[{"id":15,"name":"Grub Control","description":"<p>Grubs tend to feast on lawns in the late summer and early fall, causing extensive damage as they feed. If your turf is thinning and turning brown, you may be experiencing the repercussion of grubs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We can help you take back your lawn, whether you need to get rid of the grubs currently snacking on your grass or want to prevent future grub damage.<\/p>","slug":"grub-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?si=xHNG94_IeOiuiRpo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Grubs can be a major threat to your lawn. We provide specialized grub control services, to prevent and control these pests from damaging your lawn.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"11","icon_class_name":"grub-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:51:34","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Grub Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Stop present grubs from damaging your turf&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevent future grubs during their larval stage&nbsp;<\/li><li>Minimize the damage caused by skunks, raccoons, birds, voles and other animals that hunt for grubs&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Grub Control Work?<\/h2><p>If you live in an area that\u2019s affected by grubs, our team will apply a preventative application in the early spring and summer to control the larval stage of a range of insects.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For the yards that are already experiencing grub activity, we will treat your lawn in the late summer or early fall to control the grubs feeding on the roots of your grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Once the application has a chance to set in, you\u2019ll need to water your grass regularly to help the roots healthily grow and recover from damage. Over time, grub control will help you achieve a lush, green lawn.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-grub-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Grub Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Grub Control service is a cost-effective way to eliminate grubs in your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grub Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Grub Control service is a cost-effective way to eliminate grubs in your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grub-control"],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":28,"name":"Mosquito Program","description":"<p>If you\u2019re tired of do-it-yourself preventative measures and swatting at these pests, it\u2019s time to get true long-lasting relief and protection from mosquito activity. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mosquito Program is a multi-application approach that provides season-long protection so you can enjoy your yard without worry.&nbsp;<\/p>","slug":"mosquito-program","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PtQCPRL3YEw?si=THnzXtZt-jfijpOk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Get outside and enjoy your yard all season long. Our Mosquito Protection Program visits are timed to maintain a barrier around your yard to control mosquito activity throughout the season, leaving you free to spend more time in your yard.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"14","icon_class_name":"mosquito-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-04-29 16:44:41","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of the Mosquito Program?<\/h2><ul><li>Knocks down existing mosquitoes&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevents re-infestation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Long-lasting relief<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does the Mosquito Program Work?<\/h2><p>Our trained and licensed professional will assess the size, location and natural vegetation of your yard before applying the appropriate mosquito control product to your lawn and landscape. The application creates a barrier around your home to control mosquito activity and prevent re-infestation.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Relief after each application lasts up to 28 days and visits are timed to provide season long relief. You will be able to enjoy your mosquito-free outdoor space any time of day during the months these pests are active.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-mosquito-program-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Mosquito Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Mosquito Program is a cost-effective way to eliminate mosquitoes and keep them from returning. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mosquito Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Mosquito Program is a cost-effective way to eliminate mosquitoes and keep them from returning. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mosquito-program"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":17,"title":"Controlling Mosquitoes Around Your Home","description":"<p>One of the best ways to reduce mosquito populations around your home is eliminating standing water as that is the breeding ground for new generations. After an egg is laid in water, it takes anywhere from 4 to 14 days to go through four life stages before becoming an adult. The male will feed on the nectar of flowers, but the female immediately searches for a host from which to extract a blood meal. She can lay as many as 300 eggs at one time. Protecting yourself from mosquitoes starts with the elimination of breeding sites.<\/p><h3>Here are a few suggestions of places to look for standing water:<\/h3><ul><li>Regularly empty bird baths, fountains, plant pot dishes, pet water dishes, buckets, toys or any other location where water may accumulate.<\/li><li>Check gutters a day or so after it rains. Many gutters have low spots where water may collect, which is a prime location for mosquito breeding. Mosquito \u201cdunks\u201d, floating discs that contain mosquito control material, can be placed into the gutter if water collects there on a regular basis.<\/li><li>Empty water out of tire swings by drilling a hole at the bottom to serve as a drainage port.<\/li><li>Keep swimming pools and ornamental ponds clean and properly filtered. Empty kiddie pools regularly.<\/li><li>Check for cuts or holes in window and door screens and repair as necessary. Don\u2019t leave an outside door open as mosquitoes or other insect pests can enter your home.<\/li><li>Wheelbarrows and garden carts can easily collect water. Make sure these are left inside a shed or garage or prop upright to allow water to drain out.<\/li><li>Mow your lawn on a regular basis. Mosquitoes will seek out cool places during the day. Overly long grass makes a great hiding place.<\/li><\/ul><p>Check out these infographics about the <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/mosquito-infographic-life-cycle.jpg\">life cycle of a mosquito<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/mosquito-infographic-facts.jpg\">helpful mosquito facts<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/mosquito-infographic-prevention.jpg\">ways to prevent them<\/a>.<\/p><p>Controlling mosquitoes requires more than just a well-timed <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YkPjOOCsc-8\">treatment program<\/a>. Searching for and reducing sources of standing water will help to reduce mosquito populations around your outdoor environment.<\/p><p>Learn more about:<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/lawn-care-guide\/protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Protecting Yourself From Mosquito Bites<\/a><\/p>","topic":["4"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>One of the best ways of controlling mosquitoes around your home is eliminating standing water as that is the breeding ground for new generations.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mosquitos | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling mosquitos around your yard and home? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mosquitos | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling mosquitos around your yard and home? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2023-04-28 18:16:06","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home"],"url_override":""},{"id":16,"title":"Protecting Yourself From Mosquito Bites","description":"<p>Protecting yourself from mosquito bites can lessen the horrible itching associated with their bites and can reduce your chances of contracting several mosquito-borne illnesses, such as the Zika Virus, encephalitis, yellow fever, malaria, West Nile virus, or dengue fever. It is estimated that up to 2 million people may die each year from mosquito-borne illnesses, with malaria being the most common cause.<\/p><p>For personal protection, using a product that contains DEET is the most common recommendation. According to the Centers for Disease Control, other products that act as a repellant include, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products. They also caution to read and follow all label instructions. Since mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing, consider spaying your clothes as well, but no need to spray your skin under clothing that has already been sprayed with a repellant.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If possible, <strong>avoid being outside during peak mosquito-biting hours, which is basically from dusk to dawn.<\/strong> Mosquitoes are not the best fliers, so if you pick a site that is somewhat breezy to have your picnic during the summer, the less chance you have of being bothered by them. You can also use an electric fan and point it towards the ground, as most mosquitoes fly close to the ground to avoid the wind. Some people swear by the effectiveness of citronella candles or mosquito coils, but most experts agree that these methods of repelling mosquitoes are not that effective. Ultrasonic devices that \u201cmimic\u201d dragonflies and wristbands that contain DEET are also said to not be that effective. This product has to be directly on your skin to keep mosquitoes from biting.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The type of clothing you're wearing can have a positive effect on mosquito protection, except for the areas not covered. Tightly woven, synthetic fabrics like high-tech athletic fabrics do the best job of keeping mosquitoes from reaching your skin. Wearing light-colored clothing will also help to keep mosquitoes at bay. <strong>Mosquitoes are more attracted to contrasting colors than to the surrounding landscape while they are looking for a host.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mosquitoes have been on Earth for an estimated 135 million years, so completely eliminating them is not going to happen, but you can take steps to reduce the effect they can have on you, your family and friends. Consider a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YkPjOOCsc-8\">treatment program performed by a professional<\/a> in your effort to protect yourself from these pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about:<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Controlling Mosquitoes Around Your Home<\/a><\/p>","topic":["4"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Protecting yourself from mosquito bites can lessen the horrible itching associated with their bites and can reduce your chances of contracting several mosquito-borne illnesses.<\/p>","slug":"protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites","description2":"","seo_title":"Mosquito Bite Protection | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mosquito Bite Protection | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-20 19:51:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":6,"name":"Mosquito Treatment","description":"<p>Have more fun outdoors without being bothered by pesky mosquitoes. Our single-application Mosquito Treatment provides relief for up to 28 days so you can spend time in your yard without worrying or swatting.<\/p><p>This one-time application is perfect for outdoor parties, events and gatherings.<\/p>","slug":"mosquito-treatment","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PtQCPRL3YEw?si=THnzXtZt-jfijpOk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>This one-time application creates a barrier around your home to control mosquito activity, leaving you free to spend more time in your yard without extra worry.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"31","icon_class_name":"mosquito-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-04-29 16:45:13","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Mosquito Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Knocks down existing mosquitoes&nbsp;<\/li><li>Provides relief from mosquito activity for up to 28 days<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Mosquito Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our trained and licensed professional will assess the size, location and natural vegetation of your yard before applying the appropriate mosquito control product to your lawn and landscape. The application creates a barrier around your home to control mosquito activity and prevent re-infestation for up to 28 days.<\/p><p>You will have peace of mind and be able to enjoy your yard any time of day, for any occasion.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-mosquito-treatment-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Mosquito Treatment | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Mosquito Treatment is a one-time application to provide relief from these pervasive pests. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mosquito Treatment | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Mosquito Treatment is a one-time application to provide relief from these pervasive pests. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mosquito-treatment"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":17,"title":"Controlling Mosquitoes Around Your Home","description":"<p>One of the best ways to reduce mosquito populations around your home is eliminating standing water as that is the breeding ground for new generations. After an egg is laid in water, it takes anywhere from 4 to 14 days to go through four life stages before becoming an adult. The male will feed on the nectar of flowers, but the female immediately searches for a host from which to extract a blood meal. She can lay as many as 300 eggs at one time. Protecting yourself from mosquitoes starts with the elimination of breeding sites.<\/p><h3>Here are a few suggestions of places to look for standing water:<\/h3><ul><li>Regularly empty bird baths, fountains, plant pot dishes, pet water dishes, buckets, toys or any other location where water may accumulate.<\/li><li>Check gutters a day or so after it rains. Many gutters have low spots where water may collect, which is a prime location for mosquito breeding. Mosquito \u201cdunks\u201d, floating discs that contain mosquito control material, can be placed into the gutter if water collects there on a regular basis.<\/li><li>Empty water out of tire swings by drilling a hole at the bottom to serve as a drainage port.<\/li><li>Keep swimming pools and ornamental ponds clean and properly filtered. Empty kiddie pools regularly.<\/li><li>Check for cuts or holes in window and door screens and repair as necessary. Don\u2019t leave an outside door open as mosquitoes or other insect pests can enter your home.<\/li><li>Wheelbarrows and garden carts can easily collect water. Make sure these are left inside a shed or garage or prop upright to allow water to drain out.<\/li><li>Mow your lawn on a regular basis. Mosquitoes will seek out cool places during the day. Overly long grass makes a great hiding place.<\/li><\/ul><p>Check out these infographics about the <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/mosquito-infographic-life-cycle.jpg\">life cycle of a mosquito<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/mosquito-infographic-facts.jpg\">helpful mosquito facts<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/mosquito-infographic-prevention.jpg\">ways to prevent them<\/a>.<\/p><p>Controlling mosquitoes requires more than just a well-timed <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YkPjOOCsc-8\">treatment program<\/a>. Searching for and reducing sources of standing water will help to reduce mosquito populations around your outdoor environment.<\/p><p>Learn more about:<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/lawn-care-guide\/protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Protecting Yourself From Mosquito Bites<\/a><\/p>","topic":["4"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>One of the best ways of controlling mosquitoes around your home is eliminating standing water as that is the breeding ground for new generations.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mosquitos | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling mosquitos around your yard and home? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mosquitos | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling mosquitos around your yard and home? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2023-04-28 18:16:06","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home"],"url_override":""},{"id":16,"title":"Protecting Yourself From Mosquito Bites","description":"<p>Protecting yourself from mosquito bites can lessen the horrible itching associated with their bites and can reduce your chances of contracting several mosquito-borne illnesses, such as the Zika Virus, encephalitis, yellow fever, malaria, West Nile virus, or dengue fever. It is estimated that up to 2 million people may die each year from mosquito-borne illnesses, with malaria being the most common cause.<\/p><p>For personal protection, using a product that contains DEET is the most common recommendation. According to the Centers for Disease Control, other products that act as a repellant include, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products. They also caution to read and follow all label instructions. Since mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing, consider spaying your clothes as well, but no need to spray your skin under clothing that has already been sprayed with a repellant.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If possible, <strong>avoid being outside during peak mosquito-biting hours, which is basically from dusk to dawn.<\/strong> Mosquitoes are not the best fliers, so if you pick a site that is somewhat breezy to have your picnic during the summer, the less chance you have of being bothered by them. You can also use an electric fan and point it towards the ground, as most mosquitoes fly close to the ground to avoid the wind. Some people swear by the effectiveness of citronella candles or mosquito coils, but most experts agree that these methods of repelling mosquitoes are not that effective. Ultrasonic devices that \u201cmimic\u201d dragonflies and wristbands that contain DEET are also said to not be that effective. This product has to be directly on your skin to keep mosquitoes from biting.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The type of clothing you're wearing can have a positive effect on mosquito protection, except for the areas not covered. Tightly woven, synthetic fabrics like high-tech athletic fabrics do the best job of keeping mosquitoes from reaching your skin. Wearing light-colored clothing will also help to keep mosquitoes at bay. <strong>Mosquitoes are more attracted to contrasting colors than to the surrounding landscape while they are looking for a host.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mosquitoes have been on Earth for an estimated 135 million years, so completely eliminating them is not going to happen, but you can take steps to reduce the effect they can have on you, your family and friends. Consider a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YkPjOOCsc-8\">treatment program performed by a professional<\/a> in your effort to protect yourself from these pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about:<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-mosquitoes-around-your-home\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Controlling Mosquitoes Around Your Home<\/a><\/p>","topic":["4"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Protecting yourself from mosquito bites can lessen the horrible itching associated with their bites and can reduce your chances of contracting several mosquito-borne illnesses.<\/p>","slug":"protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites","description2":"","seo_title":"Mosquito Bite Protection | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mosquito Bite Protection | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-20 19:51:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["protecting-yourself-from-mosquito-bites"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":49,"name":"Seasonal Total Home Pest Control","description":"<p>The Seasonal Total Home Pest Control Program provides a pest-free environment in and around your home during peak pest season.<\/p><ul><li>Pest Protection from over 30 types of insect pests<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify pests' points of entry.<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal pest activity<\/li><li>Interior trapping and removal of mice and rats as needed<\/li><li>Licensed and Trained Pest Service Professional<\/li><li>Environmentally conscientious approach<\/li><li>Free service calls between visits<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of AR, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","slug":"seasonal-total-home-pest-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>We can help you solve your pest problems. The Seasonal Total Home Pest Control Program provides a pest-free environment in and around your home during peak pest season.<\/p><ul><li>Pest Protection from over 30 types of insect pests<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify pests' points of entry.<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal pest activity<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of KS, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"51","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2024-06-25 21:13:07","updated_at":"2025-10-06 20:43:55","description2":"<h2>How Does Seasonal Total Home Pest Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our Seasonal Total Home Pest Control Program is designed to keep your home pest-free March thru October. Coverage includes routine, automatic visits strategically spaced throughout the season along with access to unlimited, free service calls as needed upon request.<\/p><h3>Inspection<\/h3><p>Each visit includes a comprehensive exterior inspection by one of our trained and licensed pest professionals who will identify pest presence, assess pest activity levels, locate potential points of pest entry, and implement a customized pest control treatment approach.<\/p><h3>Tailored Plan<\/h3><p>Our team will develop and execute a tailored pest control plan designed to establish and maintain a pest-free environment outside your home so that pests never become a nuisance inside your home.<\/p><h3>Well Timed Visits<\/h3><p>Visits are strategically spaced for seasonal pest activity. Each visit includes a multi-step inspection and treatment process that targets established pest populations and prevents new ones from arising.<\/p><h3>Service Calls<\/h3><p>In the unlikely event covered pests persist between routine visits, we will come back to diagnose the problem and re-treat as necessary. Your coverage includes unlimited additional service calls at no additional cost.<\/p><h2>&nbsp;What Pests Will Be Eliminated?<\/h2><p>Total Home Pest Control Program provides protection against a broad spectrum of common household pests.<\/p><ul><li>Ants<\/li><li>Carpenter Ants<\/li><li>Spiders<\/li><li>German cockroaches<\/li><li>Brown banded cockroaches<\/li><li>Centipedes<\/li><li>Millipedes<\/li><li>Pillbugs<\/li><li>Crickets<\/li><li>Earwigs<\/li><li>Booklice<\/li><li>Beetles<\/li><li>Weevils<\/li><li>Flies<\/li><li>Drain Flies<\/li><li>Fruit Flies<\/li><li>Moths<\/li><li>Hornets<\/li><li>Wasps<\/li><li>Stink Bugs<\/li><li>Carpenter Bees<\/li><li>Boxelder Bugs<\/li><\/ul><p><br><\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-total-home-pest-600x600.webp","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seasonal-total-home-pest-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":["Rodent Reduction Program","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent & Vole Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":17,"name":"Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control","description":"<aside>Our professional tree maintenance and shrub care programs include specialized solutions for insect and disease control. Our trained tree care professionals have the knowledge and ability to diagnose and treat a variety of tree and shrub care problems.<\/aside>","slug":"tree-shrub-insect-disease-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Our trained tree care professionals have the knowledge and ability to diagnose and treat a variety of tree and shrub care problems.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"22","icon_class_name":"tree-and-shrub_and_insect-and-disease-control","benefit_results":[{"content":" "}],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:51:12","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Insect and Disease Control for Trees and Shrubs?<\/h2><ul><li>Protection from damaging insects<\/li><li>Protection against fungal leaf disease<\/li><li>Attractive and healthy landscape<\/li><li>Protection of your landscape investment<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Insect and Disease Control for Trees and Shrubs Work?<\/h2><p>Insect control treatments provide valuable shrub and tree care to help protect from a variety of damaging insects. Treatments are designed to prevent or curtail damage caused by sucking, chewing or boring insects.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Disease control treatments are available to combat several common leaf diseases. Treatments control fungal leaf disease damage on your trees and shrubs.<\/p><p>Treatment plans are tailored to the needs of your specific landscape. The result is a healthier, more attractive landscape and you will have the peace of mind that your landscape investment is protected.&nbsp;<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/tree-care\/service-tree-care-insect-disease-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control is a cost-effective way to protect the health of your landscape's ornamental plants. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control is a cost-effective way to protect the health of your landscape's ornamental plants. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-shrub-insect-disease-control"],"connected_tree_care_guides":[[{"id":9,"title":"Tree Maintenance Tips","description":"<h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\">How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs<\/a><\/h2><p>Like all living organisms, trees and shrubs need proper nutrients to live long, healthy lives. The proper fertilization methods can prevent against disease and insect invasion, helping to improve the health and beauty of your trees. Read more about <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\">fertilizing trees and shrubs<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\">How to Prevent Landscape Damage From Deer<\/a><\/h2><p>You have spent time and money preserving and beautifying your lawn and landscape in order to ensure a beautiful atmosphere around your home or business. However, some of those much loved plants may also be your local deer population\u2019s favorite food. The proper prevention plan can help keep deer from destroying lawn and plant life. Read more about how to prevent <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\">damage from deer<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\">The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape<\/a><\/h2><p>Placing mulch around the base of trees and shrubs can help improve the look and health of your landscape. In addition to facilitating tree and shrub care and growth, mulching can also be a tool to help with the overall maintenance and care of your lawn. Learn about <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\">mulch tips<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\">How to Make a Landscape Plan<\/a><\/h2><p>Taking care and maintaining your landscape involves a lot more than just planting various trees and shrubs. Knowing the layout of your land, the types of plants and trees that you would like to plant and how your soil and environment can affect them, and their care and maintenance are all important components in the process of planning your landscape. Read more about the essentials of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\">landscape planning<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape\/\">Tips for Properly Watering Plants in Your Landscape<\/a><\/h2><p>While watering is an essential part of landscape care for plants and shrubs, overwatering or saturating some types of plants can cause serious damage. Certain plants such as Yews are even more susceptible than others to complications caused by overwatering. Read about proper <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape\/\">landscape watering.<\/a><\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\">Tips on Maintaining Trees &amp; Avoiding Tree Damage<\/a><\/h2><p>There are various ways that trees can become injured. Inclement weather, tree staking, and repeated damage by mowers and trimmers can all have negative impacts on tree health and growth. Knowing how trees can be damaged, how to avoid damage, and what to do when you find damage is essential in proper tree care. Learn about how to prevent and repair <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\">tree damage<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips\/\">Tree Watering Tips<\/a><\/h2><p>The proper watering process for recently planted or established trees is an essential part of their growth and longevity. Proper tree care involves knowing when and how much to water as well as being able to recognize possible stresses that can come from over or under watering. Read more <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips\/\">tree watering tips.<\/a><\/p><h2>Caring for Your Trees and Shrubs - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VDmWCO9P6fc?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":false,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Like all living organisms, trees and shrubs need proper nutrients to live long, healthy lives. The proper maintenance methods can prevent against disease and insect invasion, helping to improve the health and beauty of your trees.<\/p>","slug":"tree-maintenance-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Tree Maintenance Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about proper maintenance for the trees in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"noindex","meta_robots_follow":"nofollow","social_title":"Tree Maintenance Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about proper maintenance for the trees in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:38:10","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-maintenance-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":4,"title":"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape","description":"<p>A lot of homeowners think of mulch as strictly cosmetic, just something to make the place look good. And it\u2019s true that mulch around the base of trees and shrubs does improve property appearance. But there's so much more that mulch can contribute to your landscape. It makes lawn and tree maintenance a whole lot easier, and provides other yard care benefits that are underground and out of sight.<\/p><h3>Managing Soil Temperatures For Better Tree Growth<\/h3><p>Proper use of mulch is an essential <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> technique. Tree roots are sensitive to high summer temperatures. When the surface soil reaches 100 to 108 degrees, or more (which it can during hot weather), most tree roots begin to die. Temperatures that high simply kill the roots. Unfortunately, this happens in the upper area of the soil (the top 5 to 6''), which is usually the most fertile. A 3'' layer of mulch can reduce soil temperatures by as much as 10 degrees, maintaining a healthy growth environment for the roots, and letting them grow actively in the upper soil.<\/p><h3>There Are Other Yard Care Benefits, Too<\/h3><p>Mulched soil retains moisture much better than bare soil can around your trees. This means watering less and reducing the chance of water stress on the trees. Mulch cuts down soil erosion, or wash-out, around trees. It reduces soil compaction, and can improve soil structure as the mulch breaks down. Mulched barriers around trees keep mowers and trimmers from causing mechanical damage to the trees.<\/p><h3>Many Materials Available As Mulch<\/h3><p>Mulches are either organic or inorganic. Organic choices include bark chips and shredded bark (of which there are many kinds commercially available); wood shavings; sawdust; peat moss; cocoa hulls (a great smelling choice if you like chocolate!); straw or pine straw; rice hulls or crushed corn cobs; and yard waste like leaves, grass and twigs. Those in the yard waste group are not widely used because they usually don't improve property appearance as much as the commercially produced mulches. Inorganic mulches include gravel (or crushed rock), a variety of sheet materials (like plastic), and several types of shredded rubber or tires. Of the commercially produced mulches, costs vary greatly depending on the area of the country, but overall, wood and bark products are the most common and economical.<\/p><h3>A Couple Of Quick Pointers On Mulching<\/h3><p>If you mulch in the fall, wait until the first really cold snap is over before tackling this lawn and tree care step. By then, most ground-burrowing rodents have settled themselves for the winter. If you mulch earlier they may decide to move into your beds. You should keep mulch from piling up around the trunk. Don't keep adding to the top of the pile each year, as this can cause rot, disease, and insect problems at the base. Apply mulch 2 to 5'' deep after removing grass and weeds, and cultivating the soil.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Mulch reduces soil temperature as much as 10 degrees \u2014 enough to make a difference between supporting or killing tiny feeder roots near the surface.<\/li><li>Mulch applied around your trees each year reduces water stress, weeds, and damage to trees.<\/li><li>Many materials work well as mulch, with wood products being the most common.<\/li><li>Don't mulch in early fall, preventing mice and ground squirrels from nesting in beds.<\/li><\/ul><p>So, besides helping the place put on a happy face, Spring Green suggests mulching every year as part of your yard maintenance plan for all the good health it delivers. Combine mulching with time-tested techniques like <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a> to keep your lawn healthy and happy for years to come.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mulch adds so much value to your landscape, and not just in looks. Learn about all the great benefits mulch adds to your yard.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-using-mulch-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Benefits of Mulch | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using mulch as part of your landscaping efforts? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Benefits of Mulch | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using mulch as part of your landscaping efforts? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:24:49","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-using-mulch-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":6,"title":"Tips for Properly Watering Your Landscape","description":"<p>Standing in water all day long is not fun, unless it is on some sunny beach in a warm climate. Even then, you would get out every so often to dry off. Everyone has experienced 'pruning' of the feet or hands; when they become wrinkled after being in the water for a long time. The condition can get worse if the moisture is held in by boots or gloves. Trench foot, foot fungus, and other maladies will accompany wet, soggy situations.<\/p><h2>Too Much Water?<\/h2><p>Well, the same thing can happen to many landscape plants. One plant that is especially susceptible to this condition is the Yew. The Yew is a shrub, or small tree, that is often formally sheared into a globe, pyramid, or hedge shape. It is one of the most popular shrubs in landscapes. It will grow well in moderate shade or full sun. Yews prefer sandy, well-drained soils that are not heavy or compacted. When the soils become waterlogged, Yews will often become infected with several root rot <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">diseases<\/a>. Phytophthora and Armillaria are two varieties of root rot diseases that will infect Yews.<\/p><h2>Risks of Saturated Soil<\/h2><p>Oxygen availability is reduced anytime soils become saturated. The water fills the spaces between the soil particles and the plants suffer. Proper planting and site location is very critical when planting Yews. Choose a location that is not in a low area or next to a gutter down spout. If the area is prone to flooding, choose another plant. Many people will dig a hole that is just larger than the root ball. This will not allow for good root growth. It is better to dig the hole twice as large in diameter as the root ball and one and a half times as deep as the length. Adding yard care soil amendments, such as peat moss, is usually not required. It is better to reuse the same soil that came out of the hole. Break it up so that it is easy to replace. The top of the root ball should be at grade level or slightly above grade. Make a circular mound about 3 to 4\u201d high around the perimeter of the hole. As the soil settles, the mound will settle into the hole. The saucer-shaped ring will also help retain water to aid to the establishment of the new plant.<\/p><h2>Landscape Services<\/h2><p>Yews are attractive plants that come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and growth habits. They will live a long time, provided they are planted correctly and in a good location. Talk with your landscaper, garden center manager, or county extension service for recommendations of varieties that are best suited for your area. Your friendly neighborhood Spring Green expert can help you with further <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> and expertise, as well.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs <\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Knowing how much to water your plants can sometimes be tough to determine. Here are some tips on how to keep your landscape quenched and not drowning.<\/p>","slug":"tips-properly-watering-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Proper Landscape Watering | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to water your lawn and landscape elements properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Proper Landscape Watering | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to water your lawn and landscape elements properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:44:05","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tips-properly-watering-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":5,"title":"How to Make a Landscape Plan","description":"<h1><strong>Landscape Planning Essentials<\/strong><\/h1><p>Landscaping is an art form. It requires planning, knowledge, and hard work. It entails a whole lot more to <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree and shrub care<\/a> than going to the local nursery, picking a couple of plants that look nice, digging some holes, and calling it a job done. Before you start a landscape project, you need to answer some basic questions that will help you pick the right plant and put it in the right place.<\/p><h2>Starting Your Landscape Plan<\/h2><p>First, you need to decide the basic layout and space available for the trees and shrubs you are going to buy. Take a survey of your property and make a drawing of the shape of your property. Draw in the location of your house, driveway, sidewalks, and any other permanent structures. It is a good idea to try to determine the slope of your property and note any areas of your yard that may be influenced by surrounding structures or plants. An example of this would be the amount of shade coming from a neighbor's trees. Sketch some ideas on paper to get an idea where you may want to add new plants, or replace old ones. On the layout, it would be a good idea to pencil in the location of the windows on your house; determine the distance from the window to the ground level; and write it underneath each window sketched. This information will be useful when choosing foundation plants.<\/p><h2>Picking Landscape Plants<\/h2><p>Second, you need to decide why you are planting what you are planting. Is it going to be a focal point of the entire landscape, or is it going to be used to fill in an open space? Are you purchasing it for its beauty and looks, or will it be functional, such as a border or hedge, or both? Do some research by looking at landscape guides, garden magazines, or by visiting a local nursery or garden center. It is important to know the ultimate height and\/or width of the trees and shrubs you are considering. One common mistake that many do-it-yourselfers make is putting too many plants in too small of a place. Another common mistake is not considering the height or width of the plant. If the window is 3 feet from the ground and the plant you purchase will grow to 10 feet, there will be a shrub care problem in a very short time. The same holds true when placing plants next to a door. If the plant will grow to a width of 8 feet and it is planted 2 feet from the front door, then it may soon become difficult to find the door. It can be deceiving when you go to purchase a plant that is only 24\u201c wide and try to envision it at its full size. It is important to keep this in mind, or you may be redoing your landscape every 10 years, or so.<\/p><h2>Placing Landscape Plants<\/h2><p>The third consideration is the placement of the plants in relationship to the growing and maintenance conditions of the planting site and the growing requirements of the plant itself. An example of this is putting shade loving plants in shady yard areas and sun-loving plants in sunny yard areas. Remember to consider the potential size of the surrounding plants. Finally, consider the aesthetic value and appeal of the plants you are choosing. You need to decide what looks good to you. You could hire a landscape architect to make many of the decisions for you and offer suggestions for plant selections. Those services will cost extra money, but it may be worth it if you are at your wit's end deciding which plants to choose.