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The Difference
As with every service, the difference is in the details.
THIS TIME OF YEAR
It’s getting rough… (July 11, 2018)
July 11, 2018 Weather Update The above image was taken in my car as I left work yesterday afternoon (July 10, 2018). The car was in a parking lot so it was hotter than a nearby shady, grassed area might be. But this is exactly the situation that some of your grass is suffering in. […]
2018 Summer is HERE!
It’s hot today. We’ve had a few warm days this season, but today is really going to get uncomfortable and hot. Summer is here and there’s much more of the same on the way. But unfortunately, heat isn’t our only problem. It’s also really dry. The forecast for this upcoming week is mostly hot (though […]
Early Summer
As the heat sets in, so do the critters. Now’s the time to prevent the lawn damaging insects from taking over.
Early Summer
Properly maintaining your lawn throughout the year can keep your lawn healthy, and it is especially important during the hot summer months.
FROM THE EXPERT
In The Weeds: Water Movement in Soil
“In The Weeds” is a series of posts that take a deeper look at the science of home lawn care. Water Movement in Soil How does water move through soil? You’ve probably heard at some point that water works its way down through the soil and into the groundwater. And it may seem reasonable that […]
The Grass is Always Greener…. Or is it?
At first sight, the lawn in the picture above looks pretty decent, right? Sure, it’s a bit shaggy but it’s green and full, no significant brown areas, and there aren’t many visible weeds. We have met with quite a few people recently who were upset that their neighbor’s lawn looked better than theirs. In those […]
Hot, Dry, Brown August in Connecticut
In the lawn care business in the Northeast, August is considered to be the flipside of winter. Just as your lawn looks thin, brown and weak due to the cold of the winter, so does it often look lousy due to the heat of August. Brown lawns and brown patches abound and heat-loving weeds like […]
It’s getting rough… (July 11, 2018)
July 11, 2018 Weather Update The above image was taken in my car as I left work yesterday afternoon (July 10, 2018). The car was in a parking lot so it was hotter than a nearby shady, grassed area might be. But this is exactly the situation that some of your grass is suffering in. […]
Less Water – More Green
Wetting agents help your lawn use water more efficiently and effectively. Watch to learn more. To get a quote for wetting agent applications on your lawn, call Teed & Brown at (203) 847-1241 or email: andy@jose2.creativamotions.com To get a quote for wetting agent applications on your lawn, call Teed & Brown at (203) 847-1241 […]
The Crabgrass Cycle
We’re out there busy applying the first round treatments of the season, one of which is a crabgrass preventer. As we do this now, it’s good to reflect on WHY we are trying to stop it. After all, crabgrass is a type of grass, right? Yes, it is. But it’s an annual grass that naturally […]
Teed & Brown University: Cultural Management #2
Join us again for another classroom session! Today we approach 2 more topics that fall under the “Cultural Management” heading; drought and excessive shade. You can also learn more about shade in a video we put together a few years ago at this link: Excessive Shade Video – Teed & Brown It always amazes new […]
Teed & Brown University: Cultural Management #1
Today’s session dealt with 2 Cultural (non-chemical) management issues in home lawns; Thatch and Temperatures. Neither can really benefit from any sort of chemical or fertilizer additions, so it’s critical for us to know how best to deal with the challenges presented by each. Enjoy!
Teed & Brown University: Irrigation 101
Well, it’s not TECHNICALLY a “university,” but we recently created a dedicated learning space in our building for continuing education, employee and management training, and overall company improvement. We thought we’d virtually invite you “behind the scenes” here to give you an idea of what we do here at Teed & Brown. This was a […]
The 2017 Fall Drought Continues
While we’ve been getting the occasional teasing showers over the past few weeks, this fall has by and large been extremely dry. If you’ve had parts of your lawn seeded, that seed likely hasn’t germinated unless it has been receiving regular supplemental water via an automated sprinkler system or even a portable hose and sprinkler […]
Wetting Agents… The New Tool?
The summer of 2016 was rough, no question. It was hot AND it was dry. Only lawns with strong irrigation systems actually did well. Without sufficient water, does the lawn have any hope? Yes and no. No, the grass won’t survive without adequate water. However, there is actually a new way to improve the situation tremendously. […]
SEED GROWTH
Grass seed can be frustrating. The fastest growing seed usually results in the lowest quality lawn. Better quality lawns generally come from very slow growing grass seed. While the early stages of seed growth can often be maddeningly slow, please keep in mind that there is a solid reason why Teed & Brown uses seed […]
LAWN CARE 101: Fertilizer
Micronutrients are those elements essential to a plants growth which are only needed in small quantities. The micronutrients are boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, zinc.
