Relax  Enjoy  We'll get that for you.
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Aerating & Thatching
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Fertilizer Makes a Difference!
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Sit back  Relax  We've got it covered.
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Enjoy Fall!  Leave the work to Us.
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Clean Crews!  No Tattoos!
Lawn Care Tips
Things to consider when choosing a riding lawn mower:
Whether you're upgrading your current riding mower or making the leap from a push mower, the decision can be daunting. When choosing a riding mower several factors will determine what you buy.
Budget - With prices ranging from $1000.00 - $5000.00, price can be a major influence on your choice. Zero turn mowers are usually pricier than lawn tractors. More money buys a bigger engine, wider cutting deck, and more attachments
Lawn size - Zero turn mowers are faster than lawn tractors and are capable of mowing large swaths of grass in a short time.
Obstacles - Zero turn mowers turn on a dime and can mow around trees and other obstacle with far more ease than a lawn tractor
Attachments - Lawn tractors are more versatile with the ability to add attachments ranging from snow blowers to fertilizer spreaders. Limited attachments are available for zero turn mowers because they're designed for fast, efficient mowing and little else.
Most homeowners would prefer the flexibility and lower cost of a lawn tractor despite the lack of maneuverability and slower speed. However, if you have a very large yard and need to cut a lot of grass in a short period of time, it may be worth it to splurge on a zero turn mower.

I know it's been a long winter and believe me, no one wants to get out there and work on the lawn more than me. However, in most parts of the country, it's too early to fertilize, water, apply pre-emergent herbicides, or do just about anything to the lawn. In fact, snow mold may be more of an issue this time of year than weed control.
Relax! Timing is everything, especially with pre-emergent herbicides. Applying these products too soon is just wasting your time and money. I've heard about people watering their lawns already, in New England! I've talked to people who are determined to fertilize their lawns or get their "1st Step" (Scotts lawn care system) out there now. Said with the steely determination of someone who doesn't really care if it's time or not. Is this what winter does to people?
Please, resist the temptation. At the very least, arm yourself with some knowledge before spending hundreds of dollars at the local big box store. Read up on when, why, and how you are applying products and try to understand that these products require certain conditions to work. Conditions which are (in my area anyway) at least two weeks away.

As the lawn peeks through the receding snow winter-kill may be present in low areas, shady areas or spots that didn't fare as well as others for reasons unexplained.
Excessive snow cover or ice cover is usually the reason for winter kill, identified by a faded, bleached look to the grass. It can also occur on grass that was not snow or ice covered but exposed to the harsh winter wind. The grass can dry out and become dessicated.
Cool season grasses are hardy and resilient though and most times the grass is not completely dead, it will just take a little longer to recover than usual. The best thing to do is to rake the area, overseed and topdress with compost. The grass stitcher is also ideal for areas with winterkill.

With record snowfalls across much of North America this winter, snow mold is likely to be present on many lawns as the snow melts in the early spring. Snow mold can occur when there is an extended period of snow cover on ground that is not completely frozen.
Either pink or gray snow mold can occur, sometimes both of them together. Pink snow mold can cause a little more damage to the grass than gray snow mold, but they are both relatively benign in the scope of things that can kill your lawn.
If you find snow mold on your lawn this spring, don't worry about it. Rake it out a bit, try and get the sun on it and it should be gone in a couple of weeks. If the damage is extensive, you can repair the area like a bare patch.

As water becomes more and more scarce in certain parts of the country, synthetic grass is becoming an alternative to the real thing. These days, watering your lawn can be a crime if your climate is arid or suffering a drought.
As a turf professional, I loathe artificial grass - on lawns, sports fields, anywhere. To me, everything about fake grass is the opposite of a real lawn. It's plastic, fake-looking, hideously colored, garish, I could go on and on. It doesn't contribute to nature, in fact it's very existence is un-natural.
However, in the interest of fairness, artificial lawns have their place. I would never advocate a lush, irrigated lawn in an area with water shortages, and for some people a synthetic lawn is just right for their needs. I would advocate other alternatives other than a fake lawn, like xeriscaping or even 

The Grass Stitcher is going to make repairing bare patches easy this spring.
While garden cultivators simply churn up the soil, the Grass Stitcher actually creates a seed bed by making perforations in the soil. Once seed is added, a light watering moves loose soil back on top of the seed providing ideal conditions for seed germination. I even reviewed it a while back.
The Grass Stitcher eliminates the need for costly sod, power equipment, topsoil, and labor. In that scope, it's relatively inexpensive. It's also built tough, will likely last forever, and has a full lifetime guarantee to back it up.

Olympia, Washington is the latest battleground in the effort to restrict phosphorus use in lawn fertilizers. The bill is more than reasonable, making exceptions for golf courses, agriculture, and soils with legitimate phosphorus deficiencies.
The intent of this and similar bills is to eliminate over-use and mis-application of phosphorus fertilizers which contribute to pollution and algae blooms in waterways. Lawns will not suffer, in fact, most soils already contain sufficient amounts of phosphorus. Not to mention, you can use phosphorus if your soil test indicates a deficiency. Yet the same old arguments persist.
The opposition to this bill sound like a broken record with rhetoric so tepid they can't possibly believe it. Downplaying the effects of phosphorus pollution because "algae growth in lakes is the result of many things, not just fertilizer". Threatening a loss in local business revenue from people crossing state lines to buy contraband fertilizers. Insinuating that those in favor of the bill believe the public to be fools who can't even fertilize their own lawn. Tough job, defending pollution.

