» Freeze Damage http://www.masseyservices.com Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:24:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Freeze Warning in the Southeast! http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2012/01/freeze-warning-in-the-southeast/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2012/01/freeze-warning-in-the-southeast/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:07:56 +0000 Massey Services http://www.masseyservices.com/?p=4378 This week much of the Southeast is expected to experience freezing temperatures, which can cause severe damage to lawns, trees and shrubs.  Here are a few tips to take when a freeze is in the forecast:

  • Irrigate before a frost or freeze to ensure there is proper moisture in the soil root zone, however make sure irrigation is stopped early enough to allow time for leaves to dry to avoid ice forming on them.
  • Cover cold-sensitive plants with blankets or boxes, but not plastic.  Be sure to remove the covering as soon as the temperatures begin to warm up.
  • Do not mow turf that is frozen, and keep the lawn mowed high.  This can reduce cold injury in two ways.  First, it will promote a deeper root system that will provide greater stress tolerance.  Second, it will create a warmer micro-environment within the lawn.
  • Avoid foot traffic and vehicular traffic on frozen turf, as it can increase damage.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or visit our freeze information page!

]]> http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2012/01/freeze-warning-in-the-southeast/feed/ 0 Freezing Temperatures Tonight! http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/12/freezing-temperatures-tonight/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/12/freezing-temperatures-tonight/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:41:11 +0000 Massey Services http://www.masseyservices.com/?p=2775 I’m sure by now everyone has heard that the weather is calling for some very cold temperatures tonight throughout the Southeast. If you need tips on what to do for plants and your landscape during a freeze, click here. But what should you do if your plants or lawn become damaged?  NOTHING- right now, anyway.

The potential for freezing temperatures will be present for the next few months so replacing damaged or dead grass and shrubs at this time is not a good idea. However when Spring’s warm temperatures return, you’ll be able to see what plants and portions of the lawn definitely aren’t going to come back so you can begin to make decisions on renovation. You should also wait until Spring to prune dead branches. We’ve posted several tips from our lawn experts on what to do during and after a freeze, but feel free to give us a call with any questions!

For now, just keep your plants covered at night when freezing temperatures are imminent and make sure to monitor your irrigation so as to not ice over the landscape and cause freeze damage. And BUNDLE UP!!

]]> http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/12/freezing-temperatures-tonight/feed/ 0 Caring for Your Landscape During Frost or Freeze http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/12/caring-for-your-landscape-during-frost-or-freeze/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/12/caring-for-your-landscape-during-frost-or-freeze/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:31:43 +0000 Massey Services http://www.masseyservices.com/?p=2727

Early this year, we experienced some of the coldest temperatures in decades, which resulted in severe damage to lawns, trees and shrubs. As we are expecting freezing temperatures in many areas this week, below are some tips on how you can care for your lawn and shrubs. Though freezing temperatures can result in unpreventable, sometimes permanent damage to landscapes, following these tips will help minimize the damage. 

Freeze-damaged shrub

  • Irrigate before the frost or freeze to ensure there is proper moisture in the soil root zone, however, make sure irrigation is stopped early enough to allow time for leaves to dry in order to avoid ice forming on them. Please Note:  Do not irrigate during a freeze. This practice is beneficial in nurseries and citrus groves only because they are equipped to water non-stop until the ice is melted.  If not done properly, this practice can prolong the amount of time that plants are subjected to the harsh, cold temperatures.
  •  Cover cold-sensitive plants with blankets or boxes but NOT plastic. Be sure to remove the covering as soon as the temperatures begin to warm up.
  • Do not mow turf that is frozen, and keep the lawn mowed high. This can reduce cold injury in a number of ways. First, it will promote a deeper root system, which will provide greater stress tolerance. In addition, higher mowing heights can create a warmer micro-environment due to the extra canopy cover provided by the longer leaf tissue.
  • Avoid foot traffic or vehicular traffic on frozen turf as this can increase damage.

Click here for more information and additional tips

]]> http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/12/caring-for-your-landscape-during-frost-or-freeze/feed/ 0 Massey’s Spring Sales Event Starts This Friday! http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/04/massey%e2%80%99s-spring-sales-event-starts-this-friday/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/04/massey%e2%80%99s-spring-sales-event-starts-this-friday/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:38:00 +0000 Massey Services http://www.masseyservices.com/?p=1691 This weekend (April 9th thru 11th) is the perfect time to spring into gear and get a free, no-obligation inspection for Pest Prevention, Termite Protection, GreenUP Landscape Services (including renovation for freeze-damaged landscapes) and Irrigation Maintenance and save big!

There is no obligation to have one of our trained inspectors come to your home and provide you with a free home and lawn inspection. And to make the deal even sweeter, we are offering some AMAZING SAVINGS- this weekend only!

If you are interested in purchasing one of our great services – now is the time! Spring is here and these savings only happen once a year.

