FAQ Lawn Treatments


FAQ Lawn Treatments

 

 

Q: How long does my lawn treatments program take to transform my lawn?

Our lawn treatments program is specifically designed  for lawns in this area. We encourage our customers to have a long-term prospective for their lawn condition, knowing that each individual treatment will add to the overall progress. We have included the fertilization and weed control options that will best meet the needs of a healthy lawn.

After a full season on our program, we are confident that you will see much improvement in your lawn. Staying on the program every year is of vital importance for continued improvement of your lawn and control of pesky weeds.

Q: What is a pre-emergent crabgrass control application?

This application is used for the control of crabgrass, an very invasive weed in this area. This treatment is applied with fertilizer in March/April before crabgrass starts to germinate. Crabgrass in an annual plant meaning it dies each year. Before it dies it leaves seeds in your soil. These seeds will start to germinate when the temperatures start rising (usually when it reaches 70 degrees F for 7-10 consecutively). The pre-emergent crabgrass control application will prevent the germination of these seeds. Please remember that crabgrass seeds can be carried in the air. This means that even through you have had the crabgrass application you may still see crabgrass in your lawn.

Q: What is slow release fertilizer and what are the advantages of using it over other lawn fertilizers?

Slow release fertilizers are actually microscopic coated capsules of fertilizer that breakdown and release their important fertilizer and trace elements over a long period of time. This ensures that your lawn’s root system gets those nutrients in measured doses that will not over-stimulate the plants into a sudden growing spurt requiring more mowing.

Q: Do I need weed control?

Weeds compete with desirable lawn grasses for water, space, light and nutrients. They are very aggressive and can take over a lawn if not kept in check. It is when this type of imbalance occurs that many customers request help from professionals. Before this happens, a preventive approach to controlling weeds is recommended. It includes regular fertilization, proper mowing and correct watering practices. Weeds can also be controlled through digging or hand pulling. This method is much more labor intensive and is not always effective since many weeds can reproduce through vegetative parts if they are not entirely dug out.

Q: How long does it take to get rid of my weeds/insects?

Several factors determine the timing of results. Plants go through a growing cycle and that includes weeds. During the heat of summer, weeds develop a thick waxy layer that helps them conserve water. This thick layer also makes it more difficult for weed control. In the spring, this thick layer has not yet developed and so visible results are much faster.

Insects controls work within 2 minutes to 2 days, depending on the type of pest. Immediately after a pest control application, you may still see insects on your shrubs and bushes. This does not mean the application failed. Many applications are taken up by the plant and this process takes a little time.

Systemic treatments help protect beneficial insects such as lady bugs and praying mantis.

Q: What is a lime treatment and what will it do for me?

Lime is a naturally occurring element that can be applied to the lawn to help balance the soil’s pH so that it is more conducive for turf grasses to thrive. Included in a lime treatment is also a calcium supplement. Lime naturally helps control the acidity in top soil. To get the full benefit of readily available nutrients in your lawn, the top soil must have the optimum pH level. If the pH level is too low, the soil is not able to break down the nutrients in the soil and makes it more difficult for your turf grass to absorb those nutrients. Some soils may require more than one treatment per season. Our lawn technicians will be able to give you an accurate assessment of your soil’s condition.

Q: What are grubs and why should I worry about them?

Grubs are actually the larval stage of a variety of different kinds of beetles, including May and June bugs and voracious Japanese beetles. Adult beetles lay their eggs in the soil in mid to late summer. As the eggs hatch, they develop into the white-wormish looking larvae. As the larvae grow, they work their way down to the root zone of your lawn where they eat the roots. Usually in early fall you will suddenly notice dead patches of lawn start showing up in your lawn if you have grubs. By this time, it is too late to effectively treat for them and they will begin the process again. Grub control is largely a matter of timing so that they can be controlled in their early stages of development and before they go deep into the soil and go dormant for the winter. We apply a preventative grub treatment in July, providing you with season-long control.

Q: It started raining right after you treated our lawn. Do I need to have you come back out?

Most of the time NO. Fertilizer actually benefits from rain. On days when we suspect precipitation, we will add a special adhesive to our application. This agent makes the application rain-safe within just 10 minutes.

Q: If the products can be used safely why are there some people who still express serious concerns about their use?

Many people fear things that they know very little about. In fact people naturally have a tendency to fear anything that is man-made, especially chemicals. However, many people do not recognize that there are things that occur in nature, including natural chemicals, that can be just as toxic as or even more harmful than man-made substances. It is important to recognize that it is the dose that makes the poison. All substances can be toxic (including water) depending on the dose.