and work through them first. This will take about a month. We will be starting in Mississauga (about 1 week), then Georgetown (about 2 weeks), and the rest of the areas (about 1 week). This service will include fertilizer and both weed control and insect control so please check the instructions on your service notice. After these are all done we will be doing the programs without weed control and that should take us a week or 2 to complete. Please note, if lawns are not being watered and they are brown and dormant when we do the next service we can not treat them. We will leave a note to let you know this with the option for you to water until the lawn is green and then call us or we will complete this service and do a heavier fertilizing in the Fall. If any of this schedule changes I will update things here, so check back anytime. With some good weather we should be right on track with service if not a bit ahead of where we normally are.
July 4th UPDATE - In the last week and a half we've had a few rain days (and a few extreme heat days coming up) where we have stayed close to home and worked on a few services in Georgetown. So, although things are a little out of order from what was planned we are getting through the services on schedule. I will likely be in Georgetown Mon/Tues (July 5th and 6th) and the rest of the week finishing up Mississauga. On days where the weather is questionable or an extreme heat day when I can't get a full day in I usually work on services in Georgetown. It has been a bit of a challenge working around the very unpredictable weather lately so a nice stretch of decent weather would really be nice. I will update again next week, stay tuned, raise your mower, and keep on top of the watering.
July 18th UPDATE - It has definitely been a challenge with rain in the forecast almost every day for the past 2 weeks but rest assured we are plugging away at the next round of weed control programs. I should be in Georgetown most of this coming week and hopefully get the majority of the services done as long as the weather cooperates. We have been getting a lot of calls and emails about mushrooms in the lawns. Mushrooms need 3 things; organic matter in the soil, steady moisture, and heat. We've had all three for a few weeks so you will be seeing a lot of mushrooms. It's a sign of a healthy soil with adequate moisture so there isn't anything we can or should do about it. Another problem we are seeing popping up lately (also because of wet, hot weather conditions is a fungus disease called dollar spot. Small circular areas of dead grass is the main sign. There are no products registered for this and it usually fills back in on its own when the weather changes. If not, a Fall seeding might be needed.
July 26th UPDATE - More days of rain in the forecast this week but we are working on the next service as fast as we can. I should be in Georgetown South most of the week.
We will be starting the next service on June 24th (about a week ahead of schedule). We start with the programs that have weed control and work through them first. This will take about a month. We will be starting in Mississauga (about 1 week), then Georgetown (about 2 weeks), and the rest of the areas (about 1 week). This service will include fertilizer and both weed control and insect control so please check the instructions on your service notice. After these are all done we will be doing the programs without weed control and that should take us a week or 2 to complete. Please note, if lawns are not being watered and they are brown and dormant when we do the next service we can not treat them. We will leave a note to let you know this with the option for you to water until the lawn is green and then call us or we will complete this service and do a heavier fertilizing in the Fall. If any of this schedule changes I will update things here, so check back anytime. With some good weather we should be right on track with service if not a bit ahead of where we normally are.
July 4th UPDATE - In the last week and a half we've had a few rain days (and a few extreme heat days coming up) where we have stayed close to home and worked on a few services in Georgetown. So, although things are a little out of order from what was planned we are getting through the services on schedule. I will likely be in Georgetown Mon/Tues (July 5th and 6th) and the rest of the week finishing up Mississauga. On days where the weather is questionable or an extreme heat day when I can't get a full day in I usually work on services in Georgetown. It has been a bit of a challenge working around the very unpredictable weather lately so a nice stretch of decent weather would really be nice. I will update again next week, stay tuned, raise your mower, and keep on top of the watering.
