Landscaping Tips

Giving Thanks! Did you know that November was originally the 9th month of the Roman calendar?  It signified the beginning of colder weather moving in.  We haven't seen a lot of the colder weather yet, which has been pretty nice. For as long as the warm weather lasts, we should try to take the time to do a few of the following: Make sure your trees are in good physical shape. Water your trees and shrubs. Water your lawn. Make sure that your irrigation system is shut down properly Enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts!  From all of us at Prides Crossing HOA, have a safe and "Happy Thanksgiving". Trees Although this fall has been exceptionally warm, we know that the cold temperatures are right around the corner. The cold temperatures offer an opportunity to begin pruning trees and shrubs that are currently, or potentially, infected by various fungal and bacterial diseases. These diseases are less active in the dormant season, so the likelihood of spreading more disease is reduced. We have seen significant jumps in the occurrence of fire blight and cytospora canker. The spring weather of 2015 and 2016 has been very conducive to high infection rates. Antibiotic treatments have been helpful in reducing the damage to fireblight infected trees, but proper pruning in the dormant season is a vital part of any treatment program. Removing as much visible infection from the canopy of the tree, and cleaning up fallen leaf debris helps to reduce the amount of inoculum that will overwinter in or near the tree. Our Arborists are highly trained help you develop the best program to care for your trees. Contact us to set up a time to discuss the best way to keep your landscape healthy. Lawns Fight the Mite! Near Record September and October temperatures  are exploding mite activity in the Denver Metro area! A combination of late fall and winter watering along  with sprays to reduce mite populations can save areas of turf. Mite information: Lawn areas that are west and south facing are particularly susceptible to lawn mite damage.      However, with the extremely warm and dry weather we have experienced in the last two months, all areas of lawns are in danger of mite damage.           Watering lawns during this warm dry span is essential to helping control costly mite damage. If you find your lawn crunching under your feet, it needs water. Even a dormant lawn should be soft to the touch. Once we do get colder temperatures, mites are still active in lawns especially in the sunnier areas. Keep in mind snow cover may last in some areas while others are completely exposed. As the winter sun beats down on sun exposed areas it provides extra heat for the mites to actively feed and breed. Mites handle the winter cold and move to sheltered and warmer areas when the temperatures really drop. They then move to the warmest areas of the lawn to feed. At the same time the sun is drying out the ground in these warm areas, so there is no moisture to replenish what the mites are removing from the grass. Tip of the Month:             Water your newly planted trees throughout the winter to keep young roots from drying out. All the effort to plant new trees and shrubs in the fall can be nullified if you let your new plants fall victim to our mild and extremely dry winters.

Prepare for Winter September and October have been extremely hot and dry. It’s important to water your plants well one last time before they go dormant. An added layer of mulch can help insulate roots and hold in moisture. Winter is one of Colorado’s harshest seasons. Cold and dry conditions threaten the biggest investment in your yard — your trees. Winter is the driest season in Colorado, temperatures can drop well below zero and warm Chinook winds can batter our trees. Keep your trees healthy, avoid winter-kill and minimize insect and disease problems by having a winter tree care plan that includes watering and pruning. Winter is an ideal time to prune your trees.