Spotted Lanternfly 

This entry was posted in Insects on by .
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) announced that a small stand of trees was found to be infested in Shrewsbury, MA (Worcester County) with the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula; SLF) earlier in January by MDAR surveyors. This is the second detection of a population of this insect in Massachusetts, following confirmation of SLF [...]
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Damage from Voles

This entry was posted in Cultural Practices on by .
Homeowners are often unaware of the activity occurring beneath the snow, until damage becomes apparent with snow melt in March or April. When the snow recedes and the turf first becomes visible in the spring, vole damage can appear dramatic, especially when coupled with other issues such as low temperature injury or snow mold. Tracks [...]
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Liming

This entry was posted in Cultural Practices on by .
Lime is a valuable soil amendment that helps plants and lawns flourish by raising soil pH. A low soil pH, or acidic soil, is often the underlying problem when it comes to many common lawn and garden problems. But even with a healthy lawn or garden, liming can improve soil quality, helping plants and grass [...]
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Common Weeds that Grow in Massachusetts

This entry was posted in Weeds on by .
Clover: Clover is a broadleaf weed. It’s perennial, which means it will come back year after year. Clover grows in lawns and landscape beds. When it blooms, you will see white flowers. The structure of clover allows it to grow well and compete against other weeds. Dandelions: One of the most common weeds we see, [...]
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Is it Crabgrass or Paspalum (Dallis Grass)?

This entry was posted in Weeds on by .
Crabgrass and Paspalum are invasive weeds that are usually misidentified due to the timing of their growth and appearance. They both appear on your lawn once soil temperatures are ideal for germination/growth to start. As warm season grasses, they need heat and humidity to thrive. Identification Crabgrass is an annual grass. This means it will [...]
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Red Thread

This entry was posted in Diseases on by .
Red Thread is a foliar disease that does not affect the crown and roots of your lawn, simply put it is merely cosmetic. Symptoms of Red Thread appear as circular, pinkish red to tan patches, 2-4 inches in diameter. The pathogen produces a red or pink like structure which can be seen with the naked [...]
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Brown Patch

This entry was posted in Diseases on by .
Brown Patch is a fungal disease that appears as straw colored or brown circular patches ranging in size from a few inches to several feet. Also known as “Frog Eye” or “Fusarium Blight”, the symptoms of Brown Patch can closely resemble that of drought stress, but Brown Patch is usually identifiable by a dark purple [...]
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Moss Management

This entry was posted in Cultural Practices on by .
Commonly mistaken as a weed, moss is a plant that does not kill grass.  But it does out compete it.  Moss can out-compete lawns when the conditions are better for moss than for grass. Moss prefers sites that have poor drainage and are shady and damp with acidic soil. Moss is also not a fungus, as mold is, another common misnomer.  Eradicating [...]
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