Posts Tagged ‘lebanon lawn care’

Do it yourself lawn care in NH

Published by mrgrass on March 26th, 2013 - in Fertilizer, Lawn Care Companies

Before you spend lots of money on “do it yourself” lawn care products this spring in NH, get a free lawn estimate that can save you both money and time.  April sweeps into NH as the dying remains of winter and departs with the sweet taste of spring like a gift to be unwrapped.  The end of March heralds the true beginning of the lawn season with lots of TV commercials and newspaper advertisements touting the latest in grass greening technology.  The good news, there is plenty of time to act smart and responsibly in achieving a healthy lawn or landscape.  The bad news, lots of confusion caused by companies that claim to have the best products or service for the “do it yourself” market.

But hold on, feeding your lawn is a bit more complicated when you arrive at the hardware store to find lots of bags similar to types of cereal.  Oh where to begin?  They all look so nice, full, and fulfilling.  Pretty colors and green grass on the bag cover just says success from first sight.  Do you opt for the organic whole wheat version fertilizer or do the Cocoa Crisps beckon your devotion to lawn improvement?  Some materials require specific timing and other materials will only target specific pests or weeds.  What is your lawn size anyway?  Experience tells me that most folks, like the big fish that got away, believe their lawn is usually bigger than reality.  The bags will tell you how much they treat, but what about different application rates?  It must be better to go on the heavy side?  Are you sure?

Lawn care products in the hardware store often have different application rates and that does not even count what the bag is claiming to control.  Perhaps grubs, crabgrass, broadleaf weeds, all of the above?  Oh my, this is complicated.  How much to put on my lawn that is probably smaller than I think, and I don’t know what grass types I have and if I put down too much…is that my lawn burning?

Missing sections of your lawn makes zebra stripes

 

Who doesn’t love dark green stripes on a pale lawn?!  Yeah, it’s a zebra lawn, what fun!  All the neighbors get to see how you missed fertilizing sections and not for days, but weeks and months!  “Oh the pain” you say like Dr. Smith from the 60’s TV show Lost in Space.  Why bother you say?  Exactly, this is where a professional lawn company can take all that pain, wasted time and money, frustration, and turn you lawn into a carpet of green gold awaiting your use and enjoyment this year.  If you figure in your valuable weekend time, the cost of the products you purchase, application mistakes, storage, purchasing wrong materials, and having missed the window of effective pest control, then yes, a professional is going to save you money and time.

So before you are hypnotized by TV or newspaper advertisements and cause more harm than good, call a local professional and get yourself a free estimate this spring from a reputable local lawn care provider.  “Feed it” the right way, the smart way.

 

 

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Chippers’ Mr. Grass attends NH home show!

Published by mrgrass on March 6th, 2013 - in Lawn Care Companies, Misc.

Are you sick of snow and are ready for green grass and colorful flowers?

This is your chance to meet Chippers’ Mr. Grass in person and ask him lawn questions.

Have a problem lawn?

Don’t have a lawn?

 

Mr. Grass is ready for spring, are you?

 

Mr. Grass will be at the following home shows this March:

Hanover HomeLife Show March 15- 17 at Leverone Field House, 26 South Park Street, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH

Enter the contest by clicking on the “Contest” button above to register.  You can win one year of free lawn care worth $500 in the Greater Concord or Lakes Region area!

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Is your lawn covered with snow?

Published by mrgrass on February 19th, 2013 - in Lawn Care Companies

While your lawn is covered with snow this winter, it may not seem to be a big deal when it comes to thinking about your lawn outside, but inside lots of planning is going on.  I spend most of the winter preparing for spring so that when it arrives, like a fine arts musical performance, the program begins and runs smoothly like a first violin playing in an orchestra.  Reviewing each account is a time consuming but necessary process in order to make personalized program modifications according to past results, weather, and notes added throughout the previous year.  This kind of attention allows me to provide a unique benefit to each client not readily found in the lawn care industry.  After making any necessary turf program adjustments, we mail out contracts in NH and VT in order to allow for either an early bird signup or a prepayment discount.  Since spring is often very hectic and busy, this preparation allows each client to review and select services ahead of time to insure they each get the results and fair pricing deserved.

