Premier Irrigation & Landscape Newsletter

July 5, 2010 Volume 2

WELL IT LOOKS LIKE SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE

The weather is finally starting to warm up. Below is an irrigation update. IRRIGATION CONTROLLER UPDATE - Your Seasonal Adjust or % Adjust feature on your irrigation clock should be in the 85% 90% range, and moving up this next week. It looks like the weather forecast has temperatures near 1000 f coming soon. Watch for the Thunder Storms rolling in from the south that we traditionally get in midsummer. These thunder clouds bring with them high humidity and also a release of atmospheric nitrogen. Both of these factors could affect your lawn in a negative way. The high humidity can cause turf diseases that can damage the grass in your lawn. Similarly, the release of atmospheric nitrogen can cause disease if you already have your lawn at a high fertilization level already. Remember during the summer when the thunder storms are common, you want your lawn a little on the dry side, and a little on the lean side. Below are some fertilizer tips that may help you.

FERTILIZER SCHEDULES IN THE ROGUE VALLEY

The fertilizer schedule that I have used and recommended for quite some time is as follows:

Premier Irrigation & Landscape PO Box 4342 Medford, OR 97501 Phone: (541) 778-2421 Fax: (541) 245-8752 E-mail:
paul@premierirrigation.net

February The last week in February apply a quick release fertilizer/herbicide combination for the control of crab grass. This application needs to be flexible, because the crabgrass control is soil temperature dependant. May The third week in May apply a slow release fertilizer. August The second week in August apply slow release fertilizer. November The second week in August apply a quick release fertilizer. Again, important things to consider are: the August application should be on the lower side, around to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Other applications should be around 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet.

The most important application here in the valley is the one that most people leave out. The late fall application sets up the entire next year, and provides a healthy stand of turf going into the winter, which protects it from frost and cold damage. TYPES OF FERTILIZERS Quick Release, or Quickly Available Water Soluble Potential to burn turf Nitrogen is available immediately Last 2-6 weeks Source of Nitrogen: Ammonium sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate or calcium nitrate. Advantages Low costs, rapid green up response, effective in all temperatures Disadvantages Short bursts of growth, due to quick release nature, susceptible to leaching Slow Release Water insoluble Lower susceptibility to leaching Usually last 6-8 weeks Nitrogen is released over longer periods of time Nitrogen release is dependant of microbial decomposition or physical/chemical processes in combination with microbial activity. Microbial activity is dependent on temperature, soil moisture and pH levels in the soil Provides a low uniform supply of nitrogen throughout the growing season Initial turf response is slow, but the consistent release allow the fertilizer to last up to several months Advantages Reduces losses due to leaching, cuts back on excessive turf growth (spikes in growth after application) and has a longer turf response Disadvantages More expensive than quickly available sources, and is temperature dependant NOTE: On the fertilizer bag, the list of nitrogen sources, are from top to bottom, quickly available to slowly available sources.

Premier Irrigation & Landscape PO Box 4342 Medford, OR 97501 Phone: (541) 778-2421 Fax: (541) 245-8752 E-mail:
paul@premierirrigation.net

FERTILIZER COMPONENTS, NUMBERS AND RATIOS example: 24-3-15 The first number is the percent of Nitrogen per pound of product, the second is the percent of Phosphorous per pound of product and the last number is the percent of Potassium per pound of product. Most all calculations relate to the percent of Nitrogen, unless you are specifically trying to increase one of the other elements in the soil profile.

NITROGEN (N) The most important element of the fertilization program. Promotes growth, green up and improves density. Annual needs for a healthy green lawn, is approximately 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year. PHOSPHORUS (P) The soils in the valley usually have sufficient amounts of phosphorus in them, and supplemental additions are usually not needed. You should perform a soil test to confirm this observation. However, most fertilizers sold are considered Complete fertilizers, and usually have this element in them already. POTASSIUM (K) Potassium is an important element. Although it does not cause a color or growth response, it seems to slightly enhance plant hardiness to heat and cold stress. RATIOS In general a 4-1-3 or an 8-1-5 ration of N P K is sufficient here in the valley. If you have any questions about these topics, or any other, please email me at the address to the left, and Ill help you in any way that I can.

