Customer Portal

Lawn Care Akron

Lawn Care Akron Ohio

Categories

How to Get Rid of Dandelions

by

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

by

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!

Worst Year for Mole Problems

by

2014 is shaping up to be the worst year ever for those pesky moles tunneling just under the surface of your landscape. The precipitation has a lot to do with the increased activity for moles.

The Mole

The Mole

Moles are an ongoing problem and they’ll tunnel through your yard eating their weight each day in earthworms, grubs, ants and other insects. A mole has to eat it’s body weight in food everyday or they’ll die quickly. So the more earthworms, grubs and insects there are in your lawn, the more food these moles have to thrive in your lawn.

They can turn your nice looking lawn into trails of raised, softened mounds while damaging the root systems of any landscaping you normally enjoy. If you garden, they can cause major disruption to your garden vegetables roots.

These pesky critters are most active in the spring and fall, especially after rain fall or during the spring thaw of the snow when the ground is really moist. This year in Northeast Ohio, we’ve experienced one of the worst winters we’ve seen in a long time so the ground is extremely moist and inviting to moles.

Mole Control

If you deplete the food source in the ground, the moles are going to have to move elsewhere to thrive. Contrary to the most popular belief, grub control will not be of as much help as you would hope. Since the main source of food for moles is earthworms, the way to target moles is with our non-toxic (to worms and moles) mole repellant. This is the best way we’ve found to drive moles out of your yard.

Feel free to contact us if you have moles and would like to get rid of them without having to trap and kill.

Lawn Winterization Tips – Preparing Your Lawn for Winter

by

Winterizing your Northeast Ohio LawnThe cooler season (Fall) is here and winter is just around the corner. This is an important season for your lawn as it’s now preparing itself by ceasing growth and stockpiling nutrients and sugars for the harsh winter months ahead. Below are some fall lawn care tips that we highly recommend.

Lawn Fertilizer

As it cools, your lawn slows it’s growth and the roots begin storing nutrients in the soil. A good lawn fertilizer will be less in nitrogen (not feeding top growth) and higher in nutrients necessary to feed the root system. These nutrients keep the grass healthy, strong, and disease resistant throughout the winter. Fall fertilization also determines the health of your lawn next year. [Read more…]

How to get rid of CrabGrass in Your Lawn

by

Your Northeast Ohio lawn and turf is an environmental asset and having crabgrass in your lawn can make that asset look awful, especially in late summer.

Lawn care Northeast Ohio - Crabgrass control and weed control

This is Crabgrass in Northeast Ohio

What is Crabgrass?

Crabgrass is an annual weed that germinates from seed, grows rapidly, and it’s one of the most troublesome grass weeds in Northeast Ohio lawns.  Crabgrass is a warm weather weed that germinates in the spring when your soil starts to warm above 55-60 degrees steady for about a week.  It’s an invasive weed that spreads in the summer, looks horrible in the fall, and dies in the winter. [Read more…]