Helpful Hints

Current Helpful Hints Page

This page is devoted to seasonal changes and helpful hints to make your lawn look better and your home more pest free. PLEASE check here often because it will change. As always, please contact us if you have questions about anything, we are always glad to help you.

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In this issue:
Wait to trim your trees
Boxelderbugs
Seeding
Spray lawn weeds
Mowing tips
Dethatch & aerate your lawn

Brief suggestions:
- Do seeding ASAP
- Now is the time to fix dips, dead spots, & snow plow damage
- Apply crabgrass pre-emergent any time
- Apply weed control to flower beds any time

Updated April 11, 2013

Wait to Trim Your Shrubs & Trees

Trees and shrubs should be trimmed at any time of year when the stems and branches are not taking large amounts of water up from the ground, usually any time of year except spring. Late winter is considered the best time, which in Iowa, is February and March. Check the buds, when they start to swell the plant is taking up water and you are too late and should wait until summer. But if the buds haven't started to swell, go ahead and trim.

Call us if you have questions or to schedule your tree and shrub trimming.

Boxelderbugs
LOTS of calls have been coming in to the office about boxelderbugs and flies. These accidental invaders overwinter inside your house, usually in the attic or walls. On warm, sunny days, they think spring is here and try to escape to the outside but get inside instead.

Inside sprays are seldom effective. Using foggers in the attic will help if insects are present. Spraying the outside foundation will give some relief. The best control is achieved by treating the entire outside of the house IN THE FALL to prevent these insects from entering in the first place. For more details on this program, click HERE to be taken to our Fly, Boxelderbug, & Lady Beetle page.

Seeding
Seeding should be done as soon as possible for the best chances of success. For more tips, click HERE to go to our Landscaping Page.

If your lawn looks like this, please call us.

Spring is a great time to spray dandilions and other broadleaf weeds. Also, spring is the best time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide for
crabgrass and foxtail control.

Please call us today.

Mowing Tips

1.  Don't cut the grass shorter than 2 inches when the weather is cool and wet (during the spring and fall) and don't cut shorter than 3 inches when hot or dry (summer). Shorter mowing heights cause the lawn to look lighter green all year long, turn brown earlier, and have more weed problems than taller mowed lawns. We mow our lawns at 3 inches all year long.

2.  Remove no more than 1/3 of the height in a single cutting. This means if you are mowing at 3 inches, your next cutting should occur when the grass reaches 4.5 inches tall. If you are leaving clippings on top of the grass, you need to mow more often.

3.  Keep your mower blades sharp. Dull blades fray the grass blade tip and give the lawn a burnt appearance.

Dethatch & Core Aeration

March is the best time to dethatch your lawn. April or September are good times to core aerate your lawn

If your lawn is thin and looks dead or if you have more than 1/2" of thatch, we highly recommend doing one of these two services to improve your lawn. If you are unsure about what to do, we would gladly look at your lawn and make a recommendation.

Dethatching uses a power rake to cut slits in the lawn and pull the thatch and dead grass to the surface. Then a mower with a leaf bagger is run over the lawn to remove the material. Afterwards, the lawn will grow together or grass seed can be spread to thicken the lawn.

Core aeration uses a machine to drive a series of hollow pipes into the ground which pull out a "plug" of thatch and soil. This helps break down the thatch layer. Aeration has the added benefit of loosening the ground and encouraging root development. Seeding can be done after aerating but usually works better following a dethatching.

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After Your Lawn Application...

Click the button to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about our lawn applications. Please call our office if you have any additional questions.