A cold lawn waits for spring

Winter is also a great time for me to research new and better products and add them into the Essential Turf Care (ETC) program I launched back in 2008.  This kind of research is lots of fun because I can pick and choose not only more environmentally friendly materials, but utilize less known, but high performing materials that you simply will not find with larger lawn care corporations.  This is mainly because their programs are standardized across large regions and bulk purchasing means a more limited selection.  I love adding new and better products for the upcoming year!

If you are interested in a complimentary turf bid this upcoming season, realize that I will personally visit your home or business.  I can hardly wait for spring because then the real excitement begins…watching brown landscapes turn green.  If you have never considered a professional turf care program in the past for your own home or business, this might be the year to explore how I can save you time and money.  My service area ranges from eastern Vermont down to Concord NH and up to Lake Winnipesaukee.  Curbside appeal is a vital part of business these days by capturing those shoppers who still enjoy the brick and mortar stores. Restaurants and other high volume businesses need to attract customers by maintaining healthy but sustainable landscapes, which usually includes turf grass.  The same can be said for selling your home and attracting potential buyers.  Not too many potential buyers will be impressed nor interested in a house with a brown lawn or dead patches with a for sale sign. Even more home owners could enjoy other outdoor activities with family and friends while still reaping the benefits of a professional lawn care service.  This might just be the year.  See you outside!

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Five factors to consider for switching your lawn care company in 2013

Published by mrgrass on January 2nd, 2013 - in Lawn Care Companies

Winter is a great time to evaluate your current lawn care company and consider if a local option would better serve your needs. Even if you are satisfied, I can bring up five legitimate reasons to change.

First, hiring a locally-based lawn care company versus a large national chain or franchise is certainly on the table as a good reason to change lawn care providers.  One of the biggest advantages gained by hiring a local company is a real person answering the phone versus an out-of-state “800” number. A local lawn care company will have real people answering the phone who either answer your question immediately or put you quickly in touch with your sales representative or lawn technician.  When was the last time you tried to solve a problem with a national lawn care chain or franchise only to get an answering machine or worse; be put on hold with the problem left unresolved?  This sends chills down my spine!

2013 may be the year to switch lawn care providers

We are really talking about communication here, the ability to not only feel comfortable about the company’s reputation and work being performed over the season, but the responsiveness of the lawn company upon an inquiry.  Can you directly e-mail your current lawn care representative?  As a client of my turf program, you have my direct e-mail and my cell phone number!  That is exciting and one huge difference between large and local.  Is communication important to you?  If so, is it worth switching to improve communication?  That is a question only you can answer.

A good second reason for hiring a local lawn care business within your state is direct support of the local economy. Buying local allows these firms to reinvest in themselves and in your community, versus funneling those dollars to a corporate headquarters in Ohio or Tennessee.  Why not reward hard work from a local lawn care company and see those dollars spent in your home town?  A third reason to consider switching lawn care providers can be summed up as environmental awareness and responsibility – the actual lawn care programs offered.  Despite years of advertising to the contrary, dousing your lawn with chemicals is not the only way to achieve a green and healthy lawn. My friends, lawn care is changing and has been for many years now.  There are much more environmentally friendly materials such as compost tea, sea kelp, and other organic products, which when used properly, provide a green, healthy lawn.  I simply don’t have enough room in this post to adequately address this point, but with patience, time, and care, any lawn can be made healthy while reducing the continual input of large volumes of fertilizers, herbicides and such.

Large firms must control their lawn care programs as templates from central operating centers and just don’t have the ability or flexibility to offer the wide array of products a local lawn care company can provide.  Organics, natural fertilizers, and traditional products are all on the table as tools to responsibly improve and protect turf grass.  The point to be made here is not only selection; it comes down to what is important to you as a consumer.  Are you willing to listen to alternatives, to be educated versus being fed a white bread, cookie cutter lawn program from a franchise simply because it’s affordable and can be easily replicated?  Environmental responsibility and program flexibility may be of increased importance to you as you consider staying or changing providers in 2013.

