Duck Creek HOA Spring Start Up

Things You Can Do Now for the Summer Season Mower Maintenance Tool Maintenance Irrigation Maintenance Color Beds and Shrubs Fire Ants Trimming Flowering Shrubs Crepe Myrtle Pruning Turf Maintenance

Mower Maintenance Lawn Mower maintenance should be done early in the Spring in order to ensure proper cutting and ease of use.

Mower Maintenance Clean mower deck. Sharpen blades. Check oil levels.

Mower Maintenance Clean or replace air filter. Clean or replace spark plug.

Tool Maintenance Gas Blower, Weed eater or Trimmer Clean or replace spark plug. Make sure gas mix is fresh. Clean or replace air filter If you have an electric tool – check all electric cords for frays.

Tool Maintenance Hand Tools Hand Pruners – clean, sharpen and disinfect Shovels – clean and lubricate Hedge shears – clean, sharpen and disinfect

Irrigation Maintenance No matter what type of irrigation system you have, it will require some type of maintenance!

Irrigation Maintenance Controller (Clock) – make sure current time is set correctly due to day light savings time. Correct watering times for Spring season from last fall. Check watering schedule for number of watering per week based on current restrictions. Install a freeze and rain sensor.

Irrigation Maintenance Run your irrigation system during the day in order to see if you have any leaks. Carry utility flags with you so you can mark the leaks for repair latter.

Irrigation Maintenance Make sure rotors pop up and rotate properly. You will need to let it run for a few minutes so you can check rotation and spray coverage.

Irrigation Maintenance Check the pop up spray heads for function and for any clogs. Some spray heads are adjustable so make sure they are set the way you want.

Color Beds and Shrubs Clean beds of leaves and trash. Be careful not to damage the plants.

Color Beds and Shrubs Remove winter kill or damaged plant material. Remove weeds that have already started growing. Get to know your garden!

Color Beds and Shrubs The best thing you can do for your color beds and shrubs is to add mulch.

Fire Ants “Texas Two Step” Use a general broadcast ant bait and then treat each mound with a dust as they occur.

Trimming Flowering Shrubs Spring Flowering Shrubs- Shrubs that flower in the spring (before June), prune after they finish blooming because they bloom on “Old Wood”.

Trimming Flowering Shrubs Summer Flowering Shrubs- Shrubs that flower in the summer (after June) prune in the spring because they bloom on “New Wood”.

Crepe Myrtle Pruning

“Crepe Murder” Understand why you are pruning, Don’t do it just “because..”

Crepe Myrtle Pruning This picture demonstrates the negative results of topping any type of tree but especially a crepe myrtle. Branches will be thin and weak. This will actually increase the long term maintenance.

Turf Maintenance Whether you maintain this level of turf care or -

Turf Maintenance This: Your turf will need some type of care such as fertilizer, pest control or weed control.

Turf Maintenance

Broadleaf weed control. Post emergent herbicides. Best Controlled when young.

Turf Maintenance Selective vs. Non- selective Herbicides.

Turf Maintenance Pre-emergent control of winter weeds and summer weeds.

Turf Maintenance The best way to keep weeds out of your lawn is to have a thick and healthy turf.

Turf Maintenance Fertilizers – Quick release vs. Slow release.

Turf Maintenance Organic vs. Inorganic

Turf Maintenance In most cases you should use a low or non Phosphorus fertilizer due to leaching into ground water.

Questions?

The End!