Frequently Asked Questions
We've added this FAQ section to our website to service you better. We get many questions regarding our services and specialties and update the FAQ's as we receive them.
Contact Us with any questions you may have.
FAQ's
Do you service my area? Depends on where you are, and the only way to find out is to contact us.
When should I get my lawn power raked? If you really want it power raked, it should be done after ground has thawed but before grass has greened up much. If that sounds like I'm not a big fan of power raking, read on!
What is your opinion of power raking? I think it provides mosty cosmetic benefits. Cutting the grass a bit shorter can accomplish much the same without the potential damage to grass and without as much expense. Aerating is far more beneficial, as it actually helps improve the soil.
Why do you occasionally mow when the grass is wet? Simply because there are only so many hours in a day, and only so many dry hours in a week. Especially when we have several days in a row of constant rain, we are put in the position of having to choose between mowing wet grass and allowing the lawn to get out of hand. My policy has always been to get it looking as good as possible now and hope we can make it look better next time.
What do you think of the topsy turvy things? All I can say is I haven't seen many that looked like they were a success. Any decent sized pot/planter/plastic bucket placed in a sunny location will likely do as well or better. Just remember that ANY container will dry out quickly, so plan to water frequently.
Can I trim the bad spots off my tomato plant? Sure, just like any other plant.
Seen any good movies? As a matter of fact, we've seen a few this winter. Best was The Help. Margin Call was a close second. The Descendents was also good. Midnight in Paris. Moneyball.
How do I know when its time to rototill the garden? Take a shovel and go down 8 inches or so, and grab a handful of dirt from that depth. Squeeze it. If it crumbles easily, you are ready for takeoff. If you are now holding a ball of mud, step away from the garden and no one gets hurt. IF after you start tilling, you see little mud balls instead of nice fluffy soil, stop the machine IMMEDIATELY, and give the soil more time to dry. Otherwise you will ruin the soil structure for the entire year.
Which shrubs can I prune in the winter? I wouldn't cut anything severely this time of year. Of course you can always remove dead branches.
When should I prune fruit trees. These need to be trimmed before they start leafing out. The safest time is in February, or maybe early March. The reason is this is the time of year you are least likely to introduce disease organisms. But just to be safe, you should still wipe EQ of with bleach before getting started. Remove dead or broken branches first. Next cut crossing branches or those growing much more or less than 45 degrees from the trunk. In other words branches that do not look like they would handle the load of snow or fruit. Also remove suckers growing up from the base. Finally prune to open the center of the tree to sunlight. I heard one expert say to make it so you can throw a hat through it..
Do I really need to aerate my lawn. Only if you want it looking nice all season. With our clay soils it is THE most important thing you can to for the health of your lawn. Make me choose between aerating and fertilizing, I'll choose the former any day, since aeration will allow the lawn to better extract nutrients already in the soil.
Is there really a difference between organic and chemical fertilizers? You bet your sweet bippy there is. Our soil, like all soils, have beneficial insect and microbial life that go into making it, well soil, and not just dirt. Organic fertilizers help them thrive, which in turn keeps the soil healthy. They are also environmentally sound. Soil fed organically can support plant growth year after year, whether grass or vegetables. For more info check out Alpha One on my links page.
When do you start fertilizing? For the lawn I wait until late May for the first application. By that time the lawn is well into its growth cycle, thus providing more bang for the buck. The garden is another story. If you didn't apply manure in the fall, you'll want to go easy with it. Otherwise you'll end up with big leafy tomato plants, for example, with smaller than usual fruit. But go ahead and add coffee ground and eggs shells as you have them.
Do I need to add manure to the garden every year? If you've added manure and other organic matter regularly, you may have plenty of organic matter already. You might want to look into blood meal or other organic sources of nitrogen. CSU offers soil tests for a reasonable price to see if and what you need to add to your garden soil. See links page for more info.
Are tomatoes really a fruit? Yes!
Who writes all this stuff? The only one I can afford. Me. I know, you get what you pay for.
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