A fourth reason to consider changing your lawn care provider in 2013 involves executing programs through properly trained personal.  Training can be rolled up in experience, licensing, and other important credentials.  While professionals may make caring for your lawn look easy, your lawn care company’s background and training are critical.  Do you know how long your lawn service has been in business or what licenses they possess to do the kind of work safely and with the right knowledge?  Does your company have the kind of resources and experience you deserve or are you simply assuming this because of their name and size?  Big is not always better.  It takes one full season in New England to learn the basics in the field even with training and appropriate state testing.  Did you know that folks who apply organics as a control measure must have a state license to legally go after weeds or insects.  Do they have the right license and training or is this just an assumption?  It is your home, your family, your pets.  As with any profession, nothing can substitute real life experience. Those lawn care services that have been operating effectively and responsibility will always stand out and generally hold a solid reputation in the local business community.  Check the Better Business Bureau website in your state and see if your lawn care provider is listed and if so, what is their rating?  You may find this research most enlightening!

The fifth, but certainly not the only last reason to consider changing a lawn care provider in 2013 can be summed up in one word: results.  To be fair, results in our industry are greatly influenced by weather, client care, and of course the actual program selected.  My point here when it comes to results – does the program selected or applications applied succeed under similar conditions across the board?  Results are directly related to mowing, weather, rainfall, application technique, treatment timing and treatment selection.  If you asked for broadleaf weed control, did you see a difference?  If not, there may be very good reasons as to explain why or what happened to prevent good results in weed reduction. Has this been adequately explained to you? Perhaps your program did not have enough of these types of applications or the weeds present were labeled “difficult to control”.  In this case, having your program modified for 2013 would be appropriate, such as having additional treatments focused to address the concern.  On the other hand, if this is a reoccurring program problem, then perhaps it is time to look elsewhere for at least a different opinion and options.

There are many other tangible reasons which might cause you to either seek for the first time a business to care for your property or consider switching in 2013.  I have simply mentioned five in this blog post in an attempt to bring out facts which you may or may not have thought of in the past.  In the end, a qualified, caring lawn care company can not only save you time and money but we can make your home and castle a place to enjoy with your family, friends, and pets for years to come.  Happy New Year and may 2013 bring you happiness and good cheer!

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Spring lawn checklist for 2013

Published by mrgrass on November 5th, 2012 - in Aeration or Core Aeration, Cultural Practices, Lawn Care Companies, Lawn Pests, Bugs & Insects, Seeding & Overseeding
  • Your spring lawn checklist should include a review of your 2013 turf contract this winter or spring to take advantage of any preseason savings and to insure the work will be scheduled on a timely basis.  Lawn care companies are expecting an unprecedented high volume of work due to the heat, drought, and insect damage of 2012.

2013 spring lawn checklist, review it closely.

 

  • Check for grubs or other past insect damage (treat accordingly).
  • Schedule any renovation work early, as the demand will quickly find quality companies becoming booked with spring work, leaving you with limited choices or having to wait until fall.
  • Schedule your spring core aeration if you skipped it in 2012.
  • Schedule your spring lime and crabgrass inhibitor to get your lawn off to a good start.
  • Watch for ticks in April and May as the adults emerge looking for a meal!
  • Wait until the ground warms sufficiently before attempting any seeding.  April seeding generally does not perform well due to cold soil temperatures, even in southern NH.
  • Remove any debris which may have covered your lawn and cause harm such as branches, piles of leaves, plowed up sod, or gravel along the driveway.
  • Mow your lawn to 1.5 to 2” to help speed up soil warming in the spring. .  If the cut is good, just give your lawn a good raking an early spring weekend.
  • Do not dethatch or “power rake” your lawn unless it has a severe thatch issue.  This process causes more issues than it solves by tearing up healthy plants, dormant leaves and discourages a healthy recovery after winter.  Snow mold or winter damage will be magnified with power dethatching.  Save this process for the fall if you really need to see that huge pile of dethatched grass.
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Give your lawn a banana: potassium (K)

Published by mrgrass on October 9th, 2012 - in Fertilizer, Lawn Care Companies, Misc.

