When spring mulching occurs, most companies will apply a preemergence herbicide for extending weed control.  It is well known that the combination of mulch and preemergence herbicides is a very effective method in controlling weeds (https://purduelandscapereport.org//article/cultural-plus-chemicala-good-weed-control-combo-in-landscape-beds/).  When applying preemergence herbicides with mulch, which should be first for the most effective control? This common question is…Read more about Above or Below Mulch: Should you apply preemergence herbicides before or after mulching?[Read More]

If you didn’t get your spring-flowering bulbs planted it may not be too late, but a lot depends on what the weather does. The reason for planting bulbs in the fall is two-fold. Bulbs require a period of chilling to initiate flowers. Most spring-flowering bulbs require 10 to 13 weeks of temperatures below 40º F….Read more about Didn’t Get Your Bulbs Planted Yet?[Read More]

Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) have been proposed as a management tool for reducing the labor needs in the Green Industry. Although PGRs are widely accepted in the ornamental plant production, their adoption among landscape maintenance companies is limited. The cost of PGRs and the lack of economic feasibility analyses are likely to undermine their adoption….Read more about A tool to understand shrub maintenance and PGRs[Read More]

Labor is one of the largest expenses in the landscape services industry, and maintenance services, such as pruning, is one of the most labor-intensive tasks. While plant growth regulators (PGRs) can be a cost-effective tool to control growth in shrubs and reduce labor expenses, lack of information on the economic feasibility of PGRs has limited…Read more about Are PGRs worth it? A sensitivity analysis using Paclobutrazol for shrub maintenance[Read More]

Labor is one of the largest expenses in the landscape services industry, and maintenance services, such as pruning, are one of the most labor-intensive tasks. While plant growth regulators (PGRs) can be a cost-effective tool to control growth in shrubs and reduce labor expenses, a lack of information on the economic feasibility of PGRs has…Read more about Costs of applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) for shrub maintenance[Read More]

Dry summers are not that unusual in Indiana. Of particular concern this year is that the dry spell is lasting well into autumn, putting plants in poor condition to get through the winter.   Figure 1 from the US Drought Monitor shows that much of Indiana remains abnormally dry to under moderate drought.  While some…Read more about Water Now Minimize Winter Injury[Read More]

Soil is the ‘lifeblood’ of plant health. Many people tend to focus more on above ground portions of the plant than the below ground environment.  We should always remember that a plant is only as healthy as its roots.  Knowing the basics of soils will help in understanding the health of landscape plants (Fig. 1)….Read more about Soil Basics for Improved Plant Health[Read More]