Tips to Help your Lawn Recover After a Drought

This year the hot dry weather has caused most people's lawns to struggle. It can be tricky to know if your lawn is long gone or if it will come back. With the cooler temperatures and the dew and frost coming in the mornings, there are somethings you can do to help your lawn recover from the drought. Follow the tips below to help your lawn recover.

Tips and Tricks

Dormant Lawn

The first step to restoring your lawn after a drought is to determine what is causing the lawn to turn brown. It could be bugs, dormancy caused by stress, or the lawn could be dead. The easiest way to check all these things is to water the lawn. If the browning is caused by dormancy, it should start to green up and start growing again. If it is caused by a bug or if it is dead, the lawn will not green up. If the lawn doesn't green up, pull on the lawn. A lawn with bugs will pull up like carpet and you usually can find bugs in the soil. A dead lawn will also pull up easy and will feel crispy, but you won't find the presence of any bugs. A lawn with bugs can be treated with a pesticide and usually comes back once the bugs are gone.

Now that you have determined what is causing the browning of the lawn there are a few things you can do to revive the lawn:

• Make sure to water the lawn. This will help the roots grow deeper and stronger. It will also help the lawn recover from the stress it has had.
• Start mowing again. Mow a little longer than usual to help reduce evaporation. As you mow the brown parts of the grass will start to be removed and the new green growth can become stronger. 
• Aerate the lawn and to give it room to grow and breath. Aeration will help the roots grow thicker and stronger. This promotes healthy green growth.
• Remove weeds and apply weed control. Weeds fight for the nutrients and water that the lawn needs.
• Apply a fall fertilizer to help the lawn recover and to give it a boost next spring.
• If the lawn has died out, consider seeding or resod to start new growth. 

Be Aware Of

Sod Webworm

This is the time of year that sod webworm starts to show up in lawn. Sod webworm is the larvae from a lawn moth and, they can cause significant damage quickly. Follow this link to one of our previous blog posts about sod webworm.

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Grub vs. Sod Webworm

Grub and sod webworm are common bugs that do damage to lawns in Northern Utah. With the hot weather this year these two pests have exploded in lawns causing damage. The trick of eliminating them from your lawn is knowing which one to treat for. They both looks similar and do similar damage but need different products to treat for them. Below are some tips and tricks of knowing what bug you have and how to get rid of them.

Tips and Tricks

Grub

Grub, the more commonly known of the two bugs, is a white c shaped bug that feeds on the roots of the grass. This bug is the larvae of a beetle. The most common time to see this bug is in the summer through June and July. Damage to the lawn will show up as an irregularly shaped browning patch that doesn't green up with proper watering. It will also pull up very easy like carpet. The reason it pulls up easy is because the root of the grass, that anchors it to the ground, is gone. 

Grub Damage

There are a couple things you can do to treat grub. Once you have grub in is best to put a grub curative product down. This is a faster acting product that will take care of the grub before they have time to do more damage. Once you have grub it is very likely that you will get it again the next year. Apply a grub preventative, in the late spring/early summer, to reduce your chances of getting grub. Damage from grub usually comes back once the grub have been taken care of.

Sod Webworm

The first big difference between sod webworm and grub is that sod webworm is the larvae of a moth not a beetle. It is a brownish, long, skinny, caterpillar like bug. They feed on the blade of the grass and can to substantial damage very quick. Sod webworm are most active at night. You can go to bed with a healthy lawn and wake up with a brown dead looking lawn. Some common signs of sod webworm are brown spots that do not green up with water, the lawn pulls up like carpet, and moths fly out of the lawn. It is most common to see webworm in the fall starting late July and into August. These bugs can also over winter in web cocoons and reemerge in the spring. 