 

Potassium (K) is the last number in the triple letter fertilizer designation you find on the bag; 0-0-62 or N-P-K.  Potassium is a salty fertilizer which is generally applied in the fall to enhance turf performance the following year.  Second only to nitrogen in importance, potassium helps regulate water movement inside the grass plant which is critical during droughts like this past summer.  K also plays a key role in thickening cell walls to improve winter hardiness against the cold.  In terms of the next growing season, potassium improves wear tolerance in your lawn which comes in handy after a big party, BBQ, or soccer practice.  Although research is inconclusive, some disease resistance may be gained with not only a proper amount of potassium in the soil, but a balance with other key nutrients.  While no one nutrient is the “end all”, magic bullet; there are clear benefits to having a pure potassium treatment applied in the late fall before dormancy for improved water regulation, winter hardiness and wear tolerance.

Give your lawn a banana this fall: Potassium

 

I have applied potassium fertilizer to lawns and had the most spectacular, vivid green-up the following spring; the lawn almost seemed to glow!  I can speak from experience that ending the year with a banana for your lawn can help set the stage for a great April and May.  Since potassium is a small granule either white or reddish in tint, the product can easily be applied over a moderate leaf cover without reducing results.  Remember, with an analysis of 0-0-62 or 0-0-60 you have a high amount of potassium but no nitrogen or phosphorus.  With this special type of fertilizer, you only need a small amount of potassium fertilizer to receive great results next spring.

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Countdown until Halloween, a treat for your lawn

Published by mrgrass on October 2nd, 2012 - in Aeration or Core Aeration, Fertilizer, Lawn Care Companies, Lime

 

With the arrival of October, cooler weather and leaves changing color, the outdoors beckons the future arrival of winter.  With a month or two left before the lawn mower is put away, there are fun activities that can be done to prepare you lawn for that quiet slumber known as dormancy.  Warm soil with normal moisture levels can support great autumn growth in turf not just above ground, but below.  Providing enough fertilizer to increase root carbohydrates are a vital part of finishing off your lawn on the right foot.  The key is not to provide too much N (Nitrogen) which would cause excessively lush or succulent growth, thereby promoting winter kill and damage.  Hardening off your lawn starts in October and ends in November not only with decreasing mowing height, but with the right applications should they be warranted.  This would a good year to consider extra measures given the harsh summer we recently experienced

October remains a top month for lawn care in NH & VT

 

October is a great month to apply potassium based fertilizers or a standard fertilizer low in N that does not promote excessive top growth as November draws near.  Autumn provides an ideal opportunity to regain significant root growth, preparing the lawn for the spring of 2013.  Remember, good health in a lawn is not simply judged by the dark green color.  What goes on underground, unseen is even more important.  Energy reserves stored in the root system can help your lawn recover from whatever winter dishes out from ice, cold, and snow mold.  Speaking of snow mold, although treatment is not an endorsed practice in a residential home lawn, some special circumstances can warrant a late season fungicide to just before snow fall if you have problems with this damaging disease.

Hardening off your lawn with potassium based fertilizers and slowly lowering the mowing height from 3” to 1.5” over a 4-6 week period can enhance the hardiness of your own lawn this fall.  October remains a great month to core aerate if you have not had that procedure done in 2012.  Although overseeding in general should be done by late October in most of New England, aeration can be done right into November so long as the soil is moist and not frozen.  With the arrival of more mild winters of late, overseeding and mowing often can stretch a little longer than say 20 years ago.  I would not endorse bluegrass seed in late October simply because it can take up to three weeks just to germinate, that time frame does not allow for a whole lot of growth prior to snow or hard freezes.

Don’t forget, in Vermont it is against the law to apply any fertilizer containing Nitrogen beyond October 15th, unless you have a new lawn, as mandated by the legislature!  No one wants to break the law, do they?  Don’t waste time; make sure your lawn gets a winterizer before you carve the Halloween pumpkin, then you will have a treat for a lawn next year, not a trick.

