December 2025 felt like spring. Only .1″ of snow has fallen in Boise this winter, lowest since 1899! Our guess…bugs are gonna love this.
We’re expecting heavier infestations of billbugs in lawns, aphids and spider mites in trees and shrubs, and budworm in petunias and geraniums. Hard to say how fungus and disease will go.
A greater concern is snowpack and water supply. Unless February bails us out (and it has before), it’s possible pressurized irrigation systems will be turned off early. Irrigation water usually flows into late September or October. If reservoirs are running dry, we could lose water several weeks earlier, which could cause drought stress in landscapes.
What can be done now? We recommend treatments that build healthy roots and preventative treatments that inhibit pest populations from developing. Aerate your lawn this spring. Apply slow-release fertilizers that help with root development. Water deeper and less frequently to get roots to grow deeper. Apply pre-emergent insecticides and herbicides on schedule, keeping in mind that follow-up treatments might be needed.
The good news: landscaping can be remarkably resilient. If drought affects plants this year, they might struggle for a season and then recover when conditions improve. Even better news…Pro Care is on your side, backing you up with nearly 40 years of experience. Need anything? Please contact us.