Have you ever heard of a freedom lawn? I love the term, it has such a patriotic ring to it. It's all about lawn freedom...and weeds.
Simply put, a freedom lawn is what remains after mowing. Plantain, dandelion, chickweed, and oh yeah, some grass too. Freedom lawns are ultra low maintenance and are generally "input" free. This means no added fertilizer, herbicide, or water.
Freedom lawns are an equal and opposite reaction to highly maintained, lush, carpets of green that traditionally required large amounts of care and maintenance.
Personally, I'm not totally into freedom lawns. Although I've certainly been the proprietor of a few, I'd rather people maintain their lawn in a smart, environmentally friendly manner to achieve a stunning carpet of lush green turf. I also believe that freedom lawns border on neglect. Invasive weeds can take-hold and thrive, and some weeds deplete the soil of nutrients which can cause worse problems than if the area were a moderately maintained plot of turf. 

This time it's Edmonton Alberta, Canada, affectionately known as "back home" to me. Proponents of both sides of the pesticide debate gave their professional opinions about the dangers/safety of chemical pesticides. More specifically herbicides whose purpose is considered nothing more than "cosmetic".
Those in favor of banning cosmetic herbicides cite the growing evidence of the dangers of pesticide exposure, while those in favor  of their use claim personal freedom and the God-given-right to a gorgeous lawn.
A report commissioned by the city struck me as odd.
From the article:
"A city report on the feasibility of restricting or eliminating lawn and garden pesticides on public and private property suggested Edmonton shouldn't copy bans introduced in 172 other Canadian municipalities."
Strange. Who would suggest that Edmonton shouldn't copy 172 other Canadian municipalities? 172 other Canadian municipalities can't all be wrong, can they? I don't get it.
Key to the matter is that The City of Edmonton began an IPM program resulting in significantly less pesticide use. A solid Integrated Pest Management program is the next best thing to an all out ban of pesticides.
Read the the article:
Councillors embroiled in debate over proposed pesticide ban.

Lawn care is all about good habits. A habit is a regular tendency or practice that is often hard to give up. When good lawn care habits are established you won't even realize your doing them.
I've come up with five habits that I think could be the backbone of a responsible lawn care program. Whether you keep a highly manicured lawn or a low maintenance lawn, use conventional fertilizers and pesticides or grow an organic lawn, these habits are simple enough to fit any lawn care regimen.
Great lawn care habit number one is to mow the lawn as high as possible. Some southern lawns just can't grow very high so this habit is mostly applicable to the northern lawns consisting of bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass mixes.
It may seem odd at first to grow a lawn to 3 1/2 inches but it is the most critical element of my lawn care program. Long grass can withstand drought conditions better than short lawns and out-compete weeds for territory. The longer grass blade not only allows for increased photosynthesis, the lawn will also become more dense, lush, and green.
Nurturing a healthy lawn that can deal with the ups and downs of a growing season is not that difficult. Consider these habits a starting point for a comprehensive lawn care program that is easy and won't eat up all your time and money.
Mow high- Mowing the grass too short weakens the plant. It can harm the crown of the plant where growth takes place and creates a vector for weeds to infiltrate. Mow as high as possible to store moisture and carbohydrate reserves so it is better able to survive periods of drought, disease conditions, and other stresses. Keeping a longer lawn (3 1/2")allows for maximum photosynthesis and will encourage the grass to overcrowd weeds.
Practice IPM- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is just a fancy term for using some common sense. Have realistic expectations for your lawn’s appearance, avoid conditions that attract weeds and pests, and monitor for their presence so an outbreak isn’t a surprise. Use appropriate controls only if necessary with chemical pesticides being a last resort or use organic weed controls.
Water less- Lawns should be watered deeply and infrequently to promote deep rooting. Grass quickly gets used to over-watering. Its roots stop growing deeper in search of water instead they stay close to the surface where the water is. A lawn without a strong, extensive root system is susceptible to weed infestations and will be slow or not able to recover from other stresses like drought.
Compost- Even if you are not on an organic lawn care program, try topdressing with compost as often as possible. Adding compost will build and enrich your soil and over time create the conditions needed to feed the grass naturally. A healthy soil can naturally create the nutrients that grow grass, making conventional fertilizing obsolete. Rich soil is the key to growing a healthy lawn and composting is the best way to get there.
Don’t stress- Plants are weaker during certain stages of growth or different times of the season. Don’t antagonize a stressed lawn with aerating, excessive mowing, heavy traffic, or other cultural practices. When lawns get stressed they are susceptible to weeds, diseases, and other pest out breaks. Also, don’t stress personally. A dry, burned out lawn will come back with adequate rainfall. Dead spots can be repaired. Seasons come and go. Don’t sweat it, it’s only grass.