Baroclinic Zone

Could just be a KBG or Fine Fescue that's gone dormant for the Summer.

Agreed. Markings don’t look like Longhorn beetle

http://www.harvestpower.com/best-time-prune-azaleas-rhododendrons/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm

Lawn doing much better than last given how relatively wet it's been as compared to last. I think I've cut the grass 1/2 dozen times now which I don't think I had done till September last year. Bit more weeds this year as well as I was unable to get a Fall cleanup. Hopefully I can keep up with the weed control better this year as we move into Fall. I have a bunch of Fall germinating weeds that are a pain to deal with. With this upcoming warmer stretch, I may be able to go 2-3 weeks without a mow. One other thing I haven't been able to do is edge my beds and clean them up, so I am left with a 1/2 manicured yard. Kinda blows, but it'll have to do.

Upon closer inspection, this is what was found.

I can't recall there being berries, since this is the 1st time I've seen it where I removed it. The leaves looked very similar to my Pear Tree so I though it was that and when I went to remove it, I was pricked by one of the thorns.

My neighbor has red thread and he fertilizes the crap out of his lawn. So it's not for a lack of nitrogen.

Not sure what I had at home, but I cut some small undergrowth that I thought was a birch but it had thorns along the truck and branches. It was a few feet tall. Wonder if this is what it was.

No caterpillars at all.

I had a few Lupines for a year or two before they never came back.

http://www.cattails.info/

No red thread here. Up until today, I had only seen about 2/3” of rain since May 25th. Was getting pretty dry with all the Spring growth absorbing all the surface moisture.

Finally had a window to drop my 2nd round of fertilizer/weed. Couple weeks behind when I’d like to but it is what it is.

Pretty sure that’s a Dogwood. I have a Kousa one here and it has the same exact leaf. It’s blooming now with beautiful white blooms.

Did it flower at all this Spring?

No, mine has the traditional white bark.

I have a Betula jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch) that I planted at the same time I did the Maples. Great tree. Moderate growing. Is susceptible to the caterpillars so I gotta watch. It also loves to spring new growth at the base so to keep it as one trunk, I need to trim it every year. It’s about 15’ tall now, about double the size when I planted it.

That’s your Tent Caterpillar.

Counted 3 of these blooming with a couple more, behind my house. Love seeing these every year.

Willows are awful for limbs falling and roots seeking out moisture sources. Not a good fit in residential areas imo

Want to say 2008

I have a couple Red Sunset Maples I planted. They were 8-10’ when I did, they are around 20’ now with a large canopy. Caterpillars don’t seem to bother them.

Soil temperatures son.

its been too cold for new laws to grow