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/how-to-make-a-landscape-plan-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>In need of a spectacular landscape, but don't know where to start? Read about the essentials of landscape planning.<\/p>","slug":"how-to-make-a-landscape-plan","description2":"","seo_title":"Making a Landscape Plan | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to make a landscaping plan for your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Making a Landscape Plan | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to make a landscaping plan for your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:33:28","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["how-to-make-a-landscape-plan"],"url_override":""},{"id":7,"title":"Tree Watering Tips","description":"<h3><strong>Water - Nothing lives without it.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your trees are no exception. Because larger trees show stress symptoms slowly, a lot of homeowners completely overlook maintaining the water needs of the most valuable landscape investment they own. Proper, consistent watering is crucial to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree maintenance<\/a> strategy. Attractive and healthy trees need enough water at the right times. Your trees pull water from the soil and lose most of it through tiny pores in the leaves by evaporation (or transpiration). Since most tree roots are located in the top 3 feet of the soil, they can (and do) suffer during periods of extended drought. Deeper roots can supply some of the plant\u2019s water needs during dry spells. Water stress is still a major maintenance concern with both recent transplants and established trees.<\/p><h3>Starting them right:<\/h3><h3>Watering recently planted trees<\/h3><p>Most garden centers water their trees a lot, even daily to keep them looking their best for customers. So, you should always consider the shock a new environment has on the tree's system and help it along with plenty of <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> and watering until its roots get firmly established. If you planted the new tree right, there is a transition zone of loose soil between the planting ball and the native soil of your property. At first, you need to provide extra water to the ball, while keeping plenty of water in the transition soil. To do this, build two shallow dikes or ridges 4 to 5'' high around the base of the tree: one slightly smaller than the root ball and the other about 30'' in diameter. For the first 2 to 3 weeks, water the inner circle every 1 to 3 days to assure the root ball has enough moisture. After the roots have penetrated the transition zone (4 to 6 weeks), you can knock down the inner dike. During this early phase, the outer ring will need less water, but do keep it moist.<\/p><h3>Watering Established Trees<\/h3><p>Established trees show water stress more slowly, but signs include wilting, change in leaf color, and premature leaf drop. The most important goal is to get as much of the water as possible to the roots of the tree. To accomplish this, eliminate runoff (don't apply water faster than the soil can absorb it); keep the water inside the drip line of the tree; and apply the water evenly across the whole area. Whether old plantings or new, when you give your trees the care they need through regular watering and maintenance, they give you beauty and growth in return.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Watering for tree maintenance is often overlooked because they show signs of stress very slowly.<\/li><li>Garden centers tend to water heavily.<\/li><li>Water new transplants heavily until the tree adapts to its new environment.<\/li><li>A double dike system around new plantings will help get water where it\u2019s needed during establishment.<\/li><li>Older trees need water too.<\/li><li>Watch for signs of stress and provide the water needed to keep them healthy through drought periods<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; For more information on proper tree care, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re here to help you have the most beautiful lawn and landscape possible. We have many other resources regarding <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">proper lawn watering techniques<\/a> here on our site, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Larger trees show water stress very slowly, so it tends to be an often overlooked part of tree maintenance. Learn the steps of proper watering practices.<\/p>","slug":"tree-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Tree Watering Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to water the trees in your yard properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Tree Watering Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to water the trees in your yard properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:37:53","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage","description":"<p>We've all seen trees gashed by car bumpers, and limbs blown off in storms, but these are just a couple of the many ways trees get injured. Others include chafing, scrapes, and cuts from lawn mowers being pushed into the lower trunks, or by improper staking; line trimmers cutting away bark week after week; rubbing away of the bark caused by touching branches; and improper pruning. All of these things create injuries, similar to a person being cut by a dull knife. If you get too many such cuts, you're going to be in serious trouble from infection, or loss of blood. Trees react in much the same way, so it\u2019s important to avoid damage, if possible, and to provide proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> when it occurs.<\/p><h3><strong>Repeated Abuse Is The Worst<\/strong><\/h3><p>Of all the damaging things we've listed, the worst may be the repeated damage from lawn mowers and trimmers. When grass grows right up to a tree, the base of that tree is nearly guaranteed to take some direct hits by mowers, trimmers, or both. What makes it all worse is that it continues week after week, compounding the injuries over time. A simple and effective tree maintenance fix is a border of mulch around the base of your trees. This makes mowing a lot easier and protects the trees at the same time. You can read more about proper mowing techniques on our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> page.<\/p><h3><strong>Avoid Staking Trees When Possible<\/strong><\/h3><p>Staking of trees should always be avoided when possible (to encourage stronger growth), but if needed, should be done right. Don't stake by tying stakes directly to the tree; avoid tightly binding straps; and remove all stakes as soon as the tree can stand on its own.<\/p><h3><strong>Proper Pruning<\/strong><\/h3><p>When pruning, make sure all cuts are clean, and keep heavier branches from ripping when your saw is 2\/3 of the way through by doing an initial cut from the bottom. As part of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree maintenance<\/a>, remove one of each pair of branches that are rubbing and chafing against each other.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Discover Damage<\/strong><\/h3><p>When you do discover damage, it\u2019s important to clean the wound. All tree injuries provide entry points for disease and insects, while interrupting the flow of water, food, and nutrients between the roots and the leaves. Removing any loose bark and brushing out any dirt that is lodged in the wound will expose the damaged area to sunlight, air, and promote healing. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Fertilization<\/a> helps speed up recovery from damage and general plant health.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Mechanical damage causes wounds that allow entry of diseases and insects into the soft tree wood.<\/li><li>Mulch all lawn trees to eliminate mower and trimmer damage.<\/li><li>Dress all wounds to promote fast healing and reduce disease or insect problems.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp;We want to help you protect all of your landscape investment through effective lawn and tree care. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green anytime you have questions about your lawn and tree care.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-trees-avoiding-tree-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Whether it's a car bumper or a lawn mower, our trees can take a heavy beating. Make sure you protect them to the best of your abilities with these steps.<\/p>","slug":"tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Maintaining Damaged Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to maintain and treat damaged trees? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Maintaining Damaged Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to maintain and treat damaged trees? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:34:47","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":16,"title":"How to Fertilize Trees & Shrubs","description":"<p><strong>All living things need nourishment, and trees and shrubs have a big appetite.<\/strong> It\u2019s true, large, well-established, and healthy trees may not need much supplemental feeding, but fertilizing smaller trees and shrubs will pay you big dividends in return for your feeding investment during their first several years on your property. Your payback will include better resistance to disease and insects, improved flowering, and a quicker establishment than similar plants denied regular fertilization. At Spring-Green, our <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree and shrub care<\/a> experts help you master the art of fertilization. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you're fertilizing the trees and shrubs in your own lawn: <strong>Tip #1: Give your plants a balanced diet.<\/strong> The primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are all used by your trees in different ways.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Nitrogen encourages fast trunk and branch growth, and the production of healthy and dark green leaves.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Phosphorus stimulates vigorous root growth (which makes it especially beneficial to recently planted trees and shrubs).<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Phosphorus also promotes flower bud formation and increases resistance to cold.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Potassium makes the trees stronger, helping them to withstand wind and ice breakage as well as <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">diseases<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Iron is often added to fertilizers for trees to unlock the other nutrients, or make them more available to the plant.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Micro-nutrients, like iron, are needed in some soils and for some types of plants that are prone to specific deficiencies. <strong>Tip #2: Make sure the feeder roots of your trees have access to the fertilizer.<\/strong><a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Fertilizing trees<\/a> should put the nutrients within reach of the feeder roots. This means feeding an area that reaches from about 1\/3 of the distance from the tree trunk to the drip line (on the inside), to a spot about the same distance outside the drip line. Fertilizer needs to be placed into holes that are about 6 to 12'' deep throughout this area. For good distribution, you may need up to 10 feeding holes per inch of trunk diameter throughout the target area (a tree 5'' across may need 50 or so holes in the feeding zone). That's a lot of holes, but it assures that the fertilizer will be evenly available to the tree. <strong>Tip #3: Apply fertilizer to trees early enough to withstand cold weather conditions.<\/strong> Trees can be fertilized anytime between when the sap goes down in fall or winter until about mid-July (at the latest). Fertilizing trees between July and fall stimulates late growth that gets no chance to harden off and is more susceptible to damage from winter cold and winds. Early spring is probably the ideal feeding time, but with slow release materials, any time during the window will give excellent results. Newly planted trees and shrubs benefit the most from regular fertilizing during their first 5 years in the landscape. In establishment, growth, and flowering, there is just no comparison between plants that are fed and those left to go it alone. <strong>Things to remember when fertilizing trees and shrubs:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Feeding of recent transplants during the first 5 years helps plants mature quickly.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Balanced fertility is important. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium each perform distinct functions in your landscape plants.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Don't fertilize trees between July 15th and September 30 after trees start dormancy or resting periods.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>If you would like to see your landscape investment start paying better dividends to you through regular shrub and tree maintenance, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green. We know trees and have solutions that work, in addition to our years of lawn care service experience for the rest of your yard.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage 101<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Trees and shrubs are the essential ingredients to a beautiful landscape. Read more to find out exactly how to help your plants reach their potential.<\/p>","slug":"fertilize-trees-shrubs","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Fertilize Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to fertilize your trees and shrubs? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Fertilize Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to fertilize your trees and shrubs? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:33:05","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilize-trees-shrubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Binomial Nomenclature - Plant Identification","description":"<p>Carl Linnaeus was an eighteenth century botanist who introduced the world to a method of naming plants called the binomial nomenclature system. Before his system, many grass and plants had very lengthy descriptions in Latin that were sentences long. His idea was to give each plant two Latin names that would make it easy to identify them. Latin was used as a standard so that botanists around the world would be able to communicate about the same plant that often had several names. For example, the dandelion is also known as Blow Ball, Lion's Tooth, Peasant's Cloak, Yellow Gowan, Priest's Crown, Irish Daisy and Monk's Head, to name just a few. Therefore, it makes a botanist's life simpler to use the Latin name, Taraxacum officinale, when discussing the dandelion with someone outside of his area.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Rumex acetosella L., means \"little vinegar plant\".<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Carl Linnaeus' system used descriptive Latin words to name plants. Sheep Sorrel (or Red Sorrel, Field Sorrel, Sour Weed, Red-topped Sorrel, Cow Sorrel, Sour Leek, Horse Sorrel, Gentleman's Sorrel, Toad Sorrel, or just plain Sorrel) is a good indicator plant for acid or sour soil. The Latin name, Rumex acetosella L., means \"little vinegar plant\", which is more descriptive than any of the common names. Some plants are called the same thing, as is the case with wild onion and wild garlic. These names are often interchanged, depending on where they are growing.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Lawn care customers will use all sorts of names for the same plant. \"Water grass\" is freely used to describe all sorts of weedy grasses. Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, and Creeping Crude are used to describe a variety of different weeds. All thistles are \"sticker bushes\" and all plants with three leaves are clover \u2014 although they may be clover, or Black Medic, or Oxalis.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Many weeds in the U.S. were imported from Europe or Asia.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Many of the weeds we contend with in the U.S. were imported from Europe or Asia. They were originally brought here to serve a purpose, such as a ground cover. Such is the case with Ground Ivy (or Gill-Over-The-Ground, Haymaids, Tunoff, Hedgemaids, Lizzy-Run-Up-The-Hedge, Cat's Foot, Gill-Go-By-The-Hedge, Robin-Run-In-The-Hedge, or Creeping Charlie). The Latin name, Nepeta hederacea L. means ivy-like plant from Nepeta. The \"L\" at the end indicates that our friend, Carl Linnaeus, named it. It was initially brought to this country as a plant that would quickly fill in a bare area and keep down dust and dirt. If you have ever had the experience of trying to rid your lawn of this troublesome weed, you know how well it does its job.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring Green helps customers control these wild weeds with our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control services<\/a>. The binomial nomenclature system makes it easier for the botanist to communicate. Since we are not all botanists, we will struggle to communicate our displeasure of having Smart Weed (or Water Pepper, Pepper Plant, Biting Persicaria, Biting Knotweed, Red Knees, or Red Shanks) in our lawn or garden. Then again, some of the common names are somewhat cute, like Robin-Run-In-The-Hedge instead of Nepeta hederacea L. And one thing is for certain; it is a lot easier to pronounce. Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/flower-care\/\">Flower and Garden Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter\/\">Winter Landscapes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Ever wonder how plants get their names? Learn more!<\/p>","slug":"binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification","description2":"","seo_title":"Plant Identification | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what type of plants are in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to learn about properly identifying plants!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Plant Identification | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what type of plants are in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to learn about properly identifying plants!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:25:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer","description":"<p>It has been your life long dream, a house in the country away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. A place where the air is clean, the soil is fertile, and \"\u2026where the deer and the antelope play.\" But, have you ever thought about the feeding habits of those deer and antelope? You spend a good amount of time and money investing in <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn care services<\/a> and making your landscape beautiful, only to find that the plants you chose seem to be the favorite \"snacks\" of the local deer population.<\/p><h2>Yard Damage &amp; Deer<\/h2><p>At the turn of the century, there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. The most recent estimate is that their population has grown to over 25 million \u2014 a 5,000% increase! The farming industry and homeowners will lose close to a billion dollars as the result of damage caused by deer. Nature has always kept animal populations in check, but the suburban environment has disrupted the natural check and balance systems. The deer have had an opportunity to grow unchecked, and have become a nuisance in many communities. Deer feed on many plants and trees commonly found in the yard. They love strawberries, many vegetables, flowers, and the tender tips of young trees. They will, also, damage trees by rubbing their antlers against them. They have been known to dig up a lawn in search of grubs, the fall favorite of many forest animals. Keeping them from doing what comes naturally, foraging for food, can be arduous. This is especially true during long snowy winters when food supplies are scarce. Most home landscapes and yard are \"easy pickings\" for a hungry deer. They see it as an easily accessible buffet of culinary delights, much to your chagrin. You can either plant less of their favorite foods, or try to control their feeding habits.<\/p><h2>Preventing Lawn Damage by Deer<\/h2><p>There are several commercial and home-remedy yard care products available to help reduce their feeding on valuable plants and trees. Many are short-lived, and once the deer become accustomed to the odor or taste, they may become ineffective. It is best to change products, or methods, on a regular basis. Some of the home remedies are:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Hang a bar of soap in a mesh bag from a tree. Fragrant soaps such as Lifebuoy, Irish Spring, and Dial seem to work the best. If there are several trees to protect, use hotel-size bars, or cut the larger bars into several pieces. Tie the bags to the ends of the branches so that any soap that drips off during a rain or snowstorm will not drip onto the trunk. There have been some reports that rabbits will gnaw on the soap residue.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Human or dog hair can also be placed in mesh bags or nylons and hung from tree branches.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Baby powder, blood meal, or bone meal will also provide some resistance to their feeding, but these will require continued, repeated applications.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>There are numerous animal repellent products available. A simple web search on the key words 'Deer Repellent Products' will provide you with a wide range of choices. Deer are beautiful, serene creatures and are fascinating to watch. Keeping them away from your landscape plants can be a frustrating and seemingly hopeless task. It is the price you have to pay for <em>'living in the country'<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>We love deer. We just don't love them making dinner out of our bushes. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keep those beautiful creatures out of your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"prevent-landscape-damage-deer","description2":"","seo_title":"Yard Damage From Deer | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to repair and prevent yard damage from deer? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Yard Damage From Deer | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to repair and prevent yard damage from deer? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:44:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prevent-landscape-damage-deer"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"tree_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":["2-Step Tree Program","Root Feeding"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":21,"name":"Moss Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Are you tired of&nbsp;seeing moss&nbsp;on&nbsp;your lawn where grass should be?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Moss is one of nature\u2019s ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Unlike other lawn diseases, moss doesn\u2019t drive out healthy grass, but instead it quietly fills in the spaces where your turf is thin or unable able to grow.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">With the right treatment,&nbsp;you can get rid of the moss growing in your yard so&nbsp;your lawn can become plush,&nbsp;thick&nbsp;and green.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"moss-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wEbJLGRlWqo?si=8zhE6WXFNhKVjf7p\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Moss growth tells us that the growing conditions are poor for your grass. Our experts have the proper knowledge to remove it and give your lawn what it needs to thrive.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"15","icon_class_name":"moss-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Mushrooms","description":"<p>When the temperatures rise and there has been an abundance of rain or supplemental irrigation.&nbsp; Mushrooms come in all shapes and colors.&nbsp; For the most part, mushrooms are a good thing as they are a sign that there is plenty of activity going on in the soil food web below the ground. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that feed on organic material that exists in the soil, providing nutrients to other microorganism as well as to the roots of landscapes plants and to the turf. There are a lot of fungi varieties that can cause problems in lawns. Mushrooms are among the most visible, but least harmful of lawn fungi. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-ring\/\" title=\"Fairy Ring\">Fairy rings<\/a> are caused by up to 50 different types of fungi and create expanding rings in turf. Although fairy rings and mushrooms are not harmful, they are unslightly for some people. Here are a few facts about mushrooms and how to help control them on your lawn.<\/p><h3><strong>Mushrooms Don't Harm Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p><img class=\"size-full wp-image-7173 alignright fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp\" alt=\"mushrooms growing in a yard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mushrooms are caused by a large number of different fungi, and the good news is they won't cause lawn diseases. They are sensitive to moisture and normally appear during periods of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures or on very heavily irrigated turf. Mushrooms feed on decaying organic material on the lawn in the thatch or soil, and do not attack living grass plants. Shallow dead tree roots, construction debris, or heavy thatch on the lawn can become the \"host\" that mushrooms feed upon. In almost all cases, mushrooms will disappear when lawn moisture levels return to normal and regular mowing will help get rid of these unsightly fungi. Some of the fungi that cause mushrooms are sensitive to fungicides. Usually fungicides will only help prevent further mushrooms from developing and not kill the current ones. Because of this, we normally advise that attempting to remove mushrooms chemically is not really feasible. It's also a good idea to determine what kind of mushrooms your lawn is developing or spotting types of mushrooms in your neighborhood area. Although mushrooms don't affect your turf, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">mushrooms are toxic for pets<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How To Control Mushrooms In Your Lawn<\/strong> To control mushrooms on the lawn, we recommend keeping the soil open and reduce water frequency for the time being. Make sure you're following <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Watering-Facts-and-Best-Practices.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best watering practices<\/a> to avoid over watering your lawn (over watering leads to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Brown Patch<\/a>). Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> helps keep the soil open and allows more air, nutrients and water to reach the root zone for healthy, thick grass. These tips will generally help control mushrooms, and prevent new mushrooms from emerging on the lawn. Mushrooms don't last a long time once they surface and will usually decompose in a couple of days. &nbsp;There are no products that will keep mushrooms from growing in a lawn or landscape bed. They can be hand-picked and thrown away, but it is a good idea to wear gloves when doing so as some mushrooms are poisonous. &nbsp;Normally mowing will also remove those mushrooms that grow taller than the turf. They can also be kicked over or they can be a way to improve your golf swing.<\/p><h3>Partnering With Spring-Green For a Healthy Lawn<\/h3><p>Having a healthy lawn is the result of a continuous process. And in the process of creating great conditions for growing grass, the very best results come when you and Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> work together as partners. If mushrooms are growing in a circle within a lawn or are growing within a darker green circle of arc, this could be a sign of a disease called Fairy Ring. If mushrooms are growing in this type of pattern, call your Neighborhood Lawn Care Professional to inspect your lawn. They will provide the best recommendations to reduce the severity of this disease, which usually involves yearly core aeration on the lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread\/\" title=\"Red Thread\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:50:35","excerpt":"<p>There are a lot of fungus varieties that can cause problems in turf grass. Mushrooms are among the most visible but least harmful of lawn fungi.<\/p>","slug":"mushrooms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mushrooms"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Rust Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust. Not the same kind you'd find on your metal patio furniture, or your car, of course. But one that can be just as destructive. Rust is a fairly common lawn disease caused by fungus. It usually shows up from mid-summer through late fall, once the growth of your grass has slowed. But rust can also appear any time your turf is under stress, like after extended dry periods. Rust spores are tiny and very light weight. They can be carried long distances by the wind, which means that even the best kept lawns can be infected. Usually, grasses with a fine texture and deep color, like perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, are the most likely victims of rust lawn disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Recognizing Rust<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust usually takes hold in shaded areas first, during warm, humid weather. Any grass that remains wet for long periods of time, because of too much watering, lingering dew or poor drainage, could find itself rusting away. The fungi symptoms of this lawn disease begin as tiny yellow spots on the grass blades. These spots become elongated and eventually rupture into clusters of rust-orange spores that give the disease its name. When touched, the powdery, dust-like rust spores leave a color a lot like the fine particles of rust from metal.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_DMpX2lNsF4?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>Treating Rust Through Lawn Fertilization And Mowing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust that is not treated can quickly thin and destroy good turf, and it is especially dangerous to new seed. Once rust is established, a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer works better than lawn disease controls for treating the condition. By mowing more frequently, at a higher mower height, you can also help to remove the rust spores before they spread to other leaves.<\/p><h3><strong>Prevention is the Best Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>, eliminating the conditions that cause rust is the best lawn treatment. Your lawn service professionals at Spring-Green want to make sure your grass remains healthy and beautiful this season. By working together, we can develop a maintenance <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service&nbsp;<\/a> plan to keep your lawn as disease-free as possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/rust-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:54:19","excerpt":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust.<\/p>","slug":"rust-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rust-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Dollar Spot","description":"<p>Dollar spot is not a picky parasite; this <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> infects and kills a lot of different grasses. True to its name, dollar spot develops small, distinct circles from 1 to 6'' across, about the size of a silver dollar or a small pancake. Because these spots don't look very serious individually, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. But because dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, serious scarring of the lawn can occur.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Might Start Seeing Spots:<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus survives the winter as dormant mycelium (or fungal growth) in plant parts in the thatch and soil. When temperatures get into the 60s, the lawn disease starts growing again. The peak of disease activity occurs when temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees. Other factors that trigger development of dollar spot lawn disease include low soil moisture when the humidity is high; low nitrogen fertility; too much thatch on the lawn; and mowing too short during hot weather. Lawns not on a quality program that provides the correct blend of fertilizers, or that don't get properly watered or mowed are most likely to catch a case of dollar spot.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: How You Can Spot It<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are two easy ways to identify dollar spot lawn disease on turf. The first is the shape and size of the damaged areas. The individual spots are usually very circular and distinct, and grow to only a few inches in diameter. Another symptom that's easy to recognize are the lesions (or infection marks) on the individual grass blades. Dollar spot lawn disease causes an hour-glass shaped band to form across the width of the grass blade. This band is light tan and has a reddish-brown edge on the top and bottom. Being a very thorough fungus, dollar spot kills the entire grass plant. After a serious bout with dollar spot, lawn renovation or reseeding will almost always be required once the disease is brought under control.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: See Spot Run \u2014 Out Of Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p>Remember your first grade reader? See Spot run. Run Spot, run. You can help make dollar spot run from your lawn. Watering right is your department. Spring-Green can take care of the rest. Since grass diseases such as dollar spot favor turf with low soil moisture, it's important to saturate the soil regularly. But, because one of the ways this lawn disease moves is by water droplets splashing, it\u2019s best to avoid frequent late afternoon or evening watering. Always allow the grass to dry out before evening. Low nitrogen fertility (which pushes disease growth) should also be corrected with the correct combinations of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> during periods of disease activity. The very best prevention for dollar spot (as well as almost all types of lawn diseases) is the Spring-Green program and regular, deep watering.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Dollar spot lawn disease appears as silver dollar sized circles in the turf.<\/li><li>Low nitrogen fertility increases dollar spot activity, as does low soil moisture.<\/li><li>Dollar spot can be more serious than it may first appear because the lawn disease kills the entire grass plant, often requiring reseeding.<\/li><li>Grass diseases move by foot and equipment traffic and by water from irrigation, rain and dew.<\/li><\/ul><p>Treatments with a fungicide can be effective, so if you suspect this disease is what's making you see spots, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green right away.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/dollar-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:59:24","excerpt":"<p>Dollar spot doesn't look very serious individually so it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. Dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, causing serious damage.<\/p>","slug":"dollar-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["dollar-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":64,"title":"How to Identify Slime Mold on Grass","description":"<p>Picture this: As you work through your lawn, you notice a little patch of grayish growth. When you inspect it closely, you notice it resembles ash that has been sprinkled on the grass blades. When you touch it, a small cloud of dust rises off the blades. You immediately go to your phone and call your lawn service or local nursery because you are concerned that this problem will spread. On your way to the phone, you notice something weird on the mulch that is spread across your landscape beds. You may ask yourself the following questions:<\/p><h2>What does Slime Mold look like?<\/h2><p>You stop for a closer look and are appalled at what you see. It looks as if someone got physically sick and vomited in your flowerbed.&nbsp;You think,&nbsp;\"How disgusting\" \u2014 Yes it is! But, is there anything to be worried about \u2014 No there is not! Both of these \"conditions\" are caused by primitive fungi known as Slime Molds.<\/p><h2>What Is Slime Mold?<\/h2><p>Slime Molds are <em>saprophytes<\/em>, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. They will creep along the soil surface in search of food by pulling themselves along with finger-like projections. During periods of warm, rainy weather, Slime Molds will creep up on grass plants, on the lower branches of ornamental plants, or across landscape beds covered with mulch when they are ready to reproduce. From these locations, they will release millions of tiny spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that will help ensure many more generations of Slime Molds. The only purpose for creeping up on the plants or mulch is to give the spores the best advantage for distribution over a large area.<\/p><h2>Will Slime Mold Hurt My Lawn?<\/h2><p>Since <em>Slime Molds are not lawn disease that damage plants<\/em>, but are actually <em>beneficial to the ecosystem<\/em> of your landscape, control is not necessary. If you find the dried patches in the lawn, help Mother Nature by sweeping the spores into the wind. The slimy patches in the mulch will dry and can be raked under. They may be unsightly, but should not cause any concern in terms of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a>. They are just part of the wonderful world of nature.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/slime-mold-.600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:26:04","excerpt":"<p>Slime Molds are saprophytes, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. Learn how to best handle this lawn disease.<\/p>","slug":"identify-slime-mold-grass","description2":"","seo_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-slime-mold-grass"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Summer patch, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">necrotic ring spot<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch<\/a>: these grass diseases take no prisoners. Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass. Any time can be a prime time for fungal lawn disease to move in, if your turf is stressed from lack of water, high temperatures, too much moisture or the wrong kind of care. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>, but first you have to know what to look for. Here are three lawn diseases that you'll notice by their usual circular or ring shapes.<\/p><h3><strong>Summer Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus usually moves in about mid-summer, when your grass is suffering from heat, drought, and high humidity. Summer patch lawn disease begins with small, scattered light green patches that turn grass reddish-brown, and then light tan. These crescent-shaped patches can come up quickly and completely destroy a lawn. Although the symptoms appear in June or July, the disease actually begins by rotting the roots of your grass in early May.<\/p><h3><strong>Necrotic Ring Spot<\/strong><\/h3><p>Necrotic Ring Spot is another serious lawn disease that can destroy a lawn very suddenly. Its patches or rings of dead grass are brought on by dry, followed by wet, weather. Lawns 2 to 8 years old are favorite victims. The disease is most active in spring and fall, but it also shows up in summer during times of water stress. If your lawn has Necrotic Ring Spot, you'll first notice scattered light yellow patches, usually 2 to 6\u201d wide. The disease leaves a ring of dead turf that becomes brown or straw color with a healthy-looking green area in the center. This has prompted the nickname frog-eye disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Brown Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>Brown patch lawn disease usually strikes in the heat of summer, during humid, wet weather, when temperatures stay high even through the night. Brown Patch lawn disease creates irregular, circular areas up to several feet wide. The diseased patches turn purplish-green and then fade to brown. Patches look sunken as the leaves of the grass die and mat down. The edges of these large spots often have a darker, water-soaked appearance.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEQ970-U63o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Lawn Diseases are Easier to Prevent than to Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the Ring Gang of lawn diseases out of your lawn:<\/p><ul><li>Spring Green\u2019s lawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/preferred-lawn-care-program\">fertilization<\/a> program controls unhealthy bursts of turf growth that can attract disease.<\/li><li>Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> helps nutrients and water reach roots and breaks up thatch, which is one place diseases like to breed.<\/li><li>Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning, keeps moisture from remaining on the grass surface too long, which attracts disease.<\/li><li>Mowing frequently, at a high height and with a sharp mower blade, further helps to keep disease out.<\/li><li><a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">Overseeding<\/a> with disease-resistant grasses is another option you can consider.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you suspect your lawn has any type of lawn disease, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green about treatment services immediately. Quick action can make a big difference to save your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JThuC06R5s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/common-patch-and-ring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:11:07","excerpt":"<p>Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass.<\/p>","slug":"common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Necrotic Ring Spot","description":"<h3><strong>Death \u2014 that's what necrosis means.