Welcome Spring 2026!

We are certainly experiencing a typical New England Spring with cloudy days, strong sunny days, and fluctuating temperatures! The perfect combination of sunlight, temperature, and moisture has flowers popping up, with crocus and daffodils leading the way, while lawns are starting their spring green-up.

Large snowfall amounts and continuous snow cover this past winter have led to increasing vole activity in lawns. The winter season is when the most damage occurs to turf from voles, evidenced as the snow melts in early spring. The snow provided shelter from predators, protecting the voles while creating a layer of insulation for themselves and their food supplies. Voles are herbivores and primarily feed above ground, damaging herbaceous and tuberous plants, though they also gnaw on the root systems and crowns. This can cause girdling, resulting in plant dieback and possible death. Voles are at the beginning of the line when it comes to pests that cause turf damage!

Hemlocks are showing more evidence of winter burn than is normally common. Signs of damage include the thinning of the crown and needles turning brown or chlorotic (yellow).

As always, be tick conscious! The above-average snowfall this past winter was a benefit to the tick population; the snow cover provided an insulation layer for the ticks, keeping the ground temperature close to freezing and protecting them from wind chill. Many tick species, including the lone star tick, can lower the freezing point of their blood by using elements comparable to anti-freeze that occur naturally in their bodies. This can help them survive conditions that may normally kill them.

Do frequent tick checks after spending time outdoors, especially if you are working around leaf debris or tall grass. Make ticks easier to spot by wearing light colored clothing and tucking your pants into your socks. Ticks can carry many diseases and are a serious threat to our health.

Enjoy the sunshine and have a very Happy Spring!