Let The Buyer Beware

Posted under Green Industry, Lawn Care, Lawn Repair

Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont

Have you ever heard this expression? It applies in the lawn and garden industry, just as it does with any other products. There are a few misleading statements and words you’ll see in ads and on products. Some products may be misleading, or inappropriate.

“University tested” is seen on some garden products, especially new ones. True, they were probably tested at a university, but what were the results? The products may not have been effective, but they can still claim to have been “university tested.” Or if the university was on the west coast, will the results apply elsewhere such as in your area?

The issue of location also crops up in national ads and marketing campaigns. Ads may exhort you to buy that mower, or fertilizer that lawn. If you still have snow on the ground or the grass hasn’t begun to grow, you can tell these ads aren’t local.

The same applies to ads for the perennials and shrubs you may find in national chain stores. Many of these are purchased by buyers elsewhere. Are they hardy in your area?

Hardiness is another word to watch closely. Many ads, even books, may claim a plant is “hardy.” But where is it hardy? And even if a plant is generally hardy in your area, because of local variations (”microclimates”) it may not be hardy in your own landscape or in all parts of your landscape.

There are any number of products to be wary of. One of my favorites is the light trap for insects. You may hear all those insects getting “zapped” by the bluish electric filament at night. The only problem is, most of these are beneficial insects in your garden.

Japanese beetles are a problem in many northern gardens, so many Japanese beetle traps are sold there. These have a phermone, or chemical attractant, to lure in the beetles to the bag where they’re caught. These chemicals are so powerful that they will draw beetles from all around, including your neighbor’s yard, with many more than you probably had before. While on their way to the traps they may find some of your landscape plants quite good feeding!

Biological controls, such as the milky spore disease for beetle grubs, may not live over winter. So these may not be effective in colder areas.

You may see “thatch-reducing” materials for lawns. Thatch is a layer of undecomposed, or partially decomposed, plant residue which is on the soil surface in lawns. The truth is that while an excessive amount of thatch can cause problems (lack of air and water penetration, potential for diseases), contrary to some ads, some thatch can be good. Less than one-half inch of thatch indicates a vigorously growing lawn, and
provides a cushion for walking and playing. Thatch is best avoided with proper culture and, if present, best removed physically with the right equipment. Compacted soil should be mechanically aerated (holes made to allow air penetration).

Beware when buying pesticides that they will control your pests. The bold print may say the product controls “garden” or “houseplant” pests or disease, but the fine print may not list those specific problems your plants have. If you can’t identify your specific pest or disease, many state universities have plant diagnostic clinics or master gardeners who may be of assistance. Or, bring a sample to your local complete garden store or nursery for some help from their trained professionals.

The words “trained” and “certified” can also be misleading. This merely may mean that employees had an hour or two of instruction on a general topic such as outdoor plants and power equipment. Most state industry associations have Certified Horticulturist programs, involving quite a bit of study, experience or education, and rigorous exam. It is these certified professionals you should seek out.

Knowing All About The Lawn Care Industry

Posted under Green Industry, Green Industry Careers, Lawn Care Business

By Mr.Andrew Caxton

Lawn care products have really evolved as time has gone on and
you can find a solution to any lawn care problem that you may be
experiencing.

The problem with society today, is that most people want to
have immediate results from what they do and it is no different
when it comes to lawn care.

Most people expect to put in very little time and effort and
they expect their lawns to look amazing almost straight away,
but it simply does not work out like this. The lawn care
industry has grown considerably in a relatively short amount of
time and one of the biggest reasons behind this is that people
do not want to do their lawns by themselves.

Understanding Lawn Care History

If you go back to a couple of decades ago, it was quite rare
for people to hire contractors or professionals to come in and
do their lawns for them. However, these days’ people either
don’t have the time or they just cannot be bothered to do it on
their own. It could be that some people have lawns that are just
too hard to manage on their own and so it is easier to get a
contractor to come in and do it for them instead. As you can
see, there are a few different reasons that have contributed to
increasing the lawn care industry.

The lawn care industry is booming now and it is almost a
necessity for people to have a gardener or a contractor to come
in and do their landscapes and their lawns. There really is some
great materials out there that have been introduced, so it can
be even easier to improve your lawns and your landscapes these
days. There are a lot of keen gardeners out there who are always
looking for new ways to add personality and sparkle to their
gardens and lawns. That is another reason why the lawn care
industry has increased considerably.

People who own their own homes usually want to have nice
looking lawns and therefore they will get all of the materials,
products and tools that they need in order to ensure that they
get the right results. There has never been more products and
tools available than what there is now, so the range to choose
from is often mind boggling. You may want to get the essentials
in, which is just the basic equipment. However, if you want to
really impress, or if you have a larger lawn, then you may need
more equipment to help you to do this. You will also need
products to help your grass to grow and to protect it from pests
such as grubs.

The lawn care industry is likely to just continue to grow and
there will be an even bigger release of products as technology
increases and new things are invented. You will never have to
worry about anything when it comes to lawn care, as there are
not any problems that you cannot fix without the right
equipment, products and know how.

About the Author: Andrew Caxton loves writing for
www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . For additional
information on lawn care have a look at his web
www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/chainsaws/

Source: www.isnare.com