Sod Webworm Damage

Treatment is similar to the way you treat for grub. You will just want to make sure it is a product that will take care of sod webworm. It is important to remember that treatments for sod webworm will take care of the larvae and eggs but don't usually take care of the adult moths. Preventative products for sod webworm should be applied in the late summer. The moths do not damage to the lawn. Damage caused by sod webworm will have a harder time coming back than with grub damage. It will sometime need seeding or new sod to fully revive the lawn. If you have any questions on determining what bug is in your lawn or for help treating the lawn for bugs, please contact us.

Be Aware of

Please remember that to have a healthy lawn next year your lawn needs water this year. The heat combined with drought conditions has caused a lot of stress on your lawn. Your lawn needs to be watered at least once a week to come back next year. Even if your lawn looks dead it has just gone into dormancy early. Giving it water each week will help to sustain it through the heat and into the winter. Follow this link to a previous blog post about watering in a drought.

 Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

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Tips to Avoid Summer Heat Stress

Keeping your lawn healthy in a drought can be very tricky. Often times your lawn isn't getting enough water to have a healthy green lawn with water restrictions. Changing a few small things about how you water and treat you lawn can help keep your lawn healthy. Below are a few tips and tricks to help fight the drought this summer. 

Tips and Tricks

With the stress that comes from being in a drought follow these tips to help your lawn stay healthy. Right now, you should water deeply three times a week. Watering deeply means that your lawn should get half an inch of water each time you water. For rotary sprinklers that means watering 40 minutes per station and for pop up sprinklers watering 20 minutes per station. You also should water in the early morning. This is the best time to water because it is cool enough that the water will not evaporate before soaking into the ground. 

Poor Sprinkler Coverage

Sprinkler coverage is especially important for a healthy lawn. If you have random brown dying spots in your lawn even though you have been watering, a likely cause is sprinkler coverage. A great way to check sprinkler coverage is to get a tuna can or something similar and place one in a green area and one in a brown area. Run your sprinklers as normal. After the cycle has been completed gather your cans and compare how much water is in each can. You should have about a half an inch of water in the cans. If you have one that has too little or too much water adjust the sprinkler heads accordingly. 

The length of your grass is key when trying to prevent weeds and heat stress. Keep your mower at the highest setting. This will allow the lawn to stay 3 to 4 inches tall. Having a lawn this tall shades the ground preventing weed seeds from germinating and water from evaporating. When mowing remember to never mow more than 1/3 of the grass blade. For example, if your lawn is 4 inches tall you should mow no shorter than 3 inches tall. Mowing more than 1/3 of the grass blade can cause stress on the lawn.

Stress from Mowing on a Dry Lawn

Avoid putting more stress on your lawn. Your lawn is already stressed because of the drought and doing things like over fertilizing and mowing short can cause more damage to the lawn. For a lawn that is in heat stress and browning it normally takes at least two weeks of good watering for you to start seeing your lawn green up. Please remember to follow the water restrictions in your area and do the best you can when caring for your lawn. The good thing is that your lawn will come back to the lush thick lawn you had after the drought is over as long as you can provide a little water each month.

Be Aware Of

Grub Damage

Grub season is coming quick. Right now is the best time to put down a grub preventative to protect your lawn. In the coming months you might start seeing signs of grub if you did not put down a preventative. Common signs are browning areas the pull up easy that don't go away with watering. For more information on grub follow this link to a previous blog post about grubs.  

Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

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Knowing the Dirt on Your Clay Soil

Flowers are blooming and wisps of summer are in the air. Like most people you probably have countless tasks to complete before the real heat of summer hits. Things like planting your vegetable garden can become quite the task with sticky wet clay soil. Below are some tips and tricks to help with the struggles that come with having clay soil.

Tips and Tricks

When it comes to soil most people in Northern Utah have clay soil. This soil is often considered hard to work with, has problems with drainage, and gets compacted easy. Clay soil has its cons, but it also has a lot of great properties like making plants stronger and storing lots of water. There are also things you can do to help your clay soil with some of the common problems it faces.