Fun Fact
Front lawns of average houses have the cooling effects of about 70 tons of air conditioning. While the average home-size central a.c. has only a 3-4 ton capacity.
Aeration (Definition):
Aerating the lawn on a regular basis is the single biggest step to maintaining a healthy lawn. It should be performed at least once a year, and in some cases, twice a year.
OVERGROWTH
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Seed Growth Tip
Grass seed can be frustrating. The fastest growing seed usually results in the lowest quality lawn. Better quality lawns generally come from very slow growing grass seed. While the early stages of seed growth can often be maddeningly slow, please keep in mind that there is a solid reason why Teed & Brown uses seed […]
Fertilizer Trip
Micronutrients are those elements essential to a plants growth which are only needed in small quantities. The micronutrients are boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc.
Fertilizer Tip
Each bag of fertilizer will have a Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium analysis in a number value to designate how much of each ingredient by % of weight is in that bag. (ex. 21-0-4)
Fertilizer Tip
Most fertilizers contain the macro-nutrients; Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. These nutrients are required in larger amounts for the turf to maintain a healthy state.
Fertilizer Tip
Potassium is the second larges nutrient required for a lawn behind nitrogen. It is involved in rooting, turf grass hardiness, and diseases resistance.
Pests Tip
The most effective treatment for moles is to use a bait that that they consume to eradicate the rodent. It is important to not disturb the tunnel when placing the bait.
Fun Fact
Front lawns of average houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning, while the average home-size central a.c. has only a 3-4 ton capacity.
Weeds Tip
Most weeds in a lawn are categorized as broadleafs and are controlled with products designed to attack them without harming the surrounding turf.
Fertilizer Tip
Phosphorous is important to seed germination, growth and establishment and is usually found in abundance in the soil. This is why only fertilizers intended for seed germination contain any amount of Phosphorous.
Fertilizer Tip
Nitrogen is most associated with greening up the lawn. It is the basis of all protein and DNA and vital to a plants growth and tissue development.
Fun Fact
Up to 90% of the weight of a grass plant is found in its root system. (source: professional lawn care association of america)
Fun Fact
625 square foot of lawn provides enough oxygen for one person for an entire day. (source: professional lawn care association of america)
Fun Fact
Turf traps an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the U.S. atmosphere.(source: Professional lawn care association of america)
Red Thread Tip
Red Thread is best treated with an application of fertilizer rather than putting down a fungicide. It usually appears in lawns that are nitrogen deficient during damp weather.
Diseases Tip
The majority of lawn diseases are caused by funguses that remain dormant in the soil until the environmental conditions are right for a breakout.
MEET THE TEAM
In 1995, Peter Teed and Christopher Brown began a higher quality lawn care service business…
@teedandbrown
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The Product
It's everything you could ever ask for in a lawn.
Lawn Care 101
Slow Seed Spring
We often joke around here that while Mother Nature sometimes cooperates, she is very careful not to spoil us. This year, she has provided more than enough rain (too much actually) but has held back on the warmer temperatures that would be needed for robust seed growth. The result so far has been lackluster, very slow […]
In The Weeds: Water Movement in Soil
“In The Weeds” is a series of posts that take a deeper look at the science of home lawn care. Water Movement in Soil How does water move through soil? You’ve probably heard at some point that water works its way down through the soil and into the groundwater. And it may seem reasonable that […]
The Grass is Always Greener…. Or is it?
