Author: Hairston Ent

Quality News

Volume 7, Issue 6

June 2015

Special points of interest:
Chemical Applications
Yard ‘To-Do’ Checklist
Discounts and Specials
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Inside this issue:

Yard Care… The Chemical Aspect	1
June ‘To-Do’ List	2
A Common Pond / Question	3
Monthly / Specials	3
Letter to Our Customers	4

Yard Care...The Chemical Aspect
Be sure when it comes to chemical applications…

When the seasons change, you can almost feel it in the air…that urge to get out and do something in the yard. Unfortunately, what many people end up doing sometimes leads to more harm than good.
If you take on applying chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and/or weed killers yourself and do not use a professional, it is imperative that you know what you are doing and always read the label. The serious warning labels on many pesticide products clearly indicate the hazards to songbirds, aquatic life, and humans. In a sense, using such chemicals without proper diagnosis of the problem and careful application procedures is no different than a doctor prescribing medicine with potentially serious side effects for a condition that proper diet and moderate exercise could cure.
Because yard care chemicals have come into widespread and routine use for many homeowners, there is some danger that a “healthy respect” for them has faded. Homeowners may have used yard care chemicals before without incident. When pressed for time and confronted by profuse label directions and warnings in fine print, it’s tempting to skip the instructions and just “get the job done.” But pesticide application is not the time to overlook something important. The suffix “icide” means “to kill.” Insecticides kill insects, herbicides kill plants and fungicides kill fungus species. While greater success is realized every year in developing chemical and application methods that are more target-specific, the fact remains that pesticides sometimes kill living things other than their targets. This is a major reason to always hire a professional to take care of your regular applications.
Using the wrong product, or the right product at the wrong time wastes money and needlessly releases chemicals into the environment. If an insecticide label does not indicate effectiveness against a specific pest – or is effective only during a certain stage in the pest’s life cycle – then application can end up harming the wrong thing (like honeybees). Yet the temptation may exist when product “X” is in hand now and worked so well against another pest. However, ignoring basic label directions such as “do not apply if rain is forecast” will, at minimum, result in a chemical application that doesn’t do the job.
Safe and reliable chemical treatment of some yard care problems is definitely possible for the informed homeowner. The key is to know plants, their pests and the chemicals you plan to use. Rather than attempting to tackle a problem you are not prepared for, it is always better to seek professional assistance and consider more natural alternatives whenever possible. A good rule for applications is ‘when in doubt…ask.’ Call us today at 836-4000 and don’t be shy about ‘asking’. Our Certified Applicators will be happy to answer any of your questions. Even better, he would be happy to put you on our regular applications schedule for lawn, tree and shrub, and/or non-turf weed control programs.

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Water 3 times per week…not between 11am-7pm

“Seed or set out Basil, Corn and Beans. Before mid-month, seed Melons, Tomatoes, Eggplant and Peppers.”

June ‘To-Do’ List

Say goodbye to any chance of cold weather! Say hello to dry weather mostly in the ‘90s. June is the start of a rough time for plants that don’t really enjoy the heat. They may need a little extra drink of water and/or mulch added to the base to help them along. As far as other tasks, here is your June yard checklist:
Time to increase watering
Use the City of Albuquerque’s “Water By The Numbers” program. Using that, you should be watering three days per week in June through August, not between 11am and 7pm.
Deadhead as blooms fade Keeping up with spent blooms and pinching or deadheading will help to extend the flowing of the plant and give it beauty longer into the season.
Give the compost pile a turn and keep adding to it
Fertilize Roses to give them another round Roses love attention, especially this month. Along with deadheading, you should fertilize with, believe it or not, some items you may have around the house. Use 1 cup of Magnesium (Epson Salt) per rose and 1 cup of Alfalfa pellets (rabbit food). For your favorite/prize roses, it’s okay to use 2 cups of Magnesium.
In the veggie garden: Seed or set out Basil, Corn and Beans. Before mid-month, seed Melons, Tomatoes, Eggplant and Peppers. When planting Tomatoes, consider planting Marigolds around them (Horn worms and other pests hate Marigolds and will leave the area alone).
Fertilize the lawn To keep the lawn at its best, it may need some fertilizer this month (depending on your fertilizing schedule). However, ALWAYS read the label. Too little fertilizer keeps the grass from getting its full dose of nutrients. Too much fertilizer can burn the lawn and cause bald spots.
Weed out the weeds before they turn to seeds Consider chemical applications of pre/post-emergent for grass, beds and gravel areas. If no chemicals are desired, inspect yard weekly for weeds and remove by hand.
Be ready to stake fast growing plants that may quickly become top-heavy
These are only a handful of tasks that should be taken care of this month. Call us at 836-4000 for more details or to schedule us to take care of your checklist for you.