Clay soil is made of many tiny soil particles. This allows the soil to hold in moisture and nutrients better. It also gives the roots of plants more things to hold on too. This helps the plant survive extreme temperatures and conditions. Because the plant has a good grip on the soil it does not come out of the ground easily and the roots can reach greater depths in search for water that is stored in the particles. 

Because clay soil holds moisture it can cause problems when working with it. If the soil is wet when you till or try to dig in it, it is going to cause the soil to become compacted. Not only that but it sticks to everything and can create quite a mess. It also can hold on to more than just water and fertilizer. It can often hold salts that can be harmful to plants.

A few things you can do to help prevent some of the problems is incorporating compost into the soil. This will help the soil release extra water that is not being used. The bad thing is that you need to add compost consistently from year to year and it can take 5-10 years before you see better results. Water your lawn less frequently for a longer. This will allow the soil to dry out a little between watering's. Consider doing a core aeration to reduce compaction and help the lawn drain better. Doing different soil amendment service, like our Soil Enrichment service, can help with the soils structure.

Be Aware Of

1. You should have your water on. With the dry winter we had your lawn could use a good drink. Right now you should water 1-2 times a week for 45 minutes for rotary sprinklers and 20 minutes for pop up sprinklers.

2. Grub season is quickly approaching. With the warmer weather the beetle larvae are quickly become more active. Right now, is a perfect time to put down a grub preventative to stop the damage before it happens. Grub damage appears as browning patches in the lawn that are commonly thought to be watering problems. If the browning areas pull up easy like patches of carpet it is likely that you have a grub problem. Click the link to find out how we can help you fight grub.

Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

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Spring has Sprung

Spring is here and with that comes so many wonderful things. Outside is waking up and new life is growing everywhere. One of the prettiest things that has started to grow is flowers. With so many beautiful flowers blooming everywhere, it would be nice if we knew how to take care of them. Below are some tips and tricks to consider when planting your own flowers. 

Tips and Tricks

It's time to start thinking about flower beds and flower pots. Annual plants are plants that live their entire life cycle in one year. You should start planting your annual flowers after the last spring freeze. This is typically late April to mid-May depending on where you're at.

After the first freeze, it is time to prepare the soil you are going to plant your flowers in. Whether you're planting in a pot or in the ground having the proper soil can make or break your flowers. You want your soil to be loose and not too wet. Add organic material such as grass clipping, leaves, and peat. Also add a high nitrogen slow-release fertilizer to make sure the flowers you plant have the nutrients they need. 

Now that your soil is ready for plants you need to choose the best plants for your area. If the area is shaded most of the day pick plants that prefer the shade. Make sure the plants you choose will thrive where you plan to put them. When picking plants choose ones that look healthy with lots of foliage. It is more important for the plant to have thicker foliage than a lot of flowers when buying them.

When planting your flowers, it is best to plant in the mornings or evenings when it is cool. This helps to reduce the amount of transplant shock. Try not to break up the roots of the plant when pulling them out of the container to plant them. You should plant them about as deep as the pot they came in. If you plant them deeper, it can encourage disease and if you plant them higher it can cause the plants to fall over. Keep the soil around the plant damp for about a week until the roots have become established. You should water your plants when the top inch of soil is dry once the plant is established.   

Be Aware Of

Sod Webworm Damage

This is the time of year you could start seeing webworm problems with your lawn. It is also the time to start applying preemergent to help prevent weeds from coming up in your yard. For more information on these problems and other common lawn problems this time or year follow this link to one of our previous blog posts.

  

Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

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Wake Up Big Green Giants

Spring is quickly approaching and with that comes countless tasks to complete in your yard. Spring cleanup, tree care, and fertilizing are just a few. Don't get lost in the busyness of the season. There is also some fun holidays coming up like Easter. Follow this link for some fun DIY Easter décor ideas. Here are a few tips and tricks for your trees this spring.

Tips and Tricks

Spring is the perfect time to care for your trees. Your trees have been dormant for months and could us some care to get started for the spring. Here is a tree care checklist to make sure your trees are prepared for the rest of the year.

