EXTRAORDINARY ENVIRONMENTS by H&G
This video is fast-paced and powerful. My intention in making it was to show the breadth and creative depth of the projects we have had the privilege to work on here at Hertzler & George. But more than the projects themselves, I hope to convey the talent of the committed members of the H&G team that bring these projects to life. They are the real story.
Joe Hertzler
JUNE 2008
TIPS FOR USING THE FLICKR SITE
1 - Use the groupings along the right side of the home page, i.e. “Projects,” to see pictures grouped into relevant catagories.
2 - In the Search box at the top, enter a term like “wood” to see photos that pertain to your specific search criteria.
3 - Use the “Slideshow” feature for the best viewing.
4 - Come back regularly. We are adding pictures to the site almost daily.
Hertzler & George GreenGuard is proud to offer Williamsburg’s only lawn care program certified by the Chesapeake Club. The Chesapeake Club provides guidelines for fertilizing that ensure the growth of strong, healthy grass – while keeping excess nutrients out of the Bay. Offering this program is a commitment we’ve made to our community and to our environment. If you’re not already on the program, may we serve you too? Together we can make a huge difference.
Weeds in our shrub and flower beds….
It’s one of life’s givens, right? Wrong!
All you have to do is pull them up, right? Wrong!
We’d like to explain why not to pull that weed. And show how GreenGuard/Hertzler & George can help you control weeds by preventing most of them from ever coming up in the first place.
To find out more about how we can help keep weeds out of your flower and shrubs beds:
Call Ken Thompson (757) 229-9668 ext 202
HOW TO REMOVE MUSHROOMS FROM A LAWN
Excert from The Ortho Problem Solver, Fifth Edition, page 139
Problem
Mushrooms sprout up in the lawn after wet weather. They may be growing in circles of dark green grass. When the weather gets cooler or the soil dries out, they disappear.
Analysis
Mushrooms, also called toadstools or puffballs, live on organic matter buried in the soil. The mushroom is the aboveground fruiting or reproductive structure of a fungus that lives on and helps decay the organic matter. The organic matter may include buried logs, lumber, roots, or stumps. Most mushrooms do not damage the lawn but are objectionable because they are unsightly. Mushrooms growing in circles of dark green grass, called fairy rings, may make the soil impervious to water and injure the grass.
Solutions
There is no practical or permanent way to eliminate mushrooms. When buried wood is completely decayed, the mushrooms will disappear. The easiest and most practical solution, although it is only temporary, is to break the mushrooms with a rake or lawn mower.
Joe: on a mission to reduce the impact of the deer and just had a long chat with a biologist at the Dept of Fisheries and Game. Guess what he claims is by far the most effective home remedy? Coyote pee! He mixes it with mineral oil and sprays all his plants about once a month and claims it works like a charm for deer and rabbits (creates territorial boundaries as the smell of the predator pee scares them off). You can buy it online quite cheaply. As well, one of their other guys told me to buy a system called plot saver which basically “tapes” off your property and uses scent on the tape to deter deers.
That’s my wisdom (or someone else’s) for the day! Cheers, K.
Joe Hertzler’s Answer:
I’ve also heard the coyote pee works well. However, I have a real ethical problem with using it. Where do they get that pee from? Putting little baggies on wild animals? I think not. It is collected from caged animals treated quite inhumanely. I really prefer to find another method. - Joe
REMOVING COMMON BERMUDA GRASS FROM A LAWN
Common Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a low-growing, wiry perennial plant that is grown as a turfgrass or as forage for livestock, but it also can be an invasive weed. It is one of the most persistent and aggressive grasses and is very hard to kill after establishment. This is one of the grasses that can “return from the dead” if not completely killed the first time due to its extensive root system and just digging it up without getting rid of the roots will not solve the problem. It is not an easy weed to control, especially when it must be controlled selectively within an already planted turf, garden, or landscaped area. (Also known as couchgrass, devilgrass, wiregrass, or dogtooth grass.)
Read more about removing Bermuda grass by clicking below.
“Question: What do you recommend to stop Rabbits from eating everything in your yard. They are eating everyting: hostas, azaleas, roses, even some potted plants on the deck! I don’t want to trap them or kill them—just repel ‘em. Any thoughts?”
D.S.
Kingspont, Williamsburg
April 2008
Dear D.S.
If I could answer this question definitively I’d have retired a millionaire by now. Read on and I’ll tell you what we use in our treatment programs and what you can do yourself.
