Have a question? Ask the expert!
How to Get Rid of Virginia Buttonweed
Virginia Buttonweed is a flowering broad-leafed perennial native to the South and Southeast. Some consider it a natural wildflower and others a tormenting, aggressive lawn weed that’s difficult to control, even with weed control products. Lawn care message boards across the web are filled with threads of frustrated homeowners struggling to get the plant out of their lawns.That’s becaus
The Importance of Regular Lawn Care Service
It's a relatively common misconception that after several years of yard service, a lawn can become "numb" to the care and results become stagnant. It's not necessarily a question of a lawn becoming unresponsive after several years with a professional lawn care service. Rather, it may be that results are not as dramatic or impressive as they were when service first started. Our goal as a lawn care service is to get your lawn to a point where it is green, healthy and consis
How to Get Rid of Grubs: Identification and Treatment
A Spring-Green reader, concerned with which treatment options work best for which grub species, sent in the following question on grub control : “Do I need to be sure what species of grub is in my lawn before I treat it? If so, how do I identify which grub it is? I was told that milky spore powder only works for the Japanese beetle grub? Is this true? I suspect a moth grub but can't be sure. We are in Sedona, Arizona. Thank you for your time and expertise.” Mr. Griffin, Thank you for sending in your question on how to get rid of grubs. No, you don’t need to know what species of grub is in your lawn to treat for it with conventional methods. Grubs are the larval stage o
Salt on Grass and Plants: How to Prevent Salt Damage to Your Landscape
To put it simply, the best way to prevent salt damage to your lawn and landscape is to not use it. Unfortunately, that is not always an option, and you can sometimes find yourself with salt on your grass and plants. There are products out there that claim not to damage grass or plants (like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride), but if you use too much, it can still cause damage. In reality, most people end up using plain old rock salt since it
Do You Really Want to Do This Yourself? (Winterize Your Sprinkler System)
Sadly, summer is officially over. Fall is upon us and that means there are a number of projects that need to be taken care of before winter arrives. Even those people that live in the southern states, there are a few winter projects that need attention. For the rest of us, fall is the time to take stock of the successes and failures in regards to the plants in your yard. It is also the time when we have to wint
How to Avoid Green Slimy Ooze From Growing On Your Lawn.
What is this Green Slimy Ooze? During the last couple of years, I’ve received several questions about a strange green slimy ooze growing in lawns. So after doing some research, I learned that it is a type of cyanobacterium, formerly called blue-green algae. This green slimy ooze has been called many colorful names over the years, including witches, butter and star jelly, which is based on the belief that the ooze was indeed the remnants of shooting stars. Why do I have it? Nostoc Algae wil
Control And Treat Damaging Grubs On Your Lawn
Going to the hardware store on the weekend is something many homeowners do, especially in the spring. People stock up on fertilizers, weed control products as well as controlling insect pests in and around the home, and in landscape, gardens and lawns. In regards to insects, it is estimated that there are over 1 million identified species of insects and probably several times that number is yet to be discovered. Fortunately, there are only about 2 dozen species of insects that feed on lawns. It is hard to say which of these insects are the most damaging, but the species that seems to be the most discussed are white g
Striped Lawns: How to Make it Look Like a Sports Field
As you watch a baseball game or golf tournament on television, you may wonder how beautiful the turf looks and how you can make your own lawn look as great as they do. We all need goals in life and wanting a perfect lawn is something one can strive to attain, albeit it is a challenge for the average homeowner. The first thing to understand is that the people who manage sports fields and golf courses have spent years learning their trade as well as usually earning a degree in Sports Field Management, Golf Course Management, Turf Management or other advanced degrees in the Green Industry. The turfgrasses that a
Is Organic Fertilizer or a Lawn Care Program Better For My Lawn?
The first thing to understand about lawn care and lawns in general is that the lawn as we know is not a natural system. Most of the grasses we grow in our home lawns, sports fields, commercial properties, parks and playgrounds are not native to North America. Here is a quick summary of the origins of common turfgrasses: • Kentucky bluegrass – native to Europe, northern Asia and the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. • Perennial ryegrass, Fine and Tall Fescue – native to Europe. • Centipede grass – native to southern China
Lawn Lime Treatment: Should You Add Lime To Your Lawn?
Depending upon where you live, adding a lawn lime treatment to your lawn is as necessary as adding fertilizer or even mowing it on a regular basis. Unless the pH of the soil is determined by a soil test, the fertilizer you apply may provide little benefit to the lawn. If your soil is too acidic, meaning that the pH is below 6.5, the fertilizer is not properly utilized by the grass plant and the lawn will appear weak and have a dull green to yellow color. The soil in some areas of the US is naturally acidic, so adding lime every year is a necessity. For other parts of the country,
Fall is a good time to fertilize cool season grasses!