1. Clean up around your tree. You want to make sure there is no garbage or debris around your tree. It is also the perfect time to weed around your trees because the ground is still soft. Remove all holiday lights from the trees. Check your tree for any abnormalities or damage sustained over the winter. You want to clean around your trees to make the next steps easier.

Mulching Around Tree

2. Mulch around your tree. Mulching around your tree helps reduce the amount of weeds that grow around the tree. It also helps the tree retain more water. Your mulch should be 3 to 4 inches deep around the tree. The mulch should be 18 to 24 inches out from the tree.

3. Water your tree. You want to water your tree to prepare them for the upcoming dry season. For trees that are over three years old don't water them close to the truck because the roots have spread out from the trunk. For trees that are under three years old water them close to the trunk because the roots haven't had enough time to completely spread out. You will want to water your tree deeply and less frequently because the root are 18 to 20 inches below the surface.

Tree Pruning

4. Prune your tree. Early spring is the ideal time for pruning your tree. You want to prune before the tree comes completely out of dormancy. Pruning in the spring is also easier because you can see the tree better because it hasn't gotten it's leaves yet. For more information about tree pruning follow this link to one of our previous posts. 

5. Fertilize your tree. Trees store nutrients from the previous year but fertilizing in the spring will provide them an extra boost to start the year out strong. 

Tree care can be a little overwhelming. If you are unsure of the best way to perform any of these steps or if your tree has a specific problem that needs to be addressed contact your local arborist. 

Be Aware Of

Snow Mold

Your lawns should start becoming snow free. Snow mold is a possible problem you might have once the snow has melted. Snow mold is a lawn fungus. It commonly appears in shaded areas and under heavy snow coverage. The best way to get rid of it is to lightly rake the area and fluff up the grass. It will go away as it starts to dry out. For more information on snow mold follow this link.

Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

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Happy Plants, Happy Life

It feels like we haven't seen green growing plants in years but it's only been months. House plants could be the cure and bring a little spring and summer to your home. Let's put our green thumbs to use while we wait for our beloved lawn and gardens to not be covered in snow. Here are some tips and tricks about keep your house plants happy and healthy. 

Tips and Tricks

Taking care of house plants can seem like a daunting task. You may think that you do not have enough light to sustain plants or you're forgetful when it comes to watering. The great thing about house plants is that they can be very forgiving, and most are very easy to care for. He are a few steps to consider when caring for house plants. 

1. Make sure your plants have the right amount of light. Some plants need high light and some need low light. Make sure to pick plants that will thrive with your light availability. 

2. Don't over water your plants. Most house plant only need to be watered once or twice a week at most. House plants tend to thrive when they are a little more dry.

3. Make sure the leaves of your plants stay clean. Dust and dirt can build up on the plant and block out the sun.

4. Make sure to remove leaves and flowers that have died out.

5. Choose a spot in the house that has good airflow and no drafts.

6. If the leaves start to brown on the tips it could be caused by low moisture. Misting your plants or using a humidifier can help with this problem.

7. Watch for problems with your plants. If you start seeing bugs on the plants, rinse the bugs off or consider using an insecticide. 

8. Apply fertilizers. You can use water soluble or granular fertilizers. Make sure to follow directions very carefully to avoid harming the plant.

9. If you notice roots coming out of the bottom of the planter or if it is drying out faster, it is time to repot your plant. Move up one pot size at a time. 

Remember that most house plants are actually tropical plants. Your goal is to make them feel like they are in their natural environment. If you are unsure of what kind of plants are best for your space, follow this link for a list a plant that thrive indoors.  

Be Aware Of

Even though it is winter your lawn still needs some care. Be careful of where you pile your snow and the amount of ice melts and salts you use to prevent damage to your spring lawn. For more information on how to care for you lawn this winter follow this link to our previous blog post about snow removal and ice melts.

Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

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