July 18th UPDATE - It has definitely been a challenge with rain in the forecast almost every day for the past 2 weeks but rest assured we are plugging away at the next round of weed control programs. I should be in Georgetown most of this coming week and hopefully get the majority of the services done as long as the weather cooperates. We have been getting a lot of calls and emails about mushrooms in the lawns. Mushrooms need 3 things; organic matter in the soil, steady moisture, and heat. We've had all three for a few weeks so you will be seeing a lot of mushrooms. It's a sign of a healthy soil with adequate moisture so there isn't anything we can or should do about it. Another problem we are seeing popping up lately (also because of wet, hot weather conditions is a fungus disease called dollar spot. Small circular areas of dead grass is the main sign. There are no products registered for this and it usually fills back in on its own when the weather changes. If not, a Fall seeding might be needed.
July 26th UPDATE - More days of rain in the forecast this week but we are working on the next service as fast as we can. I should be in Georgetown South most of the week.
SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATE June 16th - June 30th
I'm writing this on June 13th and we have a couple more days of programs with weed control to complete. The weather looks good so we should be able to get everyone done right on schedule. This means on June 16th we will be starting the second service of all our customers that did not order weed control. This service will be fertilizer and Top Gun (our organic grass and weed killer we use on driveways, walkways and patios). Normally this service will take us until the end of June to complete but there were not many customers that didn't order weed control this year so I'm quite confident we will be done before this. This will put us slightly ahead of schedule compared to a normal year and we can get started on the 3rd service as soon as we are done these ones. The only real problem I've been seeing out there the past few weeks is lawns being cut too short and lawns that are not get enough water. Most customers should have received or will be receiving our watering and cutting info sheet, so please look it over and follow the instructions. The long range forecast shows very little rain in the next 2 weeks so get your sprinklers out there if you haven't already. We fertilize lawns according to the moisture level and their fertilizer needs so if we show up and the lawn is brown and dry, to prevent damage to the lawn we will skip the fertilizing and do a heavier one in the Fall. Once a lawn has gone brown and dormant, it needs water, not fertilizer to bring it out of dormancy. Most lawns can handle being dormant for about 4 weeks during the Summer before it starts causing permanent damage so please keep up with your watering if you want a healthy lawn all Summer long.
I'm writing this on June 13th and we have a couple more days of programs with weed control to complete. The weather looks good so we should be able to get everyone done right on schedule. This means on June 16th we will be starting the second service of all our customers that did not order weed control. This service will be fertilizer and Top Gun (our organic grass and weed killer we use on driveways, walkways and patios). Normally this service will take us until the end of June to complete but there were not many customers that didn't order weed control this year so I'm quite confident we will be done before this. This will put us slightly ahead of schedule compared to a normal year and we can get started on the 3rd service as soon as we are done these ones. The only real problem I've been seeing out there the past few weeks is lawns being cut too short and lawns that are not get enough water. Most customers should have received or will be receiving our watering and cutting info sheet, so please look it over and follow the instructions. The long range forecast shows very little rain in the next 2 weeks so get your sprinklers out there if you haven't already. We fertilize lawns according to the moisture level and their fertilizer needs so if we show up and the lawn is brown and dry, to prevent damage to the lawn we will skip the fertilizing and do a heavier one in the Fall. Once a lawn has gone brown and dormant, it needs water, not fertilizer to bring it out of dormancy. Most lawns can handle being dormant for about 4 weeks during the Summer before it starts causing permanent damage so please keep up with your watering if you want a healthy lawn all Summer long.
SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATE MAY 12th to June 11th (extended to June 15th)
We are now working on all programs with weed control for the next 4 weeks. We will be mostly in Mississauga for the first week to 10 days, then 2-3 weeks in Georgetown/Acton. The last week will be getting the other areas done. The exception will be if there is rain in the forecast and we can't do weed controls, we will work in some of the programs without weed control. I realize everyone loses their minds about dandelions this time of year but as mentioned below, the ones that are blooming now will continue to bloom and go to seed even if they are sprayed. After blooming they shrivel up and die. It's the new ones that germinate later that we can kill with the products available today. The best thing you can do now is raise up your mower so the grass is never less than 3 inches and make sure you stay on top of the watering all season long. If we get all the weed controls done by June 11th, we will be slightly ahead of schedule compared to an average season and about a month ahead of schedule compared to last year (but that was due a COVID lockdown).