WHERE WE GET OUR SUPPLIES

EWING IRRIGATION & SUPPLIES, (Fertilizers, Pesticides, Herbicides & Fungicides, Grass Seed & Soil Tests) UNITED PIPE & SUPPLY (Fertilizers, Grass Seed) GRANGE CO-OP, (Grass Seed) If you dont feel you are able to apply these products to your lawn, Premier Irrigation & Landscape will be able to accomplish these tasks for you. Just give us a call.

OTHER RESOURCES
As a reminder we have a handful of other Turf & Landscape resources available to you. That list includes: Premier Irrigation & Landscape yearly maintenance schedule, which includes recommendations from Bartlett Tree Service on their tree maintenance schedules, including fertilization times

Premier Irrigation & Landscape PO Box 4342 Medford, OR 97501 Phone: (541) 778-2421 Fax: (541) 245-8752 E-mail:
paul@premierirrigation.net

All sorts of turgrass fertilizer and weed control recommendations Sports field maintenance techniques How to calculate your fertilizer application needs How to apply the correct amount of fertilizer to your lawn Guidelines on watering your turfgrass Establishing new lawns Rain garden water capture brochures Sample landscape maintenance contracts, to help you define your landscape maintenance projects

JUST AS A REMINDER
The State of Oregon has defined the role of Landscape Professionals vs. Landscape Maintenance companies, for the sole protection of the consumer. Below are the definitions and differences between the two.

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION and YARD MAINTENANCE WORK

What is the Difference? A landscape construction professional is an individual who prepares the land, does the planning and installs lawns, shrubs, trees and other nursery stock. The individual also installs water features, irrigation systems, drainage systems, fences, decks, arbors, patios, landscape edging, walkways, driveways and retaining walls. This work, if done for compensation, requires that the person be employed by or own a landscape contracting business that is licensed with the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB). This business license is in addition to any local business licenses that may be required in your area. Yard maintenance work is unregulated in Oregon and does not require a license with the state of Oregon (local business license may be required). This work is performed on an existing landscape and includes: mowing, pruning (up to 15 feet from ground), edging, power sweeping, raking, fertilizing, bark dusting and the planting of annuals and perennials in existing beds (limited). The repair of irrigation or drainage systems, the building of retaining walls, or other construction work is not included. However, a person doing yard maintenance work can replace existing lawns, trees and shrubs to a limit of $500.00 per job site per year without obtaining a state license with the Landscape Contractors Board.

Premier Irrigation & Landscape PO Box 4342 Medford, OR 97501 Phone: (541) 778-2421 Fax: (541) 245-8752 E-mail:
paul@premierirrigation.net