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The definitive lawn checklist for fall

Published by mrgrass on September 24th, 2012 - in Aeration or Core Aeration, Compost Tea, Lawn Care Companies, Lawn Pests, Bugs & Insects

New Hampshire fall lawn care

The unusually dry weather has extended into September and even with cool weather, suffering turf remains brown while damaged lawns look more like broken boats on a beach after a hurricane.  Where do you begin unraveling such chaos and what appears to be a seemingly dauntless project?  There is still time to prioritize appropriate action, and even if they all cannot be done, setting goals now is critical so next spring you can continue with your lawn improvement plans.

First, is your lawn undergoing insect damage right now from grubs or chinch bugs?  If you cannot find the enemy yourself, have a professional check your lawn and determine if treatment is warranted.  If you miss this crucial step, most lawn pests will overwinter and not go away to Florida.  In fact, the population that damaged your lawn will continue to expand next spring causing even more problems.  Don’t be an ostrich, any repairs made now without addressing an underlying issue will be a waste of time and money.

Address the most important part of your lawn and focus on doing the job right.  Don’t bite off more than you can chew by attempting to renovate a half acre or more by yourself on a few weekends.  Unless you have access to a small army, you simply will not have enough time to remove the dead thatch, add loam/compost, seed, add starter fertilizer, and lime before it’s the end of October in New England.  Do the job right, don’t throw down 20lbs of seed on top of dead thatch and expect a new lawn, this simply won’t work.  For proper results, grass seed must be planted into a seed bed, be it compost, loam or a combination.  Like pepperoni on a pizza, making good soil contact without burying the seed is vital, with watering being the most important factor in a lawn fix.  No water equals no lawn.  You must commit to at least 2-3 weeks of watering in order to establish a turf area under normal conditions.  Even if the weather is cool, moisture is needed during germination and the early days of growth.

October generally brings leaves and debris as fall fades into early winter.  Be sure to keep heavy leaf litter picked up, especially on new grass.  Excessive leaves can mulch the newly planted lawn in mere weeks.  Mowing height can be slowly dropped to around 1.5” at the end of October for a last cut generally occurring in November.  A short cut can help reduce snow mold, winter kill, and other turf issues due to matting and long grass under the snow.  A pure potassium treatment in October can offer some increased hardiness by increasing cell wall thickness.  Don’t let the remaining weeks pass without addressing at least some of the lawn issues you are facing.  Even if some projects have to wait until next spring, get a game plan together now because with such widespread problems, professionals like me will be busy booking work into 2013.  Good luck!

 

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Broadleaf weed problems?

Published by mrgrass on August 28th, 2012 - in Broadleaf Weeds, Crabgrass, Lawn Care Companies

 

As Labor Day approaches, you are likely forced to think about school resuming and the sad state of affairs with your lawn.  If you have an average lawn in New Hampshire or Vermont, you are likely going to find fat broadleaf weeds like plantain, dandelions, and clover among a host of other weedy villains.  Let us not forget to give tribute to the massive crop of crabgrass which has now grown into your driveway, patio, and walkway cracks!  You my friend have lawn problems!  What to do?  There must be something that can be done!

If you attempted to treat for weeds this summer, your efforts were most likely in vain due to high temperatures and dry conditions.  Broadleaf weeds are best reduced when they are actively growing which usually occurs with cool fall or spring weather when soil moisture is adequate.  Any summer spraying usually just causes the surrounding turf to brown under the stress and the weed itself might look a worse for wear but does not die.  This year brought such unusually hot and dry weather, attempting to keep a lawn free of weeds and especially crabgrass seemed like spraying a house on fire with a garden house.  While proper mowing does help, irrigation became vital if your well supported the flow or your town did not put a watering ban in effect.  Brown grass caused the soil to heat up quickly where dormant crabgrass and annual weed seeds popped up and grew overnight, basking in the hot noon sun.  That is the past and explains why your lawn may look the way it does today, even with professional care.

