Usually we swat them away, and if they get in our homes, we squash them. The fact of the matter is, bees are an essential part the complex ecosystem we all live in. Apples taste pretty good on their own, and some would argue even better in a pie, but without the pollination of bees, apples don’t exist. As a matter of fact, 1/3 of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy, don’t exist. Today is National Don’t Step on a Bee day, and this day is a reminder that not only do bees provide the necessary elements for most of the foods we see in the produce section, but their numbers are dwindling. In some places the numbers have dropped by more than 50%, and all of this is excluding the fact that the economy will take a massive blow if measures are not taken. Many factors come to play when talking about what we now call, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD):

Causes

• Pesticides – Though pesticides keep insects that damage plants away, it is also one of the biggest contributors to the rapidly declining honey bee population. Recently introduced pesticides (1990’s), such as Neonicotinoids, are used as an alternatives to chemicals like DDT, but have proved to be deadly. This pesticide contains nicotine which we use to catch a quick buzz. Nicotine for bees, however, confuses their ability to find nutrition and suppresses their immune system, making it susceptible to parasites.  When a bee brings these toxins back to the hive it often creates a domino affect for the whole hive and can eventually kill off the entire colony.
• Fungicides – As found in a study done by PLOS One, the combination of fungicides and pesticides has created a perfect storm of negative side affects to bees.
• Poor Nutrition -The spread of modern agriculture, along with the destruction of many sources of the bee’s food are making it increasingly difficult to find nutrition. When grasslands filled with wildflowers are destroyed to make way for housing developments and other man-made constructions, the bees loose a source of food.
• Parasites – You may already be seeing a trend here. It isn’t just one factor that has become the demise of many honey bees. It is a mixture of several. Parasites have become an issue where previously, it really wasn’t one. The bees natural immune system has properties to help ward off these pests, but when the pesticides lower their immune systems that becomes next to impossible
  • Types of Parasitic Mites
    • Varroa Mites
    • Acarapis Woodi

Possible Solutions

• Feed the Bees – This is possibly on of the more difficult solutions to execute. Farmers would need to be convinced to use their land differently, and massive efforts would need to be enacted to plant large quantities of wild flowers.
• Find an Alternative to the Fungicides and Pesticides – Though these chemicals work to ward off other harmful elements to a particular crop, they are contributing to the rapid decline of honey bee populations.
• Warding off the Parasites – Scientists in Frankfurt University have devised a way to attack the mites at the entrance of commercial bee hives. Other efforts are trying to come up with ways to turn off the mites breeding cycle.

The life of turf grass is a stressful one. The odds are against your lawn, and many different elements are working to keep it from reaching its full, lush and green potential. That doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it! In the past few weeks we have gone from warm days and cool nights, to hot (we mean, HOT) days and warm nights. The overexposure of heat to your turf can be devastating, and unless you can  block the suns rays, there isn’t much you can do about the heat. Heat isn’t the only stress wreaking havoc on your lawn, however. The other two stresses are lack of water and mowing stress. Though we can’t fix the heat, we can surely do something about these two! Simply Green Lawn Care has these tips to follow to keep your lawn looking great this year!

• Lack of Water – We are starting to see exceptionally hot days with a lack of rain to supplement it. So, if water is not finding its way to your lawn naturally, bring the water yourself! This is the time of year to start deep root watering, but how do we do that? Deep Root Watering – Instead of watering every other day to achieve the needed 1.0”-1.5,” water 1-2 days in a row, then don’t water the next 4-5 days. This provides deep root watering and allows your soil pores to open for oxygen.
• Mowing Stress – The stress your turf is experiencing is not always due to natural elements. Sometimes it is our own doing. Warm season turf should be mowed every 7-10 days. We are seeing issues when homeowners are mowing every 14 days or more which is causing additional stress to the turf grass by removing more than 1/3 of the leaf blade. With Bermuda turfgrass if you mow on a 14 day rotation your lawn will turn brown the day after mowing. Follow these mowing tips to keep from being the destructive force on your lawn:
  • Cut, not tear. Mower blades must be sharp or instead of cutting you will be tearing your lawn. If your leaf blades have brown tips 2-3 days after you mow, your mower blades may need to be sharpened.
  • Rule of thirds. Mow your lawn at least every 7 days in the growing season. Never mow more than one-third of the grass leaf at a time.
  • To catch or not to catch? If you are mowing at the correct height every 7 days, you do not need to catch your grass clippings. Clippings contain beneficial nutrients and do not build harmful thatch.
  • Change directions. Change your mowing direction each time you mow. This ensures a more even cut and grass blades will be less likely to develop into a set pattern.
  • Height matters. Mowing height is extremely important. Know your grass type and mow at the correct height for the time of the year.