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is considered yard/landscape maintenance work? Landscape maintenance means trimming, some pruning, mowing, and upkeep of alreadyinstalled landscape projects. Do I need a Landscape Contractors Board business license to do yard/landscape maintenance? Landscape maintenance is not presently a state-regulated trade. However, you should check with your city or county for local requirements. Do I need a landscape contracting business license to weed flowerbeds? This work is also considered maintenance work and therefore does not require you to have a landscape contracting business license. May I do actual landscaping work other than maintenance without a landscape contracting business license? Yes, if you are performing work for a customer that during the year receives primarily landscape maintenance services from you. However you are limited up to $500 worth (labor and materials) of landscape work per job site, per year, and the work you do must be of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature (see below). You are not allowed to install or repair irrigation or drainage systems, or construct or repair arbors, decks, patios, driveways, retaining walls, fences, walkways or ornamental water features. You are not allowed to install landscape edging but can replace non-concrete landscape edging. What is casual, minor or inconsequential? Casual, minor or inconsequential work includes the replacement of trees and nursery stock with varieties that are similar in habit and culture; the replacement of existing lawns, the planting of annuals, perennials and bulbs in existing beds; the replacement of non-concrete landscape edging; the replacement of three or fewer malfunctioning or broken sprinkler heads with heads of the same or of a similar type and hydraulic equivalency; the adjustment of sprinkler head nozzles and the programming of irrigation controllers. It does not include the construction of new planting areas or the construction or repair of arbors, decks, patios, driveways, fencing, retaining walls, walkways, or ornamental water features or the installation of landscape edging. Casual, minor or inconsequential work does not include the construction or repair of drainage or irrigation systems. May I repair irrigation/sprinkler systems that are already installed? Repairing of irrigation/sprinkler systems is not casual, minor, or inconsequential work. Only a licensed landscape contracting business may install or repair irrigation/sprinkler systems. You may however, replace up to three sprinkler heads of the same or similar type and hydraulic equivalency on a system without being licensed. This is to allow the maintenance person to replace a sprinkler head if broken while working. May I prune trees? You may prune trees up to 15 feet above ground level when the diameter of the limb is three inches or less. You may also remove trees up to 15 feet in height when the diameter of the tree is four inches or less at ground level. Anything above that requires a Construction Contractors business license. May I plant trees? You may plant a tree only if you are performing regular landscape maintenance for the customer and are replacing another tree with one of similar habit and culture and stay under the $500 (labor & material) limit. Anything above that $500 requires a landscape contracting business license issued by the LCB.

Premier Irrigation & Landscape PO Box 4342 Medford, OR 97501 Phone: (541) 778-2421 Fax: (541) 245-8752 E-mail:
paul@premierirrigation.net

If someone asks me to install a flowerbed or garden plot do I need to be licensed? Yes, unless the bed is existing and you are changing flowers ($500 limit) or planting vegetables. What if Im asked to replace a section of lawn? Do I need to be licensed? You may do patch repair work to fill-in or even-out the lawn area for a customer that in a calendar year receives landscape maintenance services from your business. This is casual, minor, or inconsequential in nature. Keep in mind that you cannot exceed the $500 limit per jobsite per year. What if Im asked to repair a concrete walkway while I am doing maintenance work? This is not considered maintenance work. This would require a license with the Landscape Contractors Board or the Construction Contractors Board. Can I spread gravel for a walkway when it is part of the maintenance work? You can refresh the gravel, but you cannot create the walkway or install edging. What if I perform over $500 worth of landscaping work, but do not charge for it, do I have to be licensed? No, as long as you are not compensated for that work in any way. Compensation means payment made in the form of money, goods, or services in return for landscape work. Bartering is considered compensation. When does maintenance work become landscaping work that needs a license? The minute you begin installing lawns, shrubs, vines, trees and other nursery stock, or when you install or repair irrigation or drainage systems or install arbors, decks, patios, driveways, fencing, retaining walls, walkways, or ornamental water features you are performing landscaping work. What if I only design landscapes and I dont install, but I do subcontract to have the work done? You would be required to have a landscape contracting business license issued by the LCB in order to arrange and contract for this work. Can I advertise for landscape maintenance? Yes, but there are conditions. If the word landscape is included in your business name, this word must be followed by another word that indicates the maintenance nature of your business such as XYZ Landscape Maintenance Company (Landscape Gardening is not allowed). You cannot advertise under the heading of landscape contractor or any other heading that indicates you may be a landscape contracting business in any advertising media, but you are allowed to advertise under other appropriate headings without a license. Do I need to be licensed to apply fertilizer or to use pesticides? The Landscape Contractors Board does not issue this type of license. The Department of Agriculture issues the Pesticide Applicators License. You can contact them at 503-986-4635. Can I spread bark-dust? Yes, this is not considered installation.

Premier Irrigation & Landscape PO Box 4342 Medford, OR 97501 Phone: (541) 778-2421 Fax: (541) 245-8752 E-mail:
paul@premierirrigation.net

Oregon Landscape Contractors Board 2111 Front St. NE, Suite 2-101 Salem, OR 97301 Ph: (503) 378-5909; Fax: (503) 378-5950 Web: www.lcb.state.or.us