MAY 30th UPDATE
The first couple weeks of weed control applications have been plagued with extreme heat (Fiesta can't be applied in temperatures over 30C), a couple of rain days, and believe it or not, a SNOW day. We won't likely be getting all the weed controls done by June 11th as hoped but rest assured we are working through them as quick as we can. I hope to get all of Georgetown/Acton done by June 9th and all the rest of the areas that are left by June 15th at the latest. This puts us right on schedule for a normal year. There are not very many programs without weed control this year so I should get all the second services done by June 25th which puts us back to a week ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Please keep in mind that all these estimates are based on some decent weather. I will update again if any of this changes.
We are now working on all programs with weed control for the next 4 weeks. We will be mostly in Mississauga for the first week to 10 days, then 2-3 weeks in Georgetown/Acton. The last week will be getting the other areas done. The exception will be if there is rain in the forecast and we can't do weed controls, we will work in some of the programs without weed control. I realize everyone loses their minds about dandelions this time of year but as mentioned below, the ones that are blooming now will continue to bloom and go to seed even if they are sprayed. After blooming they shrivel up and die. It's the new ones that germinate later that we can kill with the products available today. The best thing you can do now is raise up your mower so the grass is never less than 3 inches and make sure you stay on top of the watering all season long. If we get all the weed controls done by June 11th, we will be slightly ahead of schedule compared to an average season and about a month ahead of schedule compared to last year (but that was due a COVID lockdown).
MAY 30th UPDATE
The first couple weeks of weed control applications have been plagued with extreme heat (Fiesta can't be applied in temperatures over 30C), a couple of rain days, and believe it or not, a SNOW day. We won't likely be getting all the weed controls done by June 11th as hoped but rest assured we are working through them as quick as we can. I hope to get all of Georgetown/Acton done by June 9th and all the rest of the areas that are left by June 15th at the latest. This puts us right on schedule for a normal year. There are not very many programs without weed control this year so I should get all the second services done by June 25th which puts us back to a week ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Please keep in mind that all these estimates are based on some decent weather. I will update again if any of this changes.
SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATE APRIL 19 to May5 - extended to May 11
We just finished up the Spring fertilizing for all our customers except any new ones we have picked up in the last few days and they will be done this week. We are also officially FULL, at capacity and can not take on any new customers. We will still honor any quotes we have done recently and any customers that have not yet renewed but at some time soon we will have to close the door on those too. Last year we filled up by the end of the season but this is the first time we have reached capacity this early. For this, all we can say is THANK YOU. We are humbled by your support and loyalty. Thank you. For anyone interested in our services we will still be giving out quotes and will be starting a waiting list for Fall fertilizings and service for next year. Now the update on our services - For the next 2-3 weeks we will be doing seeding and repairs. It's a little cold yet but hopefully in a week or two things will warm up and the seeds will take off. Once the seeding is done we will be starting the programs with weed control. This puts us still a week or two ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Last year we had some of the best weed control results and we didn't start weed spraying until the end of May because of the lock down and late start. I know everyone goes crazy when the dandelions start blooming but the large, over-wintered ones that are blooming won't be killed by the weed spray and are going to shrivel up and die after blooming anyway. A later weed spray will get many of the just germinated weeds and produce better results than one that is done too early.
May 5th to May 11th - Although we had hoped to get done all the seeding by May 5th we have had to extend that until May 11th. In the last 2-1/2 weeks we have lost a couple days to rain, a day to extreme wind, a day to SNOW (boo) and a half a day to COVID Vaccine side effects (Yay). We generally don't get our seeding done until May 15th so we are still ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Here's hoping for some warmer weather and some sunshine ahead.