<\/strong><\/h3><p>And this lawn disease lives up to its name. Though often mistaken for Summer Patch blight because of the \u201cfrog\u2019s eye\u201d appearance, Summer Patch appears most often in hot weather, while necrotic ring spot shows up during cool weather, especially after periods of prolonged rainfall.<\/p><h3><strong>When And Where The Death Ring Shows Up<\/strong><\/h3><p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue. It usually appears in late winter, spring and fall during periods of cool and wet weather. Activity is greater in areas that are not properly&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilized<\/a>,&nbsp;and Neurotic ring spot lawn disease also tends to show up again and again in areas infected in prior years.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: Where The Confusion Came From<\/strong><\/h3><p>In the early stages, necrotic ring spot lawn disease shows up as roughly circular areas of turf that look like they're suffering from drought, even though there is plenty of soil moisture. You end up with patches that appear to be wilting and drying out when the surrounding turf looks healthy and well-watered. Thatch may decompose quickly in the areas affected by this lawn&nbsp;disease, creating a sunken look to the patch or ring areas. The typical patch of healthy looking turf in the center created the Summer Patch mix-up for years. The disease itself is not active during this phase, but the damage appears because the root system has been destroyed or reduced to the point where it can't support the plant's needs, and so the wilting and drying occur.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: Lawn Fertilization and Special Watering<\/strong><\/h3><p>The amount of nitrogen fertilizer greatly affects necrotic ring spot development. A minimum of 3 pounds, and preferably 5 pounds, of available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is recommended. It\u2019s also important to provide lawn fertilizing care to keep phosphorus and potassium levels high enough. The Spring Green program delivers the correct blend of nutrients throughout the year, but having a soil test done every 3 years is a good idea to identify any major lawn fertilization deficiencies your particular soil may have. Watering daily during the early to mid-afternoon, with 1\/10 to 1\/5'' of water, has also been shown to greatly reduce the severity of necrotic ring spot. Should lawn fertilization treatments be needed, they can be applied and are effective if made early in the season: usually 6 weeks to 2 months after the turf goes through its initial green up in the spring.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Necrotic ring spot develops symptoms similar to those seen in Summer Patch blight. This resulted in confusion for many years about which disease was active.<\/li><li>This lawn disease is most common in periods of cool and wet weather.<\/li><li>Lawn fertilization is very important. Maintaining proper amounts of all of the primary nutrients reduces disease activity.<\/li><li>Special daily watering can greatly reduce the severity of a ring spot outbreak.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you have any questions on this (or any other grass diseases), <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. Spring Green has the answers to all your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> questions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/necrotic-ring-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:55:00","excerpt":"<p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue.<\/p>","slug":"necrotic-ring-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["necrotic-ring-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"Mowing and Watering","description":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose. Once out of their cages, they can run wild over your property and be very tough to get back under control. That's why we need your help in keeping diseases locked up. And the way you water and mow your lawn makes a huge difference in lawn and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass disease<\/a> activity. Here are some tips that work:<\/p><h3><strong>Water Deeply and Only When Needed<\/strong><\/h3><p>On hot, dry days, 1,000 square feet of grass can lose 190 gallons of water. That's almost 1500 gallons of water consumed by an average lawn, per day! And since your grass is 80-90% water, it\u2019s important to replace the water that's lost to prevent water weakness that gives lawn diseases an easy entry. Water early in the morning (between 4-8 a.m. is best) to give water on grass blades time to dry. Most fungal grass diseases use the moisture on grass leaves to produce spores and to move from plant to plant. When the water is there long enough, these spores have time to cause problems. Water deeply; at least 6 to 8\u201d into the soil to encourage deep roots. This usually means you have to apply 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\">watering facts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">best practices<\/a> for your lawn and landscape.<\/p><h3><strong>Water When Your Lawn Needs It, But Only Then<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn has ways of showing you when it\u2019s ready for a drink. Grass will turn deep bluish and footprints won\u2019t spring back.<\/p><h3><strong>Mowing To Trim Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>The way you mow also affects your lawns ability to resist grass diseases.<\/p><ul><li>Mow Higher. Most grass should be cut at the highest recommended setting during the summer, to protect the stem from heavy sunlight. The shorter you trim your grass, the smaller the root system will be.<\/li><li>Mow More Often. Mowing higher means doing it more often. Make sure you don't remove more than 1\/3 of the grass blade in one mowing. Scalping, or cutting your grass extremely short, leaves it wide open to disease.<\/li><li>Don't use a dull blade because this shreds the tops of the grass, and exposes the turf's tissue for lawn disease spores to easily enter. Mowing with a dull blade is shown to increase disease activity by 20% or more. And it even uses 20% more fuel than mowing with a sharp blade. To avoid this, have your blades sharpened several times a season.<\/li><li>Keep grass clippings on your lawn, which returns about 25% of the nutrients back to the soil.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a> for a greener and healthier lawn. From <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch disease<\/a> to red thread fungus, we want to keep the disease dragons at bay, but we need your help. When we work together, your lawn will stay greener, thicker and more pest-free. For more information on disease management, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mowing-watering-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:12:57","excerpt":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose.<\/p>","slug":"mowing-watering","description2":"","seo_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mowing-watering"],"url_override":""},{"id":38,"title":"Spring Dead Spot","description":"<h3><strong>A Serious But Treatable Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone. Other grass types are affected, but this lawn disease is primarily a problem with Bermuda varieties. As the name suggests, spring dead spot usually appears in the spring as circular patches of bleached dead grass. It becomes visible as the surrounding dormant turf resumes its normal spring growth. These patches range from a few inches to several feet in diameter and tend to show up and expand in the same locations for several years, and then disappear after three to four years. The fungi appear to grow most actively in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool and the soil is fairly moist. Even though damage begins in earnest in the fall, damage is masked by the turf's normal dormancy over winter. This <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> is most commonly found on mature and well maintained turf, and is much less serious on lawns receiving little or no fertilization.<\/p><h3><strong>Disease Cycle: What Spring Dead Spot Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the early stages of this disease, the inside of the patches remain alive, but die off as the infection progresses. The entire plant structure inside these rings dies, including the shoots, rhizomes and roots. Regrowth in these dead areas must occur from the expansion of surrounding healthy plants and is very slow. The rings often fill with weeds or with stunted new turf plants. This appears to be because the lawn disease leaves a toxin in the area of dead grass which makes regrowth difficult.<\/p><h3><strong>Treatment Plan Must Include Fall Applications<\/strong><\/h3><p>Treatment for spring dead spot includes carefully controlling the amount of nitrogen&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> applied to the turf, since high nitrogen levels increase activity. In addition, fungicides must be applied during the fall months to fend off extreme root and stolon rot over the winter months. Contact type fungicides can be used with some success, but must be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, systemic lawn treatment fungicides that are actually taken into the plants can be applied once in the fall at heavy rates to help control the disease the following spring.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Bermuda varieties with high cold tolerance are less prone to spring dead spot.<\/li><li>The actual fungi (or causal organism) of spring dead spot is unknown.<\/li><li>Remember that control for spring must begin in the fall.<\/li><li>Part of controlling this lawn disease is regulating the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.<\/li><\/ul><p>We make a constant study of lawns and what ails them at Spring Green. Please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">local lawn service<\/a> needs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/spring-dead-spot-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:39","excerpt":"<p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone.<\/p>","slug":"spring-dead-spot","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-dead-spot"],"url_override":""},{"id":1,"title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">turf lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight when the weather conditions are just right. Brown patch lawn disease isn't picky; it attacks a wide variety of grass types, and really likes the lawns receiving large amounts of fast release nitrogen fertilizer. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/How-Lawn-Disease-Develops.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Brown Patch Loves Hot Summer<\/h2><blockquote>\u201cBrown Patch is the most damaging turf grass disease\u201d<\/blockquote><p>Brown patch is really a summer lawn disease that's caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The disease begins to show growth when temperatures reach 65\u00b0, but the most active growth of brown patch lawn disease occurs at temperatures of 80-85\u00b0 when humidity levels are very high. The fungi survive the winter in plant debris (thatch) and enter the leaf tissue through wounds caused by mowing and through the&nbsp;pores (or stomata) when daytime temperatures get into the 70s. Infected turf grass can go quite a while without showing damage because it\u2019s actively growing. But, if the daytime temperatures reach the mid 80s and nighttime air temperatures stay above 70\u00b0, the grass will be under stress. Then, lawn disease damage can become visible almost immediately. Once started, brown patch lawn disease spreads fast. Brown patch damage first appears as circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. This dark, smoke ring is not always visible, but is more likely to appear in the early morning when there's dew on the grass. Brown patch lawn disease grows out from a central point, so these circular areas can enlarge rapidly. Brown patch circles range from a few inches in diameter to several feet, and are not always true circles. Sometimes the patches grow together, creating large irregular dead areas. Diseased turf first appears water soaked with leaf edges showing a wavy or wilted pattern, but soon dies completely and mats down, creating a sunken effect.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><h2>Cultural Management: Preventing Brown Patch Lawn Disease<\/h2><p>Since high levels of fast release nitrogen increase disease activity, Spring-Green uses a correct blend of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> for lawn fertilizing during the warmer months. Mow less frequently during periods of hot and humid weather, this reduces stress and limits the movement of grass disease by being carried on your feet or mower. If possible, increase light and air penetration, or movement, by pruning overhanging trees and shrubs. During cooler seasons, open up the thatch layer with power <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a>. If these cultural cures fail, a preventative fungicide lawn treatment program may have to be applied to control this most damaging of lawn diseases. [attached-images title=\"What Brown Patch Looks Like\"]<\/p><h2>Remember<\/h2><ul><li>Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass diseases<\/li><li>Brown patch lawn disease becomes most active when day temperatures are over 85\u00b0 and night air stays above 70\u00b0<\/li><li>Because infected plants may appear healthy, brown patch damage can occur very fast when conditions are right<\/li><li>Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages brown patch development<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about grass facts and keeping your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn healthy and green<\/a>. At Spring Green, we take brown patch lawn disease seriously because we know the damage it can cause. If you ever suspect this disease of infecting your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn service.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot-2\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":["8","4","3","1","7"],"featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/brown-patch-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:00","excerpt":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all turf grass diseases. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight.<\/p>","slug":"brown-patch-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch-lawn-disease"],"url_override":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide"},{"id":37,"title":"Snow Mold","description":"<h3><strong>The First Disease of the Year<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn was perfect last fall. You spent all summer tenderly caring for your grass. You faithfully watered it during the hot, dry periods. You mowed at the right height, making sure you never removed more than 1\/3 of the grass blade when you cut it. You contracted with a reputable&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> company to apply the right fertilizers and weed control products to make your lawn healthy and beautiful. You had the best lawn in the neighborhood and were darn proud of it. As fall came, you made sure the leaves were removed as soon as possible, and you even invested in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">lawn aeration<\/a> to improve rooting and keep the thatch layer at bay. When the first snows came, you were confident that your lawn was strong enough to survive the tortures of winter. The snow came, as it usually does, and turned your lawn white. You were not worried, as you knew you did everything you could possibly have done so that your lawn will be as green and lush in the spring as it was the previous fall. But, when spring arrives you look through your window at your grass and your're mortified at the sight of your lawn. There are large patches of blighted, straw-colored grass covering half of it and areas of the grass seem matted. This is Snow Mold lawn disease!<\/p><h2>What is Snow Mold Lawn Disease?<\/h2><p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover. It is often the first disease of the year and may cause your lawn to have an unsightly appearance, especially after the snow melts. Snow Mold can even develop without snow cover. If it is cool, rainy, and overcast, then the disease can become active and affect the lawn.<\/p><h2>Types of Snow Mold<\/h2><p>There are two types of Snow Mold. One is Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight, and the other is Pink Snow Mold or Microdochium Patch. They have similar visual symptoms, but each affects the lawn in a different way. The control of either lawn disease may require a combination of methods. In severe, recurring cases, a combination of chemical, cultural, and biological controls may be required. In less severe cases, a light raking of the affected area may be the best answer.<\/p><h2>Controlling Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Controlling either of the grass diseases is easy if the infection is not severe. A light raking of the matted area will loosen the grass and allow the new plants to grow. Be sure to rake lightly, as the ground is usually very wet and the existing grass can be easily raked up. In severe infestation, raking is also recommended, but on a larger scale. It is not advisable to use a power rake as it may also damage the existing grass.<\/p><h2>Preventing Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Preventive maintenance before lawn repair is needed&nbsp;is usually the best answer when dealing with most diseases. This is true for Snow Mold. Follow a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year. Thatch management is another important key in Snow Mold prevention. Practice core aeration of your lawn at least once a year to keep thatch levels below 1\/2\". Another important factor is mowing the grass short before winter. Cut the lawn to 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d at the last mowing. This should be a gradual process and not a one-time exercise. Lower the height a notch a week until the mower is set at 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d. This will prevent the turf from laying over on itself,&nbsp;increasing the chance of Snow Mold.<\/p><h2>If You Have Snow Mold<\/h2><p>If you do have an outbreak of Snow Mold, it is a good idea to reduce any piles of snow that may remain, especially in shady areas. The longer the snow remains the more moisture and cool temperatures are present. Applying a chemical disease control material to grass already damaged by Snow Mold will do little to change the severity or need for lawn renovation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact your local lawn care professional at Spring Green<\/a> to begin a fertilizer program and schedule core aeration for a healthy lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/snow-mold-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:46","excerpt":"<p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover.<\/p>","slug":"snow-mold-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","meta_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","social_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["snow-mold-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease","description":"<p>The Colorful Cool Season Culprit Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration. Especially serious in the&nbsp;<a href=\"\/franchise-region\/northwest\/\">Pacific Northwest<\/a>, red thread also appears in stands of cool season grasses over a wide region when weather conditions are right.<\/p><h3><strong>When Green Lawns Turn 'Red'<\/strong><\/h3><p>Red thread lawn disease grows most aggressively when temperatures are in the 68 to 75 degree range and during extended periods of wet or very humid weather. Even though this may seem like a narrow \"window\" or set of circumstances for disease activity, red thread can overtake a turf area fast. Besides temperature, red thread gets a helping hand from certain nutritional imbalances, too. This&nbsp;lawn disease takes off much faster when there's a lack of nitrogen, for instance. Low levels of calcium (or lime) also affect some grass types.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Red Thread Looks Like And Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The symptoms of red thread lawn disease first appear as \"water soaked\" darkened irregular areas from just a few inches to several feet across. These areas gradually become bleached or tan colored. Healthy plants are usually interspersed with diseased plants, giving the lawn an over-all ragged look. As the red thread becomes well developed, light pink to red fungus strands (or threads) 1\/4'' or more in length begin to grow from the tips of the blades and the leaf sheaths \u2014 these threads are the reason for the disease's common name. The wind moves bits of these threads to non-infected plants to spread the disease. The threads can also touch nearby blades to spread the infection. Red thread lawn disease very seldom wipes out an entire stand of turf, and so infected lawns will often have an uneven or patchy appearance.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: You Can't Change The Weather<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a>, red thread is very much weather related. When conditions are right for development, management of red thread is limited to checking and correcting any nutritional deficiencies or direct treatment with a fungicide material. Lawn treatments with fungicides are usually effective, and one or two maintenance applications in the spring and again in the fall are adequate in most situations for control. If you have seen signs of red thread on your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re always ready to help with managing disease diseases, so you can have the best lawn possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Dead Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/red-thread-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:58:58","excerpt":"<p>Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration.<\/p>","slug":"red-thread-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["red-thread-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"Pythium","description":"<h3><strong>The Deadly Disease With Many Names<\/strong><\/h3><p>Pythium blight, grease spot, spot blight, root rot, cottony blight, and snow blight are the \u201cattractive\u201d names given to this lawn disease. Each name describes a different phase of the disease life-cycle and none of them are a pretty sight.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Pythium Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color. When the blades of grass in these areas are handled, they have a greasy or slimy feel. That's where the name grease spot comes from. These infected grass blades become light tan and shriveled, thus the name spot blight. When a lot of these infected areas appear, they begin to grow together and overlap. Pythium lawn disease infections usually concentrate in low, wet areas or along the natural course of drainage across the turf. When humidity remains high, the shriveled and collapsed leaves become matted and covered with a fluffy mass of white fungal threads or mycelium. This is sometimes called cottony blight. The most serious and severe damage occurs during hot, humid weather, when the disease can spread so quickly that an entire stand of turf can be destroyed in just one day. Pythium survives, as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands), in and on diseased turf tissue, as well as in organic material like thatch. Wet turf grass is always required, before Pythium can cause&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a>. Periods of wet grass and thatch, along with high relative humidity, present especially favorable conditions for the disease to grow. This lawn disease is most dramatic when it suddenly appears during very hot and humid weather, when the nights remain very warm and muggy.<\/p><h3><strong>Making Your Lawn An Anti-Pythium Environment<\/strong><\/h3><p>Since Pythium is almost always associated with wet turf, identifying any poorly draining areas where water tends to pool or stand can help prevent this type of lawn disease. Correct the drainage to promote rapid drying of grass plants. Attempt to water early in the day, so that the turf can dry before evening, and water as deeply but infrequently as possible. Controlling thatch is strongly suggested, by vertical mowing or regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">lawn&nbsp;aeration<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Using a properly balanced fertilizer for your grass care helps avoid nutrient imbalances that can stimulate grass diseases. It can also help to increase air movement by selectively pruning lower tree branches to eliminate pockets of still humid air. And finally, don't mow when the grass is wet, as this tends to spread the disease. Fungicides can also be effective in suppressing Pythium, but prevention is a much better and more economical turf care solution.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Under ideal conditions, Pythium can destroy an entire lawn in a single day.<\/li><li>Areas where turf remains wet tend to be more affected by this lawn disease.<\/li><li>Look for Pythium when temperatures and humidity are both very high.<\/li><li>Water deeply, but not too often, and water so that grass blades dry quickly (like in the morning.)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green with any lawn question you have. We've got the answers you need.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/pythium-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:56:56","excerpt":"<p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color.<\/p>","slug":"pythium","description2":"","seo_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pythium"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Leaf Spot","description":"<h3><strong>The Double Whammy Lawn Disease:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3><p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi. Helminthosporium (now that's a mouthful!) contains a large number of individual disease-causing organisms. What's similar in the grass diseases of this family is that they give your lawn a real one-two punch by creating the leaf spot phase in the spring and fall but changing gears into a sheath and root rot phase during the heat of summer.<\/p><h3><strong>When Can You Expect To See Spots?<\/strong><\/h3><p>The lawn disease fungi survive the winter as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands) in and on diseased turf tissue. When spring temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees and there is a lot of moisture from rain or dew, the fungus begins to grow and spreads its spores by wind and water. As the weather warms, the disease moves into the second phase of melting out.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the leaf spot phase of this lawn disease (spring or fall), individual grass blades will have large numbers of lesions (or infection marks) that appear a little like a cigarette burn, a dark circle with a tan spot in the center. During this part of the leaf spot lawn disease, the grass takes on a brown under cast making it appear underfed or dried out. Even though leaf spot does not do significant damage to the turf during this phase, it sets the stage for the much more serious melting-out phase. The melting-out phase begins during hot, dry weather and causes large irregular areas to appear dried out. There may not be any distinctly visible lawn disease symptoms during the melting out phase, as the damaged areas may appear very similar to the effects of dry weather or insect injury.<\/p><h3><strong>Early Action Needed: Don't Snooze, You Might Lose<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with all&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn diseases<\/a>, how the turf is watered, fed and mowed makes a huge difference. It\u2019s best to be sure the grass does not stay continuously wet or become excessively dry. Water no more than once per week and soak the soil to a depth of 6''. Water in the morning so the grass will not remain wet for long periods. Open the area around the grass crowns (where the plant goes through the thatch and into the soil) with core aeration. Regular lawn&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizing<\/a> and aeration can go far towards disease prevention. Collecting the clippings during the spring and fall (leaf spot stage) will help reduce the spread of disease as well. Lawn treatment services, if needed, should begin early. Spring and early summer applications of fungicide can be effective, but little can be done to reverse lawn disease once the melting-out phase begins.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Leaf spot makes turf look sick, but does little permanent damage. However, it sets the stage for the more serious melting-out phase of the disease.<\/li><li>Water in the morning so turf can dry out quickly. This helps prevent the spread of leaf spot spores.<\/li><li>Melting out occurs in hot weather and can be easily confused with drought stress or insect damage.<\/li><li>Frequent lawn <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">aeration<\/a> and thatch management help keep turf crowns open and reduces disease activity.<\/li><\/ul><p>Whenever you have a question on leaf spot (or any other lawn disease) <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We've got the answers!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">Mowing and Watering<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushroom<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/leaf-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:53:46","excerpt":"<p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi.<\/p>","slug":"leaf-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["leaf-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"Fairy Rings","description":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. Little fairies will dance the night away in a circle, resting on toadstool chairs until the next dance begins. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, dancing is often the last thought on their minds. Mushrooms are a common sight in many lawns, especially during wet, warm periods. They are usually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are breaking down organic material in the soil or thatch. Normally, they can be mowed or kicked off and are controlled. If they reoccur in the same spot every year, then it may indicate the location of an old tree stump or other decaying organic material. If the mushrooms are arranged in an arc or circle, it may indicate the beginning of Fairy Ring. No one knows for sure how this kind of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> becomes established or what conditions favor their development. They seem to be more prevalent on soils that are sandy, under-watered, or are poorly fertilized. Like most other types of grass diseases, Fairy Rings usually don't develop as often in highly maintained lawns.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r2KLXyVgJyE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Types of Fairy Ring Diseases<\/h2><p>Several types of lawn disease fungi are associated with Fairy Rings. These types of fungi have been causing problems for a long time. It is estimated that some Fairy Rings have survived for several hundred years. They can develop in lawns, parks, golf courses, or in pastures. Mushrooms are often the first outwardly visible sign of their presence. In fact, the fungi may have been present in the soil for two or three years prior to the development of the mushrooms. The fungi develop outwards from the center of the ring. The inner most part of the ring dies. As it is decomposing, it releases nitrogen into the soil, which will stimulate the grass above and turn it a dark green. The fungi produce a mass of cotton-like webbing called mycelium. As the mycelium dies, it may harden to a point where water will not be able to penetrate through it. This results in the death of the grass above it.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring Characteristics<\/h2><p>The rings or arcs can range in diameter from 3 feet to as large as 20 feet. If the ring encounters a sidewalk or cultivated flowerbed, its growth often stops at that point. When two or more rings meet, they may continue to get larger. In some cases, the two rings seem to disappear when they come together. These common lawn disease symptoms may also seem to disappear for several years, and then show up again.<\/p><h2>Controlling Fairy Rings<\/h2><p>Controlling Fairy Rings can prove to be a difficult task. There has been some reduction in activity using commercial lawn and grass disease control materials, but the results have been inconsistent. The dark green rings can be 'masked' by applying <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> to the area to even the color. In the areas where the grass has died, water penetration needs to be improved. Make holes in the ring with a garden fork to a depth of 12 to 24\u201d and then thoroughly water the area for 4 to 6 weeks. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> is also advisable for better water penetration. If the rings are severe, it may be necessary to remove the sod and repeatedly cultivate the area for several weeks before resodding or seeding a lawn. Mixing the soils of two opposing rings seems to cause them to cancel out each other. Regardless of the method used, it will be a difficult task to get the rings under control. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against many lawn diseases and insect problems. This is especially true when considering the problems associated with Fairy Ring. As they say, \"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-prevention\/\" title=\"Lawn Disease Prevention\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Lawn Disease Solutions<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/fairy-rings-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:18","excerpt":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, their good luck is often the last thought on their minds.<\/p>","slug":"fairy-rings","description2":"","seo_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fairy-rings"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"Lawn Disease Prevention","description":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn. And since treatment of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a> themselves is both difficult and fairly costly, prevention of fungus disease is very important. Keeping your lawn as healthy as possible is the best way to protect it from lawn disease-causing agents (or pathogens) that are all around. So, when we find something that works well to keep your lawn strong we want to make sure you know about it.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Eat Right, Breathe Right for Better Lawn Health<\/strong><\/h3><p>There's a kind of give-and-take to your lawn\u2019s health. The right kind of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> at the right time gives your grass the nutrients it needs, while lawn aeration takes, or removes, compacted soil and thatch to give water, air and nutrients an easy way to reach your turf's roots so they can breathe. Together, regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and the right kind of fertilizing lawn care are the two most important things we can do for your lawn to help it fight off grass diseases.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Fertilization: Keeping The Lawn Off Of Junk Food<\/strong><\/h3><p>Just like grandparents love to give kids a special candy treat, a lot of folks like to give their lawn junk food fertilizers of fast-release nitrogen for a super quick green. This kind of lawn fertilizing seems to make the grass happy, but can really bring on all kinds of lawn diseases and other problems. The Spring Green program provides balanced fertilizing lawn care, a meat and potatoes diet, instead of just dessert. Your turf is better able to outgrow disease, develop stronger roots and directly fight disease. Your grass keeps growing at a strong, steady rate, without the kind of quick growth that can invite lawn diseases. But it\u2019s not enough to provide these elements, if they can\u2019t reach their destination.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Aeration: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention<\/strong><\/h3><p>Watering, walking across our lawns, and rainfall help pack down the top layers of soil. This compacted soil makes it hard for water and other nourishment to get through to the roots. Thatch, the spongy layer of partially decomposed material between your grass and the soil, can also block water and fertilizer if it becomes thicker than a 1\/2\". Thick thatch and compacted soil contribute significantly to the development of lawn diseases. Core aeration helps both reduce thatch and break up soil. By pulling out thousands of plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, lawn aeration creates room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. A single lawn aeration will remove about 10% of the thatch from a lawn. Most lawns should be aerated at least once a year, when roots are actively growing in fall or spring. At Spring Green we want to keep your lawn healthy through good preventive medicine.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional with any questions you may have.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-10-10 20:20:06","excerpt":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-disease-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-disease-prevention"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:59:13","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Moss Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Rids your lawn of moss&nbsp;<\/li><li>Allows the desired grass to fill in bare areas&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Moss Control Work?<\/h2><p>Moss tends to grow in moist and shady conditions. Other causes of moss are poor drainage, compact soil, acidic soil, low soil fertility and decreased air circulation. To help eradicate moss and stop it from spreading, our trained and licensed field service professionals will apply products that will eliminate moss while preserving the grass. Moss may need to be raked after treatment to clear space for new grass growth.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-moss-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Moss Control service is a cost-effective way to keep your lawn moss free. Visit spring-rreen.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Moss Control service is a cost-effective way to keep your lawn moss free. Visit spring-rreen.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Liquid Aeration","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":52,"name":"Liquid Aeration","description":"<p>Liquid aeration is an innovative lawn care aeration technique that enhances soil health by improving its aeration and nutrient absorption.<\/p><p>Unlike traditional core aeration, which involves physically removing plugs of soil, liquid aeration utilizes a specially formulated solution that penetrates the soil, creating tiny pores that allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the root zone of your grass.<\/p><p>To find out if liquid aeration is right for you by contacting Spring Green Lawn Care by using the button below.<\/p>","slug":"liquid-aeration","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Liquid aeration utilizes a specially formulated solution that penetrates the soil, creating tiny pores allowing more air, water and nutrients to reach the spots that need them the most providing a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"50","icon_class_name":"liquid-aeration","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":45,"title":"Fall Clean-up Ideas","description":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p><h2><strong>For Your Lawn and Landscape:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Keep leaves raked or mulched to prevent smothering your lawn, and to clear the ground for any final fertilization or mowing that\u2019s needed.<\/li><li>\"Harden off\" your lawn by mowing the grass shorter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clean up debris in shrub and flower beds for a neater look and less work in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Continue to water when it\u2019s very dry.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Remove expired annuals and prepare planting beds for next year.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prune summer blooming perennials, trees and shrubs. &nbsp;Avoid pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees, as they have already set their blooms and you\u2019ll lose the display if you prune now.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Plant hardy spring bulbs now for a glorious display in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><h2><strong>Around the House: <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Clean out gutters and be sure downspouts are working properly.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Disconnect and drain water hoses and store inside.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Avoid broken planting containers by either bringing them indoors, covering them against the weather elements or emptying them for winter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Set up bird feeding and water stations.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Winterize mowers and other lawn equipment by making sure gasoline is burned from any gas-powered equipment (this helps keep the lines and carburetor clear). If your mower needs repair, now is the time, before storing it.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>For further reading, view the rest of our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-clean-ideas-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:49:41","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p>","slug":"fall-clean-ideas","description2":"","seo_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-clean-ideas"],"url_override":""},{"id":42,"title":"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter","description":"<h3><strong>One average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air<\/strong><\/h3><p>As many of you are aware, plants give off oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are wonderful air purifiers\u2014one average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. It seems obvious that the more plants you have in your home, the cleaner your air will be. This is a better idea for those of you in the northern climates. Winter means sealing your house against the cold and drafts of the brutal winter winds. The air can get a little stale, so several, well-placed, houseplants can really help. There are, also, the psychological benefits of being surrounded by living houseplants. They can have a relaxing effect on people, and provide you a chance to keep exercising your 'green thumb'. Depending on the variety you pick, they can add to the overall d\u00e9cor of your home. Many plants have multi-colored leaves and some even produce flowers while indoors. Your interior environment can be aesthetically pleasing while providing a comfortable, relaxed feeling. It will require some thought on your part to choose plants that will fit the location that you select for them.