Photo Credit: Flickr Photo via Denise Krebs

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and Simply Green Lawn Care wants to wish all of the mothers out there the happiest of days! We know a lot of moms out there are gifted with green thumbs, and love spending time on their lawns and gardens. If this is the mom in your life, there are a lot of great gift ideas to choose from! We have compiled a list of some of the best gifts we have seen to help you find the perfect one!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

• Bird Feeder – This one is for all the bird watchers. Feeders can attract many different types of birds to a yard, and having the air filled with fluttering wings and chirps can be wonderful and exciting.
• Gardening Tools – For those of you who want to give a gift that she can really use, quality gardening tools are a great addition to any gardeners arsenal.
• Potted Plants – Rather than a traditional bouquet, a potted plant can be a beautiful addition, indoors and outdoors. The typical arrangement of  flowers, though pretty, won’t last nearly as long as potted plant might.
• Cookbook – If she is a vegetable or fruit gardener, chances are she enjoys being in the kitchen. Find a nice cookbook that incorporates a lot of the ingredients that she has been growing.

We hope this helps, and happy Mother’s Day!

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The submissions just keep rolling in! To those of you who have already shared your dogs and puppies with us, thank you! We have really enjoyed seeing all of the entries for the Simply Green Furry Friends Contest, and can’t wait to see more! Do you have a dog or puppy that you would like to submit to our contest? Please do, because you could be the lucky winner of a $100 Visa gift card! For details on how to enter, click here!

Take a look at some of the submission we have already received! We are seeing everything from stylish pooches to dogs in weddings, and from trick-or-treaters to good ol’ lazy dogs.

It’s hard not to think about making the earth around us a little better on a week like this. Earth day was on Wednesday,and Arbor Day is today! There are many different ways to make our homes and communities a little greener, but one simple way to do your part is by planting a tree. But before you run out and plant a forest of trees in your front yard, there are a few things to consider.

Simply Green Lawn Care has these easy-to-follow steps for planting a tree:

1. Select a good time of year. Late spring and early summer are, generally speaking, not good times of year to plant trees. Now, in the months of April and May, is the best time to go out and
2. Be careful where you dig. Most yards nowadays have buried cables and lines that run to your house. So be cautious when digging so you don’t end up without internet for a few days.
3. Find a suitable tree for your area. Different trees grow better in different regions. For instance, peach trees thrive in the Georgia soil and climate. Do a little research before planting something that may not do well in your region.
4. Select a good location. Remember, this tree will grow. Take that into account when choosing a spot. Plant away from your house and power lines, the tree should be able to grow unobstructed.
5. Dig a hole 4-5 times the width of the root ball.
   1. Big enough to work with.
   2. Roots need broken up soil to spread.
   3. The point where tree comes out of the ground should be slightly higher (1/4 to a 1/2 inch) than the rest to avoid over watering.
6. Time to plant! Place the tree, gently, in the hole you just dug, and check to make sure it doesn’t sit too deep or too shallow
7. If the soil you are using is not rich, mix some compost in when filling the hole.
8. Use stakes if necessary for the first year or so.
9. Pat yourself on the back, you just added that much more oxygen and greenery to the world!

Here, at Simply Green Lawn Care we love our dogs! So it seemed only fitting to host a contest this year for people and their furry friends! We want to give you an opportunity to share pictures of your dogs, and win prizes. There will be two different contests to enter; one will be “Best Dog” and the other will be “Best Puppy,” with the winners being selected at random. The winners of the contests will each receive a $100 Visa gift card! Entering the contest is easy, and only takes a few minutes, so what do you have to loose! If you are eager to enter, follow the guidelines below:

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY

Submitting an entry is as easy as one, two… Well, just one and two; it couldn’t be simpler!

