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With the recent stretch of hot and humid weather, you might be noticing some unusual spots, colors, or textures showing up in your lawn. While it’s easy to blame insects or drought, you could be looking at a common turfgrass fungus.
Fungi are a natural part of any lawn's ecosystem, but under the right conditions—like the heat and humidity we’ve been experiencing—they can multiply and become visible, causing aesthetic damage or, in some cases, serious harm to your turf.
These fungi primarily affect the blades of the grass, not the crown or the roots. While they can look alarming, they rarely kill the grass and can often be managed with good cultural practices.
If you see irregular, pinkish-red patches on your lawn, you might have Red Thread. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice red, thread-like strands extending from the tips of the grass blades.
What it is: A foliar disease that is most common in the cool, wet weather of spring and fall.
Threat Level: Low. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, Red Thread is a cosmetic issue and does not harm the roots or crown of the plant. Lawns typically recover.
Key Cause: A primary cause is low nitrogen fertility. If your lawn is under-fertilized, it's more susceptible.
Treatment: The best control is proper fertilization. A balanced fertility program usually ...
Are you frustrated with your old sprinkler system? Do you see it watering the lawn during a downpour, or worry about your landscape's health when you're away? It's time to stop wasting water and start watering with intelligence. The Hunter Hydrawise irrigation controller is a game-changing upgrade that will save you money and give you a healthier, more beautiful landscape.
Many people think a rain sensor makes their system "smart." But a traditional controller with a rain sensor is only reactive. It shuts off your sprinklers after it has already started raining, and it has no idea what the weather will be like in an hour.
The Hydrawise controller is truly proactive. It doesn't just react to past rain; it uses a "Virtual Weather Station" that pulls data from satellites, local weather stations, and atmospheric data to know what the weather will be like at your specific location. It's like having a personal meteorologist for your lawn!
Predictive Watering Saves You Money: By analyzing local weather forecasts, the Hydrawise system knows if rain is coming and will skip the watering cycle before it's needed. This proactive approach is how it can save you up to 50% on your water bills compared to a traditional system.
Control from Anywhere: With the user-friendly Hydrawise app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, you can manage your...
Here in the Detroit Lakes area, our oak trees are a cornerstone of our local scenery and the pride of our properties. Across the beautiful landscapes of Otter Tail and Becker counties, these majestic trees provide shade, beauty, and value. But they also face serious threats, including our tough Minnesota climate, compacted soil, and damaging insects.
At Miller Yard Care, we have a tool to protect your valuable oaks: Plant Growth Regulators, or PGRs. It's a simple treatment with game-changing benefits for tree health. Let's explore how it works and why it’s a crucial service for keeping your oaks strong.
Think of a Plant Growth Regulator as a "smart supplement" for your tree. It’s a professional treatment that Miller Yard Care applies at the base of the tree down in the roots. The PGR works by signaling the oak to slow down its canopy growth—the leaves and branches.
But that energy doesn't just vanish. Instead, the tree redirects that energy below ground to its root system and into its own defense systems. It's a strategic shift that builds a healthier, more resilient tree from the inside out.
When an oak tree focuses its energy on its core health instead of just getting taller, the results are incredible. This is the professional oak tree care your Detroit...
Here in the Detroit Lakes area, our oak trees are more than just part of the landscape; they are majestic giants that define our properties, lakefronts, and wooded areas. From the mighty bur oak to the stately red oak, these trees are a cornerstone of our beautiful Minnesota environment. But a hidden threat is putting our oaks at risk, especially after periods of drought or stress. It’s called the Twolined Chestnut Borer, and it’s a pest every local homeowner should know about.
At Miller Yard Care, we're seeing an increasing number of oak trees around Detroit Lakes showing signs of decline. Often, the culprit is this destructive insect. The good news is that with early detection and proper care, you can take steps to protect your valuable trees.
The twolined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus) is a native flatheaded wood-boring beetle. While it's a native insect, its populations can surge, particularly when oak trees are stressed. Recent drought years in Minnesota have created the perfect conditions for this pest to thrive, as stressed trees have fewer defenses against attack.
Information from leading regional institutions like the University of Minnesota Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Madison highlights that this borer primarily targets oaks that are already weakened by factors such as:
Drought stress
Construction damage to roots
Soil compaction
Storm damage
Birch trees are Minnesota favorites, but they have two major enemies that can cause serious damage. If your birch tree looks sick, one of these pests is likely the cause. Here’s what to look for.
This is the most dangerous pest for birch trees in our area. It works under the bark, cutting off the tree's life supply.
Look for these warning signs:
Thinning Leaves: The top of the tree starts to look thin and weak.
Dying Branches: Branches at the top of the tree begin to die and lose their leaves.
D-Shaped Holes: You might see small, D-shaped holes in the bark.
A Bronze Birch Borer attack is a serious threat to your tree's survival. Early detection is everything.
This pest won't kill a healthy tree on its own, but it weakens it significantly, making it an easy target for the deadly Bronze Birch Borer.
Look for these warning signs:
Brown Blotches: Leaves develop ugly, brown patches that look like blisters.
"Scorched" Look: The whole tree can look brown and scorched by mid-summer.
Early Leaf Drop: The tree may lose its leaves long before fall.
Spotting these symptoms is the first step, but a correct diagnosis is key to saving your tree. The only way to know for sure what’s wrong and...
At Miller Yard Care, we're here to help you understand what snow mold is, why it happens, and most importantly, how to prevent it, drawing on the expert insights from leading universities in our region like the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, University of Iowa, and North Dakota State University.
