While the calendar may claim it's winter, the sun is shining, and the skies are clear! Avoid the summer rush and contact our Landscape Construction Division regarding your outdoor living space today! As a full-service Landscape Construction and Concrete company, Finley's can execute all phases of your landscape construction project in-house - from design to build. Finley's will be happy to assist with a landscape renovation, custom concrete BBQ, Fire Pit, Pergola, Pool or Spa and more!

Give our office a call today and save up to 10% on your next landscape construction project!

In addition, "Bowie", our office dog would like to remind you not to forget about your pets. Whether it's a furry companion of 10 years or a new pandemic puppy, Finley's can create dog friendly, low maintenance landscape that is both beautiful and functional to enjoy with your new best friend. Services include fencing, artificial turf, pet friendly and non toxic plants, concrete pavers, flagstone and even mulch or gravel.

The Arbor Care Services offered by Ken Kelly, our Master Arborist, and his team of licensed applicators continue to be in high demand. A few notes from Mr. Kelly are as follows.

Treatment of Unwanted Fruit – Frequently we are called on to treat for unwanted fruit, especially on Olive trees. In early spring trees can be sprayed using a plant hormone which enters the tree through the trunk and causes the flowers to abort prior to producing fruit. The treatment is safe and harmless to the tree or surrounding plants and people. In addition to Olives, we can also treat Liquidambar, Ficus, Carrotwood and Carob trees. The treatment is effective for the current season and will need to be repeated annually.

Fire Blight - This is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora and affects common fruit trees such as Apple and Pear trees. Of Pear trees, Pyrus kawakamii is the most susceptible while Pyrus calleryana is very resistant showing almost no symptoms in most cases. The disease enters the tree at the time of blossom through meristems and flowers forming lesions on the young branches and leaves. Branches die at the meristems at first and move back leaving dead leaves attached to the tree.

If left untreated, the disease can kill shoots, leaves, limbs, blossoms and occasionally the entire tree.

Fire Blight overwinters on infected bark and is spread by splashing rain, dew, wind and insects. It

spreads rapidly during moist humid weather, especially during time of bloom. Other trees and plants

which are commonly infected include, Cotoneaster, Fruiting Pear, Pyracanth and roses.

When planting use resistant varieties. Avoid heavy pruning or excess nitrogen applications which

stimulate new succulent growth and can be easily infected. Sanitation is important and fallen leaves

should be removed as they harbor disease. Trim in hot summer months when spores are latent. Trim

to remove dead wood and infected branches where possible. To prevent spread of disease, clean

trimming tools using 10% alcohol or 20% chlorine bleach and 80% water. Annual treatment of the

disease will offer suppression – not a cure. Treatment should be applied as a foliar spray using

Streptomycin sulfate as the active ingredient in fall prior to leaf drop and twice in spring at bloom 7

days apart. For optimum results more than two applications may be required in spring every 5 to 7

days during bloom time.

Peach Leaf Curl - Peach leaf curl, also known as leaf curl, is a disease caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. Peach leaf curl affects the blossoms, fruit, leaves, and shoots of peaches, ornamental flowering peaches, and nectarines. Peach Leaf Curl is one of the most common disease problems for backyard gardeners growing these trees. The distorted, reddened foliage caused by Peach Leaf Curl is easily seen in spring.

When severe, the disease can reduce fruit production substantially. To prevent peach leaf curl, use

resistant peach and nectarine varieties when/where possible. There are few resistant nectarines such

as “Kreibich”.

Historically, the most commonly used fungicides available to home gardeners have been the fixed

copper products. The best control, however, can be realized with the use of an agricultural antibiotic - Agro Mycin. Apply treatment in Spring at bud break and then again in Fall before leaf loss. Thorough coverage with any fungicide is essential to obtain adequate disease control. Trees should be sprayed to the point of runoff or until they are dripping.

Fertilization - We often see plants and trees respond to infertility through disease and insects. Fertilizer needs to be applied on a regular basis and in some cases monthly. Many problems can be solved through proper fertilization or the correction of soil toxins. By testing the soil and applying the proper nutrients we are able to improve the health of your landscape.

Give our office a call today and save 10% on all Arbor Care Services!

In an effort to keep up with the high demand of tree services our Tree Care Service Division has expanded once again. We offer the same professional services. Please call us today for all your tree care and view clearance needs

Thanks for your continued loyalty and support!

Sincerely,

Team Finley's