The Prudent Pruning Company | Owner: Wendy Ray | Contact Us At (608) 577-4711 | wendy@prudentpruning.com
When is the right time to prune a birch tree?
Birch (Betula) has a tendency to bleed heavily so timing is crucial. The best time to prune is when dormant - late summer to prior to mid-winter. Because birch is also vulnerable to bracket and rot fungi, hard pruning is not a recommended practice. When planting your birch select a site that allows your birch to grow at its will so pruning can be kept to a minimum.
Why should I aerate versus dethatching my lawn?
Thatch can become a problem in lawns that are chemically treated and have lawn clippings left to decompose after mowing. While ordinarily lawn clippings are a nutritious addition for lawns, over chemically treated lawns often have killed off all the components that would decompose any humus, and therefore lack the ability to utilize the clippings. Instead, all the clippings just sit on top of the lawn and create a great big thick layer of thatch. This thatch layer insulates against oxygen, nutrients, and water reaching down deep into the turf root system, which is exactly where healthy lawns need it.
Dethatching was a very commonly used practice several years ago. Many of us remember our parents using dethatching machines on our lawns when we were younger. However, dethatching, while it does do a great job on reducing thatch levels, can actually harm the lawn by also pulling out the healthy grass roots. This can be especially damaging on young lawns that were originally sodded, or lawns with a very weak root system.
Core aerating, on the other hand, has several advantages. A core aerating machine reduces thatch problems by actually pulling out plugs of dirt and grass approximately 2-3 inches deep. This leaves holes in the turf that allow air and nutrients to get down deeper into the grass roots, resulting in a stronger root system for the turf. It also helps ease soil compaction by allowing the dirt to expand itself into those plug holes. Finally, a good, quality aerating machine does little damage to any roots surrounding the plug holes.
I use corn gluten as a pre-emergent weed control product on my grass. I still have a weed problem, though. Why isn't it working?
Corn gluten is an excellent organic weed control product. It works as a pre-emergent weed controller by preventing seeds from germinating. It does require that you use it absolutely correctly, however, in order to see results.
First of all, timing is critical. Application must be made before the seeds germinate, or obviously it's not going to do much good! The first application should be made sometime around mid-April. Supposedly weed seeds don't start germinating until mid-May, but all it takes is a good warm spurt in spring to get things growing, so I wouldn't wait that long. Any sooner than mid-April, though, and the corn gluten effects will wear off before the seeds are affected. The second application should be applied late October; while most seeds are done germinating at this time, the effects will last through to spring and take care of any early germinating weeds.
Secondly, you must use the correct amount, or you might as well forget about seeing results! Lawn care experts recommend using 12-20 lbs. of corn gluten for every 1000 sq. feet; I personally recommend using the higher amount, as there's always some loss from wind or inaccurate application. The chances of burning your lawn are next to nothing, since this is a slow-release, low-sodium product, so using a little extra won't hurt your lawn at all.
Finally, patience is a must. Corn gluten only works on seeds, not the plants that are already present. You should see less and less annual weeds each year, as the corn gluten prevents more and more seeds from germinating. It takes a good 2-4 years to really see full results. Another reason you may be seeing weeds still is that corn gluten does not work on perennial weeds, such as perennial crabgrass and clover. Your best bet to get rid of perennial weeds organically is to continue to use a full organic lawn program including reseeding and aerating in order to thicken your lawn to the point where there is little room for weeds.
Don't expect to have a 100% weed free lawn using corn gluten. You can, however, expect to see a beautiful lush turf with very few weeds that will be safe enough for your family to go barefoot in! Enjoy!
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