The heat of the summer is here but that doesn’t mean we should just stay inside with the air conditioning on. There is work to do in our yards. The choices we make today will affect our yard in the spring, making our lives either easier or harder. If you follow these tips you will be in a much better position next spring when it comes to lawn care and pest control.
As a homeowner, you are all too familiar with the war on weeds. Well, in the summertime weed control is more important than ever. How much effort you put into weed control now will determine how hard you have to fight next year. When summer weeds turn to seed in the fall, they spread their seeds all over your yard where they wait for the warm temperatures of spring to return. To eliminate summer weeds you can’t use a pre-emergent herbicide like in the spring. You need a post-emergent to target spray weeds after they pop up in your grass. This will kill the weed but not the grass.
Your grass needs water but not too much or too little. Too much water could open the door to pests and lawn diseases such as dollar spots. If you don’t water enough, the water will not soak down deep enough to actually reach the roots of the grass. The best time to water is in the morning. This allows enough time for the water to evaporate throughout the day. Water long enough so that the ground is sufficiently soaked. This will promote stronger and deeper root growth, resulting in thicker, lusher grass.
Sometimes our grass can become weak and no matter what we do to help, it never seems to green up. The problem could be caused by compact soil. Compact soil is harsh on your grass because it can no longer reach water, air, or nutrients that it needs. Core Aeration is a process that can alleviate compact soil and loosen thatch so that your grass can grow and thrive once more. Overseeding is used to sew new types of grass into your existing grass which can boost your yard’s appearance and strength.
Pests can run you out of your backyard and cause a lot of damage to your trees and lawns if not taken care of. The best way to prevent damaging insects is through careful observation and preventative measures.
Mosquitoes are the most notorious backyard pest. Luckily there are a number of ways to prevent mosquitoes and curb the population in your yard by dumping out standing water, wearing light-colored clothes, and putting on mosquito repellants to mask your scent.
Fire ants are an invasive pest that can wreak havoc on your grass as they excavate their large underground galleries. The dirt they push to the surface can also suffocate the grass underneath much like a molehill. Fire ants are a very aggressive species with extremely painful stings. Do not let pets or children play near fire ant mounds.
Chinch bugs are tiny, almost invisible to the naked eye, incest that feed on the liquid inside your grass. As they do, they inject the blade with a poison that blocks the flow of water which slowly kills the plant. Chinch bug damage appears in the form of growing brown patches in your grass.
At TruGreen, we can help you take control of your yard back from annoying mosquitoes. With our mosquito control program, you can choose to sign up for monthly treatments or one-time applications for special events like graduations, weddings, and other celebrations.
Call us at 225-465-0665 if you are a Louisiana client, but if you’re from Mississippi, call us at 662-330-1330. Or get a free and easy quote here. Get access to all our tips on pest control, lawn care, tree care, and more by following our monthly blog. Check us out on Facebook for the latest TruGreen deals and news in your area