To schedule your free inspection for this weekend, click here or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739) today!

Please share this exciting news with your co-workers, family, friends and neighbors that may be interested. Existing customers can take advantage of our Pass It On referral program and earn a Publix gift card for yourself AND every new Massey customer that you refer!

]]> http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2010/04/massey%e2%80%99s-spring-sales-event-starts-this-friday/feed/ 0 Did Your Landscape Get Damaged From The Freeze? http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2009/02/did-your-landscape-get-damaged-from-the-freeze/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2009/02/did-your-landscape-get-damaged-from-the-freeze/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Massey Services http://www/blog/LawnAndLandscapeInformation/freezedamagedlandscapes Just when many were wondering if global warming had taken hold of Florida,Mother Nature bites! Many areas in Central and North Florida experienced a hard freeze for several nights in late January and early February. In many locations temperatures dipped below freezing for up to 7 hours at a time with lows in the upper 20s. Amazingly, it even dropped below freezing as far South as Ft. Pierce for 3 hours one night with a low of 28 degrees.

Why is this concerning to homeowners? About half of landscapes in Florida are planted with tropical plants that cannot tolerate hard freezing. Those plants that were not covered during the freeze, especially tropical plants, have turned brown with freeze burn. In addition, many lawns have also been damaged from freeze burn and have turned brown as well.

What should homeowners do right now? Please don’t go renovating your landscape just yet – we are not out of the woods. There is still a chance for more damaging temperatures before the Spring. Pruning plants or replacing lawns now will promote new growth BUT will be very susceptible to damage in the event of another freeze. It is best to wait until the threat of frost has passed, beginning to mid March.

However, now is the time to start making plans for landscape renovations and re-designing for better plant adaptation. This simply means installing plants that will thrive in locations where other plants that were poorly-adapted to that site have failed (shade, wet or dry soil conditions, full sun, etc.).

]]> http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2009/02/did-your-landscape-get-damaged-from-the-freeze/feed/ 0 Tips To Avoid Freeze Damage http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2009/02/tips-to-avoid-freeze-damage/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2009/02/tips-to-avoid-freeze-damage/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Massey Services http://www/blog/LawnAndLandscapeAlerts/AvoidFreezeDamage There is a Freeze Warning tonight through Friday in Central and Northern Florida. The current forecast is predicting overnight freezing temperatures for extended hours which will likely result in some amount of damage or death to lawns and landscape plants. Here are some tips that will help minimize the harmful effects of low temperatures:

  • Run your irrigation system for 15 minutes per zone for rotor heads and 5 minutes per zone for spray heads tonight and again in the morning once temperatures rise above freezing.
  • Cover your cold-sensitive shrubs and ornamentals (see list below) with sheets or blankets, but not plastic.
  • Don’t mow or walk across your lawn if it is frozen or if there is frost present.

If you have any questions, whether you’re a Massey Customer or not, please call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Most Common Cold-sensitive plants*:

  • Gold Mount Duranta
  • Queen Sago
  • Australian Tree Fern
  • Palm trees
  • Bird of Paradise
  • Variegated Schefflera
  • Cardboard Palms
  • Hibiscus
  • Tibouchina
  • Firebush
  • Plumbago
  • Cardinal Plant
  • Roebellini Palm
  • Bougainvillea
  • Staghorn Fern
  • Fire Spike
  • Lantana
  • Croton
  • Ixora
  • Allamanda
  • Philodendron
  • Mandevilla
  • Heather
  • Oleander
  • Butterfly bush

*This is just a list of the most common plants. If you have plants not on this list that are fruit bearing or annuals, it is recommended you cover them.

]]> http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2009/02/tips-to-avoid-freeze-damage/feed/ 0 Frost Warning in Northern Florida Counties http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2008/11/frost-warning-in-northern-florida-counties-2/ http://www.masseyservices.com/blog/2008/11/frost-warning-in-northern-florida-counties-2/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Massey Services http://www/blog/LawnAndLandscapeAlerts/frostwarninginnorthernflorida Frost and freeze warnings come few and far between in Florida and generally happen in the northern part of the state. However, when they do come, homeowners need to be prepared to protect their landscape from potentially damaging temperatures.

There is a frost warning in and around the following counties for tonight thru Thursday: Leon, Flagler, Volusia, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Lake, Marion, Sumter, Duval and Clay.

If you live in and around these counties, here are some things you can do to protect your landscape:

  • Run your irrigation system for one cycle tonight before going to sleep – 15 minutes per zone for rotary heads and 5 minutes per zone for spray heads
  • Cover your cold sensitive shrubs and ornamentals with sheets or blankets
  • Do not walk across or mow your lawn if there is frost present

If you have questions, whether you’re a Massey customer or not, please call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739) and we can help.

Bundle up and keep warm!

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