Moving forward, you have two main options, renovate and repair damaged lawn areas to regain lost lawn or go after the weeds once we get cooler, wetter weather.  My advice to most folks is to aerate and seed in the fall and repair any lawn damage without the pressure of crabgrass and annual weeds, that are now dying (something about them dying in the fall).  With reduced competition, fall becomes the best time to overseed and aerate a lawn after a brutal New England growing season.  Go after the weeds next spring when seeding is less effective and crabgrass lurks, just waiting to over run your best efforts in lawn repair.  There is little time now to spray for weeds and seed, given most weed control products have a one month waiting period before seeding is recommended. My advice for the average home owner is to get as much grass back now and then deal with the weeds next spring.  Try improving the soil quality by adding sea kelp or compost tea to get an edge next spring.  The next few months are critical and should be taken full advantage of if you really want to make a difference in your home lawn; not only this fall but to set the stage for the entire growing season of 2013!

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Lawn & Landscape reflections, planning for 2012

Published by mrgrass2 on December 6th, 2011 - in Lawn Care Companies, Misc.

Lawn & Landscape relections

With the passing of Thanksgiving and December now underway, now is a great time to reflect back over the past growing season.  As you reflect, write down known problems or areas of success while they are still fresh in your mind.  Doing so now will give you an opportunity to formulate a new strategy for 2012.  For instance, you may have had great success improving turf along a new walkway but failed to achieve a level of desired weed control.  Perhaps you never got to plant that colorful crabapple out front by the light post but really want to in 2012.  Make a list of your top 6 goals for 2012 as it relates to your landscape.  Keeping a short list will provide greater focus of resources, time, and ultimately your ability to achieve the goals once spring arrives.  I have found many homeowners with great intentions tackle too many projects simultaneously only to become discouraged due to poor results.  Creating simple, realistic goals will help you achieve real success and at the end of the day allow you to enjoy the fruit of your hard work.

Maybe you want to plant a new tree out front for color, or your back lawn is a disaster and you simply want something green to look at versus bare ground.  Whatever the goal, write down your thoughts so you can think the process through before implementing any changes or new tactics.  Some projects are best done before others such as planting a new tree or shrub, then finishing off the area with new grass.  Why waste time seeding a lawn area only to dig it back up again to create a flower bed or a mulched space for new ornamental trees?  Thinking through your goals sooner rather than later will allow for a better game plan and easier execution when it comes time to implement your new goals.

Improving your outdoor green space can be a very rewarding experience and provide years of enjoyment during our short growing seasons in New England.  After working on thousands of lawns and landscapes, I can summarize and share some of the most common improvements where professional help might be considered to save time and achieve a specific outcome.  The list below consists of the most common exterior green space home improvements I have encountered but is certainly not limited to just these types of projects.

  1.  Lawn renovation/restoration (lime, fertilizer, compost tea)
  2.  Tree & Shrub pruning
  3.  Tree & Shrub removals
  4.  Tree & Shrub new plantings
  5.  Perennial garden renovation/installation
  6.  Flower garden renovation/installation

Lawn renovations or restorations are what I deal with on a daily basis and many folks don’t realize most lawns can be improved “as is” without starting from scratch.  Most clients are looking for improved turf color, density, and less weeds or bugs.  While the prescribed treatments will vary, most lawns can be dramatically improved in just one year with diligent and professional care.  Tree and shrub pruning is an often neglected area either not being done at all or done incorrectly and may cause future growth and (structural) damage.  Pruning done by a professional on a routine basis is actually less expensive than waiting numerous years not to mention the tree may be injured thereby predisposing it to insect, disease, and ice/snow damage.

Tree or shrub removals usual involve overgrown or dead/damaged plant material that may be a hazard to your home or yard.  Removals can improve a view or add sunlight to a damp, shady location.  Planting new tree or shrubs is a very common activity and usually is on the spring “to do list”.  Be aware however that problems with planting can occur when the planting depth is improper and/or the wrong tree or shrub is placed in the wrong location.  While the job may look sweet and seemingly be destined for years of enjoyment, I am called in (sometimes years later) to diagnose a declining plant for the reasons I just mentioned.  Another fun green space project is the renovation, creation, or expansion of either flower and or perennial beds.  These types of projects can be very enjoyable as the plant material is generally small, readily available, and easy to plant.  While most of these types of goals can be successfully achieved by a homeowner with the patience, research, and time – most will opt for professional advice if not assistance at some point in time.  The key to improving your outdoor green space is keeping things simple and planning out your projects over the winter so when spring arrives, you have a strategy already in place.

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