At first sight, the lawn in the picture above looks pretty decent, right? Sure, it’s a bit shaggy but it’s green and full, no significant brown areas, and there aren’t many visible weeds. We have met with quite a few people recently who were upset that their neighbor’s lawn looked better than theirs. In those […]
Hot + Humid + Wet = Fungus
The past few weeks have been trying for lawns for sure. Usually, this time of year brings dry, browned out lawns. But this season we’re seeing much more in the way of disease pressure. The pictures below are of Brown Patch that was recently found in one of our lawns, though we’ve seen it in […]
Turf Type Tall Fescue is Coming!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve recently secured a large order of top-quality Turf Type Tall Fescue grass seed for the upcoming fall! You may have heard of this grass species before, but we wanted to take a minute to explain our excitement. This is good news for those of you who may be looking […]
Hot, Dry, Brown August in Connecticut
In the lawn care business in the Northeast, August is considered to be the flipside of winter. Just as your lawn looks thin, brown and weak due to the cold of the winter, so does it often look lousy due to the heat of August. Brown lawns and brown patches abound and heat-loving weeds like […]
Teed & Brown University, May 2018
While April – May are extremely hectic months for us here at Teed & Brown, we still maintained a relatively steady schedule of training and education. Now that we enter the summer months, 6 employees are signed up for the NALP – Certified Lawn Care Manager program and 4 more are taking Turfgrass Science Classes […]
The Crabgrass Cycle
We’re out there busy applying the first round treatments of the season, one of which is a crabgrass preventer. As we do this now, it’s good to reflect on WHY we are trying to stop it. After all, crabgrass is a type of grass, right? Yes, it is. But it’s an annual grass that naturally […]
2017 – Winterizer Service
As you may know, we always leave a seasonal service newsletter during our visits. Several of our clients have requested pdf versions of the newsletter. This is the newsletter being left during the Winterizer service of 2017. Enjoy! CLICK HERE: 7. Winterizer Newsletter 2017 If you have any questions at all, please contact us at your […]
Teed & Brown University: Cultural Management #2
Join us again for another classroom session! Today we approach 2 more topics that fall under the “Cultural Management” heading; drought and excessive shade. You can also learn more about shade in a video we put together a few years ago at this link: Excessive Shade Video – Teed & Brown It always amazes new […]
Teed & Brown University: Cultural Management #1
Today’s session dealt with 2 Cultural (non-chemical) management issues in home lawns; Thatch and Temperatures. Neither can really benefit from any sort of chemical or fertilizer additions, so it’s critical for us to know how best to deal with the challenges presented by each. Enjoy!
Teed & Brown University: Irrigation 101
Well, it’s not TECHNICALLY a “university,” but we recently created a dedicated learning space in our building for continuing education, employee and management training, and overall company improvement. We thought we’d virtually invite you “behind the scenes” here to give you an idea of what we do here at Teed & Brown. This was a […]
The 2017 Fall Drought Continues
While we’ve been getting the occasional teasing showers over the past few weeks, this fall has by and large been extremely dry. If you’ve had parts of your lawn seeded, that seed likely hasn’t germinated unless it has been receiving regular supplemental water via an automated sprinkler system or even a portable hose and sprinkler […]
07/19/2017 Morning Meeting
Grab a cup of coffee! Join us! One of the ways Teed & Brown stays a few steps ahead of the competition is via our morning meetings. While our competitors are largely chasing their men out the door each day to keep production high, we take a few minutes each day to talk about what’s […]
Wetting Agents… The New Tool?
The summer of 2016 was rough, no question. It was hot AND it was dry. Only lawns with strong irrigation systems actually did well. Without sufficient water, does the lawn have any hope? Yes and no. No, the grass won’t survive without adequate water. However, there is actually a new way to improve the situation tremendously. […]
The Crabgrass Graveyard
During a recent conference, I came across this site. At first glance, it may look as though the brown areas were seeded and a hay mulch was spread on top. On closer inspection though, it’s clear that this was all dead grass; specifically dead crabgrass. What happened? Crabgrass is a “summer annual” weed that will […]
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is a summer annual that appears every season when the soil temperatures reach 55° F. Once established it outcompetes other grasses for water,
Plantain, Narrow-leaf
Narrow-leaf plantain is a perennial weed that is common in turfgrass. It typically appears on drier sites and on neutral basic soils. It often grows in compacted soils.
Compost
The compost we use to topdress a lawn is 100% natural, derived from decomposed leaves and yard trimmings. In addition to adding nutrients to the soil,
Chickweed, Common
Common chickweed is a mat-forming winter annual but may occur as a short-lived perennial. Leaves are opposite, egg or oval shaped, and sparsely hairy.
Disease Triangle
Diseases arise due to three factors occurring simultaneously. A susceptible host (stressed lawn), a pathogen capable of infecting the host, and the environmental
Plantain, Broadleaf
Broadleaf plantain is a perennial weed that is common in turfgrass. It prefers to grow in moist, nutrient-rich soil and is regularly found in compacted soil.
Red Thread
Red thread is a cool season disease that is commonly found on turfgrass in the northeast. It is most active at temperatures of 60 – 70 degrees F.