Snow mold isn't a single culprit, but rather a general term for several types of fungi that thrive in cool, moist conditions, particularly under a blanket of snow. The two most common types we encounter in our climate are:
Gray Snow Mold (Typhula blight): This typically appears as circular patches of bleached or straw-colored turf, often matted down. You might see a grayish-white fungal growth (mycelium) at the edges of the patches, and in some cases, tiny, hard, reddish-brown or black survival structures called sclerotia. Gray snow mold usually only damages the grass blades, meaning the plant crown is often still healthy and can recover.
Pink Snow Mold (Microdochium patch): As the name suggests, this type can have a pinkish tint, especially at the edges of the affected areas. Unlike gray snow mold, pink snow mold can damage the grass crowns, potentially leading to more significant turf loss. It can also develop without snow cover, thriving in cool, wet conditions.
Both types flourish when snow falls on unfrozen ground, creating an insulated, humid environment perfect for fungal growth....
That lush, green lawn is more than just grass; it’s the backdrop for family barbecues, a playground for your kids and pets, and a point of pride for any homeowner. But when mysterious brown patches appear and the turf feels spongy underfoot, it’s easy to feel frustrated. You’ve been watering and mowing correctly, so what’s going on?
The culprit may be a silent invader hiding just beneath the surface: GRUBS.
Here at Miller Yard Care, we believe a healthy lawn starts with understanding what’s happening both above and below the soil. This guide will help you identify if you have a grub problem and explain how we can partner with you to restore the health and beauty of your lawn.
Drawing from research by experts at the University of Minnesota Extension and Iowa State University, we know that grubs are not a specific type of insect. They are the C-shaped, milky-white larvae of various beetles, most commonly Japanese beetles, May/June beetles, and chafers in our region. These larvae feast on the root systems of your grass, cutting it off from the water and nutrients it needs to survive.
Before you can solve the problem, you need to be sure you have one. Here are the key signs our professional technicians look for, and that you can spot yourself:
1. Spongy Turf: Does your lawn feel soft and spongy when you walk on it? This is often the first sign. The damage to...
When it comes to lawn care, mowing seems straightforward. But did you know that how high you set your mower blades is one of the most critical factors for a healthy, vibrant lawn? It's not just about aesthetics; it's about building resilience from the ground up.
The Golden Rule: Go Taller!
For typical residential lawns, especially here in Minnesota, we recommend maintaining a mowing height of 2.75 inches or higher. While a super-short cut might look neat initially, it's actually detrimental to your lawn's long-term health.
Why a Taller Cut is Better:
1. Natural Weed Control: Taller grass blades create more shade over the soil surface. This shading effect helps to smother out weed seeds, preventing them from getting enough sunlight to germinate and grow. It's like a natural, chemical-free weed barrier!
2. Deeper, Stronger Roots: This is perhaps the most crucial benefit. When you allow your grass to grow taller, its roots also grow deeper. Longer roots mean your lawn has a greater ability to reach water and nutrients further down in the soil. This significantly improves your lawn's ability to withstand drought conditions and absorb essential nutrients more efficiently.
3. Stress Tolerance: Especially during the harsh conditions of mid-summer (think heat and drying winds), taller grass is more resilient. Consider increasing your mowing height by an additional half inch during these stressful periods. This extra length provides more leaf ...
Achieving a vibrant, healthy lawn doesn't require constant watering; it requires smart watering. By understanding a few key principles, you can ensure your grass thrives while conserving water and enhancing its resilience.
How Much Water Does Your Lawn Really Need?
For a truly green and growing lawn, aim for about 1 inch of water per week. This can come from your irrigation, rainfall, or a combination of both. The goal is to water deeply to encourage roots to grow further down into the soil.
Timing is Everything: When to Water
The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning, typically between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. This allows the grass to absorb the water it needs while minimizing loss to evaporation and wind. Watering at this time also reduces the chance of fungal diseases that can occur if the lawn stays wet overnight.
Deep & Infrequent: The Golden Rule
Avoid light, frequent sprinklings. Instead, focus on watering deeply and less often. The frequency depends on your soil type:
Clay Soils: These soils retain water longer, so they typically need to be irrigated only once or twice a week, but with a greater volume of water to ensure deep penetration.
Sandy Soils: Water drains more quickly through sandy soils, meaning they may need watering two or three times a week, but with less volume each time.
Deep watering trains your grass to develop a strong, deep root system, making it more robust and drought-tolerant. Only...
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that poses a significant threat to ash trees. This destructive pest has already devastated ash tree populations across North America, and while it may not yet be confirmed in our immediate area, it's crucial for homeowners to be proactive in protecting their valuable trees.
What is Emerald Ash Borer?
EAB is a small, metallic-green beetle that lays its eggs on ash trees. The larvae then bore into the tree's bark, feeding on the inner tissues that transport water and nutrients. This disrupts the tree's ability to survive, eventually leading to its death.
The Threat to Our Community
While EAB hasn't been officially confirmed in our specific location, it's present in nearby regions and is expected to arrive soon. Because EAB can spread rapidly, it's essential to take preventative measures before an infestation occurs. Early detection and treatment are the most effective ways to save your ash trees.
Our Proactive Solution: Preventative Tree Injections
Our landscape company is now offering a specialized tree injection service that provides effective preventative protection against Emerald Ash Borer. This treatment involves injecting a safe and effective insecticide directly into the tree, which protects it for up to two years.
Benefits of Preventative Treatment:
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