<\/p><h3><strong>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one<\/strong><\/h3><p>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one. All others require varying degrees of care. Some that are relatively maintenance-free are Aloes, Cactus, Spider Plants, Pothos, and Dracaenas. Unless you are very experienced with indoor plants, you may wish to avoid any requiring special growing conditions such as African Violets and Orchids. All plants need light to survive. Some plants that can endure low light, such as from a north window, are Chinese Evergreens, Sansevieria (also called Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law's Tongue) and Heartleaf Philodendron. I can, personally, attest to the fact that the majority of the plants named so far will survive in extreme conditions. I sometimes think that I have conditioned my plants to survive in cave-like conditions. I am actually afraid to move them into better growing conditions for fear they may not know how to survive in the 'normal' world of light and adequate water supplies.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most plants that you purchase have a small tag that gives the light and watering requirements, so it is advisable to follow the directions. The Arizona Cooperative Extension Service has a good <a href=\"http:\/\/ag.arizona.edu\/pubs\/garden\/mg\/indoor\/lists.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a> to help pick indoor plants. A useful feature of their site is their use of common names for the plants, instead of the unpronounceable Latin names. The site has a comprehensive list of plants and the type of environment that is best suited for them to survive. Unfortunately, they don't list 'cave-like' as one of the choices, so I guess I will have to retrain my plants to allow them to live in a 'better' world. Too much or too little water is the number one factor that accounts for the majority of losses with plants \u2013 whether in the yard or in the home. This is the area where I realized that I was making several mistakes. In most potted plants, the roots are growing in the bottom 2\/3 of the pot. If I were feeling guilty about the care my plants were receiving and paid serious attention to them, I would water them at least once a week. That may have been too much, as the top dries out much faster than the root zone. The best way to check is to poke your finger into the pot about 2\u201d or up to your second knuckle. If the soil feels moist, do not water, but check again in a couple of days. If you prefer not to get your fingers dirty, there are fancy moisture meters available, but they are about $50. Personally, I would rather get my fingers a little dirty \u2013 it reminds me of working in my garden.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Some other factors that can affect moisture loss are the type of growing medium or soil that the plant is growing in, the type of pot used, or the amount of sunlight the plant receives. If you water when the soil on top is dry, you will probably over-water the plant. When you do water, supply enough so that it runs out of the bottom \u2013 assuming the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. It is always best to use a pot that has a drainage hole in the bottom to allow water to pass through the soil. There are two good reasons for this: to ensure the root zone receives enough water, and to allow excess salts (from fertilizers) and other minerals to pass through the soil. You should also be sure to not let the plant sit in the water that runs out. This practice allows the excess salts and other minerals, which were just washed out of the soil, to be re-absorbed. Pour off the excess water from the collection dish. If you do want to use a fancier pot that does not have a drainage hole, then place a smaller pot with a drainage hole, into the larger pot. This will allow the water to flow through the soil and allow you to use a more decorative pot. By the way, if you cannot poke your finger an inch or so into the pot, then it is either really dry or it is root-bound and should be re-potted into a larger pot.<\/p><h3><strong>Feed your indoor plants similar to the way you fertilize your outdoor plants.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Feeding your indoor plants is similar to the way outdoor plant and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> works. The general rule is to fertilize every two weeks, from March to September. Let the plants rest during the winter and do not fertilize them, unless they have unique requirements that dictate feeding at this time of year. Most indoor plants are imported from the tropics and need plenty of humidity. A humidifier is a good way to increase the relative humidity for the plants. Another way to increase the relative humidity is to set the plant in a tray with a layer of gravel in which an even level of water is maintained below the top of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it will provide an increase in the relative humidity. Misting has not proven to be adequate in increasing the relative humidity for the plants, but it doesn't hurt to do it. It is better to mist the plants in the morning so they have a chance to dry before dark. This is the same reason that it is best not to water your outdoor plants or lawn at night. Many diseases perpetuate during the cool, dark hours of nighttime. Adding available moisture at that time increases the potential for disease development. Living plants definitely improve your physical and mental indoor environment. If you choose them carefully and give them a little TLC, they will provide years of enjoyment and provide you with a chance to keep your gardening skills honed.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-grow-hostas\/\" title=\"How to Care for and Grow Hostas\">Hostas<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/care-indoor-plants-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:08:38","excerpt":"<p>The average-sized potted plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. Having plants especially during the cold winter months, provides cleaner air throughout your home. Learn how to best care for them.<\/p>","slug":"care-indoor-plants-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["care-indoor-plants-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":49,"title":"It's Time to Plant Spring Bulbs","description":"<p>\"Gardner\u2019s regret\" strikes when a gardener looks out in the early spring to see neighbors\u2019 yards sporting plots of colorful crocus and dancing daffodils, and realizes he or she has failed to plant spring-flowering bulbs. &nbsp;To have a wonderful array of flowers next spring, plant bulbs in the fall. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring bloomers develop their roots in the fall, before winter really sets in. &nbsp;This growth period is crucial to next spring\u2019s successful flowering. Bulbs will perform better if you prepare the soil before planting them. &nbsp;Dig out the soil to a depth of about 10\u201d and work in organic matter, like peat moss or compost. A tool called a bulb planter is helpful; it is an open-tipped, cone-shaped tool with a handle on top that scoops deep but narrow holes to plant the bulbs. Be sure to mix in bone meal, or similar bulb fertilizer, before planting bulbs with pointed ends up.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Have a Colorful Garden All Spring<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>To ensure continuous bloom next spring, be sure to plant a mixture of early and mid-season bloomers. &nbsp;For the very earliest bloomers, try crocus, narcissus, and glory of the snow. &nbsp;Crocus blooms are yellow, blue or bi-colored and 3 to 5 inches tall. &nbsp;Narcissus, also commonly called daffodil, is on a stem a foot or so high and ranges in color from white to dark yellows and oranges. &nbsp;Deer, chipmunks, and squirrels won\u2019t dig up narcissus bulbs, making it a good choice for many. &nbsp;Glory of the Snow grows 6 to 8 inches tall, producing a blue flower with a white eye. Sweet-smelling hyacinth is a tallish, mid-season bloomer. &nbsp;Its small version, hyacinth, blooms a little earlier. &nbsp;Hyacinth includes pink, white, yellow and blue varieties. &nbsp;Tulips, the most popular mid-season bloomers, come in an infinite variety of colors and bloom times. Spring flowering bulbs of all kinds are an important part of maintaining year-round color in any garden, and fall is the season to begin or expand your plantings.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For further reading, view our other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard\/\">spring cleanup tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/time-plant-spring-bulbs-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:51","excerpt":"<p>Nothing says spring more than a beautiful array of flowers. Make sure your spring landscape is bursting with shades of the rainbow by planting bulbs in the fall. Here are some tips.<\/p>","slug":"time-plant-spring-bulbs","description2":"","seo_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["time-plant-spring-bulbs"],"url_override":""},{"id":47,"title":"6 Things to Consider Before Seeding In The Spring!","description":"<p>It\u2019s spring! The weather is becoming warmer, and you\u2019re ready to get outside and turn your attention to lawn and landscape projects. While spring may seem like a great time to seed some of those thin or brown patches in your lawn, it may be better to wait. Here\u2019s why... Spring seeding makes it difficult to effectively control annual weeds, such as crabgrass, with pre-emergents. Pre-emergents stop weeds by creating a barrier below the soil surface to keep the weeds from ever sprouting. However, the same pre-emergent that kills crabgrass seedlings will keep your new grass from sprouting, too.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Putting off your early spring application of pre-emergent weed control can give crabgrass, and their weeds, a strong foothold. Once established, crabgrass spreads very quickly and can crowd out your new grass. Choosing to seed after pre-emergents have been applied also presents problems. Raking, or cultivating, the soil for planting will break the pre-emergent barrier under the soil and decrease its effectiveness. Conditions are best for planting lawn seed in the fall. Soil temperatures are ideal in late summer and early fall for quick germination of your lawn seed. Seeding in the fall allows your new turf to develop a strong root system before heading into the next season\u2019s hot, dry summer months. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>If Spring Seeding Can\u2019t Wait,&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Consider These 6 Things!&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Wait to sow your seeds until soil temperatures reach 55 degrees (use a meat thermometer to check soil temperatures at a 1\u201d depth).<\/li><li><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">If you have bare spots that you must seed in the spring, mark the seeded areas with straw or light mulch so pre-emergents can be avoided in those areas.<\/span><\/li><li>Keep the seeded area well watered, as crabgrass thrives in dry soil.<\/li><li>Mow the area normally once the new grass is as tall as the rest of the lawn, to avoid the new turf growing too tall and lanky.<\/li><li>Weed control applications should be avoided on the young grass until it has been mowed 3 to 5 times.<\/li><li>If you plan a general, or large area seeding, a special program of crabgrass control should be worked out to prevent problems in the summer.<\/li><\/ol><p>For further information, visit our <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" target=\"_blank\">core aeration and overseeding<\/a> page or <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact your local Spring Green&nbsp;<\/a>professional<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/weeding-truth-spring-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:45:32","excerpt":"<p>Is spring the best time to seed your lawn? Find out!<\/p>","slug":"weeding-truth-spring-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weeding-truth-spring-seeding"],"url_override":""},{"id":289,"title":"Preventing Salt Damage","description":"<p>Salt damage to lawns and landscape plants normally comes from two sources. It comes from commercial salt used on city streets that may be splashed or spread on your yard, or from the use of an \"ice melt\" product that you may use to \"de-ice\" sidewalks or driveways. The easiest way to prevent the damage is not to plant anything close to the areas where they may be exposed to salt. Moving small shrubs or perennials is easy to do. It becomes much harder when it is a large tree, or extensive area of turf, like a parkway. The best way of preventing lawn and yard damage is not to use salt, or salt-like products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Threats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage from salt occurs when the foliage is burned by the salt product being splashed on to it, or when the salt is absorbed through the root system. The greatest damage is on the side that faces, or is adjacent to, the street, sidewalk, or driveway. It may take several years for enough salt to accumulate to cause severe damage to the plants. Normal rainfall will usually wash the salt deep into the soil. Constant repeating of the activity will increase the concentration levels, which leads to more severe problems. The plants may weaken or die as the levels accumulate to higher levels. Some plants, like the white pine, are especially sensitive to salt damage. Others are more resistant, such as many of the southern turfgrass varieties of Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass. Unfortunately, these grasses will not grow in the northern climates. Their use is, therefore, limited to the South and the transition zone between northern and southern states.<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention and modification are the best approaches to reduce salt damage. You can erect a barrier, using burlap or landscape fabric, in an effort to keep the salt from entering a landscape bed. You can cover plants with the same materials and that will help to keep the foliage from burning. If your parkway is always being damaged from salt, then consider replacing part or all of it with landscape bricks or decorative stones. Also, there is a variety of grass- fults pucinnellia distans, that has good salt tolerance. This may be used in a blend with other northern turfgrasses to develop a stand of grass that will not be damaged as easily.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are \"ice-melt\" products that you can use around your home that do a good job and will not damage the grass along the edges of the sidewalks or driveways. The name, \"ice-melt\" is a misnomer. Most of the products do not \"melt\" the ice as much as break the bond between the ice and the surface below it. Once the ice is loose, it can be removed easily. Commercial products that contain potassium chloride have a lower burn potential than ones that contain sodium chloride. Sand, kitty litter, and cinders will work as an aid to prevent someone from slipping on the ice, but do not work as well as an \"ice-melt\" compound. It is usually not a good idea to use regular rock salt, as it will damage the surrounding grass and plants easily, and it can damage concrete and blacktop. Having to deal with snow and ice is a \"fact of life\" when you live in the northern climates. Trying to remove it from streets, sidewalks, and driveways can be a challenge. <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Protecting your lawn and landscape<\/a> from the adverse effects of salt and \"ice-melt\" products can be a bigger challenge. If you do some planning and use products that are less damaging, then you will not have as much turf care work to complete the following spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>As always, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your local Spring Green if you have questions regarding your lawn and salt damage prevention. Our experts are glad to help.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\"><\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">More Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/salt-damage-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:24","excerpt":"<p>Keeping sidewalks free and clear of ice and snow is essential in the wintertime, but you could be feeling the effects of salt on your landscape well into spring. Learn how to prevent the headache.<\/p>","slug":"preventing-salt-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["preventing-salt-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":294,"title":"Practice Smart Lawn Care for a Healthier and Greener Lawn","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7564 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/a-beautiful-lawn.jpg\" alt=\"a beautiful lawn\" width=\"800\" height=\"300\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Practicing smart lawn care is more than cutting your lawn. Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn. Sustainable lawn care includes utilizing proper fertilizers, saving energy, and properly using lawn clippings. Below are best practices to deliver a healthy green beautiful lawn.<\/p><h2>A Nice looking Lawn - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><h3>Clippings<\/h3><p>Clippings are&nbsp;a great benefit because they contain valuable nutrients that can be recycled back into the soil. We may suggest collecting your clippings in certain situations where the lawn may have a disease or it has grown too long. Clippings are nutrient rich and made mostly from water; they will not significantly contribute to excessive thatch build-up. Excessive thatch build-up from other organic sources can increase the stress levels of your lawn making it more susceptible to insects and lawn disease as well as inhibiting proper root development. If the thatch level on your lawn exceeds 1\/2\", Spring-Green recommends Core Aeration.<\/p><h3>Seeding<\/h3><p>Whether establishing a new lawn or just reseeding thin or bare spots, best results are generally achieved in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Seeding in spring can delay or prevent your spring treatment containing pre-emergent crabgrass control.<\/p><h2>How to Mow &amp; Water a Lawn -- Lawn Care Techniques<\/h2><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7565 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lawn-mowing.jpg\" alt=\"lawn mowing \" width=\"800\" height=\"300\"><\/p><h3>Watering<\/h3><p>Proper watering is one of the most important cultural practices you can provide. Most lawns will require at least one inch of water per week to encourage proper color, density and overall health. Typically, watering one day a week, 1 hour per area in the early&nbsp;morning will encourage deeper root development and discourage disease development. When watering, you must consider the method and the amount of water applied. Most home lawns will require at least one inch of water per week.<\/p><h3>Mowing<\/h3><p>Mowing properly will greatly increase the health and beauty of your lawn. If your lawn has Tall Fescue, you should mow it at 3 1\/2\" to 4\". &nbsp;For Bermuda and Zoysia grass, mow between 3\/4\" to 2\". Longer grass blades will shade the ground beneath, keeping it cooler and moist for a longer time. Alternate your pattern of mowing each time to ensure a more even cut. Keep the mower blade sharp! https:\/\/youtu.be\/9V_clvJH-v8<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:11:19","excerpt":"<p>Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn.<\/p>","slug":"practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":43,"title":"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter","description":"<p>Before we get started, there is another excellent article in our archives on preparing your lawn and landscape for&nbsp;the chilly seasons. \"<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a>\" includes practical advice such as making sure the leaves are all raked up and the need for late fall&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Pre-Winter Lawn Mowing<\/h2><p>The most important tip is the need to mow your lawn short for the winter, especially in the northern areas of the country. If the grass is left too long, it will lay over on itself from the pressure of the snow cover. Air circulation around the plant is reduced, and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a>, a destructive early spring lawn disease, can become a problem in your lawn. It can cause large areas of grass to die, or at least weaken in vigor. Spring green-up and grass growing may also be slow. Often the grass blades will turn brown during the winter. This is a normal response to the cold weather of winter. The grass plant will need to grow an entirely new plant, from the crown up, the next spring. If there is a lot of brown grass left from the previous year, it will take a long time for the old plants to fall away and allow the new plants to show through and make the lawn green again.<\/p><h2>Other Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips<\/h2><p>There are several other late fall, early winter jobs that need attention. If you have any perennial plants that have gone dormant, cut back the brown tops. If the tops are still green, wait until they turn yellow or brown before cutting. There is still energy being transferred to the root system from the top growth. Depending upon the amount of snow cover your area receives, you may have to wait until spring to complete this yard care task.<\/p><h2>Lawn Furniture Tips<\/h2><p>Outdoor furniture should be covered or brought indoors. Clay pots and other outdoor statuary should be brought indoors to keep from breaking. Alternating freezing and thawing of these items could cause them to crack. If they are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp.<\/p><h2>Winter Mower Maintenance<\/h2><p>Your lawn mower needs attention at the end of the mowing season. Drain the gas tank or add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting \u2018old\u2019. It is also a good time to change the oil, clean the underside of the deck, sharpen the blade, and replace the spark plug and air cleaner. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting any repair on your mower, regardless of the time of year the maintenance or repair work is performed. Check out this checklist to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Winterizing-Lawn-Landscape-Equipment.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">winterize your lawn, landscape and equipment!<\/a><\/p><h2>Snow Clearing<\/h2><p>If you are in an area that receives significant snow fall, many of your plants could be damaged from excess accumulation of snow on the branches. This is especially true of evergreen trees, such as Arbor Vitae. Carefully and gently, brush the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs. If they become coated with ice, leave them alone. Trying to break off the ice could damage the tree or shrub, and won't help much with your tree maintenance. The ice normally melts at a rapid pace, even if the temperatures are below freezing. Finally, put out a bird feeder or two for our feathered friends. There are many birdseed mixes available, so choose one that will attract the varieties of birds that are most common for your area.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/maintain-care-poinsettia\/\" title=\"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia\">Poinsettias<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:11:15","excerpt":"<p>The state of your lawn in the spring is a direct result of your prep in the fall. Find out how to best prepare your lawn for the winter months.<\/p>","slug":"prepare-lawn-landscape-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prepare-lawn-landscape-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":48,"title":"Shaping Up for Spring","description":"<p><strong>Look Things Over and Make a Plan<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Did winter cause some problems for your lawn or landscape? &nbsp;Now is a good time to take stock of the situation and plan your projects for the year. &nbsp;Check out the turf for dead spots that may need seeding, address areas where poor drainage has caused your grass to thin, and check for structural problems with any of your ornamentals.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Mulch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fresh mulch provides both beauty and protection. &nbsp;Mulch\u2019s main roles include keeping in moisture and keeping out weed invaders. &nbsp;Mulch moderates soil temperatures in both hot and cold weather. &nbsp;Mulch will nourish the soil by providing food for many organisms found in the soil. &nbsp;Depending on the type, 2\u201d- 4\u201d is recommended.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Weeds can be best defined as anything unwelcome growing in your lawn, flower bed, garden\u2026or anywhere on your property. &nbsp;Weeds are often unsightly nuisances to a property owner. &nbsp;Both pre-emergent and post-emergent materials are available for keeping weeds properly managed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Pruning<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Good pruning can improve the look of a plant while helping to produce more blooms or fruit. &nbsp;Before pruning, it\u2019s important to know the particulars about the tree or shrub, and to have an eye for aesthetics. &nbsp;Some plants can be pruned almost anytime while others require special timing for proper results.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Check Equipment<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>P<\/p><p>ower equipment, whether gas or electric, requires some regular maintenance to deliver the results you want. &nbsp;Electric tools like edgers and trimmers should be cleaned, oiled and have sharp blades. &nbsp;Mowers should be tuned up and a new blade installed, or have the old one sharpened.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">More Lawn Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/shaping-spring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:48:55","excerpt":"<p>Spring is on it's way! Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your lawn is in top shape for summer.<\/p>","slug":"shaping-spring","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["shaping-spring"],"url_override":""},{"id":46,"title":"Fertilizing in the Fall","description":"<p>The days are starting to get shorter, which means that fall is coming up soon. &nbsp;With the changing of the seasons, it\u2019s time for your lawn to receive the all-important fall applications of fertilizer before the cool weather arrives. &nbsp;Your grass grows actively during the summer months and goes dormant during the cool months. &nbsp;So, providing your lawn with the right fertilization, before its natural \u201crest\u201d period, gives the turf a healthy boost before winter, promotes root growth, and provides vital food reserves for the spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, what exactly does fertilizing your lawn do besides green up the grass? &nbsp;A lot. Applying the right nutrients at this time of year, will help the lawn recover the energy it has used throughout the summer months. &nbsp;It, also, promotes new growth, recovery from wear and pest damage, and reduces the weed population. &nbsp;Regular applications of a good fertilizer, also, replaces the nutrients that have been lost to leaching, volatilization and clipping removal. Late-season fertilization of warm-season grasses should be done after the heat of summer has begun to subside, usually in early fall. &nbsp;It\u2019s important that applications be made early enough so that all of the nutrients have enough time to be absorbed before the beginning of dormancy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To combat annual weeds, like crabgrass, a pre-emergent herbicide is often combined with fertilizer in the fall. &nbsp;Pre-emergents, actually, prevent weed seeds from germinating and work with post-emergent herbicides in keeping your lawn as weed-free as possible all season. &nbsp;Regular on-going professional care for your lawn, all season, is important. The fall treatments, and other fall services, play a big part in having a thick, green, and virtually weed-free lawn through fall and into next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Benefits of Fall Fertilization:<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>-Keeps your grass green and growing later into the season.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Better recovery from the stresses of summer heat and drought.&nbsp;<\/p><p>- Increases the water-holding capacity of grass plants, which helps them withstand the drying and browning effects of winter winds.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Improves resistance to some cool weather fungus diseases by building over-all plant health.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Builds food reserves for the winter and increasing root development for denser turf next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><br><\/p><p>For additional information, visit our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fertilizing-fall-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-09 17:20:10","excerpt":"<p>The summer has been harsh on your grass, so the fall is the perfect time to fertilize. Here's how to best \"feed\" your lawn!<\/p>","slug":"fertilizing-fall","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilizing-fall"],"url_override":""},{"id":54,"title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips","description":"<p>Late fall is your last chance to take care of turf care details that will prepare your lawn for a healthy winter and give it a strong leg up next spring. If you\u2019ve been putting off putting your lawn to bed for the winter months, we strongly suggest doing it now. Our Spring-Green experts and their <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional&nbsp;lawn care services<\/a> will help you make sure your lawn is ready for the winter.<\/p><h2>Tips For Tucking In Your Lawn<\/h2><p>Lower the height of your mower. Your lawn should enter winter without any young, tender growth that could make it more appealing to winter lawn diseases, like snow mold. New, soft growth on the lawn is more prone to dry out after the first winter winds come through, which leaves you with a tan, or brown, lawn all winter. So, as late fall approaches, begin to gradually bring the cutting height down on your mower, until you are almost, but not quite scalping the lawn. Our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> article can help you sharpen your skills for this chore. It\u2019s important to do this in several steps to avoid suddenly removing all the green leaf tissue and damaging the turf.<\/p><h2>Don\u2019t Miss A Late Fall Lawn Fertilization<\/h2><p>This is a time of year when your lawn can really chow down, and make quick and good use of fertilizer. The lawn's top growth has slowed, so these lawn fertilizing nutrients go straight to the roots for a strong start next spring. Your turf, actually, converts the fertilizer into food reserves and loads up its root system so it\u2019s ready, willing, and able to get a quick (and healthy) start for growing grass in the spring. Expert&nbsp;fertilization&nbsp;from your local Spring-Green professional will help set your yard up for a successful winter. Contact your neighborhood Spring-Green professional today.<\/p><h2>Remove Leaves And Other Debris From Lawn<\/h2><p>Before snow or other winter weather hits, take the time to go over the lawn one more time. If the lawn has not been aerated, there may still be time. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Aeration<\/a> is very effective as long as the soil is not frozen. In other words, as long as we can still pull a good core, your lawn will directly benefit. Core aeration in late fall gives the plugs we pull plenty of time to \"melt\" down and to get thatch decomposing. Be sure your mower and other lawn equipment has been winterized to save grief in the spring. Late fall and winter are great times to discuss your turf care program for spring. Making a few yard care decisions early might save you money! After all, if winter is here, spring can't be far behind!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/pest-control-guides\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/moss-control\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-mowing-tips\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-lawn-care-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:59:12","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the best time of the year for those last minute lawn projects. Here are some ideas to wrap up the season before the weather gets too cold.<\/p>","slug":"fall-lawn-care-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-lawn-care-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":44,"title":"The Right Time for Fall Seeding","description":"<p>Fall is a great time for seeding your lawn. &nbsp;Your lawn may have a few thin or bare spots, or it may need a complete overseeding. &nbsp;Either way, if you\u2019re planning to seed, it\u2019s time to act. Right now, the soil temperatures are higher, which means your seed will sprout faster. You will get a renewed lawn in less time and reduce the chance of unwanted weeds shooting up first. By \u201chardening of\u201d the new grass this fall, your lawn will look better in the spring, and regular crabgrass and weed control applications can be made at the proper times. Here are five guidelines that will help to keep your new lawn on track and give you the results you\u2019ll love \u2013 this year and for years to come.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>#1:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Have your grass seed planted early:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Allow enough growing time to get in a few mowings before winter. <strong>#<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2: &nbsp;Seed-to-soil contact makes or breaks the job:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Seed must be able to put roots directly into the soil when it germinates or it will not survive long. &nbsp;Opening the soil with an aerator can make all the difference between the success or failure of the seed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#3:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Use the right kind of fertilizer on the seedbed:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>A good fertilizer, high in phosphorus for quick root growth, makes a huge difference in establishment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#4:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Keep it moist:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>After germination, your new seed will need a nearly constant supply of moisture. &nbsp;It\u2019s not necessary to water a long time in each spot, but do keep the growing zone of the new grass moist, with daily or nearly daily light watering.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#5:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Mow short in the fall, and mulch or remove leaves:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Set the mower lower for your last several mowings to\"harden off\" the grass. Control leaves by mulching them with your mower, or raking and removing them completely. &nbsp;Keeping leaves clear allows for faster green-up in the spring. Start planning now to beat the clock on your fall seeding. &nbsp;And, remember, timing makes all the difference. For further information, visit our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/other-yard-services\/aeration-overseeding.aspx\" title=\"core aeration &amp; overseeding\">core aeration &amp; overseeding<\/a> page.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/right-time-fall-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:48:08","excerpt":"<p>If you plan on seeding your lawn, the fall is the time to act. Here's some tips and tricks to ensure your success.<\/p>","slug":"right-time-fall-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["right-time-fall-seeding"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2024-10-04 16:37:49","updated_at":"2025-01-21 12:07:25","description2":"<h2><strong>What are the Benefits of Liquid Aeration<\/strong><\/h2><ul><li><strong>Improved Soil Structure<\/strong>: Liquid aeration helps break up compacted soil, allowing for better movement of air and moisture. Leading to healthier root systems which promotes vibrant growth.<\/li><li><strong>Enhanced Nutrient Uptake<\/strong>: &nbsp;Your lawn can more effectively absorb essential nutrients, resulting in a lush and green landscape.<\/li><li><strong>Increased Water Retention<\/strong>: &nbsp;Lawn care aeration improves the soil's ability to retain water, reducing the need for frequent watering which conserves resources.<\/li><li><strong>Reduced Thatch Buildup<\/strong>: Thatch is a layer of organic matter that can suffocate your grass. Liquid aeration helps break down thatch, promoting a healthier lawn ecosystem.<\/li><\/ul><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Liquid-Aeration-Graphic_v2.jpg\" style=\"width: 1080px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Illustration showing the effects of liquid aeration on grass, improving root growth and lawn density over time\"><\/p><h2><strong>How Does Liquid Aeration Work?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Liquid aeration works by using a specially formulated solution that penetrates the soil to break down compacted layers and create microscopic pores. This process allows essential elements such as air, water, and nutrients to reach the root zone more effectively. Unlike traditional core aeration, which removes plugs of soil, liquid aeration enhances soil structure without disrupting your lawn's surface. The result is improved soil aeration, increased nutrient uptake, and enhanced water retention, all of which contribute to a healthier, more vibrant lawn. In southern climates, you\u2019ll likely notice a significant improvement shortly after application, while in northern climates, the effects may take longer to become evident.<\/p><p>By choosing Spring Green\u2019s liquid aeration service, you invest in the long-term health of your grass, ensuring a lush, green landscape that thrives in any season.<\/p><h2><strong>Core Aeration vs. Liquid Aeration<\/strong><\/h2><p>When it comes to improving soil health and promoting lush, green lawns, two common aeration methods are Core Aeration and Liquid Aeration.<\/p><p>Core Aeration involves physically removing plugs of soil to create holes, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the ground; breaking down thatch. While highly effective and the industry\u2019s best practice, often used in conjunction with seeding and overseeding, dependent on your soil type this may be challenging for your service provider.<\/p><p>Alternatively, Liquid Aeration uses a specialized liquid solution that breaks up compacted soil and enhances soil structure, similar to what mechanical aeration does without pulling the plugs from the ground. This method is less invasive and can be applied quickly and efficiently. Liquid Aeration works by improving the movement of water, oxygen, and nutrients to the root zone, resulting in healthier, stronger grass. A great alternative for lawns with invisible fences, sprinkler systems, and underground lines.<\/p><p>Both methods have their benefits and depending on your soil type and your lawn's needs, Spring Green can help determine the best solution to achieve a vibrant, thriving lawn year-round.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-liquid-aeration-600x600.webp","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["liquid-aeration"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":["Liquid Aeration"],"add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":20,"name":"Flea & Tick Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Fleas and ticks are parasites that are known to carry and spread serious diseases, and they often like to live in your backyard during the summer and fall months.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">With the proper control, you can eliminate fleas and ticks from your lawn and landscape so that you, your family and your pets can safely enjoy all your yard has to offer.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"flea-tick-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE\" title=\"YouTube video player\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Protect your family and your pets from fleas and ticks. Our flea and tick control service reduces the number of parasites in your yard, so your time outdoors can be worry-free.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"9","icon_class_name":"flea-tick-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:38:01","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Flea and Tick Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Season-long defense&nbsp;<\/li><li>Protects loved ones from contracting diseases from fleas and ticks<\/li><li>Peace of mind so you can enjoy the outdoors without worry<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Flea and Tick Control Work?<\/h2><p>To help protect you and your family from fleas and ticks, our trained and licensed field service professionals will apply the proper control product to your lawn and landscape. &nbsp;<\/p><p>For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Depending on your location, you may need multiple applications throughout the seasons where flea and ticks are most active.<\/p><p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn and landscape. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should also have your pets sprayed, dusted or dipped as well as have your house treated indoors.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-flea-tick-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Flea and Tick Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Flea and Tick Control service is a cost-effective way to properly care for flea and tick problems. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea and Tick Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Flea and Tick Control service is a cost-effective way to properly care for flea and tick problems. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["flea-tick-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Surface Feeding Insect Control","Total Home Pest Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":3,"name":"Aeration & Overseeding","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Aeration and overseeding are essential in achieving a lush, carpet-like yard you won't want to leave.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Depending on your location, the best times to aerate and overseed are late summer and fall. Yearly aeration sets your lawn up for success in the seasons ahead by increasing your lawn's ability to intake nutrients, water and air and enhancing the effectiveness of fertilization and weed control.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"aeration-and-overseeding","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g4EMvJo9yNg?si=o0RELdHo4Ncripi7\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Aeration and overseeding keeps your lawn healthy and thick by keeping thatch under control, reducing insect and disease activity and soil compaction.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"5","icon_class_name":"aeration-and-overseeding","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:54:01","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Aeration and Overseeding?<\/h2><ul><li>Reduces soil compaction for better growth<\/li><li>Helps keep thatch under control<\/li><li>Reduces the opportunity for insect and disease activity<\/li><li>Maintains the healthy, thick appearance of your lawn<\/li><li>Creates a heartier, more drought and disease resistant lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Aeration and Overseeding Work?<\/h2><p>Our lawn care professional will mechanically remove plugs or cores of soil and thatch from your lawn. This is done to alleviate soil compaction so that air, water and nutrients can properly reach the grass roots to encourage healthy growth. After aeration, your turf is well prepared to receive seed.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Next, your lawn will be overseeded with the most desirable blend of turf grass based on your location and needs. Once the seed germinates, your lawn will begin to grow new grass plants resulting in a thick, healthier lawn.&nbsp;<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-aeration-and-overseeding-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Aeration and Overseeding | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Aeration & Overseeding service is a cost-effective way to properly care for lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Aeration & Overseeding | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Aeration & Overseeding service is a cost-effective way to properly care for lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["aeration-and-overseeding"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Liquid Aeration","Moss Control","Ornamental Bed Weed Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":43,"name":"Economy Lawn Care Program","description":"<p>Here\u2019s a great alternative to doing-it-yourself. Save time and trouble by letting us take care of the fertilizing and weed control. The actual cost is comparable to the cost of the materials alone. The difference is we do all the work for you so you have the time to enjoy your healthy, green lawn.<\/p>","slug":"economy-lawn-care-program","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Here\u2019s a great alternative to doing-it-yourself. The actual cost is comparable to the cost of the materials alone. The difference is we do all the work for you so you have the time to enjoy your healthy, green lawn.<\/p><ul><li>High-Quality Fertilizer<\/li><li>Effective Weed Control<\/li><li>Free Lawn and Landscape Evaluation<\/li><li>Lawn Care and Maintenance Tips<\/li><\/ul>","omni_service_id":"3","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2022-05-10 16:13:49","updated_at":"2025-01-08 15:21:46","description2":"<h2>What to Expect From Your Economy Lawn Care Program<\/h2><ul><li>High-Quality Fertilizer<\/li><li>Effective Weed Control<\/li><li>Free Lawn and Landscape Evaluation<\/li><li>Lawn Care and Maintenance Tips<\/li><li>Prepay Discount<\/li><\/ul>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-economy-program-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Economy Lawn Care Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Economy Lawn Care Program includes lawn fertilization and weed control services at a price comparable to doing it yourself. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Economy Lawn Care Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Economy Lawn Care Program includes lawn fertilization and weed control services at a price comparable to doing it yourself. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["economy-lawn-care-program"],"connected_guides_type":null,"feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Liquid Aeration","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":19,"name":"Fire Ant Control","description":"<p>Fire ants are a nuisance not only because of their painful sting but also because of the unattractive dirt mounds they create around your yard. &nbsp;<\/p><p>If fire ants have invaded your lawn, we can help you take it back. Although no product or control method will completely eliminate them, we can skillfully manage their activity and reduce the problems associated with them. &nbsp;<\/p>","slug":"fire-ant-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?si=WA9f0TmqX7Cv3GJ7\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>We'll help you be more at ease while in your yard. Our Fire Ant Control will manage the large mounds, as well as the colonies that are just starting.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"8","icon_class_name":"fire-ant-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 16:15:41","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Fire Ant Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Manages fire ant activity&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduces foraging<\/li><li>Eliminates mound construction on lawn&nbsp;<\/li><li>Decreases chance of painful stings<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Fire Ant Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our trained pest control professional will survey your lawn to locate signs of fire ant infestation, then apply the proper control products depending on your lawn\u2019s needs. Although complete fire ant eradication is impossible, our goal is to manage the activity and lessen the problems associated with the ants\u2019 nature to forage and build nests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Once the products have taken effect, you can enjoy your lawn again with minimal worry of large dirt mounds and unpleasant stings getting in the way.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-fire-ant-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Fire Ant Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Fire Ant Control service is a cost-effective way to properly care for a fire ant infestation. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fire Ant Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Fire Ant Control service is a cost-effective way to properly care for a fire ant infestation. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fire-ant-control"],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":34,"name":"Flea & Tick Add-On","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Fleas and ticks are parasites that are known to carry and spread serious diseases, and they often like to live in homeowners\u2019 lawns during the summer and fall months.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">With the proper control product, you can eliminate fleas and ticks from your lawn and landscape so that you, your family and your pets can safely enjoy all your yard has to offer.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p>This is an add-on to our <a href=\"\/services\/total-home-pest-control\">Total Home Pest Control<\/a> program.<\/p>","slug":"flea-tick-add-on","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>For additional protection, add Flea &amp; Tick Control to our Total Home Pest Control Programs. Protect your family and your pets from fleas and ticks. We'll reduce the number of parasites in your yard, so your time outdoors can be worry-free.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"38","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2022-05-04 02:50:00","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:37:41","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Flea and Tick Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Season-long defense&nbsp;<\/li><li>Protects loved ones from contracting diseases from fleas and ticks&nbsp;<\/li><li>Peace of mind so you can enjoy the outdoors without worry<\/li><li>Protection from fleas, ticks and over 30 other pests when combined with our <a href=\"\/services\/total-home-pest-control\">Total Home Pest Control<\/a> program<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Flea and Tick Control Work?<\/h2><p>To help protect you and your family from fleas and ticks, our trained and licensed field service professionals will apply the proper control product to your lawn and landscape. Depending on your location, you may need multiple applications throughout the seasons where flea and ticks are most active.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-flea-tick-add-on-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Add On Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Add Spring Green's Fleas and Tick Program to the Total Home Pest Control program and enjoy protection from fleas, ticks and over 30 other insect pests. Visit spring-green.com to find out more.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Add On Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Add Spring Green's Fleas and Tick Program to the Total Home Pest Control program and enjoy protection from fleas, ticks and over 30 other insect pests. Visit spring-green.com to find out more.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["flea-tick-add-on"],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":"","service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":53,"name":"Total Lawn Insect Control Treatment","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">No matter whether pests are present in your yard or you want to avoid future damage, our Total Lawn Insect Control will help you attain a greener, healthier lawn you can enjoy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Your lawn needs protection from insects that make a meal or a home out of your well-maintained grass, so we tailor insect control services to protect and maintain the health of your lawn.<\/span><\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-insect-control-treatment","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4iEma47k-38?si=LyXFv0PFnrffPtuD\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Take care of lawn-damaging insects above and below the ground, before they damage your lawn. Get rid of insects\u2014and get your peace of mind\u2014today.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"47","icon_class_name":"total-lawn-insect-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2025-01-09 15:13:20","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:49:01","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Total Lawn Insect Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Controls both surface and sub-surface feeding insects&nbsp;<\/li><li>Stops insects from damaging your turf&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevents future infestation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener, healthier lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Total Lawn Insect Control Work?<\/h2><p>Insects feed on all parts of the grass plant. Sub-surface feeding insects prefer to feed on the root system, while the surface feeding insects enjoy the grass blade.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To help battle these bugs, your local lawn care professional will identify the types of insects feeding on your lawn and the lifecycle they\u2019re in to determine the best control method.<\/p><p>Total Lawn Insect Control service takes care of both types of insect problems and prevents infestation that could require extensive renovation or costly reseeding of your lawn.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-total-lawn-insect-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"noindex","meta_robots_follow":"nofollow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-insect-control-treatment"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":9,"title":"Paper Wasps","description":"<p class=\"text-m\">There are 22 species of paper wasps throughout the U.S. These insects can be up to 1.25\u201d long. They have dark brown, slender bodies, black wings and yellow markings. Paper wasps are sometimes confused with yellow jackets.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Paper wasps are considered beneficial insects as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people\u2014such as homes, garages and barns. Paper wasps keep harmful insects in check and pollinate various plants.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Paper wasps live in gray, paper-like nests found in trees, on door frames, windowsills and leaves. Wasps make their nests from their saliva and plant parts.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER PAPER WASPS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Paper wasps sting some people may even have severe allergic reactions to the wasps\u2019 venom. It\u2019s never wise to dismantle a paper wasp nest on your own. Instead, call your local pest control company to take it down for you.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/paper-wasps-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Paper wasps are considered beneficial insects as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people\u2014such as homes, garages and barns. Paper wasps keep harmful insects in check and pollinate various plants.<\/p>","slug":"paper-wasps","description2":"","seo_title":"Paper Wasps l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Paper wasps are considered beneficial as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it around your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Paper Wasps l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Paper wasps are considered beneficial as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it around your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2023-07-27 21:43:38","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["paper-wasps"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Spiders","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14259 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/spiders-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-spiders\" width=\"708\" height=\"354\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">There are many different spider species throughout the world, but they all have these things in common.<\/p><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Spiders have 3-4 eyes even though the majority of them have poor vision<\/li><li>Spiders have eight legs<\/li><li>Spiders have two body regions<\/li><li>Spiders have no wings or antennae<\/li><li>All spiders are predators, and they come into your home looking for prey<\/li><\/ul><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Depending on the species, spiders make webs, live under cracks crevices or, tunnels. Webs vary by species too: funnel, orb-shaped, messy, neat and others are free-ranging.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">SPIDERS COME INTO YOUR HOME THROUGH:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Loose or open screens and doors<\/li><li>Cracks and gaps around doors and windows<\/li><li>Within items that you bring into your home or business<\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER SPIDERS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">If you have a spider infestation, call your local pest control professional to perform a thorough home inspection as well to create a comprehensive plan to get rid of them.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/spiders-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are many different spider species throughout the world, but they all have these things in common.<\/p>","slug":"spiders","description2":"","seo_title":"Spiders l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Depending on the species, spiders make webs and live under cracks, crevices, or, tunnels. Learn more about these 8-legged insects to prevent them in your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spiders l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Depending on the species, spiders make webs and live under cracks, crevices, or, tunnels. Learn more about these 8-legged insects to prevent them in your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:43:49","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spiders"],"url_override":""},{"id":5,"title":"Crickets","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14285 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-crickets.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-crickets\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">The common house cricket is a small insect that measures under one inch. They\u2019re brown and have larg back legs, long antennas and wings. Male crickets often sing at night when they\u2019re trying to find a mate.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Crickets live under rocks, logs and along a home\u2019s foundation. They\u2019re nocturnal insects and break down plant material for food that also helps renew the soil. Additionally, rodents, birds, lizards and turtles eat crickets as part of their diet.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER CRICKETS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">They are more of a nuisance with their loud chirping, but pose no real danger to humans.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Crickets live under rocks, logs and along a home\u2019s foundation. They\u2019re nocturnal insects and break down plant material for food that also helps renew the soil.<\/p>","slug":"crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Crickets l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Crickets live under rocks, logs, and along a home\u2019s foundation. Learn more about this insect you may spot around your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Crickets l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Crickets live under rocks, logs, and along a home\u2019s foundation. Learn more about this insect you may spot around your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:00:30","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":4,"title":"Rodents","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14268 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/rodents-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-mouse\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">The two prime rodents that invade homes: rats and mice. Both rodents are fast breeders and are attracted to homes with trash and readily available food. Both mice and rats enter homes through cracks and holes in foundations, walls, windows and doors.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Mice and rats will live in holes, cardboard boxes, dryer vents, attics and burrows.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER RODENTS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Both mice and rats spread disease through their feces. Mice and rats will also bite humans.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Mice come into homes looking for warmth and food, and they contaminate more food than they consume. They pose a significant danger to people because mice will chew through electrical wiring that can cause a house fire. Mice and rats also cause overall structural damage to your home.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\"><br><\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/rodents-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Rodents pose a significant danger to people because mice will chew through electrical wiring that can cause a house fire. Mice and rats also cause overall structural damage to your home.<\/p>","slug":"rodents","description2":"","seo_title":"Rodents l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Mice come into homes looking for warmth and food, and they contaminate more food than they consume. Learn more about these critters to help prevent them.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rodents l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Mice come into homes looking for warmth and food, and they contaminate more food than they consume. Learn more about these critters to help prevent them.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:46:17","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rodents"],"url_override":""},{"id":8,"title":"Pill Bugs","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14276 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-pillbugs2.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-pillbugs\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d aren\u2019t real insects. Instead, they\u2019re crustaceans that live on land. In the U.S., the most common pill bug is the Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille).<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs are scavengers that prefer to live in high moisture areas. Since their bodies don\u2019t hold water, their bodies are more active at night than during the day. During the day, pill bugs live under wood edging found in landscapes and garden beds, mulch, flowerpots and trashcans.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs are scavengers. They eat decaying plant materials and sometimes they\u2019ll damage young plants. If they can find it, they will eat decaying animals.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs find their way into homes through ground-level entrances, including sliding glass doors as well a garages and storage buildings.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER PILL BUGS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Except for destroying young plants, pill bugs don\u2019t pose a threat to people. Additionally, pill bugs won\u2019t deposit their eggs nor destroy household items.Indoor environment is too dry for them, and they die once they come inside.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/pill-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d aren\u2019t real insects. Instead, they\u2019re crustaceans that live on land. Since their bodies don\u2019t hold water, their bodies are more active at night than during the day.<\/p>","slug":"pill-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Pill Bugs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d are crustaceans that live on land. Learn more about this insect you may spot in your home or outdoors.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Pill Bugs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d are crustaceans that live on land. Learn more about this insect you may spot in your home or outdoors.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:01:25","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pill-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":14,"title":"Brown-Banded Cockroaches","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14265 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/brown-banded-cockroaches-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-brownbandedcockroaches\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">These roaches are the smallest of invasive cockroaches with adults measuring between 1\/4\u201d \u2013 2\/3\u201d. They have light brown\/tan bands that span across their backs and wings.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Brown-banded cockroaches prefer to live in warmer and drier conditions than their German cockroach cousins. Brown-banded roaches live in ceilings, attics, and appliance motors. While Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. They enjoy a high starch diet and prefer to eat wallpaper glue, book bindings and stamps.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER BROWN-BANDED COCKROACHES POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">These roaches\u2019 feces can trigger asthma and allergy attacks as well as stomach issues such as diarrhea and gastroenteritis.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/brown-banded-cockroaches-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. They enjoy a high starch diet and prefer to eat wallpaper glue, book bindings and stamps.<\/p>","slug":"brown-banded-cockroaches","description2":"","seo_title":"Brown-Banded Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. Learn more about these invasive roaches to help prevent them.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown-Banded Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. Learn more about these invasive roaches to help prevent them.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:47:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-banded-cockroaches"],"url_override":""},{"id":12,"title":"Earwigs","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14288 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-earwigs.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-earwigs\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Earwigs are small insects with reddish-brown bodies, long antennae and two pinchers at the end of their bodies. They are scary-looking but harmless.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Earwigs live outside and will migrate indoors when the weather gets cooler, looking for food. Earwigs prefer dark, humid places such as firewood piles, as well as under stones, logs, shrubs and bushes.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Earwigs are nocturnal and hide during the day. They eat plants and other insects. Since earwigs are attracted to light, they become a nuisance on porches and patios during the summer.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER EARWIGS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Other than their creepy look, earwigs are harmless to humans, and you can control their populations by moving their habitats away from your home\u2019s foundation. Also, your Spring-Green pest control technician will use a variety of products to get rid of earwigs.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/earwigs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs are small insects with reddish-brown bodies, long antennae and two pinchers at the end of their bodies. They are scary-looking but harmless.<\/p>","slug":"earwigs","description2":"","seo_title":"Earwigs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Earwigs live outside and will migrate indoors when the weather gets cooler, looking for food. Learn more about this insect that lives in dark, humid places.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Earwigs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Earwigs live outside and will migrate indoors when the weather gets cooler, looking for food. Learn more about this insect that lives in dark, humid places.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:02:25","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["earwigs"],"url_override":""},{"id":6,"title":"Ants","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14253 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-ants.jpg\" alt=\"Pest Library Ants\" width=\"672\" height=\"336\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Ants are tiny insects that enter your home or business through small cracks, windows, doors and other means of entry\u2014no matter how small. They\u2019re attracted to greasy and sweet food as well as water. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants into your home or business.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Ants live in colonies that range from 300,000 \u2013 500,000 ants. Colonies consist of workers and a queen. They can live in your property\u2019s foundation, walls, lawns and tree stumps. Worker ants can live up to seven years, and the queen can live up to 15 years. The most effective ant repellents destroy both the nest and ants.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER ANTS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Some ant species destroy fabrics and wood, while others may contaminate food, other species bite or sting.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Ants are tiny insects that enter your home or business through small cracks, windows, doors. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants into your home.<\/p>","slug":"ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Ants l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants are tiny insects that enter your home through small cracks, windows, and doors. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Ants l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants are tiny insects that enter your home through small cracks, windows, and doors. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:02:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":10,"title":"Millipedes","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14282 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/millipedes-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-millipedes\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Millipedes are small, wormlike insects with many tiny legs. Millipedes eat dead leaves and decaying wood particles.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Typically, millipedes live outside in damp places. They thrive in flowerbeds, gardens, under mulch, dead leaves and grass clipping piles. Millipedes will also live under structures such as doghouses and storage sheds.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">In the fall when it gets cooler, or after heavy rains flood their habitats, millipedes will migrate into homes. They get into homes through:<\/p><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Porches and patios.<\/li><li>By climbing foundations and into entryways.<\/li><li>Basement doors and windows.<\/li><li>Crawlspace vents.<\/li><li>Garage doors.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"text-m\">Many homeowners find millipedes living in their basements that are damp and cold. Millipedes also thrive in crawlspaces. Stored boxes and wood provide prime habitats.Leaves that blow int crawl spaces provide an excellent food source for millipedes too.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER MILLIPEDES POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Millipedes aren\u2019t dangerous. Instead, they\u2019re annoying when found in large populations, and you can easily clean them up with a vacuum. If millipede populations explode, call your local pest control company to get rid of them.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/millipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>In the fall when it gets cooler, or after heavy rains flood their habitats, millipedes will migrate into homes. Leaves that blow into crawl spaces provide an excellent food source for millipedes too.<\/p>","slug":"millipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Many homeowners find millipedes living in their basements that are damp and cold. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it in your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Many homeowners find millipedes living in their basements that are damp and cold. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it in your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:47:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["millipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":7,"title":"Silverfish","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14291 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/silverfish-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-silverfish\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Silverfish are small, teardrop insects that are brown-gray or bluish-silver in color. Silverfish can range in size from just under a 1\/2\u201d to 3\/4\u201dinches.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Silverfish prefer a high carbohydrate diet such as shampoos, book glue, cellulose, linen, silk and dead insects. Silverfish sometimes live in unopened food packages.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Silverfish are nocturnal insects, but quickly move when disturbed. You may not notice silverfish\u2019s damage until the insect is well-established in your home.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER ANTS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\"><strong>Silverfish destroy papers, clothing and wallpaper.<\/strong> You can prevent silverfish damage by controlling the humidity in your home along with caulking crawl spaces, open vents and baseboards. A clean house limits silverfish\u2019s food sources too.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/silverfish-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Silverfish are nocturnal insects, but quickly move when disturbed.<\/p>","slug":"silverfish","description2":"","seo_title":"Silverfish l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, and kitchens. Learn more about this insect to prevent it in your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Silverfish l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, and kitchens. Learn more about this insect to prevent it in your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:51:40","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["silverfish"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Booklice","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14279 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-booklice.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-booklice\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Sometimes, people find booklice stored in food products where there was high humidity encouraging mold growth.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice are about 1\/16\u201d long and range in color from translucent white to gray or brown. During the summer, female booklice produce up to 60 eggs per day, but when the weather cools down they produce fewer eggs.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\"><strong>It takes less than a month for booklice to mature from egg through adulthood.<\/strong><\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice live in areas with high humidity such as under wallpaper, in furniture, along the sides of windows, in windowsills and around potted plants.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER BOOKLICE POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice aren\u2019t dangerous to people, structures or food. Instead, they\u2019re considered annoying when found in large numbers.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/booklice-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Sometimes, people find booklice stored in food products where there was high humidity encouraging mold growth.<\/p>","slug":"booklice","description2":"","seo_title":"Booklice l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Learn more about this insect you may find in places where there is high humidity.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Booklice l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Learn more about this insect you may find in places where there is high humidity.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:03:15","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["booklice"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"German Cockroaches","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14262 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-germancockroaches.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-germancockroaches\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">German cockroaches are insects that enter your home or building through cardboard boxes, bags and in some cases, used appliances. German cockroaches have two particular dark lines on the area right behind their heads. These insects are tan or light-brown.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">German cockroaches live in warm, humid climates such as them in bathrooms and kitchens.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">GERMAN COCKROACHES ARE SCAVENGERS AND WILL EAT<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Bookbinding<\/li><li>Crumbs<\/li><li>Food on dirty dishes left overnight<\/li><li>Soap<\/li><li>Toothpaste.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"text-m\">In an apartment building, they\u2019ll move between apartments using the plumbing and pipes as their highway system to get from one unit to the next.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER GERMAN COCKROACHES POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">If you have a German cockroach infestation in your home or apartment building, contact your professional pest control company right away for an assessment and a comprehensive plan to get rid of them.<\/p><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>German cockroaches can cause intestinal problems like diarrhea, food poisoning, as well as they spread other diseases because they also feed on human feces. (World Health Organization)<\/li><li>German cockroaches also spread their secretions, partially digested food and feces as they travel across your home or through apartment buildings. (World Health Organization)<\/li><li>Their feces can trigger asthma attacks.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/german-cockroaches-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>German cockroaches are insects that enter your home or building through cardboard boxes, bags and in some cases, used appliances.<\/p>","slug":"german-cockroaches","description2":"","seo_title":"German Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"German cockroaches are insects that enter through cardboard boxes, bags, and sometimes, used appliances. Learn more about these insects to help prevent them.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"German Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"German cockroaches are insects that enter through cardboard boxes, bags, and sometimes, used appliances. Learn more about these insects to help prevent them.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:03:50","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["german-cockroaches"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":["Mosquito Program"],"related_services_text":"","related_services":["Brown Patch Disease Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Mosquito Program","Total Home Pest Control Program","Total Lawn Insect Control","Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":54,"name":"Soil Test","description":"<p>A soil test tells us the pH of the the soil as well as the amounts of nutrients that are present for turf grass health so that we can tailor your lawn care program to provide the best results possible for you.<\/p>","slug":"soil-test","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"1","excerpt":"","omni_service_id":"53","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":45,"title":"Fall Clean-up Ideas","description":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p><h2><strong>For Your Lawn and Landscape:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Keep leaves raked or mulched to prevent smothering your lawn, and to clear the ground for any final fertilization or mowing that\u2019s needed.<\/li><li>\"Harden off\" your lawn by mowing the grass shorter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clean up debris in shrub and flower beds for a neater look and less work in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Continue to water when it\u2019s very dry.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Remove expired annuals and prepare planting beds for next year.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prune summer blooming perennials, trees and shrubs. &nbsp;Avoid pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees, as they have already set their blooms and you\u2019ll lose the display if you prune now.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Plant hardy spring bulbs now for a glorious display in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><h2><strong>Around the House: <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Clean out gutters and be sure downspouts are working properly.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Disconnect and drain water hoses and store inside.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Avoid broken planting containers by either bringing them indoors, covering them against the weather elements or emptying them for winter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Set up bird feeding and water stations.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Winterize mowers and other lawn equipment by making sure gasoline is burned from any gas-powered equipment (this helps keep the lines and carburetor clear). If your mower needs repair, now is the time, before storing it.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>For further reading, view the rest of our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-clean-ideas-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:49:41","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p>","slug":"fall-clean-ideas","description2":"","seo_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-clean-ideas"],"url_override":""},{"id":42,"title":"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter","description":"<h3><strong>One average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air<\/strong><\/h3><p>As many of you are aware, plants give off oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are wonderful air purifiers\u2014one average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. It seems obvious that the more plants you have in your home, the cleaner your air will be. This is a better idea for those of you in the northern climates. Winter means sealing your house against the cold and drafts of the brutal winter winds. The air can get a little stale, so several, well-placed, houseplants can really help. There are, also, the psychological benefits of being surrounded by living houseplants. They can have a relaxing effect on people, and provide you a chance to keep exercising your 'green thumb'. Depending on the variety you pick, they can add to the overall d\u00e9cor of your home. Many plants have multi-colored leaves and some even produce flowers while indoors. Your interior environment can be aesthetically pleasing while providing a comfortable, relaxed feeling. It will require some thought on your part to choose plants that will fit the location that you select for them.