Compaction
Soil compaction on a property can lead to turf dieback in those areas. A soil profile consists of a combination of air, water, mineral components (silt, sand, clay)
Mushrooms
Most mushrooms in lawns are beneficial because they decompose organic matter, which in turn releases nutrients back into the lawn.
Chinch Bugs
One of the more common insects found in home lawns is the Chinch bug. They feed on the grass blades by sucking out the fluids causing the turf to wilt,
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass is a cool season grass that germinates extremely fast. This makes it an ideal fit to pair with Kentucky Bluegrass varieties.
Powdery Mildew
This disease is associated with Kentucky Bluegrass that is primarily growing in shaded areas. The humidity in shaded areas tends to be higher while the air circulation lower,
Earthworms
Love them or hate them, the earthworm is a great indicator of a good healthy soil. They become visible in the lawn more in the spring and fall due to the soil
Nutsedge
Although nutsedge closely resembles grass, it is in fact a member of the sedge family. Yellow nutsedge is the most commonly found species in Connecticut.
Mowing
While mowing your lawn may seem easy, there are a few important factors to keep in mind. First, keep the mower blades SHARP!
Rough Cinquefoil
Rough cinquefoil is a low-growing perennial weed found in low maintenance lawns. It generally lives on acidic, nutrient-poor, dry, sandy soils.
Purslane, Common
Common purslane is a summer annual weed with a prostrate mat-forming habit and thick, succulent stems and leaves. It is commonly found on thin or newly seeded turfgrass.
Rusts
Rusts appear as an orange to yellowish powder on the grass blades. Appearing predominantly in late summer to early fall when the weather is dry.
Summer Heat – Drought Stress
Summer heat can play havoc with lawns, just as this summer has. The silver lining is that it offers us an opportunity to examine why some areas look good,
Slime Mold
Slime mold is a disgusting sounding, but relatively mild “disease” that we’ll see in lawns from time to time.
Spotted Spurge
Spotted spurge is a mat-forming summer annual weed that is common in turfgrass. It survives on dry or sandy, low nutrient soil and on compacted or disturbed sites.
Sorrel, Red
Red sorrel is a perennial weed that is common in turfgrass. It is often found on, but not limited to, acid soils and areas with poor drainage,
Snow Mold
Snow mold is a disease that affects most turf species in the northeast. Patches form and can be problematic in areas with extended periods of cool,
Scalping
Removing too much of the turfgrass canopy at one cutting can often cause stress and plant death. This is typically a problem in uneven landscapes.
Saturated Soils
Soil saturation or flooding caused by excessive rainfall or irrigation creates an unfavorable soil environment for root growth by displacing oxygen
Salt Damage
Lawns that are near the ocean can occasionally become flooded when ocean water washes in from a severe storm or high tides.
Sod Webworms
In New England there are several species of sod webworm that can attack the lawn, with the bluegrass webworm being the most important species.
Shade
Growing grass in the shade is a challenge for many homeowners. The lack of optimal light and competition for resources (nutrients/water) are the primary
Squirrels
Although entertaining, squirrels are more often considered a nuisance. Damage due to squirrels often gets mistaken for grub damage.
Summer Patch
Summer patch is caused by root pathogens that affect cool season grasses. It attacks the roots of the grass in early summer, leaving the grass weaker during the drier summer months.
Tick Control (Organic)
We all know the dangers of ticks and tick borne illnesses. Pesticide applications can help dramatically with reducing tick populations, but excessive pesticide use can also pose problems.
Ticks
After hatching from an egg in late spring, deer ticks go through three life stages: larva, nymph, and adult.
Thistle, Bull
Bull thistle is a biennial weed with foliage that is covered with coarse cob-web like hairs. It is commonly found in turfgrass and prefers a relatively rich, moist soil.
Take-All Patch (Disease)
Take-all Patch commonly affects turfgrass found in the northeast during spring and summer months.
Thatch
Thatch is a layer of partially decomposed and under-composed plant tissue. It accumulates above the soil surface and is composed of dead and living roots and stems.
Turf Type Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a variety of grass that has been around for as long as we know.
Tenacity (Herbicide)
Tenacity is the brand name of a specialty herbicide. It has been available for a few years and is commonly used to selectively kill bentgrass.
Violet
Wild violets are winter annuals or perennials with alternate, heart shaped leaves in basal rosettes.
Voles
Voles are different from moles in that they are herbivores. They feed on the roots of trees and shrubs and can cause damage to the lawn as well as flower bulbs.
