March 15, 2005 Guest Speaker
Superintendent Randy Pickersgill, Andover, Massachusetts Parks
& Grounds, Forestry and Cemetery Divisions, (center) with
2004-2005 Haverhill Lions President/PDG John Pettis, Jr. (left)
and Haverhill Melvin Jones Fellow Kenneth Parker, Jr. (right).
- The meeting's
Guest Speaker was Randy Pickersgill, Superintendent of Parks & Grounds, Forestry
and Cemetery Divisions for the Town of Andover, Massachusetts.
Superintendent Pickersgill spoke about:
- His general responsibilities
to oversee the entire town’s outside properties. Additionally,
he gave the Club a summary of his back-ground:
- Graduate of the University of
Massachusetts concentrating in Turf Management.
- Haverhill Country Club (Haverhill,
MA) Superintendent
- Meadow Brook Golf Club (Reading,
MA) Superintendent
- Instructor at the Essex Agricultural
& Technical Institute which was merged with North Shore Community
College in 1999.
- Topic for the evening: "The
Best 3 Things you can do for you lawn this spring for the Haverhill-Andover,
Massachusetts regions". Superintendent Pickersgill recommended
that once the snow melts, you should:
- Rake the lawn vigorously.
- De-thatch and vertical cut the
lawn
- Start a fertilization program
using a "rotary spreader" not a "drop spreader.
A good fertilizer for an existing lawn is: 20-10-10. NOTE: Be
sure to follow the label instructions and to follow all safety
recommendations.
- In addition to the above, Superintendent
Pickersgill talk about:
- New Lawns: The soil temperature
needs to be at a minimum of 50F degrees for seed germination
to occur.
- Crab Grass: For existing lawns
use a product like Halts in the spring. NOTE: Be sure to follow
the label instructions and to follow all safety recommendations.
(Do not reseed until alter in the summer or ideally in the fall.)
- Japanese Beetles: Timing is
critical. To control them, use a product that contain Merit during
the first week of May or early September. NOTE: Be sure to follow
the label instructions and to follow all safety recommendations.
- Aeration: Aerate in early May
or mid to late September to allow the the root systems to be
nourished.
- Automatic Irrigation Systems:
Using a watering system is the most efficient and effective way
to manage your lawns. Watering is generally only need for 10
minutes per day. 4 am is the best time to water.
- Lime: If your lawns PH level
is not in the 5.8 to 6.2 range, use lime. NOTE: Be sure to follow
the label instructions and to follow all safety recommendations.
- Superintendent Pickersgill was
invited to speak at our Club by Haverhill Melvin Jones Fellow
and Life Member Kenneth Parker, Jr.
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