Happy New Year!
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky
The same is true about goals. If you don’t set a goal, there is a 100% chance you will not accomplish it.
A few years back, I picked up the book If by Mark Batterson. The concept of If has stuck with me.
Everything begins with an if. Every achievement. Every dream. One little if can change everything. One little if can change anything. What if?
If is a leverage point word. It is full of possibilities – what if?
If is an overcomer – no ifs, ands or buts about it.
What is your what if?
Woah! Hold on…Did you think I was talking about personal goals: health, spiritual, financial, and career goals?
Sorry, I’m not.
I’m talking about your lawn and landscape goals!
Could it be that your lawn and landscape is just one “what if?” away from greatness?
I hope you are a goal-setter. I hope you have found some time to reflect on 2023. I hope you are putting together a plan for the new year. If you haven’t, do so. Goals are important.
The same is true about your lawn and landscape. If you just keep doing the same thing over and over, you are going to keep getting the same results.
What if this was the year you did a soil test to make sure you are getting the best results out of the fertilizer and weed control that is being put on your lawn?
What if this was the year you aerated your lawn to improve your soil structure, reduce compaction, and promote a healthier root system?
What if this was the year you planted fescue in the thin, shady areas of your lawn?
What if this was the year you added more seasonal color or freshened up your landscape to create more curb appeal?
What if this was the year you improved your watering techniques to have a more drought-tolerant lawn and landscape when summer temperatures climb?
The “what ifs?” could go on and on.
What is important is you take time to review your lawn and landscape and ask, “what if?” The end of the year, the start of the new year, your lawn and landscape’s offseason, is the perfect time to ask, “what if?”
Besides reviewing and planning for the season, there a few critical things to do in January that will make a big difference in the success of your lawn and landscape in 2024.
Lawn Pre-Emergent – Your best chance to have a weed free lawn this year is to apply a pre-emergent In January or February. The purpose of a pre-emergent is to prevent weed seeds from germinating. The next weeds to germinate in your lawn will be the ones that haunt you all summer. Spring and summer weeds will start growing as soon as soil temperatures start to warm in early March.
A great time to control grassy weeds in dormant Bermuda is January and February .
Nonselective herbicides can be used while the turf is completely dormant to control any weeds that are actively growing.
If you are a subscriber to a Hall | Stewart’s Lawn Care Program, we will be visiting your lawn very soon to apply the critical first application of the year to prevent spring and summer weeds.
Lawn Post-Emergent – If you have a warm season lawn (Bermuda and Zoyia), now that we have received freezing temperatures it is one of the best times to gain control of troublesome grassy and broadleaf weeds. A nonselective weed control (herbicides that control anything that is actively growing) can be used while the turf is completely dormant. Now is also a good time to control broadleaf weeds growing in fescue, but do not use a nonselective herbicide on fescue. Always read the labels, know your turf type, and only apply herbicides labeled for your turf type.
Moisture – Pay close attention to plant and lawn moisture over the winter. Fortunately, we received a couple of good rainfalls in December. Through the winter keep an eye on rainfall and soil moisture. If we go over 7 days without any moisture, rain, or snow, be prepared to water. Evergreen plants, both needle and broadleaf, are most susceptible to winter damage when we have a dry winter. Don’t forget to inspect containers, raised plantings, and plantings under the eaves of your house are the first to become too dry.
Irrigation Best Practice – If your system has a rain/freeze sensor and if your system does not need to be winterized (Backflow has heat protection), set your system to run through a cycle one time per week in the afternoon. If it is above freezing and it hasn’t rained, the system will run through a cycle.
Tree Trim – During winter dormancy, tree trimming is a great practice. Remove low hanging branches, crossing branches, and branches growing into the interior of the tree. Also, remove branches that may compete with the central leader.
For more information on tree trimming, visit our post from December 10th, Winter Tree Pruning – Improve Your Landscape Investment.
Dormant Oil – During January and February one of the best things you can do to prepare your landscape plants for the season is to treat them with a dormant oil. Dormant oils smoother overwintering insects (aphids, scale, mites, etc.) that often are some of the most difficult to control.
Crape myrtle bark scale activity has increased over the past few seasons. Scale is a white insect with a hard shell that appears on the bark. Dormant oils applied in January-February is the first step for controlling the pest. If your landscape includes crape myrtles, you need a dormant oil application every year.
When leaves accumulate in the corners of your lawn during the winter they become a collecting place for insects and disease.
Soil Test – If your lawn, shrubs, or trees struggled this year, now would be a great time to check the soil pH and nutrients. Fill a quart sized plastic bag with soil from at least 6 spots in the area of concern. Take soil from just below the surface. Remove roots from the soil. Use a separate bag for soil from your lawn and landscape areas. Take the soil sample to your local Oklahoma State University County Extension Office. They will test the soil and send you a report for a nominal fee. The Oklahoma County office is located at 2500 NE 63rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73111. Or give us a call and we will gather a sample and take it to the lab for you.
Leaf Clean-up – Keep your lawn and landscape clear of leaves through the winter. If you allow leaves to collect on your fescue lawn, in the corners and around objects, you will find the fescue thinner in the spring. Also, leaves are a collecting place for insects and disease over the winter.
Mower Maintenance – During the mowing off season take your lawn equipment in for annual winter service. Most lawn equipment stores offer specials during January on oil changes, lubrication, blade sharpening, and repairs. Annual preventive maintenance often keeps you from experiencing the frustration and hassle of repair issues during the growing season and extends your mower life.
If have any questions, or if you need help making 2024 your best lawn and landscape year, please give us a call at (405)367-3873, or simply respond to this email.
One Important Winter Note – Avoid walking on fescue lawns when temperatures are below freezing or there is a frost as it will cause damage that will last into the spring.
……Ok, I can’t leave “What if” alone...…
If you succeeded at a goal in the past, you had to make decisions against yourself at some point. Success is the result of making decisions against yourself. You get in physical shape by doing things you don’t want to do – you really don’t want to put those running shoes on. You really don’t want to go to the gym.
What decisions do you need to make against yourself this year?
What one decision could be the domino that starts you toward your what if?
To succeed this year, you have to say no to second best. Good isn’t good enough anymore!
Anyone can set a goal; the hard part is going after it every day.
The hard part is making the decisions you have to against yourself to get to the goal. You get into shape one workout at a time. You get out of debt one paycheck at a time.
If you are looking for an excuse, you’ll always find one.
The same is true of opportunity. And if you can’t find one, you can make one.
Maybe it’s time to quit asking why and start asking why not?
So, what’s your “what if?” for 2024?
Lorne Hall
Hall | Stewart Lawn + Landscape
(405)367-3873