Happy October! Welcome back to our Potestio Brothers Equipment Newsletter! We are so glad you have joined us, Thank You!
|
|
Bring in your little goblins, ghosts, and tractors on Halloween to any of our locations for some candy and a free hat!
|
|
9 Fall Tips to Improve Your Landscape from the Ground Up |
|
You may not realize it, but fall is the best season to evaluate and begin restoring your landscape. Thanks to cooler temperatures and wetter weather, the mild fall climate is ideal for putting in the lawn work that will pay dividends come spring. From the soil beneath your feet to the limbs above your head, we’ve put together a list of 9 tips to help you address the most important components of your landscape this fall. |
|
Tip 1 | Lawn or Soil Aeration
Aerating alleviates soil compaction and allows for a stronger, more vigorous lawn. Before starting the lawn aeration process, cut your lawn short and water it (but don't flood it) until you can easily push your index finger roughly one inch into the ground. If the ground is hard, the aerator won't be able to penetrate the soil and the seed will not have the holes in the ground and loose soil it needs to germinate, root and establish. For best results, make multiple passes with the aerator to avoid inconsistent grass growth with noticeable stand-alone patches of grass. If your lawn is in good shape, two passes are sufficient. If your lawn has large bare areas, make three to four passes.
Tip 2 | Watering and Irrigation
When caring for your lawn, keep in mind that it needs less water than you think. People tend to irrigate too often. Most lawns only need to be watered once every 4 to 8 days. Grass needs about one inch of water per week, and it needs to be applied evenly and deeply throughout the lawn. How long depends on your irrigation system, but avoid watering in the evening as this promotes fungal diseases. Water your lawn preferably in the early morning to avoid evaporation. As colder weather approaches, be sure to winterize your irrigation system. Checking your valves and draining all of the water out of any irrigation components that might freeze is key to preventing damage during winter months.
Tip 3 | Fertilizing
Fall is the best time to fertilize your lawn. Based on the nitrogen concentration of your lawn, calculate how much fertilizer you will need. Keep in mind that it is better to use too little fertilizer than too much. Cool-season and warm-season grasses have different fertilizing schedules, but as a rule of thumb you’ll want to make two applications: one in September/October and the next in November. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the rate of application and make sure you apply your fertilizer evenly. Use a different fertilizer formula for the second application.
Tip 4 | Drought Repair
If drought persists into the fall, you’ll want to water your lawn a couple times a week and do so long enough to soak the soil several inches deep. To take care of your lawn, aerate it from time to time and when you water it, make sure to do it slowly and with some kind of sprinkler system or hose. Do the same for your plants, but the best thing you can do to protect your plants and flowers during drought conditions is to use mulch. Lastly, during hot and dry conditions, it is a good idea to conserve water in any way possible.
Tip 5 | Weed Control
Weeds such as dandelions, thistles, clover, and weed grasses are one of the most common lawn problems. Large numbers of weeds are normally an indication of a lawn suffering from poor nutrient levels. Fertilizer is the ideal solution in such cases. Frequent mowing at a high cutting height acts as an additional defense against the growth of weeds by preventing access to the light needed for germination. Using good-quality seed is also a factor that should not be overlooked. In addition, carrying out regular and deep aerating is an effective method of preventing weeds from invading in the first place. However, digging weeds out which have taken hold remains the best, and often only, solution.
Tip 6 | Leaf Control
Leaves are synonymous with fall, so remove leaves from your lawn regularly to prevent suffocating the turf. Blow off walks frequently to prevent slippery conditions. Powered blowers and shredder vacs relieve the strain of clearing driveways, paths and lawns, and the latest STIHL models make clearing leaves a breeze. Blow leaves into a pile before collecting them up with a STIHL shredder vac or by hand. Mowing over leaves is one of the quickest and easiest ways to clear them from your lawn. Your lawn mower must have good suction power and be a collecting model.
Tip 7 | Add Color for Spring
Fall is the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. A rewarding strategy is to plant several different varieties as different bulbs have different bloom times, which means you can enjoy the fruits of your hard work all spring long. Additionally, it is a good practice to plant a wide range of varieties and colors to account for those that may not come up.