<\/p><h3><strong>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one<\/strong><\/h3><p>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one. All others require varying degrees of care. Some that are relatively maintenance-free are Aloes, Cactus, Spider Plants, Pothos, and Dracaenas. Unless you are very experienced with indoor plants, you may wish to avoid any requiring special growing conditions such as African Violets and Orchids. All plants need light to survive. Some plants that can endure low light, such as from a north window, are Chinese Evergreens, Sansevieria (also called Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law's Tongue) and Heartleaf Philodendron. I can, personally, attest to the fact that the majority of the plants named so far will survive in extreme conditions. I sometimes think that I have conditioned my plants to survive in cave-like conditions. I am actually afraid to move them into better growing conditions for fear they may not know how to survive in the 'normal' world of light and adequate water supplies.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most plants that you purchase have a small tag that gives the light and watering requirements, so it is advisable to follow the directions. The Arizona Cooperative Extension Service has a good <a href=\"http:\/\/ag.arizona.edu\/pubs\/garden\/mg\/indoor\/lists.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a> to help pick indoor plants. A useful feature of their site is their use of common names for the plants, instead of the unpronounceable Latin names. The site has a comprehensive list of plants and the type of environment that is best suited for them to survive. Unfortunately, they don't list 'cave-like' as one of the choices, so I guess I will have to retrain my plants to allow them to live in a 'better' world. Too much or too little water is the number one factor that accounts for the majority of losses with plants \u2013 whether in the yard or in the home. This is the area where I realized that I was making several mistakes. In most potted plants, the roots are growing in the bottom 2\/3 of the pot. If I were feeling guilty about the care my plants were receiving and paid serious attention to them, I would water them at least once a week. That may have been too much, as the top dries out much faster than the root zone. The best way to check is to poke your finger into the pot about 2\u201d or up to your second knuckle. If the soil feels moist, do not water, but check again in a couple of days. If you prefer not to get your fingers dirty, there are fancy moisture meters available, but they are about $50. Personally, I would rather get my fingers a little dirty \u2013 it reminds me of working in my garden.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Some other factors that can affect moisture loss are the type of growing medium or soil that the plant is growing in, the type of pot used, or the amount of sunlight the plant receives. If you water when the soil on top is dry, you will probably over-water the plant. When you do water, supply enough so that it runs out of the bottom \u2013 assuming the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. It is always best to use a pot that has a drainage hole in the bottom to allow water to pass through the soil. There are two good reasons for this: to ensure the root zone receives enough water, and to allow excess salts (from fertilizers) and other minerals to pass through the soil. You should also be sure to not let the plant sit in the water that runs out. This practice allows the excess salts and other minerals, which were just washed out of the soil, to be re-absorbed. Pour off the excess water from the collection dish. If you do want to use a fancier pot that does not have a drainage hole, then place a smaller pot with a drainage hole, into the larger pot. This will allow the water to flow through the soil and allow you to use a more decorative pot. By the way, if you cannot poke your finger an inch or so into the pot, then it is either really dry or it is root-bound and should be re-potted into a larger pot.<\/p><h3><strong>Feed your indoor plants similar to the way you fertilize your outdoor plants.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Feeding your indoor plants is similar to the way outdoor plant and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> works. The general rule is to fertilize every two weeks, from March to September. Let the plants rest during the winter and do not fertilize them, unless they have unique requirements that dictate feeding at this time of year. Most indoor plants are imported from the tropics and need plenty of humidity. A humidifier is a good way to increase the relative humidity for the plants. Another way to increase the relative humidity is to set the plant in a tray with a layer of gravel in which an even level of water is maintained below the top of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it will provide an increase in the relative humidity. Misting has not proven to be adequate in increasing the relative humidity for the plants, but it doesn't hurt to do it. It is better to mist the plants in the morning so they have a chance to dry before dark. This is the same reason that it is best not to water your outdoor plants or lawn at night. Many diseases perpetuate during the cool, dark hours of nighttime. Adding available moisture at that time increases the potential for disease development. Living plants definitely improve your physical and mental indoor environment. If you choose them carefully and give them a little TLC, they will provide years of enjoyment and provide you with a chance to keep your gardening skills honed.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-grow-hostas\/\" title=\"How to Care for and Grow Hostas\">Hostas<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/care-indoor-plants-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:08:38","excerpt":"<p>The average-sized potted plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. Having plants especially during the cold winter months, provides cleaner air throughout your home. Learn how to best care for them.<\/p>","slug":"care-indoor-plants-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["care-indoor-plants-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":49,"title":"It's Time to Plant Spring Bulbs","description":"<p>\"Gardner\u2019s regret\" strikes when a gardener looks out in the early spring to see neighbors\u2019 yards sporting plots of colorful crocus and dancing daffodils, and realizes he or she has failed to plant spring-flowering bulbs. &nbsp;To have a wonderful array of flowers next spring, plant bulbs in the fall. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring bloomers develop their roots in the fall, before winter really sets in. &nbsp;This growth period is crucial to next spring\u2019s successful flowering. Bulbs will perform better if you prepare the soil before planting them. &nbsp;Dig out the soil to a depth of about 10\u201d and work in organic matter, like peat moss or compost. A tool called a bulb planter is helpful; it is an open-tipped, cone-shaped tool with a handle on top that scoops deep but narrow holes to plant the bulbs. Be sure to mix in bone meal, or similar bulb fertilizer, before planting bulbs with pointed ends up.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Have a Colorful Garden All Spring<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>To ensure continuous bloom next spring, be sure to plant a mixture of early and mid-season bloomers. &nbsp;For the very earliest bloomers, try crocus, narcissus, and glory of the snow. &nbsp;Crocus blooms are yellow, blue or bi-colored and 3 to 5 inches tall. &nbsp;Narcissus, also commonly called daffodil, is on a stem a foot or so high and ranges in color from white to dark yellows and oranges. &nbsp;Deer, chipmunks, and squirrels won\u2019t dig up narcissus bulbs, making it a good choice for many. &nbsp;Glory of the Snow grows 6 to 8 inches tall, producing a blue flower with a white eye. Sweet-smelling hyacinth is a tallish, mid-season bloomer. &nbsp;Its small version, hyacinth, blooms a little earlier. &nbsp;Hyacinth includes pink, white, yellow and blue varieties. &nbsp;Tulips, the most popular mid-season bloomers, come in an infinite variety of colors and bloom times. Spring flowering bulbs of all kinds are an important part of maintaining year-round color in any garden, and fall is the season to begin or expand your plantings.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For further reading, view our other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard\/\">spring cleanup tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/time-plant-spring-bulbs-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:51","excerpt":"<p>Nothing says spring more than a beautiful array of flowers. Make sure your spring landscape is bursting with shades of the rainbow by planting bulbs in the fall. Here are some tips.<\/p>","slug":"time-plant-spring-bulbs","description2":"","seo_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["time-plant-spring-bulbs"],"url_override":""},{"id":47,"title":"6 Things to Consider Before Seeding In The Spring!","description":"<p>It\u2019s spring! The weather is becoming warmer, and you\u2019re ready to get outside and turn your attention to lawn and landscape projects. While spring may seem like a great time to seed some of those thin or brown patches in your lawn, it may be better to wait. Here\u2019s why... Spring seeding makes it difficult to effectively control annual weeds, such as crabgrass, with pre-emergents. Pre-emergents stop weeds by creating a barrier below the soil surface to keep the weeds from ever sprouting. However, the same pre-emergent that kills crabgrass seedlings will keep your new grass from sprouting, too.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Putting off your early spring application of pre-emergent weed control can give crabgrass, and their weeds, a strong foothold. Once established, crabgrass spreads very quickly and can crowd out your new grass. Choosing to seed after pre-emergents have been applied also presents problems. Raking, or cultivating, the soil for planting will break the pre-emergent barrier under the soil and decrease its effectiveness. Conditions are best for planting lawn seed in the fall. Soil temperatures are ideal in late summer and early fall for quick germination of your lawn seed. Seeding in the fall allows your new turf to develop a strong root system before heading into the next season\u2019s hot, dry summer months. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>If Spring Seeding Can\u2019t Wait,&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Consider These 6 Things!&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Wait to sow your seeds until soil temperatures reach 55 degrees (use a meat thermometer to check soil temperatures at a 1\u201d depth).<\/li><li><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">If you have bare spots that you must seed in the spring, mark the seeded areas with straw or light mulch so pre-emergents can be avoided in those areas.<\/span><\/li><li>Keep the seeded area well watered, as crabgrass thrives in dry soil.<\/li><li>Mow the area normally once the new grass is as tall as the rest of the lawn, to avoid the new turf growing too tall and lanky.<\/li><li>Weed control applications should be avoided on the young grass until it has been mowed 3 to 5 times.<\/li><li>If you plan a general, or large area seeding, a special program of crabgrass control should be worked out to prevent problems in the summer.<\/li><\/ol><p>For further information, visit our <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" target=\"_blank\">core aeration and overseeding<\/a> page or <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact your local Spring Green&nbsp;<\/a>professional<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/weeding-truth-spring-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:45:32","excerpt":"<p>Is spring the best time to seed your lawn? Find out!<\/p>","slug":"weeding-truth-spring-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weeding-truth-spring-seeding"],"url_override":""},{"id":289,"title":"Preventing Salt Damage","description":"<p>Salt damage to lawns and landscape plants normally comes from two sources. It comes from commercial salt used on city streets that may be splashed or spread on your yard, or from the use of an \"ice melt\" product that you may use to \"de-ice\" sidewalks or driveways. The easiest way to prevent the damage is not to plant anything close to the areas where they may be exposed to salt. Moving small shrubs or perennials is easy to do. It becomes much harder when it is a large tree, or extensive area of turf, like a parkway. The best way of preventing lawn and yard damage is not to use salt, or salt-like products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Threats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage from salt occurs when the foliage is burned by the salt product being splashed on to it, or when the salt is absorbed through the root system. The greatest damage is on the side that faces, or is adjacent to, the street, sidewalk, or driveway. It may take several years for enough salt to accumulate to cause severe damage to the plants. Normal rainfall will usually wash the salt deep into the soil. Constant repeating of the activity will increase the concentration levels, which leads to more severe problems. The plants may weaken or die as the levels accumulate to higher levels. Some plants, like the white pine, are especially sensitive to salt damage. Others are more resistant, such as many of the southern turfgrass varieties of Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass. Unfortunately, these grasses will not grow in the northern climates. Their use is, therefore, limited to the South and the transition zone between northern and southern states.<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention and modification are the best approaches to reduce salt damage. You can erect a barrier, using burlap or landscape fabric, in an effort to keep the salt from entering a landscape bed. You can cover plants with the same materials and that will help to keep the foliage from burning. If your parkway is always being damaged from salt, then consider replacing part or all of it with landscape bricks or decorative stones. Also, there is a variety of grass- fults pucinnellia distans, that has good salt tolerance. This may be used in a blend with other northern turfgrasses to develop a stand of grass that will not be damaged as easily.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are \"ice-melt\" products that you can use around your home that do a good job and will not damage the grass along the edges of the sidewalks or driveways. The name, \"ice-melt\" is a misnomer. Most of the products do not \"melt\" the ice as much as break the bond between the ice and the surface below it. Once the ice is loose, it can be removed easily. Commercial products that contain potassium chloride have a lower burn potential than ones that contain sodium chloride. Sand, kitty litter, and cinders will work as an aid to prevent someone from slipping on the ice, but do not work as well as an \"ice-melt\" compound. It is usually not a good idea to use regular rock salt, as it will damage the surrounding grass and plants easily, and it can damage concrete and blacktop. Having to deal with snow and ice is a \"fact of life\" when you live in the northern climates. Trying to remove it from streets, sidewalks, and driveways can be a challenge. <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Protecting your lawn and landscape<\/a> from the adverse effects of salt and \"ice-melt\" products can be a bigger challenge. If you do some planning and use products that are less damaging, then you will not have as much turf care work to complete the following spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>As always, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your local Spring Green if you have questions regarding your lawn and salt damage prevention. Our experts are glad to help.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\"><\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">More Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/salt-damage-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:24","excerpt":"<p>Keeping sidewalks free and clear of ice and snow is essential in the wintertime, but you could be feeling the effects of salt on your landscape well into spring. Learn how to prevent the headache.<\/p>","slug":"preventing-salt-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["preventing-salt-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":294,"title":"Practice Smart Lawn Care for a Healthier and Greener Lawn","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7564 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/a-beautiful-lawn.jpg\" alt=\"a beautiful lawn\" width=\"800\" height=\"300\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Practicing smart lawn care is more than cutting your lawn. Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn. Sustainable lawn care includes utilizing proper fertilizers, saving energy, and properly using lawn clippings. Below are best practices to deliver a healthy green beautiful lawn.<\/p><h2>A Nice looking Lawn - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><h3>Clippings<\/h3><p>Clippings are&nbsp;a great benefit because they contain valuable nutrients that can be recycled back into the soil. We may suggest collecting your clippings in certain situations where the lawn may have a disease or it has grown too long. Clippings are nutrient rich and made mostly from water; they will not significantly contribute to excessive thatch build-up. Excessive thatch build-up from other organic sources can increase the stress levels of your lawn making it more susceptible to insects and lawn disease as well as inhibiting proper root development. If the thatch level on your lawn exceeds 1\/2\", Spring-Green recommends Core Aeration.<\/p><h3>Seeding<\/h3><p>Whether establishing a new lawn or just reseeding thin or bare spots, best results are generally achieved in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Seeding in spring can delay or prevent your spring treatment containing pre-emergent crabgrass control.<\/p><h2>How to Mow &amp; Water a Lawn -- Lawn Care Techniques<\/h2><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7565 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lawn-mowing.jpg\" alt=\"lawn mowing \" width=\"800\" height=\"300\"><\/p><h3>Watering<\/h3><p>Proper watering is one of the most important cultural practices you can provide. Most lawns will require at least one inch of water per week to encourage proper color, density and overall health. Typically, watering one day a week, 1 hour per area in the early&nbsp;morning will encourage deeper root development and discourage disease development. When watering, you must consider the method and the amount of water applied. Most home lawns will require at least one inch of water per week.<\/p><h3>Mowing<\/h3><p>Mowing properly will greatly increase the health and beauty of your lawn. If your lawn has Tall Fescue, you should mow it at 3 1\/2\" to 4\". &nbsp;For Bermuda and Zoysia grass, mow between 3\/4\" to 2\". Longer grass blades will shade the ground beneath, keeping it cooler and moist for a longer time. Alternate your pattern of mowing each time to ensure a more even cut. Keep the mower blade sharp! https:\/\/youtu.be\/9V_clvJH-v8<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:11:19","excerpt":"<p>Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn.<\/p>","slug":"practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":43,"title":"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter","description":"<p>Before we get started, there is another excellent article in our archives on preparing your lawn and landscape for&nbsp;the chilly seasons. \"<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a>\" includes practical advice such as making sure the leaves are all raked up and the need for late fall&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Pre-Winter Lawn Mowing<\/h2><p>The most important tip is the need to mow your lawn short for the winter, especially in the northern areas of the country. If the grass is left too long, it will lay over on itself from the pressure of the snow cover. Air circulation around the plant is reduced, and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a>, a destructive early spring lawn disease, can become a problem in your lawn. It can cause large areas of grass to die, or at least weaken in vigor. Spring green-up and grass growing may also be slow. Often the grass blades will turn brown during the winter. This is a normal response to the cold weather of winter. The grass plant will need to grow an entirely new plant, from the crown up, the next spring. If there is a lot of brown grass left from the previous year, it will take a long time for the old plants to fall away and allow the new plants to show through and make the lawn green again.<\/p><h2>Other Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips<\/h2><p>There are several other late fall, early winter jobs that need attention. If you have any perennial plants that have gone dormant, cut back the brown tops. If the tops are still green, wait until they turn yellow or brown before cutting. There is still energy being transferred to the root system from the top growth. Depending upon the amount of snow cover your area receives, you may have to wait until spring to complete this yard care task.<\/p><h2>Lawn Furniture Tips<\/h2><p>Outdoor furniture should be covered or brought indoors. Clay pots and other outdoor statuary should be brought indoors to keep from breaking. Alternating freezing and thawing of these items could cause them to crack. If they are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp.<\/p><h2>Winter Mower Maintenance<\/h2><p>Your lawn mower needs attention at the end of the mowing season. Drain the gas tank or add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting \u2018old\u2019. It is also a good time to change the oil, clean the underside of the deck, sharpen the blade, and replace the spark plug and air cleaner. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting any repair on your mower, regardless of the time of year the maintenance or repair work is performed. Check out this checklist to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Winterizing-Lawn-Landscape-Equipment.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">winterize your lawn, landscape and equipment!<\/a><\/p><h2>Snow Clearing<\/h2><p>If you are in an area that receives significant snow fall, many of your plants could be damaged from excess accumulation of snow on the branches. This is especially true of evergreen trees, such as Arbor Vitae. Carefully and gently, brush the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs. If they become coated with ice, leave them alone. Trying to break off the ice could damage the tree or shrub, and won't help much with your tree maintenance. The ice normally melts at a rapid pace, even if the temperatures are below freezing. Finally, put out a bird feeder or two for our feathered friends. There are many birdseed mixes available, so choose one that will attract the varieties of birds that are most common for your area.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/maintain-care-poinsettia\/\" title=\"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia\">Poinsettias<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:11:15","excerpt":"<p>The state of your lawn in the spring is a direct result of your prep in the fall. Find out how to best prepare your lawn for the winter months.<\/p>","slug":"prepare-lawn-landscape-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prepare-lawn-landscape-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":48,"title":"Shaping Up for Spring","description":"<p><strong>Look Things Over and Make a Plan<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Did winter cause some problems for your lawn or landscape? &nbsp;Now is a good time to take stock of the situation and plan your projects for the year. &nbsp;Check out the turf for dead spots that may need seeding, address areas where poor drainage has caused your grass to thin, and check for structural problems with any of your ornamentals.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Mulch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fresh mulch provides both beauty and protection. &nbsp;Mulch\u2019s main roles include keeping in moisture and keeping out weed invaders. &nbsp;Mulch moderates soil temperatures in both hot and cold weather. &nbsp;Mulch will nourish the soil by providing food for many organisms found in the soil. &nbsp;Depending on the type, 2\u201d- 4\u201d is recommended.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Weeds can be best defined as anything unwelcome growing in your lawn, flower bed, garden\u2026or anywhere on your property. &nbsp;Weeds are often unsightly nuisances to a property owner. &nbsp;Both pre-emergent and post-emergent materials are available for keeping weeds properly managed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Pruning<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Good pruning can improve the look of a plant while helping to produce more blooms or fruit. &nbsp;Before pruning, it\u2019s important to know the particulars about the tree or shrub, and to have an eye for aesthetics. &nbsp;Some plants can be pruned almost anytime while others require special timing for proper results.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Check Equipment<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>P<\/p><p>ower equipment, whether gas or electric, requires some regular maintenance to deliver the results you want. &nbsp;Electric tools like edgers and trimmers should be cleaned, oiled and have sharp blades. &nbsp;Mowers should be tuned up and a new blade installed, or have the old one sharpened.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">More Lawn Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/shaping-spring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:48:55","excerpt":"<p>Spring is on it's way! Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your lawn is in top shape for summer.<\/p>","slug":"shaping-spring","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["shaping-spring"],"url_override":""},{"id":46,"title":"Fertilizing in the Fall","description":"<p>The days are starting to get shorter, which means that fall is coming up soon. &nbsp;With the changing of the seasons, it\u2019s time for your lawn to receive the all-important fall applications of fertilizer before the cool weather arrives. &nbsp;Your grass grows actively during the summer months and goes dormant during the cool months. &nbsp;So, providing your lawn with the right fertilization, before its natural \u201crest\u201d period, gives the turf a healthy boost before winter, promotes root growth, and provides vital food reserves for the spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, what exactly does fertilizing your lawn do besides green up the grass? &nbsp;A lot. Applying the right nutrients at this time of year, will help the lawn recover the energy it has used throughout the summer months. &nbsp;It, also, promotes new growth, recovery from wear and pest damage, and reduces the weed population. &nbsp;Regular applications of a good fertilizer, also, replaces the nutrients that have been lost to leaching, volatilization and clipping removal. Late-season fertilization of warm-season grasses should be done after the heat of summer has begun to subside, usually in early fall. &nbsp;It\u2019s important that applications be made early enough so that all of the nutrients have enough time to be absorbed before the beginning of dormancy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To combat annual weeds, like crabgrass, a pre-emergent herbicide is often combined with fertilizer in the fall. &nbsp;Pre-emergents, actually, prevent weed seeds from germinating and work with post-emergent herbicides in keeping your lawn as weed-free as possible all season. &nbsp;Regular on-going professional care for your lawn, all season, is important. The fall treatments, and other fall services, play a big part in having a thick, green, and virtually weed-free lawn through fall and into next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Benefits of Fall Fertilization:<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>-Keeps your grass green and growing later into the season.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Better recovery from the stresses of summer heat and drought.&nbsp;<\/p><p>- Increases the water-holding capacity of grass plants, which helps them withstand the drying and browning effects of winter winds.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Improves resistance to some cool weather fungus diseases by building over-all plant health.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Builds food reserves for the winter and increasing root development for denser turf next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><br><\/p><p>For additional information, visit our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fertilizing-fall-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-09 17:20:10","excerpt":"<p>The summer has been harsh on your grass, so the fall is the perfect time to fertilize. Here's how to best \"feed\" your lawn!<\/p>","slug":"fertilizing-fall","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilizing-fall"],"url_override":""},{"id":54,"title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips","description":"<p>Late fall is your last chance to take care of turf care details that will prepare your lawn for a healthy winter and give it a strong leg up next spring. If you\u2019ve been putting off putting your lawn to bed for the winter months, we strongly suggest doing it now. Our Spring-Green experts and their <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional&nbsp;lawn care services<\/a> will help you make sure your lawn is ready for the winter.<\/p><h2>Tips For Tucking In Your Lawn<\/h2><p>Lower the height of your mower. Your lawn should enter winter without any young, tender growth that could make it more appealing to winter lawn diseases, like snow mold. New, soft growth on the lawn is more prone to dry out after the first winter winds come through, which leaves you with a tan, or brown, lawn all winter. So, as late fall approaches, begin to gradually bring the cutting height down on your mower, until you are almost, but not quite scalping the lawn. Our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> article can help you sharpen your skills for this chore. It\u2019s important to do this in several steps to avoid suddenly removing all the green leaf tissue and damaging the turf.<\/p><h2>Don\u2019t Miss A Late Fall Lawn Fertilization<\/h2><p>This is a time of year when your lawn can really chow down, and make quick and good use of fertilizer. The lawn's top growth has slowed, so these lawn fertilizing nutrients go straight to the roots for a strong start next spring. Your turf, actually, converts the fertilizer into food reserves and loads up its root system so it\u2019s ready, willing, and able to get a quick (and healthy) start for growing grass in the spring. Expert&nbsp;fertilization&nbsp;from your local Spring-Green professional will help set your yard up for a successful winter. Contact your neighborhood Spring-Green professional today.<\/p><h2>Remove Leaves And Other Debris From Lawn<\/h2><p>Before snow or other winter weather hits, take the time to go over the lawn one more time. If the lawn has not been aerated, there may still be time. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Aeration<\/a> is very effective as long as the soil is not frozen. In other words, as long as we can still pull a good core, your lawn will directly benefit. Core aeration in late fall gives the plugs we pull plenty of time to \"melt\" down and to get thatch decomposing. Be sure your mower and other lawn equipment has been winterized to save grief in the spring. Late fall and winter are great times to discuss your turf care program for spring. Making a few yard care decisions early might save you money! After all, if winter is here, spring can't be far behind!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/pest-control-guides\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/moss-control\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-mowing-tips\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-lawn-care-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:59:12","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the best time of the year for those last minute lawn projects. Here are some ideas to wrap up the season before the weather gets too cold.<\/p>","slug":"fall-lawn-care-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-lawn-care-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":44,"title":"The Right Time for Fall Seeding","description":"<p>Fall is a great time for seeding your lawn. &nbsp;Your lawn may have a few thin or bare spots, or it may need a complete overseeding. &nbsp;Either way, if you\u2019re planning to seed, it\u2019s time to act. Right now, the soil temperatures are higher, which means your seed will sprout faster. You will get a renewed lawn in less time and reduce the chance of unwanted weeds shooting up first. By \u201chardening of\u201d the new grass this fall, your lawn will look better in the spring, and regular crabgrass and weed control applications can be made at the proper times. Here are five guidelines that will help to keep your new lawn on track and give you the results you\u2019ll love \u2013 this year and for years to come.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>#1:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Have your grass seed planted early:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Allow enough growing time to get in a few mowings before winter. <strong>#<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2: &nbsp;Seed-to-soil contact makes or breaks the job:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Seed must be able to put roots directly into the soil when it germinates or it will not survive long. &nbsp;Opening the soil with an aerator can make all the difference between the success or failure of the seed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#3:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Use the right kind of fertilizer on the seedbed:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>A good fertilizer, high in phosphorus for quick root growth, makes a huge difference in establishment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#4:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Keep it moist:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>After germination, your new seed will need a nearly constant supply of moisture. &nbsp;It\u2019s not necessary to water a long time in each spot, but do keep the growing zone of the new grass moist, with daily or nearly daily light watering.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#5:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Mow short in the fall, and mulch or remove leaves:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Set the mower lower for your last several mowings to\"harden off\" the grass. Control leaves by mulching them with your mower, or raking and removing them completely. &nbsp;Keeping leaves clear allows for faster green-up in the spring. Start planning now to beat the clock on your fall seeding. &nbsp;And, remember, timing makes all the difference. For further information, visit our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/other-yard-services\/aeration-overseeding.aspx\" title=\"core aeration &amp; overseeding\">core aeration &amp; overseeding<\/a> page.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/right-time-fall-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:48:08","excerpt":"<p>If you plan on seeding your lawn, the fall is the time to act. Here's some tips and tricks to ensure your success.<\/p>","slug":"right-time-fall-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["right-time-fall-seeding"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":23,"title":"Mushrooms","description":"<p>When the temperatures rise and there has been an abundance of rain or supplemental irrigation.&nbsp; Mushrooms come in all shapes and colors.&nbsp; For the most part, mushrooms are a good thing as they are a sign that there is plenty of activity going on in the soil food web below the ground. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that feed on organic material that exists in the soil, providing nutrients to other microorganism as well as to the roots of landscapes plants and to the turf. There are a lot of fungi varieties that can cause problems in lawns. Mushrooms are among the most visible, but least harmful of lawn fungi. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-ring\/\" title=\"Fairy Ring\">Fairy rings<\/a> are caused by up to 50 different types of fungi and create expanding rings in turf. Although fairy rings and mushrooms are not harmful, they are unslightly for some people. Here are a few facts about mushrooms and how to help control them on your lawn.<\/p><h3><strong>Mushrooms Don't Harm Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p><img class=\"size-full wp-image-7173 alignright fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp\" alt=\"mushrooms growing in a yard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mushrooms are caused by a large number of different fungi, and the good news is they won't cause lawn diseases. They are sensitive to moisture and normally appear during periods of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures or on very heavily irrigated turf. Mushrooms feed on decaying organic material on the lawn in the thatch or soil, and do not attack living grass plants. Shallow dead tree roots, construction debris, or heavy thatch on the lawn can become the \"host\" that mushrooms feed upon. In almost all cases, mushrooms will disappear when lawn moisture levels return to normal and regular mowing will help get rid of these unsightly fungi. Some of the fungi that cause mushrooms are sensitive to fungicides. Usually fungicides will only help prevent further mushrooms from developing and not kill the current ones. Because of this, we normally advise that attempting to remove mushrooms chemically is not really feasible. It's also a good idea to determine what kind of mushrooms your lawn is developing or spotting types of mushrooms in your neighborhood area. Although mushrooms don't affect your turf, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">mushrooms are toxic for pets<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How To Control Mushrooms In Your Lawn<\/strong> To control mushrooms on the lawn, we recommend keeping the soil open and reduce water frequency for the time being. Make sure you're following <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Watering-Facts-and-Best-Practices.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best watering practices<\/a> to avoid over watering your lawn (over watering leads to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Brown Patch<\/a>). Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> helps keep the soil open and allows more air, nutrients and water to reach the root zone for healthy, thick grass. These tips will generally help control mushrooms, and prevent new mushrooms from emerging on the lawn. Mushrooms don't last a long time once they surface and will usually decompose in a couple of days. &nbsp;There are no products that will keep mushrooms from growing in a lawn or landscape bed. They can be hand-picked and thrown away, but it is a good idea to wear gloves when doing so as some mushrooms are poisonous. &nbsp;Normally mowing will also remove those mushrooms that grow taller than the turf. They can also be kicked over or they can be a way to improve your golf swing.<\/p><h3>Partnering With Spring-Green For a Healthy Lawn<\/h3><p>Having a healthy lawn is the result of a continuous process. And in the process of creating great conditions for growing grass, the very best results come when you and Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> work together as partners. If mushrooms are growing in a circle within a lawn or are growing within a darker green circle of arc, this could be a sign of a disease called Fairy Ring. If mushrooms are growing in this type of pattern, call your Neighborhood Lawn Care Professional to inspect your lawn. They will provide the best recommendations to reduce the severity of this disease, which usually involves yearly core aeration on the lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread\/\" title=\"Red Thread\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:50:35","excerpt":"<p>There are a lot of fungus varieties that can cause problems in turf grass. Mushrooms are among the most visible but least harmful of lawn fungi.<\/p>","slug":"mushrooms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mushrooms"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Rust Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust. Not the same kind you'd find on your metal patio furniture, or your car, of course. But one that can be just as destructive. Rust is a fairly common lawn disease caused by fungus. It usually shows up from mid-summer through late fall, once the growth of your grass has slowed. But rust can also appear any time your turf is under stress, like after extended dry periods. Rust spores are tiny and very light weight. They can be carried long distances by the wind, which means that even the best kept lawns can be infected. Usually, grasses with a fine texture and deep color, like perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, are the most likely victims of rust lawn disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Recognizing Rust<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust usually takes hold in shaded areas first, during warm, humid weather. Any grass that remains wet for long periods of time, because of too much watering, lingering dew or poor drainage, could find itself rusting away. The fungi symptoms of this lawn disease begin as tiny yellow spots on the grass blades. These spots become elongated and eventually rupture into clusters of rust-orange spores that give the disease its name. When touched, the powdery, dust-like rust spores leave a color a lot like the fine particles of rust from metal.