We just finished up the Spring fertilizing for all our customers except any new ones we have picked up in the last few days and they will be done this week. We are also officially FULL, at capacity and can not take on any new customers. We will still honor any quotes we have done recently and any customers that have not yet renewed but at some time soon we will have to close the door on those too. Last year we filled up by the end of the season but this is the first time we have reached capacity this early. For this, all we can say is THANK YOU. We are humbled by your support and loyalty. Thank you. For anyone interested in our services we will still be giving out quotes and will be starting a waiting list for Fall fertilizings and service for next year. Now the update on our services - For the next 2-3 weeks we will be doing seeding and repairs. It's a little cold yet but hopefully in a week or two things will warm up and the seeds will take off. Once the seeding is done we will be starting the programs with weed control. This puts us still a week or two ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Last year we had some of the best weed control results and we didn't start weed spraying until the end of May because of the lock down and late start. I know everyone goes crazy when the dandelions start blooming but the large, over-wintered ones that are blooming won't be killed by the weed spray and are going to shrivel up and die after blooming anyway. A later weed spray will get many of the just germinated weeds and produce better results than one that is done too early.
May 5th to May 11th - Although we had hoped to get done all the seeding by May 5th we have had to extend that until May 11th. In the last 2-1/2 weeks we have lost a couple days to rain, a day to extreme wind, a day to SNOW (boo) and a half a day to COVID Vaccine side effects (Yay). We generally don't get our seeding done until May 15th so we are still ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Here's hoping for some warmer weather and some sunshine ahead.
SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATE MARCH 22 to APRIL 22
We are starting with the Spring fertilizer on the lawns as of March 22nd. It usually takes us 3 to 4 weeks to get through everyone so if we don't have to stop too many times for rain or snow we should be done by April 22nd. After that we will be starting the seeding for a couple weeks and then on to the first weed control applications. No need to worry if your lawn hasn't been cleaned up yet as the granular fertilizer will just work its' way toward the soil surface if your clean up is done after. If you haven't renewed yet, please do as soon as possible. We will likely have to start turning away people at some point this year.
APRIL 2nd UPDATE - We currently have 2 part weeks of lawn services done and almost halfway through. This upcoming week (April 5th to 9th) we will be mostly in the Delrex area of Georgetown and working towards Georgetown South near the end of the week and into the week after.
APRIL 11th UPDATE - We currently have 3 weeks of Spring services complete and we are about 3/4 of the way done. This means we have a little over a week left of Spring services. The upcoming week looks like a lot of rain so we likely won't be getting everyone done until closer to April 22. This will put us right on schedule from what we predicted when we started and about 2 weeks ahead of schedule compared to a normal year. Once we are done the Spring fertilizings we will be doing seeding for about 2 weeks, then moving on to the first round of weed controls.
We are starting to see some grubs near the surface and some animals digging and looking for them. The grubs only feed at the surface for a couple weeks this time of year, then go deep in the soil to pupate. They come out of the ground in June, lay eggs and die. The eggs hatch out in July/Aug and this is the stage where they can be killed. We don't treat grubs in the Spring because it is completely ineffective and just wastes your money. If you have animals digging in the Spring the best solution is to lay down a piece of bird netting (available online and at Canadian Tire) on the area where they are digging and this will stop it immediately. Many people that apply a grub control in the Spring think it actually works because the grubs disappear after a couple weeks but its actually just part of their natural cycle.
We are also seeing some vole damage where they tunneled through the lawn under the snow. This damage usually just fills right in on its own and you don't need to do anything.
Over the next couple weeks we should see the lawns start to green up nicely. Many people think it's the fertilizer that greens up the lawns in the Spring but the main factor that greens up the lawn is soil temperature. This is why some lawns green up right away and some take much longer. A nice thick lawn that was left long for the winter will be much better insulated and therefore take longer to green up in the Spring. A short, thin lawn will green up much faster in the Spring but it will brown off much quicker in the heat of Summer.
Check back next week for another update.