Scan this QR Code to follow QLC on Twitter and get gardening articles, landscaping and environmental news, special discounts and more!

Check Out Our June Plant Specials

This month we are giving 20% off some beautiful trees and shrubs this month. The weather is great so start planting now! Check out our website at www.QualityLawnCareABQ.com or scan the QR code to the right. You can also call our office at 836-4000 to ask about our discounted trees and shrubs this month.

Quality News

Volume 7, Issue 6

Page #

A Common Pond Question...

Did you know…
The Saguaro Cactus doesn't grow branches until it is 75 years old.
A single coffee tree yields only one pound of roasted, ground coffee annually.
A single tree normally produces 260 pounds of oxygen in a year which is enough for a family of four people.
Bananas are actually herbs. Bananas die after fruiting, like all herbs do.
Eggplant is a member of the thistle family.
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Here’s a common question we get about ponds this time of year:
“My pond is losing a lot of water lately. It started when the heat really kicked in. I’ve been needing to add water almost daily. Should I be concerned about a leak or is this just natural evaporation?”
Pond water evaporation in Albuquerque is quite normal. It is a combination of several factors that make the rate of evaporation higher or lower. First is location. Is the pond in full sun, partial shade or full shade? The more sun the pond gets, the more you’re going to lose water to evaporation. Next, does the pond have a waterfall and/or stream and how big is it? Waterfalls and streams spread water out and provide a shallow surface area. The larger the waterfall and/or stream, the more water you’ll lose. Also, what is the size of the surface area of the pond basin? More surface, more loss. Finally, what kind of temperature and relative humidity is happening? Albuquerque is no stranger to high temperatures and little to no humidity. High temperatures obviously contribute to evaporation, but consider this – with little humidity, more water will be absorbed into the atmosphere. I’ve actually heard of ponds in our area with large basins and a large waterfall losing, are you ready for this, as much as 19 gallons per hour!
However, there is always a possibility of leak so if you’re not sure we’d be happy to check for you. Also, we can install a pond autofill that will always keep that pond at the desired level. Feel free to call us at 836-4000 so we can get you on the schedule.

June ‘To-Do’ List (cont. from page 2)

June Specials

$20 OFF Fall Cleanup
~Totaling $100 or more~
Must mention coupon for discount. Expires 7/31/2015.
Not valid with any other offers.
Call 836-4000

$10 OFF Irrigation Check
~Based on $70 minimum~
Must mention coupon for discount. Expires 7/31/2015.
Not valid with any other offers.
Call 836-4000

PO Box 7997
Albuquerque, NM 87194

“Give your yard some Q.L.C.”

Inside this issue:
June ‘To-Do’
Know before you apply chemicals
Discounts
And More...

Newsletter by Ryan Seabrook
Printed by One Stop Business Shop

Visit us on the Web
www.QualityLawnCareABQ.com

Or Scan this QR Code...

June is fantastic! Everything is green, flowers are in bloom and, of course, the smell of summer. Flowers and fresh cut grass...there is nothing better. Our maintenance crews are working hard to keep those yards and lawns looking good, so if you are traveling out of town this summer, call us so we can get you on our regular schedule and keep your yard looking pristine.
Thank you all so much for your business and your support!
-Your Q.L.C. Staff

A letter to our customers

“Give Your Yard Some QLC”
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Mowing
Trimming /Pruning
Fertilization and weed control
Tree and Shrub spraying
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Seasonal Cleanup

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Seeding/Sodding
Pond cleanouts
Water features
Flagstone
Paver patios and walkways
Garden preparation/ Rototilling
Stump removal
Design, consulting & diagnostics

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