• Like our page
  
• Fill out this form
  

CONTEST RULES AND TERMS

• To be eligible to win, each participant must like our page, and fill out the submission form in its entirety.
• The photo should include a picture of your dog or puppy. (No inappropriate photos)
• Only one submission per person.
• We may use your pictures for promotions.

Share this contest with your friends, the more the merrier! The Furry Friends Contest will run one month from its start date (4-15-2015), and we wish all of the participants the best of luck!

As we talked about last week, April is Gardening Month. We hope that our last entry about the basics of gardening enticed a few of you first-timers to exercise your green thumbs this season! If are gardening this season, you have probably realized already that different plants come with a different set of care instructions. This week, Simply Green Lawn Care wants to talk about herbs. Most of us have used herbs like basil or thyme in our kitchens when preparing meals or drinks, so these plants are great to have on hand.

Basil

• Water and Sun: Basil is one of those plants that likes a steady supply of moisture to stay at optimal health. If your basil is planted in the ground, or in a spot where it does not move, use mulch to help retain the moisture in the soil. Planting basil in a container you can move in and out of the sun may make it easier to care for this plant.
• General Care: Be sure to pinch off flowers to keep your basil plant producing.
• Harvesting: Basil is at its most flavorful and fragrant just as it begins to bud. So, this is also the best time to harvest.
• Uses: Most commonly used in tomato sauces or pestos. Basil can also be chopped and sprinkled over a salad.

Mint

• Water and Sun: Mint should be planted in an area that receives regular sunlight. This herb, like basil, likes to receive a steady supply of moisture. So, if you plant your mint in the ground, use mulch to help retain moisture in the soil.
• General Care: This is one of those plants that can be neglected a little bit and still bounce back. Just be sure to keep it evenly moist.
• Harvesting: You can harvest a mint plant up to 3 times in a season, or, like a lot of people, pick the leaves off as you need them.
• Uses: Mint Juleps are a great way to use your mint, and enjoy a hot summers day. Mint can also freshen up a fruit salad, or enhance a tea.

Thyme

• Water and Sun: Thyme should be given a lot of sunlight each day (avoid heavy shade), and planted in soil with good drainage. Water your thyme in the warmer months of spring and summer every 10 to 15 days at a depth of 1 inch.
• General Care: Thyme needs little care to be bountiful.
• Harvesting: Don’t take more than 1/3 of growth at any one time. You can pick leaves throughout the season as needed, or harvest the whole plant when it begins to bloom.
• Uses: Thyme is used a lot in cooking nowadays. It has been used to put a new spin on scrambled eggs, in dry rubs, on breads or stuffing chickens.

Rosemary

• Water and Sun: Rosemary should receive a lot of sun, and needs well drained soil. Rosemary should be watered sparingly.
• General Care: Make sure to prune rosemary on a regular basis to keep it from getting lanky. Rosemary can grow to be a large plant so it needs a good deal of space.
• Harvesting: You can cut the stems of rosemary at anytime for freshness. During the winter months, rosemary should be brought in doors. You can also dry the leaves and store in an airtight container for use year-round.
• Uses: Rosemary can be used in soups, sprinkled on top of fish or chicken, or as an oil infusion.

Happy Garden Month! This year, like years before, many people will try their hand at gardening for the first time. Like anything new, we first need to begin with the basics. Having a solid understanding of the fundamentals of gardening will give you a great foundation to build from for years to come. Simply Green Lawn Care located around Atlanta, GA has several steps to follow to get you playing in the dirt this spring!

