Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Leyland Cyprus trees are generally resilient to most insect infestations because they are coniferous trees. Many insects prefer to nest and feed off of deciduous trees, however not all of them. One such pest is the spider mite. Tree care experts say spider mites are one of the top tree pests that can have a serious and damaging effect on the Leyland Cyprus tree. Thankfully, with the help of professional Richmond tree care specialists, you can protect your tree from the negative effects of this insect.

According to Richmond tree care authorities, spider mites have proven, along with bagworms, to be one of the most difficult insects to control. Since spider mites have been an irritant for Leyland Cyprus trees for so long, they have developed an immunity to many of the different chemicals that had been used to eliminate these destructive insects. They negatively affect the Leyland Cyprus by piercing the tree with their mouths and sucking out the sap (which is essentially the life force of the tree), resulting in discolored needles. If spider mites are allowed to feed without interruption, the needles will ultimately turn brown, die and fall off.

Spider mites can be a death sentence to the Leyland Cyprus, so it is important to have qualified Richmond tree care experts help you get populations under control as soon as possible. Tree care authorities do not favor the use of insecticides because other beneficial bugs will also be killed when the insecticide is applied. It is important to allow spider mite predators such as ladybugs to remain on the tree and create a natural pest control solution. For this reason, miticides are the recommended solution to heavy spider mite infestations.

To learn more about keeping your Leyland Cyprus safe from unwanted pests, call your local Richmond tree care company.

{ 0 comments }

Soil Testing

by on February 1, 2012

Any recipe is only as good as its ingredients and that goes for Richmond lawn care too.  If you don’t have good flour and shortening (soil and pH level), it doesn’t matter how much frosting (or fertilizer) you add, your recipe (lawn) isn’t going to turn out well.  That’s why it’s important to get a soil test and start with a good foundation.

A soil test can measure many things like soil fertility.  Elements like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, manganese, copper and zinc are removed from the soil to determine nutrient and contaminant content.  One of the most important things a soil test measures is pH.  Experts say if a soil is too acidic or too alkaline it can be toxic to plants.  The acidity in the soil can limit plant growth to such extremes that the plants won’t be able to utilize any fertilizer applied.  So, the soil test can help determine the best lime and fertilizer recommendations.  It’ll help save you money in the long run and help the environment by limiting the over-use of fertilizers.

Basically soils in moist climates tend to be acidic while those in dry climates are generally alkaline.  A soil pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil, anything higher is alkaline.  The soil has to be adjusted to fit the needs of the particular plants planted in the area.

There are do-it-yourself testing kits available in many areas at reasonable prices or you can hire a company to do the testing for you.  Either way you’ll be getting important information that will help your Richmond lawn and garden grow and will make you look like the expert with the green thumb without all the effort.

{ 0 comments }

Tree Care Tip: Prevent damage to your property from trees

January 18, 2012

It isn’t uncommon for trees to be the cause of extensive property damage that may end up costing you thousands of dollars in repair costs. In some severe cases, a falling tree can even cause serious bodily injuries or death. Here are some Richmond tree care tips to help you avoid the possibility of tree [...]

Read the full article →

Lawn Care Tip: Spring Mowing

January 4, 2012

Mowing might seem like the simplest of Richmond lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your Richmond lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your Richmond lawn. Here are some Richmond lawn care tips [...]

Read the full article →

Preventative tree care against Japanese Beetles

December 21, 2011

Japanese Beetles are a common landscape pest, affecting both trees and Richmond lawns alike. While these pests cause issues for your Richmond lawn by laying eggs underneath the soil, the affect they have on trees comes from their own feeding. A perfectly healthy tree can be seriously damaged if corrective action isn’t taken by a [...]

Read the full article →

Using wood ashes as part of your tree care regimen

November 23, 2011

You have been noticing that your trees are not growing as fast as they should or perhaps they just do not appear as vibrant as they used to look. You may want to call your tree care company and ask them to perform a soil analysis. There could be several explanations as to why your [...]

Read the full article →

Lawn Care Tip: Using Broadcast Spreaders to Fertilize your Lawn

November 9, 2011

Fertilizing your own Richmond lawn can be quite an ordeal and usually requires (or should require) a fair amount of research. Many Richmond lawn care companies have fertilization programs that have been perfected over the years by experts in the Richmond lawn care industry. However, if you’re looking to take on the project yourself, you [...]

Read the full article →

Lawn Care Tip: Using Drop Spreaders to Fertilize your Lawn

October 12, 2011

When your lawn needs fertilized, the best solution is to contact your local lawn care company and have the professionals attend to the task. However, if you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, then there is some research to be done on the subject. Not all fertilizers are the same, so you should decide which fertilizer is [...]

Read the full article →

Lawn Care Tip: Grasses Perfect for the Sun

September 28, 2011

If you have a landscape that is in the sun for the majority of the day, Virginia lawn care specialists will tell you that not just any type of grass will do. In order to have a successful landscape, you need to have a groundcover that can withstand the constant sunlight and the heat that [...]

Read the full article →

Lawn Care Tip: Using Drop Spreaders to Fertilize your Lawn

September 15, 2011

When your Richmond lawn needs fertilized, the best solution is to contact your local Richmond lawn care company and have the professionals attend to the task. However, if you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, then there is some research to be done on the subject. Not all fertilizers are the same, so you should decide which [...]

Read the full article →

Tree and Lawn Service | Lawn Care Service | Tree and Shrub Care | Disease and Pest Control | Contact Us | Blog | SiteMap | Website Marketing