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Prepare Your Home and Lawn for a Harsh Winter

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Leaves on Lawn - Rake leaves before winter to prevent snow moldWe’ve been hearing that this coming winter may be a harsh one.  With that in mind, preparing your lawn correctly for the winter season will prevent damage to your lawn next spring and summer.

Driving around Northeast Ohio this time of year we see many folks outside of their homes, cleaning up their lawns from falling leaves and getting ready for the winter season ahead.  Below are our recommendations that any homeowner can do to help get their home and lawn prepared for winter. [Read more…] about Prepare Your Home and Lawn for a Harsh Winter

Combating Mosquitoes in Northeast Ohio

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Mosquito Control Akron OhioIs there anything more annoying than mosquitoes?  Tips and information that will help your battle against the mosquito.

Like many of you, we like to spend time outside. Camping, fishing, golfing, cookouts or holiday weekend get-togethers, are just a few things we enjoy outdoors during the summer in Northeast Ohio. This year however, mosquito populations have been on the rise because of the rainfall and humidity.

It’s an All-out War Against Mosquitoes

Battling swarming mosquitoes isn’t any fun and in recent years, mosquitoes have become increasingly dangerous. According to the CDC, almost 40,000 people in the U.S. have reported having the West Nile virus disease and more than 1600 have actually died from it. 70-80% who become infected don’t develop any symptoms so there’s many more cases of the West Nile virus that are unreported and/or undetected.

Chances are you’ve seen an increase in mosquitoes this year. Largely due to the near-record rainfall, humidity and warmer weather. This creates the perfect climate conditions for mosquito breeding grounds.

Tips to Prevent Mosquito Bites

The only way to avoid infectious disease spread by these annoying little mosquitoes is to avoid being bitten by them. That’s definitely a challenge when we’re battling swarms of these blood-thirsty, annoying insects. The best and most effective method of avoiding mosquito bites is to eliminate the sources where they breed.

  • Remove all areas of standing water around your home
  • Check and clean clogged gutters
  • Remove discarded tires
  • Empty flower pots of standing water

Anything that can hold water, even a little bit, provides a place for mosquitoes to breed. If there’s no standing water for them to breed in, you’ll likely see a decrease in the mosquito population near and around your home.

Custom Spray Mosquito Control Services

One of our services include Mosquito Control. This is a service that will drastically reduce the mosquito infestation around your home or during that special event. We’ll come to your home and reduce potential mosquito breeding areas for you and then we’ll start a recurring Mosquito barrier spray every 21 days throughout the mosquito season.

Since mosquitoes don’t travel very far or live very long, we’ve found that spraying the mosquito barrier around the area surrounding your home is effective in reducing the mosquito problem and it’s affordable at $69.00 an application for up to a one acre property within our service area.

Read more about our Mosquito Control services and let us fight your battle against the annoying and disease carrying mosquito.

Other Mosquito Information Links

Near Record Rainfall Increases Fertilizer Consumption in Lawns

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Red thread is fungus that can cause spots in your lawn in Northeast Ohio Region

Red Thread Fungus

As we approach this 4th of July weekend we’re coming out of a June that’s experienced near-record levels of rainfall.  Lawns are growing faster than normal which uses more fertilizer than normal weather conditions.  If your yard isn’t very green or almost chlorotic, your lawn is more than likely suffering from adequate food.

The image shown in this post is of a fungus (lawn disease) called Red Thread.  We’re seeing more of this disease appear on Northeast Ohio lawns this year because of the lack of nutrients for fast growing grass.

Mild cases of Red Thread can easily be treated with a fertilizer application.  If it becomes more severe we may need to apply a fungicide treatment.  Our specialists will be able to determine the best treatment for each lawn.

Identifying Red Thread Disease

How do you know if your lawn has the Red Thread fungus?  Generally, Red Thread will appear to be brownish or yellow in color but if you look very closely at the affected areas of grass you should see a red or pinkish tint.  If you’ve identified the reddish color in your lawn then it’s likely the fungus is Red Thread.

If you’re having problems identifying your current lawn disease as a result of this spring’s weather, don’t worry, you can call us and we’ll have a technician come out and identify the disease and treat it right away.

Sometimes weather conditions that are abnormal can increase disease in your lawn.  If you see anything in your lawn you aren’t sure of, call Custom Spray and we’ll get your lawn green and healthy again.  Phone# 330-861-5035

How to Get Rid of Dandelions

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Dandelion Control Northeast OhioIf you are like most new customers this time of year, you are concerned with dandelions in your yard.

It’s mid-May and dandelions are starting to produce their yellow flowers once again. Mowing them down might seem like a quick and easy solution to this pesky problem, but it will in fact spread the seeds causing an  increase in the reach and consistency of your dandelion issue for years to come.

Dandelions are perennial, self-pollinating, broadleaf weeds that return every year and may be the most widespread flowering weed in Ohio. They reproduce and spread from those white, fluffy, wind-blown seeds and root fragments.

Much like clover, ivy, plantain, and other weeds, dandelions can be controlled without harm to the grass with proper applications of the correct weed control. 

To wipe out the dandelion population in any yard more quickly, it is important to treat  your lawn during the dandelion’s early stage of growth. You don’t need to kill them before they start turning yellow. You should, however, take care of them before they have the opportunity to seed and repopulate your yard in greater numbers.

Right now is the best time for us to treat your lawn. Once we have started treatment, your dandelion population is going to decrease significantly because we will have prevented the seeds from blowing around and germinating. Although we can eradicate most all dandelions quickly, it will take longer for a more complete control. You will notice almost no dandelions even attempting to grow after 2-3 seasons. You will enjoy a virtually dandelion free yard, especially if your neighbors take good care of their yard to prevent seeds from blowing into yours. (And vice-versa)

While dandelions are a pesky perennial herb or weed to most, they do have some very interesting medicinal qualities that might intrigue you.

Interesting Dandelion Facts:

  • Dandelions are edible weeds. (Although, we do not recommend picking dandelions to eat)
  • Dandelion roots may have a calming affect on the body.
  • The milky white substance in the dandelion root has known to be effective on warts.
  • Dandelions contain large quantities of vitamins B, A, C, E and P.
  • Dandelions are an effective diuretic.

If you want to learn more about the medicinal properties of the dandelion visit:  https://www.altmd.com/Articles/Dandelion–Encyclopedia-of-Alternative-Medicine

Freeze Damage to Lawns from Recent Weather

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Freeze Damaged LawnRecently you may have noticed some spots showing up in your lawns that might have you concerned. It’s not as bad as it my look.

Northeast Ohio hit the mid 70’s for a high temperature on April 10th and we enjoyed some real nice weather through the 14th of April. During this spring-like warm up, grass in our lawns started to grow and come out of dormancy.

Then on the 15th and 16th our overnight lows were between 18-27 degrees. This sudden freezing temperature is the cause.

You’ll likely see this freeze damage more on the ryegrass since it comes out of dormancy earlier than bluegrass.

Mother Nature fooled us all that week but don’t worry, the damage done by the freeze is only temporary. The weather appears to finally be warming up for spring and next week we’ll likely get a good dose of rain fall.

It’s likely that with these warmer temps and rain, all the grass will start growing and will overcome any of these spots you’re seeing in your yard. There’s no need to treat your lawns for this temporary damage, just get ready to mow if you haven’t already. Spring is in the air!