• Pick a location – For the most part, plants are going to need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day to yield the best results. Scope out your yard, and see what parts receive a consistent amount of sun everyday. Also, consider proximity when selecting a location to start. Is there a source of water near by? Easy access from the house for cooking? Take some time for this part of the process, it is very difficult to change locations once you’ve planted.
• Get your supplies – Decide what supplies you are going to need. If you are just starting out, you really don’t need anything fancy, just a few basic supplies like a trowel, gloves, soil, pots (if doing a container garden), shovel and pruners.
• What will you grow?! – This is where the fun really starts to happen. Make a visit your local nursery, or anywhere that provides gardening essentials. Take your time, walk through the aisles of vegetables, herbs and flowers and pick what you like! Ask yourself questions depending on what you are planting. What will I eat the most of? What textures look good next to one another (flowers or decorative plants)? If you want a more uncommon plant like an heirloom variety, think about looking at the seeds section. It often provides a wider variety of plants.
• Design – It’s up to you! Whatever you envision for your garden, go for it! Make sure to look up a few basic rules of gardening as guidelines while planting, especially when dealing with ornamentals, an aesthetic design guide can really help.
• Maintain – Once you’ve gone through the above steps, all that’s left to do is maintain your garden and reap the rewards! But what is needed to keep your garden at optimal health?
  • Water your plants regularly. Plants require a good deal of water to survive. A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger in the soil; if it is dry, make sure to give them a bit of water. Also, water your plants at the beginning of the day if possible. This will allow the sun the dry of the leaves, and help avoid fungal diseases caused by moisture. If you notice that some of your leaves are beginning to brown, take your pruning shears and cut it at the base.
  • Keep the weeds out! Check your garden everyday for encroaching weeds. Pick them and discard away from your garden.
  • Expect pests. Insects and critters are almost always a sure issue, and there are many different methods for dealing with the issue.
  • Last, but not least, enjoy it! Gardening is a really great way to get outdoors and relieve from stress from the day. Happy gardening!

The weather is getting warmer, the grass is growing and it’s that time of year again to start considering watering your lawn. There is no exact, or correct month of the year to start watering your grass. It really all just depends on the conditions. But before you get started for the year, Simply Green Lawn Care located near Atlanta, Ga has several things for you to consider.

• Check your Local Watering Laws – It is important to adhere to the local water restrictions when watering your lawn. Go to www.georgiadrought.org to check your local laws.
• When to Start – Like we said before, there is no one correct time to start watering your lawn. Even after a stretch of dry hot days, you may still not need to water your lawn. One way to test the readiness of your grass, is by performing a simple step test. If you step on your lawn and it doesn’t bounce back, it may be time to bring out the sprinkler.
• How much? – It is important to remember that you can give your lawn too much water. The idea is to keep the top 6” of your soil moist; most lawns require 1.0”-1.5” of water per week during the growing season.
• Watering Schedule – The best time of day to water your lawn is early in the morning when temperatures are cooler. Between the hours of 4 am and 10 am are generally the best times to do this. This will allow the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing disease and water waste due to evaporation during the heat of the day.

As always, you can contact us with any lawn care questions you may have!

Simply Green wants to wish you a happy first day of spring! This time of year conjures up images of blooming flowers,spring break and some of the first barbecues of the year. But spring of 2015 has started off on a brisk and rainy note. If you have lived in Georgia for any extended period of time, you know that the weather here can be pretty fickle. Today may have called for hot chocolate, but tomorrow may be iced lemonade. So, just what can we expect for the first weeks of spring this year?

According to the 2015 Farmer’s Almanac:

• Today (March 20): Cloudy, with a brisk 48 degrees in the morning. Temperatures will rise to 70 degrees by 4 pm.
• Saturday (March 21): Sunny, with a low of 54 degrees, and a high of 73 degrees.
• Sunday (March 22): Rainy, with a low of 52 degrees, and a high of 59 degrees.
• March 23-31: We can expect the weather to cool down a bit, with a few warm days and some rainy periods.

APRIL

• Overview: The average temperature will be 66 degrees (3 degrees above avg.). Precipitation will be around 2.5″ (0.5″ below avg.)
• April 1-4: It is expected to be sunny and nice out for the first days of April.
• April 5-9: Expect these days to be rainy, and then nice and sunny.
• April 10-21: This block of days will bring with it a few thunderstorms and warm temperatures.
• April 22-25: It will be sunny and warm for these days.
• April 26-30: It will start out rainy, then sunny and will cool down around the 29th and 30th.