Tip 8 | Pruning
When the heat of summer has passed, take a good look at all of the shrubs and ground cover on your property and give them one last pruning (either hand snipping for natural appearance, or shearing when appropriate). Get them ready to put to bed for a long winter. Be sure to cut back perennials to near soil level, once they begin to change colors, and take proper steps to ensure that your plants are not distressed from pruning, especially shrubs and trees. Observe limbs that create visibility and clearance issues for foot or vehicle traffic. Consider pruning to improve security. Are there limbs that are susceptible during upcoming winter storms? Prune now before limbs break and create new problems.
Tip 9 | Mulching
Freshly mulched beds give a polished finish and help protect through winter. After all pruning is completed and leaves are removed, fresh mulch gives a nice finished look for the coming holiday season. Many landscaping professionals prefer fall mulching to retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth and protect bare soil from erosion. Fall mulching also insulates soil and plant roots, protecting them from colder temperatures.
|
|
Proper Machine Maintenance |
Winter will be here before we know it! Now is the perfect time to get your equipment ready before the snow flies! Whether your equipment needs preventative maintenance service, a tune up or an adjustment. Proper machine maintenance is the best way to make sure your equipment starts quickly and runs efficiently. Click HERE to schedule your machine's maintenance today! |
|
John Deere and its employees provide equitable opportunities to educate youth
The beauty of inspiration is that it can lead to innovations that help lives leap forward. That’s why at John Deere, our employees are helping nurture inspiration in young minds by working with LEGO and Farmcraft.
FIRST LEGO League
FIRST LEGO League Challenge (FLL) inspired Charlotte Kroc and Kayla McIntyre at a young age and further guided their career path at John Deere. FLL is a program designed to teach elementary and middle school students about problem solving by providing hands-on activities using LEGO pieces.
“FLL taught me how to solve problems, learn how to code, and practice research and public speaking,” said McIntyre, a materials specialist, who joined the program in fourth grade. “The skills I use most often in my current role are the ability to problem solve and think out of the box. When I encounter issues with my current plan, I shift gears and think of a different way that all assembly lines can still get the parts they need on time.”
Kroc started with FLL in sixth grade and agrees the skills she learned played a key role in choosing her career as a quality engineer.
“I would not be where I am today without FLL,” she said. “Seeing other girls on FLL teams at competitions was extremely beneficial for me growing up and helped reinforce my desire to go into engineering as a career.”
Kroc and McIntyre are both very passionate about FLL. Even today, they volunteer to mentor and inspire future engineers in FIRST – a program sponsored by the John Deere Foundation.
LEGO and Farmcraft
The newly launched John Deere LEGO 9R tractor also jumpstarts innovation for youth. The toy was designed and configured with exact specs to mimic a real tractor. From the tire details to its weight to even special features like the hood and body style, all were taken into consideration and approved by John Deere technical experts. Its precision ignites youth to think about accuracy and discover similarities with actual equipment.
FarmCraft was also designed to get children to think creatively. The online virtual experience puts children behind the wheel of a John Deere machine to complete unique farming missions like planting, growing, and harvesting.
“For us, it’s a chance to educate youth about the importance of agriculture,” said Brooke Schmidt, global brand licensing category manager. “FarmCraft and our partnership with LEGO, aligns with our mission to inspire all kids to make a positive impact on the world through agriculture and create a new generation of innovators who will improve lives and livelihoods.”
|
|
We have some exciting news!! You can now text any of our locations from your cell phone or by clicking the Text Us button on our website for status updates, payments, questions for any department and inventory stock! |
|
COLORADO SPRINGS
7380 Space Village Ave Colorado Springs,
CO 80929
PHONE: 719.550.0680
|
|
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
2930 S Grand Ave Glenwood Springs,
CO 81601
PHONE: 970.456.3633
|
|
KIOWA
7993 Cherrywood Loop Kiowa,
CO 80117
PHONE: 720.644.4709
|
|
PARKER
19020 Longs Way Parker,
CO 80134
PHONE: 303.841.2299
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
