Hoffmann Hillermann Blog
Informational Articles, Promotions, and more
Eastern Bluebirds, the Missouri State Bird, are a favorite of many bird lovers in our area. When the bright blue color of the male bird catches your eye, it is hard not to be intrigued with them. Click here to learn more about Eastern Bluebirds.
In honor of the Holiday Season, we would like to provide a list of local charities to consider for your charitable efforts.
Loving Hearts Outreach, 1902 West Main Street, Washington, MO 63090 http://www.lovingheartsoutreach.org/
Graces Place Crisis Nursery, PO Box 83, Washington, MO 63090, https://gracesplacecrisisnursery.com/
The Pregnancy Assistance Center, 310 International Ave, Washington, MO 63090, https://www.facebook.com/pregnancyassistancecenter/
Franklin County Humane Society, P.O. Box 400, Union, MO 63084, https://fchsmo.org/
St. Peter’s UCC Food Pantry, P.O. Box 510, Washington, MO 63090, https://www.stpeters-washington.org/children
St. Francis Borgia Church Food Pantry, 115 Cedar Street, Washington, MO 63090, https://borgiaparish.org/food-pantry
ALIVE - Alternatives to Living In Violent Environments
Franklin County Office - P.O. Box 223, Union, MO 63084
St. Louis Office - P.O. Box 28733, St. Louis, MO 63146
Thank you all so much for your generosity throughout the years. We wish you a Happy Holiday Season!
The Hoffmann Hillermann Team
Understanding exactly what you are applying and how it works will help you decide when to get out there and start your lawn care. First, it’s not a race. The first neighbor to unleash the spreader from the garage is not necessarily the winner.
When you start looking at bags you will see words like ‘preventer’, ‘crabgrass’, and ‘pre-emergent’.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
The majority of first lawn applications contain a fertilizer (to make the grass grow) and what is called a pre-emergent herbicide. A herbicide is a chemical that kills plants (in contrast to an insecticide). A pre-emergent herbicide is one that stops a plant from growing. Look at the word: pre (before) –emergent (sprouting).
HOW CAN AN HERBICIDE KILL A PLANT BEFORE IT IS EVEN GROWING?
A pre-emergent kills the emerging seed of a plant either before or right after it sprouts. So, the weed killer in the first bag you put down is actually a weed PREVENTER. Weed preventers create a barrier where they are applied that blocks growth. But wait, you say. I have put this pre-emergent down before and I still had weeds in the summer. What gives? A pre-emergent will only stop weeds if they are sprouting from a seed. If the weed is sprouting from a root that stayed in the ground over the winter, a pre-emergent will not prevent it. This is common with weeds like dandelions, clover, and ground ivy. Weeds returning from established roots need a different weed killer. The #1 big battle of this category is crabgrass.
BUT HERE’S THE THING:
Crabgrass doesn’t germinate until it’s warm. And I don’t mean the AIR temperature. Crabgrass germinates when the SOIL temperatures hit the mid 50s. And soil takes a lot longer to warm up in the spring than the air. Think of how long it takes a lake to warm up in the spring and summer. It may be a gorgeous day on the boat but if you jump in that water, you are in for a shock. Soil temperature is similar. It warms up very slowly in the spring. Crabgrass may germinate in late March in our area. Crabgrass preventers can last up to 4 months. We recommend another addition of prevention in late May to get us covered through our hot dry summers.
There are several factors that influence the germination time of warm-season weeds like crabgrass. Every year is different, and every lawn is different. Did you know that we also offer pre-emergent service in our Hillermann lawn program?? So therefore, WE CAN DO IT FOR YOU.
Stop in or call to let us help you with your specific needs.
Sandi Hilllermann McDonald
Basics: The Upside-down bird! This species often climbs upside down on tree trunks and branches. These birds have clean black, gray, and white markings. Song is a rapid series of low-pitched nasal sounds: “whe-whe-whe-whe-whe.” The call is nasal yank or “yank-yank” and is lower-pitched than the red-breasted nuthatch. They can be found in mature deciduous trees, in forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban areas.
Housing: These birds typically nest in a natural tree cavity or in an old woodpecker hole, although they may use a birdhouse. Leaving some dead tree trunks in wooded areas can be helpful for nesting.
Food: In our backyards, Nuthatches will eat sunflower seeds, peanuts and peanut butter, and suet.
How to attract: Offer the foods mentioned above, water, shelter and nesting sites.
Fact: With a little patience, you can get nuthatches to eat from your hand. Let them get used to you by a feeder, then hold out your hand with sunflower seeds in it.
Tip: They can be quite aggressive at feeders. With wings spread, they will swing from side to side to keep other birds away.
Basics: These two birds are extremely similar in looks, but across most of eastern North America, chickadee identification is simple. Carolina Chickadee occurs in the south and Black-capped in the north. The black capped tends to have a brighter and more contrasting overall appearance. The Black-capped Chickadee is the chickadee you will most likely see here.
Housing: Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. A wren house will work for chickadees. Place the house from 8 to 10 feet high into a wooded area well before breeding season. Attach a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young. Black-capped Chickadees are especially attracted to a box when it is filled with sawdust or wood shavings. They also prefer an unobstructed path to the entrance hole, without branches and leaves in the way.
Food: Offer suet, peanuts, peanut butter, and black oil sunflower seeds.
How to Attract: Provide food, water, and shelter. Keep cats and other pets indoors. Provide suitable perches near feeders so Chickadees can flit away to a safe spot to eat each seed.
Facts: Individual birds CAN become tame enough to hand feed. Black capped Chickadees are monogamous birds.
Tip: Plant trees and shrubs of different sizes in mixed clumps to provide better foraging areas.
