Since I'm regularly asked about it, I thought it would be worth reminding you that if you have Boxwood in your landscape, now is the time of year you need to begin treating them. In a couple weeks, we'll be experiencing the warmer and more humid conditions that Boxwood Blight thrives in. You need to have a fungicide applied preventatively, if you want to save your Boxwood. Chlorothalonil, commonly sold as Daconil at hardware stores, is the most effective fungicide. Starting now through October, Daconil needs to be applied every 21 days. Extending the interval any farther than that, will leave you exposed.
CLICK HERE for a good online resource to identify problems and symptoms of Boxwood pests. Boxwood Blight has been the focus on Boxwoods over the last 8-10 years but there are other insects and fungal diseases that can affect Boxwood as well.
A lawn pest you need to deal with now, are white grubs (larval stage of a beetle). Every September/October, a few member lawns in the Club are turned upside down by raccoons, skunks, wild hogs and now even armadillos. This is so very easy to prevent by applying grub control that prevents egg hatch of Japanese Beetles, NOW (have the product down by ~June 20th)! In late June, adult beetles are laying eggs, which hatch in July. Cut the life cycle off now while it's easy! These animals, mentioned above, are digging for food. They sense by smell/sound etc., grubs beneath the soil. If the food source is eliminated, the animals won't dig...it's pretty simply. I am shocked annually by the amount of reputable Highlands area "professional landscape companies" that don't understand this. If you're paying for lawn care, there is absolutely NO reason you should ever have to deal with digging animals. Unless of course it's your dog...then you need to invest in training and discipline. Or a squirrel burying nuts. Those are the two exceptions when it comes to digging.
If you miss the window and don't get the control product down until after egg hatch, it's too late...missed opportunity. A product commonly used for preventative treatment of grubs on home lawns in granular Merit, scientifically known as Imidacloprid. If that name rings a bell, it is because it's the same chemistry used for Woolly Adelgid treatment of Hemlocks. If you do work with a knowledgeable lawn care outfit, mention the products Acelepryn or Arena to them. Both are great for annual control of beetle grubs. This one time application can save you a lot of headache and expense later this year. If you have questions on either of these topics, I'd be happy to talk to you in more detail.