With Spring right around the corner, it’s time to schedule your Spring Cleanup! This service is incredibly important to your lawn for a number of reasons, including:
Mowing your lawn all season long can often feel like an overwhelming demand. It requires time, equipment ownership and upkeep, and knowledge of proper grass height and watering requirements. Correct lawn mowing promotes deeper root growth, minimizes the presence of weeds, and enhances your grass's natural resilience against diseases and pests.
Whether you plan to tackle the task yourself or hire a lawn mowing service, there are several guidelines that should be followed to maintain a healthy, lush lawn here in Minnesota.
Trees within your yard offer more than just aesthetic appeal and refreshing shade on hot afternoons; they also serve as habitats and sanctuaries for diverse wildlife. Healthy and flourishing trees enhance the beauty and functionality of any yard.
It's crucial to maintain their health and be vigilant for signs of potential issues. Determining the health of a tree involves assessing various factors. Here are some indicators of a healthy tree:
Regularly inspecting your trees for these signs can help you identify potential problems early and take appropriate action to maintain their health and vitality. If you notice any concerning symptoms, consider consulting with a certified arborist for professional advice and assistance. Are you interested in planting trees and shrubs that are pollinator-friendly? According to the University of Minnesota, there are numerous options available to please the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. These include:
At West Metro, we pride ourselves on taking safety measures to protect the pollinators and their environment. This includes, but is not limited to, remaining attentive to blossoming flowers and reducing the occurrence of spray drift. For more information on how to create a pollinator-friendly landscape, visit the following University of Minnesota website: https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/flowers-pollinators According to the National Institute of Health, there are in excess of 9,000 lawnmower injuries reported in children every year in the United States. Children tend to be the most common victims of lawn mower accidents and many of these accidents result in fractures and/or amputation of limbs. The majority of injuries occur by riding mowers (versus push mowers) and happen most frequently by being struck by a mowing mower or by falling off a moving mower. While these injuries are often catastrophic, they are largely avoidable.
To prevent lawn mower accidents involving children, consider the following safety measures:
By following these precautions, you can help reduce the risk of lawn mower accidents involving children and create a safer environment for outdoor play. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8246087/ The dandelion (or Taraxacum Officinale) is a perennial broadleaf weed which is commonly distributed across Minnesota throughout the spring, summer, and fall. With the most robust bloom of dandelions occurring in spring, this bright yellow flower (whose name means “Lion’s Tooth”) can thrive just about anywhere.
The life cycle of a dandelion begins when the wind (or a small child) disperses the dandelion seed. The seed will quickly germinate in the soil and become a dandelion plant (green, rugged leaves). In the next stage of the life cycle, the dandelion plant will begin flowering (which presents as the bright yellow flower we are so accustomed to seeing). Within 15 days, the yellow flower will become a seed head (shaped like a fluffy, white ball). And the cycle will begin again with the disbursement of those seeds. The dandelion is remarkably resilient, with the ability to withstand freezing temperatures and heat waves. Nonetheless, controlling dandelions is quite simple and straightforward with the application of a broadleaf herbicide. At West Metro Lawn & Snow, our 7 Step Fertilization & Weed Control program treats over 250+ weeds - including, you guessed it, dandelions! To learn more about our Fertilization & Weed Control Program, visit https://www.westmetrolawnandsnow.com/fertilization.html In Minnesota, summertime inevitably means sharing our yards with mosquitoes on the hunt for their next meal. Despite layering clothes or saturating ourselves in bug spray, evading these bloodthirsty pests seems nearly impossible! This is because they are drawn to our sweat, the carbon dioxide in our breath, and the fragrances we wear.
And did you know?
Thankfully, there is a solution to help curb the mosquito population in your yard and send this uninvited party guest packing! With our Mosquito Control Package, you will receive 6 scheduled service visits - designed to combat mosquito hiding in your trees, shrubs, and landscape beds. Using misting backpack sprayers, these barrier spray treatments not only fight adult mosquitos, their eggs, and larvae - it also helps prevent fleas and ticks! Source: Mosquitoborne Diseases of Minnesota (state.mn.us) What is Creeping Charlie?