Wild Strawberry
Wild strawberry is a low-trailing perennial weed that creeps throughout the lawn forming dense patches.
Woodsorrel, Yellow
Yellow woodsorrel is a clover-like erect perennial weed that is also called oxalis. It looks similar to clover with heart shaped leaves.
Yellow Rocket
Yellow Rocket is a winter annual and biennial with numerous stems branching out of a deep green glossy foliage.
LAWN CARE 101: Fertilizer
Micronutrients are those elements essential to a plants growth which are only needed in small quantities. The micronutrients are boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, zinc.
Fun Fact
Front lawns of average houses have the cooling effects of about 70 tons of air conditioning. While the average home-size central a.c. has only a 3-4 ton capacity.
Organics
At Teed & Brown, we LOVE organic products, and we use quite a few of them during in an annual program. Organic fertilizers improve microbial activity in the soil
Fertilizer
You probably know that you should be fertilizing your lawn, but have you ever wondered why? What exactly IS fertilizer anyway?
Aeration (Definition):
Aerating the lawn on a regular basis is the single biggest step to maintaining a healthy lawn. It should be performed at least once a year, and in some cases, twice a year.
Bentgrass (Creeping)
Bentgrass is a fairly common problem in many home lawns. It is a type of grass that some homeowners find it to be unsightly.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass is the most common grass variety found in home lawns throughout New England. It is a cool season grass that thrives in the fall-spring months
Black Medic
Black medic is a low-growing to prostrate summer annual weed that is found primarily in turf. It prefers nutrient-poor and drought soil.
Chickweed, Mouse-ear
Mouse-ear chickweed is a mat forming perennial species. Leaves are opposite, oblong, pale green and hairy. Flowers are in small, white clusters with five petals.
Liquid Application
Some of the applications we perform will be in a liquid form. The liquid is sprayed onto the grass through precision application equipment.
Broadleaf Weeds
The majority of weeds found in most lawns can be grouped into a category called broadleaf weeds. Dandelion, clover, and wild strawberry are just a few examples.
Leaf Spot
Leaf spot is a disease that can occur on most of the turfgrasses found in the northeast. Symptoms include purplish-brown to black spots with tan centers
Brown Patch
Brown Patch can be an issue during the summer months when daytime temps are warm(above 75°F) and humid nighttime temperatures are above 60°F,
Annual Bluegrass (poa annua)
Every spring, we get a lot of telephone calls about weed infestations. Sometimes, the plants in question are actually weeds. Often though, it’s actually
Irrigation
Proper watering often times seems far easier said than done. Too much water and you run the risk of destructive diseases popping up.
Knotweed, Prostrate
Prostrate knotweed is a summer annual with prostrate to ascending, branching stems. It is a weed of turfgrass, most often found on hard compacted
Henbit
Henbit is a winter annual common in disturbed or thinned areas. Your lawn can be treated to remove the henbit. The best way to help prevent weeds is to
Honey Bees
Honey bees are an extremely important part of our environment and are responsible for pollinating plants around the world. Unfortunately, honey bees have been
Granular Applications
Many of the products we use come in a granular form. They are easily and accurately spread through fertilizer spreaders.
Grubs
Grubs are the larvae of several species of beetle that are present in the landscape. During the summer months the beetles lay their eggs in the soil.
Healall
Healall is a perennial weed commonly found in turfgrass. It frequently grows in shady, moist sites but is also found in sandy, drought-prone areas.
Dull Mower Blades
Dull mower blades shred the tips of grass blades. Affected blades appear to have small threads extending from them where the turf has been shredded.
Moles
Moles are a solitary rodent that come together to mate in spring and then go their separate ways. Typically the mole damage seen in home lawns is caused by a solitary mole.
Aeration
Aerating the lawn on a regular basis is the single biggest step to maintaining a healthy lawn. It should be performed at least once a year, and in some cases, twice a year.
How to Water Your Lawn
Watering your lawn can get complicated and difficult. Chris from Teed & Brown walks you through a good beginners tutorial to help you get the job done right.
Ground Ivy
Ground ivy is a perennial weed with long, creeping red stems that root and form dense prostrate patches. Ground ivy is a common weed in turfgrass and is most commonly
Clover
There are several different types of clover in the northeast and they are perennial with creeping, low-growing stems. Clover can take over a lawn if left uncontrolled.
Drought Injury
Turfgrass Species vary greatly in their ability to withstand drought conditions. Symptoms of drought stress begin with the turfgrass presenting a bluish color,