Autumn's acorn crop OR lack of...

It's hard to believe that I’m already sitting down to write my fall blog. It seems just a short time ago that summer was in full bloom: pool parties, cookouts with friends, trips to the Vineyard with the kids. But as I stepped outside on this fine, crisp evening, I could detect the distinct whiff of...well, fall.  That is, if fall has a smell (which I believe it does!) And, as further proof that fall is upon us, the swamp maples are starting to turn color; that magnificent fiery red that's an autumnal favorite of mine. So I guess I must reconcile myself to the fact that summer is indeed over.

And speaking of the change of seasons, there is something that I want to alert all of you to as we head towards winter: the deer! Well, not the deer exactly, but something deer-related. Deer are facing a very tough season ahead, in terms of an adequate food supply. There is a very noticeable decline in the crop of acorns on the trees this year, and this will have an enormous impact on the deer herd this winter. A normal acorn crop is a huge bounty for them. Thanks to those tasty little nuggets lying on the ground, deer can pack on fat, carbs, and plenty of calories in just a couple of months. But when you add the lack of their favorite food source to the additional threat of a hard winter with deep snow (anyone out there remember last winter?) the scenario becomes even more bleak for these hungry creatures.

When you don’t see a mast crop of acorns on the trees, it's a sign that you'll definitely see even more deer feeding on (yes, you guessed it) your landscape. You'll see damage like you haven't seen in several years, all because of the scarcity of this tiny but oh-so important fruit/nut called the acorn.

But we at ohDEER stand prepared for this increased threat.We'll be putting our strongest repellent yet to work, starting this month. If you’re concerned, or if you have any new plantings, PLEASE be sure and let us know. And if you want to make sure that you're on our list to be sprayed, just drop us a line and we'll get you started just as soon as we can.

On another note, I was fortunate enough to attend a ‘tick talk’ in Lincoln today, put on by the Tick Action Committee. The speaker was none other than Tom Mather from the University of Rhode Island. Tom is known as the 'tick guru' and, after hearing him speak, I know why he has that handle.  His presentation was extremely informative, and he provided answers to a number of questions that I'd had about ticks. But rather than listen to me go on and on about all that, do yourself a favor and check out Tom's web site (www.Tickencounter.org). I guarantee you it will be time well spent.

One very key point he made in his talk was that one of the worst fall tick seasons is at our door step. The first frost, roughly two weeks away, will get the ticks moving. Your best defense? Get on our list now for a fall yard spray. And spray yourself, your kids, and remember to check, check, CHECK the whole family for ticks!

I hope you all have a great fall...be safe, be happy, and get out there and enjoy all that New England has to offer in this wonderful season!

Kurt

Tick, Tick, Tick, Spring is here!

Growing up in Weston certainly was fun. Our family lived on the second hole of the Weston Golf Club.  As a youngster, I was either 'shagging' golf balls or fishing in the ponds on the 11th and 12^th holes. And all that I remember hearing was my mother telling me not to get into the poison ivy.  Alas, my days of worrying about nothing more than poison ivy in the summertime have long since passed.

Ticks have now become a part of our lives whether we like it or not. The entire tick epidemic has put a whole new spin on enjoying our outdoor spaces. I've received a lot of calls this spring regarding the unusually large tick population. Here are a couple of theories as to why their numbers seem to have increased so dramatically. Number one is the abundant deer population, which is without question the biggest problem, since deer play the part of the 'host.' I sometimes like to refer to the deer as 'tick taxis.' They unwittingly pick up these tiny invaders, give them a free blood meal, and then drop them off at random destinations, like your backyard. There they lay eggs and hatch a couple of thousand to a few thousand new ticks per cluster.

Another theory for the spike in the tick population is last winter's seemingly back-to-back series of snowstorms. Unlike recent years when the snow from one storm would melt before the next storm hit, we had a continuous snow cover on the ground from December through March. This constant 'blanket' acted as a sort of insulation for the ticks, allowing them to bypass their usual dormant phase, where they normally freeze and then thaw in the spring. The result? When the snow cover finally melted, the ticks were alive and well and ready to 'do their thing.'

Whichever theory proves correct, one thing is quite clear: we need to act now and meet this increased tick threat head on. Sure, we can all still have fun outside, but before the fun begins, there are a few extremely important precautions we can all take to protect ourselves:

• Be sure to spray, dress, and protect you and your family before going outside.

• Prep and protect your yard with regular sprayings, and by keeping your grass mowed regularly; long grass is a haven for ticks (this year in particular).

• Be vigilant: make tick checks a DAILY habit!

And finally, feel free to contact me for a free consultation on making your yard less tick-friendly, you'll be surprised how easy it is to implement. You can also check out my website, www.ohdeer1.com, for more helpful tips. Be sure to click on the T.I.C.K logo to find out more about our 'Take Initiative Check Kids' program. There’s a lot of good information there that’s free to all.  We all lead busy lives, but let's not overlook the simple yet very crucial measures we can take to ensure the well-being of our children and ourselves.

Kurt

Mother Nature's Grip

As I sit at my keyboard writing this, the only sound I hear is the northwest wind driving yet another cold front down from Canada.  It makes me wonder if winter will ever end.  In my daily routine, I try to deter deer from feeding on the shrubs and plants of my customers, the same customers I promised would not lose more than 10% of their total plantings. (I have to say that I’ve done a pretty good job so far!) 

       Traveling around Metro West, I see quite a few deer during the course of my busy day. The deer at this time of year are feeling much like us: waiting for spring to come.  Many of the does are pregnant, and the yearlings (those deer less than a year old) are fighting desperately for food. The ‘deer yards’ I’ve seen this winter have been unusually large, to say the least.  A ‘deer yard’ is a place where significant numbers of deer gather.  Typically, this area is one that provides soft-wood cover/shelter from the wind and heavy snow.  Once the snow leaves us, the deer will spread out and return to their core areas.  The does will find birthing areas and get ready to have their young in May or June.  Meanwhile, the bucks will spend a lazy summer feeding and growing their antlers.

       But for now, it’s survival of the fittest, and the deer are turning to food they would not normally eat.  To add to their plight, this food does not provide them with the nutrition they so badly need; instead, it only serves to fill their bellies, and nothing more. Pine trees, holly bushes, and rhododendrons do not contain the nutritional value that a typical winter meal of acorns and grasses would.  This dire situation will take its toll on the deer, resulting in deaths due to starvation, and a lower birth weight in the fawns come spring.

       Many people I talk to have a love/hate relationship with the deer; they like to see them, and even feel sorry for them. But at the same time, they don’t like what they can do to their landscape. Deer starvation is a normal occurrence, part of Mother Nature’s plan, and it must happen in order to insure that only the strong survive. But feeding the deer is not a good thing to do. In the end, it won’t save them, it will only hurt the overall group because the strong will eat and the young will starve.

       I hope we all have a safe rest of the winter. And the next time you see a deer, stop and think about what it must do to survive a long and difficult winter like this one.