Characterized by its bright green, round or kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, Creeping Charlie is a perennial herbaceous plant that spreads through both seeds and creeping stems which grow along the ground. Creeping Charlie is alternatively often referred to as ground ivy. In the spring, the plant showcases small, bluish-purple, funnel-shaped flowers. When crushed, Creeping Charlie emits a robust mint-like aroma. This weed thrives in moist, shady areas of your lawn. Is Creeping Charlie bad? Creeping Charlie is a broadleaf weed which spreads quickly in lawns. Unfortunately, just like other weeds, the spread of Creeping Charlie displaces and overtakes existing turf, compromising both the appearance and health of your lawn. How Can I Eradicate and Prevent Creeping Charlie? Maintaining a robust and healthy lawn through regular mowing, fertilizing, watering, and overseeding is of great importance when fighting off weeds such as Creeping Charlie. At West Metro Lawn & Snow, our 7 Step Fertilization and Weed Control program provides total broadleaf weed control, while utilizing both liquid fertilizer and premium slow-release granular fertilizer, to provide you with the healthiest, greenest, and most robust lawn possible. To learn more about our Fertilization and Weed Control program, visit the following link: https://www.westmetrolawnandsnow.com/fertilization.html Just like April showers bring May flowers… A warm winter brings more GRUBS! With an unseasonably warm winter season under our belts, the number of grubs that have survived through the winter months will be much higher than normal.
Typically, the cold and frost that penetrates the ground will kill a portion of the grubs between November and April. But when temperatures don’t dip as expected, these little friends stick around! Yikes! What does this mean for you? If your lawn is typically susceptible to grub damage, the effects on your lawn could be even worse this year. As a reminder, some of the telltale signs of a grub problem in your lawn are:
However, a single Grub Control application in late Spring / early Summer can save your lawn this summer! Be sure to request a Grub Control estimate on our website if you are concerned about grubs in your lawn. Pesticide Facts:
Pesticides are EVERYWHERE. The term "pesticide" often carries a negative connotation. Many individuals mistakenly equate pesticides with poisons. However, a pest is simply anything unwanted, and a pesticide is any substance that eradicates pests. Items like antibacterial soap, dishwasher detergent, and laundry soap technically qualify as toxic pesticides because they eliminate germs (germicides). Yet, when used properly, these items are safe! The same principle applies to products designed to safeguard plants. Just as soap manages harmful pathogens humans encounter, lawn care products control weeds, insects, and fungi that harm plants. The regulations, testing procedures, and certifications for the products we employ on your property are stringent. Initially, the EPA assesses them at the national level (the United States boasts one of the most rigorous registration processes globally). Subsequently, our state conducts its own tests to ensure their safety. No product capable of causing cancer in any mammal or polluting the environment is permissible for lawn application. For more information regarding pesticides, visit the National Pesticide Information Center: http://npic.orst.edu/faq/index.html Pesticides and PEOPLE. The Agricultural Health Study was created to investigate the connection between chemical exposures and health. From 1993 to 1997, 52,394 licensed private pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina, along with 32,345 of their spouses, participated in the study. The study indicated that pesticide applicators actually exhibit lower rates of many diseases when compared to the general population. There was no indication that licensed pesticide applicators experience higher rates of cancer or disease than the general population. The exception for this fact is regarding organophosphate insecticides & organochlorine chemicals categories, which West Metro Lawn & Snow does NOT use. Because your loved ones are exposed to far less pesticides than a licensed pesticide applicator, you can rest assured that they are safe to enjoy your beautiful lawn! Please note: West Metro Lawn & Snow’s Lawn Care Specialists and Operations Manager are licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicators. Commercial Pesticide Applicators take two or more closed book exams to first get their license. They are then required to take annual continuing education on the subjects of pesticide safety, environmental effects, and best application practices to maintain their certification. Learn more about the study here: https://aghealth.nih.gov/news/index.html Pesticides and PETS. Pesticides are often used directly on pets to control fleas and ticks. Always follow the directions on the label carefully. Again, when pesticides are used properly, they are safe! The same can be said for your pet’s interaction with pesticides used on your lawn. To maximize your pet’s safety, it is suggested to keep your pets off of the lawn until any liquid products have completely dried (typically within minutes of application). Pets may use the lawn immediately after a granular product is applied. Pesticides and FOOD. When utilized as directed on labels, pesticides like insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides shield crops from harmful insects, diseases, and weeds, ensuring the safety of food supplies. Under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandated to ensure that all pesticides utilized on food in the United States adhere to FQPA's rigorous safety standard. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a national pesticide residue monitoring program called the Pesticide Data Program (PDP). The PDP manages an extensive database encompassing sampling, testing, and reporting of pesticide residues on agricultural commodities within the U.S. food supply, with particular focus on foods frequently consumed by infants and children. Because of these programs, the food that we consume today is safer than ever before. Pesticides and PERSPECTIVE.
Lastly, it may be most helpful to gain some perspective on pesticides' relative "toxicity" in relation to other common products that many of us use each day! Glyphosate, the pesticide used in the "harshest" of lawn care products (Roundup), is considered relatively non-toxic when compared to Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Caffeine. |
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