Right now many of us are wondering how it could possibly be fall already, but it’s a fact. The autumnal equinox has passed, football season is underway, and pumpkin spice flavored foods and beverages are all the rage. If your lawn contains types of cool-season grasses, like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Fine Fescue or Tall Fescue, the fall season also presents some fantastic opportunities to improve the overall health, vitality and beauty of your lawn. Performing core aeration in the f
How Cooler Temperatures Are Affecting Lawn and Landscape
Is It Spring Yet? As is the case with most years, sometimes it will warm up early, fooling a lot of plants, including turfgrasses, to start the annual spring green-up. Only to be broadsided with an arctic blast and cooler temperatures that pushes plants back into winter dormancy. Cool-season turfgrasses like bluegrass, ryegrass and the fescues are somewhat accustomed to these weather fluctuations, but the warm-season grasses, such as Centipede, St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses can be greatly affected by a cold snap after they have been coaxed into an early spring green-up by an early warm up. Such is the case with many lawns in the warmer parts of the United States. Roland Freund, Franchise Owner in the Houston, Texas area, posted some information on his
Life Cycle of Winter Annual Weeds In Your Lawn and Landscape
In the world of weeds, there are three different life cycles – annual, biennial and perennial. Annuals only live for one growing period, biennials live for two years and perennials live for more than two years. Among these life cycles, there is also a distinct as to when the initial germination takes place. The common thought is that all weeds germinate in the spring, but many of them germinate in the fall, such as Dandelions, Henbit and Shepard’s Purse. These life cycles are referred to as winter germinating weeds. Winter Annual Weeds In Your Landscape Winter annual weeds are often
Answers to Top Frequently Asked Questions about Warm Season Grass Mowing
If you’re like most homeowners, you have a few pressing questions about warm season grasses that need to be answered ASAP! Before we dive into the most commonly asked questions about your dormant grass and its best care recommendations, let’s get on the same page. First-things-first, let’s make sure we understand what warm season grasses are. Warm season grasses, as the name implies, thrive in temperatures that are consistently over 75 degrees. These warm-weather loving grasses are best used in warm regions such as the south, southeast, and southwest of the United States, where summ
Are Spring-Green Lawn Care Services Safe for Pets?
A general concern that comes up every year is if the pesticides we use are safe for pets and children. The majority of the pesticide products Spring-Green uses are considered “General Use” and can be purchased and used by homeowners. Spring-Green will post every treated lawn and leave instructions to stay off the lawn until the application has dried. While the drying time is influenced by weather, in most cases, keeping pets and children off the treated area for 2 hours after the application is a good practice and recommended. After the drying time, your pets and kids can enjoy the yard
Seedheads Developing on Cool Season Grasses
Lawn-lovers may get worried when they see little seedheads covering the tops of their lawns, usually starting around the middle of May when sunlight reaches 12 hours a day. No need to worry. It is a natural process for grass to produce seed, and fertilization and proper mowing practices will help keep the lawn healthy. The seedheads are forming on tiny stalks that the grass plant sends up. Depending on its abundance, the seedheads can make the lawn look pale. Once the stalks are mowed, which don’t cut as easily as grass blades, they may shred and give the lawn an almost white appearance. Seedhead development usually occurs on cool season grasses such as Perennial Ryegrass, Kentucky
Stay Sharp: How To Keep Your Lawn Mower Blade Working Its Best
Have you ever pondered the sharpness of your lawn mower? If so, you are not alone in your consideration of the sharpness of your mower. You can follow all the mowing tips and mowing best practices available for consumption, but with a dull blade, you won’t get too far. The pros at Spring-Green , your neighborhood lawn care professionals, are here with the tips you need to keep your mower blade sharp and your lawn looking sharp! Guide To Keeping Your Lawn Mower Blades Sharp Does a sharp mower blade really matter? Compare the s
Fall Fertilizer Tips To Set Your Calendar By
Fall is right around the corner. That means it will soon be time to play football, pick out pumpkins and prep our lawns for the cold winter months ahead. Fall fertilizing can set your lawn up for success year-round, but timing does matter. The dates of the first frost in your area will vary by region, but here’s the drill down on best practices for fall fertilization and what else you need to know about fall lawn care. Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Fall Fertilizing Questions: Do I need to fertilize my lawn in the fall? Fertilizing your lawn in the fall i