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_DMpX2lNsF4?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>Treating Rust Through Lawn Fertilization And Mowing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust that is not treated can quickly thin and destroy good turf, and it is especially dangerous to new seed. Once rust is established, a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer works better than lawn disease controls for treating the condition. By mowing more frequently, at a higher mower height, you can also help to remove the rust spores before they spread to other leaves.<\/p><h3><strong>Prevention is the Best Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>, eliminating the conditions that cause rust is the best lawn treatment. Your lawn service professionals at Spring-Green want to make sure your grass remains healthy and beautiful this season. By working together, we can develop a maintenance <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service&nbsp;<\/a> plan to keep your lawn as disease-free as possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/rust-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:54:19","excerpt":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust.<\/p>","slug":"rust-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rust-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Dollar Spot","description":"<p>Dollar spot is not a picky parasite; this <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> infects and kills a lot of different grasses. True to its name, dollar spot develops small, distinct circles from 1 to 6'' across, about the size of a silver dollar or a small pancake. Because these spots don't look very serious individually, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. But because dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, serious scarring of the lawn can occur.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Might Start Seeing Spots:<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus survives the winter as dormant mycelium (or fungal growth) in plant parts in the thatch and soil. When temperatures get into the 60s, the lawn disease starts growing again. The peak of disease activity occurs when temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees. Other factors that trigger development of dollar spot lawn disease include low soil moisture when the humidity is high; low nitrogen fertility; too much thatch on the lawn; and mowing too short during hot weather. Lawns not on a quality program that provides the correct blend of fertilizers, or that don't get properly watered or mowed are most likely to catch a case of dollar spot.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: How You Can Spot It<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are two easy ways to identify dollar spot lawn disease on turf. The first is the shape and size of the damaged areas. The individual spots are usually very circular and distinct, and grow to only a few inches in diameter. Another symptom that's easy to recognize are the lesions (or infection marks) on the individual grass blades. Dollar spot lawn disease causes an hour-glass shaped band to form across the width of the grass blade. This band is light tan and has a reddish-brown edge on the top and bottom. Being a very thorough fungus, dollar spot kills the entire grass plant. After a serious bout with dollar spot, lawn renovation or reseeding will almost always be required once the disease is brought under control.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: See Spot Run \u2014 Out Of Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p>Remember your first grade reader? See Spot run. Run Spot, run. You can help make dollar spot run from your lawn. Watering right is your department. Spring-Green can take care of the rest. Since grass diseases such as dollar spot favor turf with low soil moisture, it's important to saturate the soil regularly. But, because one of the ways this lawn disease moves is by water droplets splashing, it\u2019s best to avoid frequent late afternoon or evening watering. Always allow the grass to dry out before evening. Low nitrogen fertility (which pushes disease growth) should also be corrected with the correct combinations of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> during periods of disease activity. The very best prevention for dollar spot (as well as almost all types of lawn diseases) is the Spring-Green program and regular, deep watering.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Dollar spot lawn disease appears as silver dollar sized circles in the turf.<\/li><li>Low nitrogen fertility increases dollar spot activity, as does low soil moisture.<\/li><li>Dollar spot can be more serious than it may first appear because the lawn disease kills the entire grass plant, often requiring reseeding.<\/li><li>Grass diseases move by foot and equipment traffic and by water from irrigation, rain and dew.<\/li><\/ul><p>Treatments with a fungicide can be effective, so if you suspect this disease is what's making you see spots, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green right away.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/dollar-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:59:24","excerpt":"<p>Dollar spot doesn't look very serious individually so it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. Dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, causing serious damage.<\/p>","slug":"dollar-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["dollar-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":64,"title":"How to Identify Slime Mold on Grass","description":"<p>Picture this: As you work through your lawn, you notice a little patch of grayish growth. When you inspect it closely, you notice it resembles ash that has been sprinkled on the grass blades. When you touch it, a small cloud of dust rises off the blades. You immediately go to your phone and call your lawn service or local nursery because you are concerned that this problem will spread. On your way to the phone, you notice something weird on the mulch that is spread across your landscape beds. You may ask yourself the following questions:<\/p><h2>What does Slime Mold look like?<\/h2><p>You stop for a closer look and are appalled at what you see. It looks as if someone got physically sick and vomited in your flowerbed.&nbsp;You think,&nbsp;\"How disgusting\" \u2014 Yes it is! But, is there anything to be worried about \u2014 No there is not! Both of these \"conditions\" are caused by primitive fungi known as Slime Molds.<\/p><h2>What Is Slime Mold?<\/h2><p>Slime Molds are <em>saprophytes<\/em>, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. They will creep along the soil surface in search of food by pulling themselves along with finger-like projections. During periods of warm, rainy weather, Slime Molds will creep up on grass plants, on the lower branches of ornamental plants, or across landscape beds covered with mulch when they are ready to reproduce. From these locations, they will release millions of tiny spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that will help ensure many more generations of Slime Molds. The only purpose for creeping up on the plants or mulch is to give the spores the best advantage for distribution over a large area.<\/p><h2>Will Slime Mold Hurt My Lawn?<\/h2><p>Since <em>Slime Molds are not lawn disease that damage plants<\/em>, but are actually <em>beneficial to the ecosystem<\/em> of your landscape, control is not necessary. If you find the dried patches in the lawn, help Mother Nature by sweeping the spores into the wind. The slimy patches in the mulch will dry and can be raked under. They may be unsightly, but should not cause any concern in terms of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a>. They are just part of the wonderful world of nature.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/slime-mold-.600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:26:04","excerpt":"<p>Slime Molds are saprophytes, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. Learn how to best handle this lawn disease.<\/p>","slug":"identify-slime-mold-grass","description2":"","seo_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-slime-mold-grass"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Summer patch, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">necrotic ring spot<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch<\/a>: these grass diseases take no prisoners. Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass. Any time can be a prime time for fungal lawn disease to move in, if your turf is stressed from lack of water, high temperatures, too much moisture or the wrong kind of care. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>, but first you have to know what to look for. Here are three lawn diseases that you'll notice by their usual circular or ring shapes.<\/p><h3><strong>Summer Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus usually moves in about mid-summer, when your grass is suffering from heat, drought, and high humidity. Summer patch lawn disease begins with small, scattered light green patches that turn grass reddish-brown, and then light tan. These crescent-shaped patches can come up quickly and completely destroy a lawn. Although the symptoms appear in June or July, the disease actually begins by rotting the roots of your grass in early May.<\/p><h3><strong>Necrotic Ring Spot<\/strong><\/h3><p>Necrotic Ring Spot is another serious lawn disease that can destroy a lawn very suddenly. Its patches or rings of dead grass are brought on by dry, followed by wet, weather. Lawns 2 to 8 years old are favorite victims. The disease is most active in spring and fall, but it also shows up in summer during times of water stress. If your lawn has Necrotic Ring Spot, you'll first notice scattered light yellow patches, usually 2 to 6\u201d wide. The disease leaves a ring of dead turf that becomes brown or straw color with a healthy-looking green area in the center. This has prompted the nickname frog-eye disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Brown Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>Brown patch lawn disease usually strikes in the heat of summer, during humid, wet weather, when temperatures stay high even through the night. Brown Patch lawn disease creates irregular, circular areas up to several feet wide. The diseased patches turn purplish-green and then fade to brown. Patches look sunken as the leaves of the grass die and mat down. The edges of these large spots often have a darker, water-soaked appearance.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEQ970-U63o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Lawn Diseases are Easier to Prevent than to Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the Ring Gang of lawn diseases out of your lawn:<\/p><ul><li>Spring Green\u2019s lawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/preferred-lawn-care-program\">fertilization<\/a> program controls unhealthy bursts of turf growth that can attract disease.<\/li><li>Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> helps nutrients and water reach roots and breaks up thatch, which is one place diseases like to breed.<\/li><li>Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning, keeps moisture from remaining on the grass surface too long, which attracts disease.<\/li><li>Mowing frequently, at a high height and with a sharp mower blade, further helps to keep disease out.<\/li><li><a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">Overseeding<\/a> with disease-resistant grasses is another option you can consider.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you suspect your lawn has any type of lawn disease, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green about treatment services immediately. Quick action can make a big difference to save your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JThuC06R5s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/common-patch-and-ring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:11:07","excerpt":"<p>Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass.<\/p>","slug":"common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Necrotic Ring Spot","description":"<h3><strong>Death \u2014 that's what necrosis means.<\/strong><\/h3><p>And this lawn disease lives up to its name. Though often mistaken for Summer Patch blight because of the \u201cfrog\u2019s eye\u201d appearance, Summer Patch appears most often in hot weather, while necrotic ring spot shows up during cool weather, especially after periods of prolonged rainfall.<\/p><h3><strong>When And Where The Death Ring Shows Up<\/strong><\/h3><p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue. It usually appears in late winter, spring and fall during periods of cool and wet weather. Activity is greater in areas that are not properly&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilized<\/a>,&nbsp;and Neurotic ring spot lawn disease also tends to show up again and again in areas infected in prior years.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: Where The Confusion Came From<\/strong><\/h3><p>In the early stages, necrotic ring spot lawn disease shows up as roughly circular areas of turf that look like they're suffering from drought, even though there is plenty of soil moisture. You end up with patches that appear to be wilting and drying out when the surrounding turf looks healthy and well-watered. Thatch may decompose quickly in the areas affected by this lawn&nbsp;disease, creating a sunken look to the patch or ring areas. The typical patch of healthy looking turf in the center created the Summer Patch mix-up for years. The disease itself is not active during this phase, but the damage appears because the root system has been destroyed or reduced to the point where it can't support the plant's needs, and so the wilting and drying occur.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: Lawn Fertilization and Special Watering<\/strong><\/h3><p>The amount of nitrogen fertilizer greatly affects necrotic ring spot development. A minimum of 3 pounds, and preferably 5 pounds, of available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is recommended. It\u2019s also important to provide lawn fertilizing care to keep phosphorus and potassium levels high enough. The Spring Green program delivers the correct blend of nutrients throughout the year, but having a soil test done every 3 years is a good idea to identify any major lawn fertilization deficiencies your particular soil may have. Watering daily during the early to mid-afternoon, with 1\/10 to 1\/5'' of water, has also been shown to greatly reduce the severity of necrotic ring spot. Should lawn fertilization treatments be needed, they can be applied and are effective if made early in the season: usually 6 weeks to 2 months after the turf goes through its initial green up in the spring.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Necrotic ring spot develops symptoms similar to those seen in Summer Patch blight. This resulted in confusion for many years about which disease was active.<\/li><li>This lawn disease is most common in periods of cool and wet weather.<\/li><li>Lawn fertilization is very important. Maintaining proper amounts of all of the primary nutrients reduces disease activity.<\/li><li>Special daily watering can greatly reduce the severity of a ring spot outbreak.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you have any questions on this (or any other grass diseases), <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. Spring Green has the answers to all your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> questions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/necrotic-ring-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:55:00","excerpt":"<p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue.<\/p>","slug":"necrotic-ring-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["necrotic-ring-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"Mowing and Watering","description":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose. Once out of their cages, they can run wild over your property and be very tough to get back under control. That's why we need your help in keeping diseases locked up. And the way you water and mow your lawn makes a huge difference in lawn and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass disease<\/a> activity. Here are some tips that work:<\/p><h3><strong>Water Deeply and Only When Needed<\/strong><\/h3><p>On hot, dry days, 1,000 square feet of grass can lose 190 gallons of water. That's almost 1500 gallons of water consumed by an average lawn, per day! And since your grass is 80-90% water, it\u2019s important to replace the water that's lost to prevent water weakness that gives lawn diseases an easy entry. Water early in the morning (between 4-8 a.m. is best) to give water on grass blades time to dry. Most fungal grass diseases use the moisture on grass leaves to produce spores and to move from plant to plant. When the water is there long enough, these spores have time to cause problems. Water deeply; at least 6 to 8\u201d into the soil to encourage deep roots. This usually means you have to apply 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\">watering facts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">best practices<\/a> for your lawn and landscape.<\/p><h3><strong>Water When Your Lawn Needs It, But Only Then<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn has ways of showing you when it\u2019s ready for a drink. Grass will turn deep bluish and footprints won\u2019t spring back.<\/p><h3><strong>Mowing To Trim Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>The way you mow also affects your lawns ability to resist grass diseases.<\/p><ul><li>Mow Higher. Most grass should be cut at the highest recommended setting during the summer, to protect the stem from heavy sunlight. The shorter you trim your grass, the smaller the root system will be.<\/li><li>Mow More Often. Mowing higher means doing it more often. Make sure you don't remove more than 1\/3 of the grass blade in one mowing. Scalping, or cutting your grass extremely short, leaves it wide open to disease.<\/li><li>Don't use a dull blade because this shreds the tops of the grass, and exposes the turf's tissue for lawn disease spores to easily enter. Mowing with a dull blade is shown to increase disease activity by 20% or more. And it even uses 20% more fuel than mowing with a sharp blade. To avoid this, have your blades sharpened several times a season.<\/li><li>Keep grass clippings on your lawn, which returns about 25% of the nutrients back to the soil.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a> for a greener and healthier lawn. From <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch disease<\/a> to red thread fungus, we want to keep the disease dragons at bay, but we need your help. When we work together, your lawn will stay greener, thicker and more pest-free. For more information on disease management, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mowing-watering-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:12:57","excerpt":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose.<\/p>","slug":"mowing-watering","description2":"","seo_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mowing-watering"],"url_override":""},{"id":38,"title":"Spring Dead Spot","description":"<h3><strong>A Serious But Treatable Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone. Other grass types are affected, but this lawn disease is primarily a problem with Bermuda varieties. As the name suggests, spring dead spot usually appears in the spring as circular patches of bleached dead grass. It becomes visible as the surrounding dormant turf resumes its normal spring growth. These patches range from a few inches to several feet in diameter and tend to show up and expand in the same locations for several years, and then disappear after three to four years. The fungi appear to grow most actively in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool and the soil is fairly moist. Even though damage begins in earnest in the fall, damage is masked by the turf's normal dormancy over winter. This <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> is most commonly found on mature and well maintained turf, and is much less serious on lawns receiving little or no fertilization.<\/p><h3><strong>Disease Cycle: What Spring Dead Spot Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the early stages of this disease, the inside of the patches remain alive, but die off as the infection progresses. The entire plant structure inside these rings dies, including the shoots, rhizomes and roots. Regrowth in these dead areas must occur from the expansion of surrounding healthy plants and is very slow. The rings often fill with weeds or with stunted new turf plants. This appears to be because the lawn disease leaves a toxin in the area of dead grass which makes regrowth difficult.<\/p><h3><strong>Treatment Plan Must Include Fall Applications<\/strong><\/h3><p>Treatment for spring dead spot includes carefully controlling the amount of nitrogen&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> applied to the turf, since high nitrogen levels increase activity. In addition, fungicides must be applied during the fall months to fend off extreme root and stolon rot over the winter months. Contact type fungicides can be used with some success, but must be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, systemic lawn treatment fungicides that are actually taken into the plants can be applied once in the fall at heavy rates to help control the disease the following spring.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Bermuda varieties with high cold tolerance are less prone to spring dead spot.<\/li><li>The actual fungi (or causal organism) of spring dead spot is unknown.<\/li><li>Remember that control for spring must begin in the fall.<\/li><li>Part of controlling this lawn disease is regulating the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.<\/li><\/ul><p>We make a constant study of lawns and what ails them at Spring Green. Please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">local lawn service<\/a> needs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/spring-dead-spot-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:39","excerpt":"<p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone.<\/p>","slug":"spring-dead-spot","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-dead-spot"],"url_override":""},{"id":1,"title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">turf lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight when the weather conditions are just right. Brown patch lawn disease isn't picky; it attacks a wide variety of grass types, and really likes the lawns receiving large amounts of fast release nitrogen fertilizer. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/How-Lawn-Disease-Develops.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Brown Patch Loves Hot Summer<\/h2><blockquote>\u201cBrown Patch is the most damaging turf grass disease\u201d<\/blockquote><p>Brown patch is really a summer lawn disease that's caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The disease begins to show growth when temperatures reach 65\u00b0, but the most active growth of brown patch lawn disease occurs at temperatures of 80-85\u00b0 when humidity levels are very high. The fungi survive the winter in plant debris (thatch) and enter the leaf tissue through wounds caused by mowing and through the&nbsp;pores (or stomata) when daytime temperatures get into the 70s. Infected turf grass can go quite a while without showing damage because it\u2019s actively growing. But, if the daytime temperatures reach the mid 80s and nighttime air temperatures stay above 70\u00b0, the grass will be under stress. Then, lawn disease damage can become visible almost immediately. Once started, brown patch lawn disease spreads fast. Brown patch damage first appears as circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. This dark, smoke ring is not always visible, but is more likely to appear in the early morning when there's dew on the grass. Brown patch lawn disease grows out from a central point, so these circular areas can enlarge rapidly. Brown patch circles range from a few inches in diameter to several feet, and are not always true circles. Sometimes the patches grow together, creating large irregular dead areas. Diseased turf first appears water soaked with leaf edges showing a wavy or wilted pattern, but soon dies completely and mats down, creating a sunken effect.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><h2>Cultural Management: Preventing Brown Patch Lawn Disease<\/h2><p>Since high levels of fast release nitrogen increase disease activity, Spring-Green uses a correct blend of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> for lawn fertilizing during the warmer months. Mow less frequently during periods of hot and humid weather, this reduces stress and limits the movement of grass disease by being carried on your feet or mower. If possible, increase light and air penetration, or movement, by pruning overhanging trees and shrubs. During cooler seasons, open up the thatch layer with power <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a>. If these cultural cures fail, a preventative fungicide lawn treatment program may have to be applied to control this most damaging of lawn diseases. [attached-images title=\"What Brown Patch Looks Like\"]<\/p><h2>Remember<\/h2><ul><li>Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass diseases<\/li><li>Brown patch lawn disease becomes most active when day temperatures are over 85\u00b0 and night air stays above 70\u00b0<\/li><li>Because infected plants may appear healthy, brown patch damage can occur very fast when conditions are right<\/li><li>Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages brown patch development<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about grass facts and keeping your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn healthy and green<\/a>. At Spring Green, we take brown patch lawn disease seriously because we know the damage it can cause. If you ever suspect this disease of infecting your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn service.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot-2\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":["8","4","3","1","7"],"featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/brown-patch-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:00","excerpt":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all turf grass diseases. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight.<\/p>","slug":"brown-patch-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch-lawn-disease"],"url_override":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide"},{"id":37,"title":"Snow Mold","description":"<h3><strong>The First Disease of the Year<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn was perfect last fall. You spent all summer tenderly caring for your grass. You faithfully watered it during the hot, dry periods. You mowed at the right height, making sure you never removed more than 1\/3 of the grass blade when you cut it. You contracted with a reputable&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> company to apply the right fertilizers and weed control products to make your lawn healthy and beautiful. You had the best lawn in the neighborhood and were darn proud of it. As fall came, you made sure the leaves were removed as soon as possible, and you even invested in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">lawn aeration<\/a> to improve rooting and keep the thatch layer at bay. When the first snows came, you were confident that your lawn was strong enough to survive the tortures of winter. The snow came, as it usually does, and turned your lawn white. You were not worried, as you knew you did everything you could possibly have done so that your lawn will be as green and lush in the spring as it was the previous fall. But, when spring arrives you look through your window at your grass and your're mortified at the sight of your lawn. There are large patches of blighted, straw-colored grass covering half of it and areas of the grass seem matted. This is Snow Mold lawn disease!<\/p><h2>What is Snow Mold Lawn Disease?<\/h2><p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover. It is often the first disease of the year and may cause your lawn to have an unsightly appearance, especially after the snow melts. Snow Mold can even develop without snow cover. If it is cool, rainy, and overcast, then the disease can become active and affect the lawn.<\/p><h2>Types of Snow Mold<\/h2><p>There are two types of Snow Mold. One is Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight, and the other is Pink Snow Mold or Microdochium Patch. They have similar visual symptoms, but each affects the lawn in a different way. The control of either lawn disease may require a combination of methods. In severe, recurring cases, a combination of chemical, cultural, and biological controls may be required. In less severe cases, a light raking of the affected area may be the best answer.<\/p><h2>Controlling Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Controlling either of the grass diseases is easy if the infection is not severe. A light raking of the matted area will loosen the grass and allow the new plants to grow. Be sure to rake lightly, as the ground is usually very wet and the existing grass can be easily raked up. In severe infestation, raking is also recommended, but on a larger scale. It is not advisable to use a power rake as it may also damage the existing grass.<\/p><h2>Preventing Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Preventive maintenance before lawn repair is needed&nbsp;is usually the best answer when dealing with most diseases. This is true for Snow Mold. Follow a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year. Thatch management is another important key in Snow Mold prevention. Practice core aeration of your lawn at least once a year to keep thatch levels below 1\/2\". Another important factor is mowing the grass short before winter. Cut the lawn to 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d at the last mowing. This should be a gradual process and not a one-time exercise. Lower the height a notch a week until the mower is set at 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d. This will prevent the turf from laying over on itself,&nbsp;increasing the chance of Snow Mold.<\/p><h2>If You Have Snow Mold<\/h2><p>If you do have an outbreak of Snow Mold, it is a good idea to reduce any piles of snow that may remain, especially in shady areas. The longer the snow remains the more moisture and cool temperatures are present. Applying a chemical disease control material to grass already damaged by Snow Mold will do little to change the severity or need for lawn renovation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact your local lawn care professional at Spring Green<\/a> to begin a fertilizer program and schedule core aeration for a healthy lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/snow-mold-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:46","excerpt":"<p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover.<\/p>","slug":"snow-mold-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","meta_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","social_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["snow-mold-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease","description":"<p>The Colorful Cool Season Culprit Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration. Especially serious in the&nbsp;<a href=\"\/franchise-region\/northwest\/\">Pacific Northwest<\/a>, red thread also appears in stands of cool season grasses over a wide region when weather conditions are right.<\/p><h3><strong>When Green Lawns Turn 'Red'<\/strong><\/h3><p>Red thread lawn disease grows most aggressively when temperatures are in the 68 to 75 degree range and during extended periods of wet or very humid weather. Even though this may seem like a narrow \"window\" or set of circumstances for disease activity, red thread can overtake a turf area fast. Besides temperature, red thread gets a helping hand from certain nutritional imbalances, too. This&nbsp;lawn disease takes off much faster when there's a lack of nitrogen, for instance. Low levels of calcium (or lime) also affect some grass types.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Red Thread Looks Like And Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The symptoms of red thread lawn disease first appear as \"water soaked\" darkened irregular areas from just a few inches to several feet across. These areas gradually become bleached or tan colored. Healthy plants are usually interspersed with diseased plants, giving the lawn an over-all ragged look. As the red thread becomes well developed, light pink to red fungus strands (or threads) 1\/4'' or more in length begin to grow from the tips of the blades and the leaf sheaths \u2014 these threads are the reason for the disease's common name. The wind moves bits of these threads to non-infected plants to spread the disease. The threads can also touch nearby blades to spread the infection. Red thread lawn disease very seldom wipes out an entire stand of turf, and so infected lawns will often have an uneven or patchy appearance.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: You Can't Change The Weather<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a>, red thread is very much weather related. When conditions are right for development, management of red thread is limited to checking and correcting any nutritional deficiencies or direct treatment with a fungicide material. Lawn treatments with fungicides are usually effective, and one or two maintenance applications in the spring and again in the fall are adequate in most situations for control. If you have seen signs of red thread on your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re always ready to help with managing disease diseases, so you can have the best lawn possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Dead Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/red-thread-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:58:58","excerpt":"<p>Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration.<\/p>","slug":"red-thread-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["red-thread-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"Pythium","description":"<h3><strong>The Deadly Disease With Many Names<\/strong><\/h3><p>Pythium blight, grease spot, spot blight, root rot, cottony blight, and snow blight are the \u201cattractive\u201d names given to this lawn disease. Each name describes a different phase of the disease life-cycle and none of them are a pretty sight.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Pythium Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color. When the blades of grass in these areas are handled, they have a greasy or slimy feel. That's where the name grease spot comes from. These infected grass blades become light tan and shriveled, thus the name spot blight. When a lot of these infected areas appear, they begin to grow together and overlap. Pythium lawn disease infections usually concentrate in low, wet areas or along the natural course of drainage across the turf. When humidity remains high, the shriveled and collapsed leaves become matted and covered with a fluffy mass of white fungal threads or mycelium. This is sometimes called cottony blight. The most serious and severe damage occurs during hot, humid weather, when the disease can spread so quickly that an entire stand of turf can be destroyed in just one day. Pythium survives, as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands), in and on diseased turf tissue, as well as in organic material like thatch. Wet turf grass is always required, before Pythium can cause&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a>. Periods of wet grass and thatch, along with high relative humidity, present especially favorable conditions for the disease to grow. This lawn disease is most dramatic when it suddenly appears during very hot and humid weather, when the nights remain very warm and muggy.<\/p><h3><strong>Making Your Lawn An Anti-Pythium Environment<\/strong><\/h3><p>Since Pythium is almost always associated with wet turf, identifying any poorly draining areas where water tends to pool or stand can help prevent this type of lawn disease. Correct the drainage to promote rapid drying of grass plants. Attempt to water early in the day, so that the turf can dry before evening, and water as deeply but infrequently as possible. Controlling thatch is strongly suggested, by vertical mowing or regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">lawn&nbsp;aeration<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Using a properly balanced fertilizer for your grass care helps avoid nutrient imbalances that can stimulate grass diseases. It can also help to increase air movement by selectively pruning lower tree branches to eliminate pockets of still humid air. And finally, don't mow when the grass is wet, as this tends to spread the disease. Fungicides can also be effective in suppressing Pythium, but prevention is a much better and more economical turf care solution.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Under ideal conditions, Pythium can destroy an entire lawn in a single day.<\/li><li>Areas where turf remains wet tend to be more affected by this lawn disease.<\/li><li>Look for Pythium when temperatures and humidity are both very high.<\/li><li>Water deeply, but not too often, and water so that grass blades dry quickly (like in the morning.)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green with any lawn question you have. We've got the answers you need.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/pythium-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:56:56","excerpt":"<p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color.<\/p>","slug":"pythium","description2":"","seo_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pythium"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Leaf Spot","description":"<h3><strong>The Double Whammy Lawn Disease:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3><p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi. Helminthosporium (now that's a mouthful!) contains a large number of individual disease-causing organisms. What's similar in the grass diseases of this family is that they give your lawn a real one-two punch by creating the leaf spot phase in the spring and fall but changing gears into a sheath and root rot phase during the heat of summer.<\/p><h3><strong>When Can You Expect To See Spots?<\/strong><\/h3><p>The lawn disease fungi survive the winter as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands) in and on diseased turf tissue. When spring temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees and there is a lot of moisture from rain or dew, the fungus begins to grow and spreads its spores by wind and water. As the weather warms, the disease moves into the second phase of melting out.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the leaf spot phase of this lawn disease (spring or fall), individual grass blades will have large numbers of lesions (or infection marks) that appear a little like a cigarette burn, a dark circle with a tan spot in the center. During this part of the leaf spot lawn disease, the grass takes on a brown under cast making it appear underfed or dried out. Even though leaf spot does not do significant damage to the turf during this phase, it sets the stage for the much more serious melting-out phase. The melting-out phase begins during hot, dry weather and causes large irregular areas to appear dried out. There may not be any distinctly visible lawn disease symptoms during the melting out phase, as the damaged areas may appear very similar to the effects of dry weather or insect injury.<\/p><h3><strong>Early Action Needed: Don't Snooze, You Might Lose<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with all&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn diseases<\/a>, how the turf is watered, fed and mowed makes a huge difference. It\u2019s best to be sure the grass does not stay continuously wet or become excessively dry. Water no more than once per week and soak the soil to a depth of 6''. Water in the morning so the grass will not remain wet for long periods. Open the area around the grass crowns (where the plant goes through the thatch and into the soil) with core aeration. Regular lawn&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizing<\/a> and aeration can go far towards disease prevention. Collecting the clippings during the spring and fall (leaf spot stage) will help reduce the spread of disease as well. Lawn treatment services, if needed, should begin early. Spring and early summer applications of fungicide can be effective, but little can be done to reverse lawn disease once the melting-out phase begins.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Leaf spot makes turf look sick, but does little permanent damage. However, it sets the stage for the more serious melting-out phase of the disease.<\/li><li>Water in the morning so turf can dry out quickly. This helps prevent the spread of leaf spot spores.<\/li><li>Melting out occurs in hot weather and can be easily confused with drought stress or insect damage.<\/li><li>Frequent lawn <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">aeration<\/a> and thatch management help keep turf crowns open and reduces disease activity.<\/li><\/ul><p>Whenever you have a question on leaf spot (or any other lawn disease) <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We've got the answers!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">Mowing and Watering<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushroom<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/leaf-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:53:46","excerpt":"<p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi.<\/p>","slug":"leaf-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["leaf-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"Fairy Rings","description":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. Little fairies will dance the night away in a circle, resting on toadstool chairs until the next dance begins. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, dancing is often the last thought on their minds. Mushrooms are a common sight in many lawns, especially during wet, warm periods. They are usually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are breaking down organic material in the soil or thatch. Normally, they can be mowed or kicked off and are controlled. If they reoccur in the same spot every year, then it may indicate the location of an old tree stump or other decaying organic material. If the mushrooms are arranged in an arc or circle, it may indicate the beginning of Fairy Ring. No one knows for sure how this kind of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> becomes established or what conditions favor their development. They seem to be more prevalent on soils that are sandy, under-watered, or are poorly fertilized. Like most other types of grass diseases, Fairy Rings usually don't develop as often in highly maintained lawns.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r2KLXyVgJyE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Types of Fairy Ring Diseases<\/h2><p>Several types of lawn disease fungi are associated with Fairy Rings. These types of fungi have been causing problems for a long time. It is estimated that some Fairy Rings have survived for several hundred years. They can develop in lawns, parks, golf courses, or in pastures. Mushrooms are often the first outwardly visible sign of their presence. In fact, the fungi may have been present in the soil for two or three years prior to the development of the mushrooms. The fungi develop outwards from the center of the ring. The inner most part of the ring dies. As it is decomposing, it releases nitrogen into the soil, which will stimulate the grass above and turn it a dark green. The fungi produce a mass of cotton-like webbing called mycelium. As the mycelium dies, it may harden to a point where water will not be able to penetrate through it. This results in the death of the grass above it.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring Characteristics<\/h2><p>The rings or arcs can range in diameter from 3 feet to as large as 20 feet. If the ring encounters a sidewalk or cultivated flowerbed, its growth often stops at that point. When two or more rings meet, they may continue to get larger. In some cases, the two rings seem to disappear when they come together. These common lawn disease symptoms may also seem to disappear for several years, and then show up again.<\/p><h2>Controlling Fairy Rings<\/h2><p>Controlling Fairy Rings can prove to be a difficult task. There has been some reduction in activity using commercial lawn and grass disease control materials, but the results have been inconsistent. The dark green rings can be 'masked' by applying <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> to the area to even the color. In the areas where the grass has died, water penetration needs to be improved. Make holes in the ring with a garden fork to a depth of 12 to 24\u201d and then thoroughly water the area for 4 to 6 weeks. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> is also advisable for better water penetration. If the rings are severe, it may be necessary to remove the sod and repeatedly cultivate the area for several weeks before resodding or seeding a lawn. Mixing the soils of two opposing rings seems to cause them to cancel out each other. Regardless of the method used, it will be a difficult task to get the rings under control. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against many lawn diseases and insect problems. This is especially true when considering the problems associated with Fairy Ring. As they say, \"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-prevention\/\" title=\"Lawn Disease Prevention\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Lawn Disease Solutions<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/fairy-rings-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:18","excerpt":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, their good luck is often the last thought on their minds.<\/p>","slug":"fairy-rings","description2":"","seo_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fairy-rings"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"Lawn Disease Prevention","description":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn. And since treatment of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a> themselves is both difficult and fairly costly, prevention of fungus disease is very important. Keeping your lawn as healthy as possible is the best way to protect it from lawn disease-causing agents (or pathogens) that are all around. So, when we find something that works well to keep your lawn strong we want to make sure you know about it.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Eat Right, Breathe Right for Better Lawn Health<\/strong><\/h3><p>There's a kind of give-and-take to your lawn\u2019s health. The right kind of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> at the right time gives your grass the nutrients it needs, while lawn aeration takes, or removes, compacted soil and thatch to give water, air and nutrients an easy way to reach your turf's roots so they can breathe. Together, regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and the right kind of fertilizing lawn care are the two most important things we can do for your lawn to help it fight off grass diseases.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Fertilization: Keeping The Lawn Off Of Junk Food<\/strong><\/h3><p>Just like grandparents love to give kids a special candy treat, a lot of folks like to give their lawn junk food fertilizers of fast-release nitrogen for a super quick green. This kind of lawn fertilizing seems to make the grass happy, but can really bring on all kinds of lawn diseases and other problems. The Spring Green program provides balanced fertilizing lawn care, a meat and potatoes diet, instead of just dessert. Your turf is better able to outgrow disease, develop stronger roots and directly fight disease. Your grass keeps growing at a strong, steady rate, without the kind of quick growth that can invite lawn diseases. But it\u2019s not enough to provide these elements, if they can\u2019t reach their destination.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Aeration: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention<\/strong><\/h3><p>Watering, walking across our lawns, and rainfall help pack down the top layers of soil. This compacted soil makes it hard for water and other nourishment to get through to the roots. Thatch, the spongy layer of partially decomposed material between your grass and the soil, can also block water and fertilizer if it becomes thicker than a 1\/2\". Thick thatch and compacted soil contribute significantly to the development of lawn diseases. Core aeration helps both reduce thatch and break up soil. By pulling out thousands of plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, lawn aeration creates room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. A single lawn aeration will remove about 10% of the thatch from a lawn. Most lawns should be aerated at least once a year, when roots are actively growing in fall or spring. At Spring Green we want to keep your lawn healthy through good preventive medicine.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional with any questions you may have.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-10-10 20:20:06","excerpt":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-disease-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-disease-prevention"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2025-01-16 21:59:11","updated_at":"2025-01-16 22:32:16","description2":"","featured_image":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["soil-test"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":"","service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":55,"name":"Property Evaluation","description":"<p>Included with our Preferred Lawn Care Program is our mid-season property evaluation, which assesses the progress of the program thus far and provides recommendations for keeping your lawn looking its best.<\/p>","slug":"property-evaluation","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"1","excerpt":"","omni_service_id":"48","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":50,"title":"Automatic Sprinklers","description":"<p>Most of us know how important water is for keeping our lawns and landscapes healthy and green. Without water, our grass and plants can\u2019t survive. Automatic <a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"irrigation systems\">irrigation systems<\/a> can provide great care for a lawn. They eliminate hose pulling and can do your watering chores anytime, even when you\u2019re asleep or out of town. But even with the most sophisticated sprinklers, you could still be sending money down the drain if it\u2019s not used correctly. Without proper watering procedures, even the best <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> will end up going to waste. No amount of fertilizer or <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> can help a lawn that isn't receiving proper hydration. Read on to find out how to keep your yard healthy and hydrated.<\/p><h2>Getting coverage and depth is the first step.<\/h2><p>Your lawn needs 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. That\u2019s about 600-900 gallons per 1,000 square feet of grass. That\u2019s a lot of water and you don\u2019t want to waste any of it. The first step is to know when (and how) to turn your system off. That\u2019s right. We see sprinklers going full blast in the middle of rainstorms and wonder if the folks are asleep, or if they don\u2019t have a master switch for their system. You need to know how much rainfall you\u2019re getting to know when your system needs to run, and when it can be turned off for awhile. Keeping in mind how much water your lawn needs, and setting the timers on your system, will determine how deeply you are watering. There are also rain sensors that can be installed to shut off your system if it's raining. In addition with modern technology you can install a wi-fi controller that is connected to weather stations to help prevent over watering. A big temptation with automatic systems is to water the lawn for a short time every day or two. This results in shallow watering and shallow, weak roots. Responsible turf care means taking care to ensure that all of the lawn is getting watered. Each type of sprinkler head has a different pattern and flow rate. If your system is properly designed, it is divided into zones that cover all of the turf and planting beds on your property.<\/p><h3>Maintaining In-Ground Sprinkler Systems<\/h3><p>Most in-ground sprinkler systems today are efficient and precise. But regular, minor adjustments to these automated systems can lead to major improvements in how well they work:<\/p><ul><li>Check sprinkler heads periodically to make sure none have been jostled, and are still aimed in the right directions.<\/li><li>Be sure sprinklers have an even spray pattern, and that leaves or other debris aren\u2019t blocking the spray as your landscape grows.<\/li><li>Keep an eye out for any damaged sprinkler heads.<\/li><li>Make sure your timer is adjusted correctly for the season.<\/li><li>Follow manufacturer instructions for winterizing your system each year. For many systems, this means blowing out&nbsp;pipes so water that can freeze will not do any damage.<\/li><li>Consider drip systems for deep roots. They deliver water very slowly so it can penetrate.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Irrigation-Proper-Maintenance-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a> about Proper Irrigation Maintenance and the Spring Green Irrigation Maintenance Program. We know how important water is to everything we do at Spring-Green. We want you to get the most from your system, have a beautiful turf, and not waste water or money. So if you have any questions, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood lawn professional today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Best Results for Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating Your Lawn<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/automatic-sprinklers-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:15:10","excerpt":"<p>Automatic sprinklers can take a huge chunk out of your lawn maintenance time. Find out more about these great tools.<\/p>","slug":"automatic-sprinklers","description2":"","seo_title":"Automatic Sprinklers | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using automatic sprinklers in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Automatic Sprinklers | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using automatic sprinklers in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["automatic-sprinklers"],"url_override":""},{"id":51,"title":"The Benefits of Using an Irrigation System","description":"<p>There is a lot of work that goes into making sure your lawn is always looking and feeling its best, including proper watering, regular fertilizing, and keeping regional insects and diseases out of your lawn. Because climates across North America can vary, it's important to consider the best times and frequency to water your lawn \u2013 but this can be difficult when you go from extreme hot days to ones where frost might accumulate over night. That's where the benefits of having an irrigation system can come into play. An irrigation system that is properly designed, maintained and managed, applies water only when needed. And, it only applies the amount of water necessary to replenish soil moisture once it has been lost due to evaporation from the soil, or through transpiration from the lawn and landscape.<\/p><h2>Types of Irrigation Systems<\/h2><p>There are two types of irrigation you can use on your lawn: \u2022 Manual Irrigation \u2022 Automatic Irrigation System<\/p><p>Manual irrigation is done by hand watering turf using hoses, sprinklers, or nozzles. Using a manual irrigation process can be more efficient and less expensive, but it can require a lot of work and attention from the homeowner. Attaching timers to a sprinkler system, installing quick connectors, and using drip irrigation on trees, shrubs, and flower beds can all help make manual irrigation more efficient for a landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>An automatic irrigation system is in-ground and clock-driven. It can be more expensive to install and maintain, but the results will pay off in the long run. An automatic system requires professional installation, but once it is installed, you can schedule your irrigation system to accommodate your climate and landscape needs. It's also important to have a professional perform regular <a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"irrigation system maintenance\">irrigation system maintenance<\/a>&nbsp; to ensure your irrigation system is always functioning properly.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, whether you go with an automatic irrigation system, or start performing manual irrigation on your own, remember to monitor how your lawn, or other parts of your landscape, are reacting to the irrigation. Some plants and turf grasses require high volumes of water; while others are drought resistant (you don\u2019t want to waste your water resource on plants like these).&nbsp;<\/p><p>Take care of your lawn by learning from our other expert lawn care tips\u2026&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Automatic Sprinkler Care<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn &amp; Grass Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/benefits-using-irrigation-system-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:39:25","excerpt":"<p>Are you thinking about putting in an irrigation system? Find out all the details you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-using-irrigation-system","description2":"","seo_title":"Irrigation System Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about installing an irrigation system and the benefits it can provide? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation System Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about installing an irrigation system and the benefits it can provide? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-using-irrigation-system"],"url_override":""},{"id":319,"title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line","description":"<p>A main line leak in your sprinkler system is unlikely but can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water and damage your property. Save money and avoid a service call by following these directions yourself to detect a leak in your sprinkler system mainline before calling in the professionals.<\/p><h2>Detecting A Leak In Your Irrigation System Main Line<\/h2><h3>With Drip Indicator<\/h3><p>Most water meters have a drip indicator on them. This would appear to be a small red triangle or a small red flat bar on your meter.&nbsp;<\/p><p>1. If the red indicator isn\u2019t moving, go to the nearest faucet and turn it so that the faucet drips. Go back and check the indicator. What is now moving is the drip indicator. When there\u2019s no water running and the drip indicator is moving, this tells you there is a leak somewhere.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. Shut the sprinkler valve OFF (see below instructions on how to turn valve off) and check the indicator again. If the indicator stops then there is probably a leak in your sprinkler system. If the indicator doesn\u2019t stop, there is a leak elsewhere and should be checked out by a plumber.<\/p><h3>Without a Drip Indicator<\/h3><p>1. On the top of the water meter, there is a series of numbers. Write down all the numbers.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. DO NOT use any water for about 4-8 hours. (It is easiest to do this when you will be out of the house for the day) Remember to turn off ice machines and water dispensers in the refrigerator.&nbsp;<\/p><p>3. Recheck the numbers. If the numbers have increased there could be a potential leak.&nbsp;<\/p><p>4. Turn your sprinkler valve OFF (see below for instructions on how to turn valve off) and write down the new numbers.&nbsp;<\/p><p>5. DO NOT use any water for about 4-8 hours Remember to turn off ice machines and water dispensers in the refrigerator.&nbsp;<\/p><p>6. Recheck the numbers again. If the numbers have changed the leak is NOT your sprinkler system but elsewhere in your home and should be checked out by a plumber. If the numbers have not changed then there is probably a leak in your sprinkler system.&nbsp;<\/p><h2>How to Turn the Main Sprinkler Valve On and Off<\/h2><p>1. Locate the Sprinkler Valve. The sprinkler valve is normally located near the water meter, which is usually in the basement. If you are a Spring Green customer there will be a green or orange tag hanging on the pipe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. Look at the picture below to see if your Main Sprinkler Valve is ON or OFF position. It\u2019s in the ON position when it\u2019s in line with the pipe.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-15186 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/USE-THIS-FOR-ON-e1561402918333.jpg\" alt=\"Sprinkler Valve On\" width=\"284\" height=\"379\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>It\u2019s in the OFF position when it makes a <em>\u201cT\u201d<\/em> or goes across the pipe.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-15187 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/USE-THIS-FOR-OFF.jpg\" alt=\"Sprinkler Valve Off\" width=\"337\" height=\"252\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Read other irrigation system maintenance and repair tips you can do yourself, or give your professional irrigation team a call to make sure your sprinkler system is working properly.<\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/detect-leak-sprinkler-system-mail-line-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:22:27","excerpt":"<p>A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water and damage your property. Learn these tips to detect a leak in your sprinkler system main line before calling in the professionals.<\/p>","slug":"detect-leak-sprinkler-system-main-line","description2":"","seo_title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water, and damage your property. Learn how to detect a leak in your sprinkler system.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water, and damage your property. Learn how to detect a leak in your sprinkler system.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["detect-leak-sprinkler-system-main-line"],"url_override":""},{"id":297,"title":"Temporary Sprinkler System Protection Against an Freeze","description":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">When Mother Nature decides to bring freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, there are a few simple steps you can take to help defend against freeze damage to your sprinkler system. Some of the most expensive components in your irrigation system are made of brass and other materials that are very susceptible to damage caused by the expansion of water when it freezes. When performing your winterization service, Spring-Green will use industrial compressors having the capacity to push a large volume of air under high pressure through your irrigation lines to blow out water.<\/p><h2>Steps to Help Protect Sprinkler Irrigation System From Freeze<\/h2><p>When freezing temperatures arrive before the date of your winterization service appointment, we strongly urge you to take the following preventative actions.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 1: Shut off Water supply to Irrigation System<\/strong> A) Locate the shut off valve to the irrigation system. This valve is usually located near your main water meter usually on a pipe that comes off to the side of the main water line. It is a 1\u201d pipe and may be larger than the main water line. You might be able to see it going toward the outside of the house. There should be an orange \u201cspring-green\u201d tag to identify the correct valve. B) Turn the valve a \u00bc turn, it will only go one way it may be up down right or left depending on the pipe position. Please check a sink to be sure you have not turned off your main water supply.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step1Valve.png\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"\"><\/p><p><strong>Step 2: Unplug Booster Pump (not installed on all systems)<\/strong> If you have a booster pump, it will be located on the floor and have a cord going to an outlet or box. If it's a regular outlet simply remove the plug. If it goes to a box then unplug your controller\/timer for the sprinkler system in the garage after you have followed step #3.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 3: Run System to Relieve Pressure<\/strong> Go to sprinkler controller\/timer (usually located in garage) and turn on any zone to run for 2 minutes. No water will come out of the irrigation head, but it will relieve the pressure in the main line.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 4: Open Outside Pipe<\/strong> Outside where the pipe to the irrigation system comes out of the house. Turn the spigot handle (if there is one) attached to this pipe counterclockwise to open it completely.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 5: Open Outside RPZ Valve<\/strong> If your RPZ valve is outside, locate the mini valves (3 or 4) sticking out of the RPZ that have a groove for a flat head screwdriver (See picture below).<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step5Valve.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Close-up of a backflow prevention device with text indicating 'Valves are CLOSED' and 'This is normal when sprinkler system is active'\"><\/p><p>To open the mini valves use a flat head screw driver to turn the screw \u00bc turn counter clockwise (See picture below). Water will come out as you open more of these mini valves \u2013 this is normal.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step5aValve.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Close-up of a backflow prevention device with text indicating that all three valves are open, highlighted by red arrows\"><\/p><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Step 6: Schedule Your Appointment for Irrigation Winterization Service<\/strong> The preceding steps are only a temporary precaution and will not substitute for having your irrigation system thoroughly winterized by the professionals at Spring Green.<\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-21 12:03:42","excerpt":"<p>Take these simple steps to help defend against freeze damage to your sprinkler system.<\/p>","slug":"temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze","description2":"","seo_title":"Temporary Protection on Sprinkler System Against Cold Temperatures | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"When there are freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, you can take a few steps to help defend against freeze.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Temporary Protection on Sprinkler System Against Cold Temperatures | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"When there are freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, you can take a few steps to help defend against freeze.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze"],"url_override":""},{"id":52,"title":"Regular Irrigation System Maintenance You Can Do At-Home","description":"<p>If you have an irrigation system, you might have had people ask you the question, \"Don't those waste water?\" Well, if your system is properly maintained, wasting water&nbsp;is not something you have to worry about. System maintenance and checks should be performed at least twice each season:<\/p><ul><li>Once in the beginning of the season (when you first turn on your system)<\/li><li>Once at the end of the season (to prepare for the winter)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"Irrigation system maintenance\">Irrigation system maintenance<\/a> on an automatic system can be rather complex \u2013 sometimes you just need to call in a professional. But, there are some minor tasks you could try on your own to keep your irrigation system working properly until your next scheduled maintenance appointment.<\/p><h2>Realign Irrigation System Heads<\/h2><p>If you notice the water in your system isn't spraying as far as it used to, that it is spraying in an unwanted direction, or if brown areas are developing on your lawn, you may need to realign or replace your irrigation system heads. To do this, simply twist the sprinkler head while the system is running until it is secure and spraying the direction you desire. If you have a loose nozzle, you may need to do this more often.<\/p><h2>Adjusting Heads that are Overspraying<\/h2><p>A sprinkler system can create brown spots in areas directly surrounding the sprinkler head \u2013 or it could spray your guests and others passing by your lawn when they least expect it! To make sure you're not wasting water, make sure you have the proper size nozzles for the area covered by that head.<\/p><h2>Replacing Heads &amp; Nozzles<\/h2><p>There are a number of reasons a nozzle, or sprinkler head, might need to be replaced. If it's broken by a lawn mower, becomes clogged from debris, or just wears out, you may need to replace it. Nozzles and sprinkler heads are rather inexpensive. To replace a sprinkler head, dig out around it to the bottom, unscrew it being careful no debris falls in. Then screw in the new head making sure it's at the proper level. Be sure to use the proper size nozzle for the area. The tips above are some general things you can do to maintain your system. If you have any problems, you'll want to schedule an irrigation sprinkler service appointment with a professional. Your local Spring Green professional can help you with routine checks and maintenance needs that might arise.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Keep your lawn looking its best when you learn more about proper lawn care\u2026 <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Automatic Sprinkler Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:40:14","excerpt":"<p>Keep your irrigation system working like new with these do-it-yourself maintenance tricks.<\/p>","slug":"regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home","description2":"","seo_title":"Irrigation Maintenance | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about proper irrigation system maintenance and how it can benefit your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation Maintenance | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about proper irrigation system maintenance and how it can benefit your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":45,"title":"Fall Clean-up Ideas","description":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p><h2><strong>For Your Lawn and Landscape:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Keep leaves raked or mulched to prevent smothering your lawn, and to clear the ground for any final fertilization or mowing that\u2019s needed.<\/li><li>\"Harden off\" your lawn by mowing the grass shorter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clean up debris in shrub and flower beds for a neater look and less work in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Continue to water when it\u2019s very dry.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Remove expired annuals and prepare planting beds for next year.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prune summer blooming perennials, trees and shrubs. &nbsp;Avoid pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees, as they have already set their blooms and you\u2019ll lose the display if you prune now.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Plant hardy spring bulbs now for a glorious display in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><h2><strong>Around the House: <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Clean out gutters and be sure downspouts are working properly.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Disconnect and drain water hoses and store inside.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Avoid broken planting containers by either bringing them indoors, covering them against the weather elements or emptying them for winter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Set up bird feeding and water stations.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Winterize mowers and other lawn equipment by making sure gasoline is burned from any gas-powered equipment (this helps keep the lines and carburetor clear). If your mower needs repair, now is the time, before storing it.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>For further reading, view the rest of our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-clean-ideas-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:49:41","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p>","slug":"fall-clean-ideas","description2":"","seo_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-clean-ideas"],"url_override":""},{"id":42,"title":"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter","description":"<h3><strong>One average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air<\/strong><\/h3><p>As many of you are aware, plants give off oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are wonderful air purifiers\u2014one average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. It seems obvious that the more plants you have in your home, the cleaner your air will be. This is a better idea for those of you in the northern climates. Winter means sealing your house against the cold and drafts of the brutal winter winds. The air can get a little stale, so several, well-placed, houseplants can really help. There are, also, the psychological benefits of being surrounded by living houseplants. They can have a relaxing effect on people, and provide you a chance to keep exercising your 'green thumb'. Depending on the variety you pick, they can add to the overall d\u00e9cor of your home. Many plants have multi-colored leaves and some even produce flowers while indoors. Your interior environment can be aesthetically pleasing while providing a comfortable, relaxed feeling. It will require some thought on your part to choose plants that will fit the location that you select for them.<\/p><h3><strong>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one<\/strong><\/h3><p>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one. All others require varying degrees of care. Some that are relatively maintenance-free are Aloes, Cactus, Spider Plants, Pothos, and Dracaenas. Unless you are very experienced with indoor plants, you may wish to avoid any requiring special growing conditions such as African Violets and Orchids. All plants need light to survive. Some plants that can endure low light, such as from a north window, are Chinese Evergreens, Sansevieria (also called Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law's Tongue) and Heartleaf Philodendron. I can, personally, attest to the fact that the majority of the plants named so far will survive in extreme conditions. I sometimes think that I have conditioned my plants to survive in cave-like conditions. I am actually afraid to move them into better growing conditions for fear they may not know how to survive in the 'normal' world of light and adequate water supplies.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most plants that you purchase have a small tag that gives the light and watering requirements, so it is advisable to follow the directions. The Arizona Cooperative Extension Service has a good <a href=\"http:\/\/ag.arizona.edu\/pubs\/garden\/mg\/indoor\/lists.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a> to help pick indoor plants. A useful feature of their site is their use of common names for the plants, instead of the unpronounceable Latin names. The site has a comprehensive list of plants and the type of environment that is best suited for them to survive. Unfortunately, they don't list 'cave-like' as one of the choices, so I guess I will have to retrain my plants to allow them to live in a 'better' world. Too much or too little water is the number one factor that accounts for the majority of losses with plants \u2013 whether in the yard or in the home. This is the area where I realized that I was making several mistakes. In most potted plants, the roots are growing in the bottom 2\/3 of the pot. If I were feeling guilty about the care my plants were receiving and paid serious attention to them, I would water them at least once a week. That may have been too much, as the top dries out much faster than the root zone. The best way to check is to poke your finger into the pot about 2\u201d or up to your second knuckle. If the soil feels moist, do not water, but check again in a couple of days. If you prefer not to get your fingers dirty, there are fancy moisture meters available, but they are about $50. Personally, I would rather get my fingers a little dirty \u2013 it reminds me of working in my garden.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Some other factors that can affect moisture loss are the type of growing medium or soil that the plant is growing in, the type of pot used, or the amount of sunlight the plant receives. If you water when the soil on top is dry, you will probably over-water the plant. When you do water, supply enough so that it runs out of the bottom \u2013 assuming the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. It is always best to use a pot that has a drainage hole in the bottom to allow water to pass through the soil. There are two good reasons for this: to ensure the root zone receives enough water, and to allow excess salts (from fertilizers) and other minerals to pass through the soil. You should also be sure to not let the plant sit in the water that runs out. This practice allows the excess salts and other minerals, which were just washed out of the soil, to be re-absorbed. Pour off the excess water from the collection dish. If you do want to use a fancier pot that does not have a drainage hole, then place a smaller pot with a drainage hole, into the larger pot. This will allow the water to flow through the soil and allow you to use a more decorative pot. By the way, if you cannot poke your finger an inch or so into the pot, then it is either really dry or it is root-bound and should be re-potted into a larger pot.<\/p><h3><strong>Feed your indoor plants similar to the way you fertilize your outdoor plants.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Feeding your indoor plants is similar to the way outdoor plant and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> works. The general rule is to fertilize every two weeks, from March to September. Let the plants rest during the winter and do not fertilize them, unless they have unique requirements that dictate feeding at this time of year. Most indoor plants are imported from the tropics and need plenty of humidity. A humidifier is a good way to increase the relative humidity for the plants. Another way to increase the relative humidity is to set the plant in a tray with a layer of gravel in which an even level of water is maintained below the top of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it will provide an increase in the relative humidity. Misting has not proven to be adequate in increasing the relative humidity for the plants, but it doesn't hurt to do it. It is better to mist the plants in the morning so they have a chance to dry before dark. This is the same reason that it is best not to water your outdoor plants or lawn at night. Many diseases perpetuate during the cool, dark hours of nighttime. Adding available moisture at that time increases the potential for disease development. Living plants definitely improve your physical and mental indoor environment. If you choose them carefully and give them a little TLC, they will provide years of enjoyment and provide you with a chance to keep your gardening skills honed.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-grow-hostas\/\" title=\"How to Care for and Grow Hostas\">Hostas<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/care-indoor-plants-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:08:38","excerpt":"<p>The average-sized potted plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. Having plants especially during the cold winter months, provides cleaner air throughout your home. Learn how to best care for them.<\/p>","slug":"care-indoor-plants-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["care-indoor-plants-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":49,"title":"It's Time to Plant Spring Bulbs","description":"<p>\"Gardner\u2019s regret\" strikes when a gardener looks out in the early spring to see neighbors\u2019 yards sporting plots of colorful crocus and dancing daffodils, and realizes he or she has failed to plant spring-flowering bulbs. &nbsp;To have a wonderful array of flowers next spring, plant bulbs in the fall. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring bloomers develop their roots in the fall, before winter really sets in. &nbsp;This growth period is crucial to next spring\u2019s successful flowering. Bulbs will perform better if you prepare the soil before planting them. &nbsp;Dig out the soil to a depth of about 10\u201d and work in organic matter, like peat moss or compost. A tool called a bulb planter is helpful; it is an open-tipped, cone-shaped tool with a handle on top that scoops deep but narrow holes to plant the bulbs. Be sure to mix in bone meal, or similar bulb fertilizer, before planting bulbs with pointed ends up.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Have a Colorful Garden All Spring<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>To ensure continuous bloom next spring, be sure to plant a mixture of early and mid-season bloomers. &nbsp;For the very earliest bloomers, try crocus, narcissus, and glory of the snow. &nbsp;Crocus blooms are yellow, blue or bi-colored and 3 to 5 inches tall. &nbsp;Narcissus, also commonly called daffodil, is on a stem a foot or so high and ranges in color from white to dark yellows and oranges. &nbsp;Deer, chipmunks, and squirrels won\u2019t dig up narcissus bulbs, making it a good choice for many. &nbsp;Glory of the Snow grows 6 to 8 inches tall, producing a blue flower with a white eye. Sweet-smelling hyacinth is a tallish, mid-season bloomer. &nbsp;Its small version, hyacinth, blooms a little earlier. &nbsp;Hyacinth includes pink, white, yellow and blue varieties. &nbsp;Tulips, the most popular mid-season bloomers, come in an infinite variety of colors and bloom times. Spring flowering bulbs of all kinds are an important part of maintaining year-round color in any garden, and fall is the season to begin or expand your plantings.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For further reading, view our other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard\/\">spring cleanup tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/time-plant-spring-bulbs-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:51","excerpt":"<p>Nothing says spring more than a beautiful array of flowers. Make sure your spring landscape is bursting with shades of the rainbow by planting bulbs in the fall. Here are some tips.<\/p>","slug":"time-plant-spring-bulbs","description2":"","seo_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["time-plant-spring-bulbs"],"url_override":""},{"id":47,"title":"6 Things to Consider Before Seeding In The Spring!","description":"<p>It\u2019s spring! The weather is becoming warmer, and you\u2019re ready to get outside and turn your attention to lawn and landscape projects. While spring may seem like a great time to seed some of those thin or brown patches in your lawn, it may be better to wait. Here\u2019s why... Spring seeding makes it difficult to effectively control annual weeds, such as crabgrass, with pre-emergents. Pre-emergents stop weeds by creating a barrier below the soil surface to keep the weeds from ever sprouting. However, the same pre-emergent that kills crabgrass seedlings will keep your new grass from sprouting, too.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Putting off your early spring application of pre-emergent weed control can give crabgrass, and their weeds, a strong foothold. Once established, crabgrass spreads very quickly and can crowd out your new grass. Choosing to seed after pre-emergents have been applied also presents problems. Raking, or cultivating, the soil for planting will break the pre-emergent barrier under the soil and decrease its effectiveness. Conditions are best for planting lawn seed in the fall. Soil temperatures are ideal in late summer and early fall for quick germination of your lawn seed. Seeding in the fall allows your new turf to develop a strong root system before heading into the next season\u2019s hot, dry summer months. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>If Spring Seeding Can\u2019t Wait,&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Consider These 6 Things!&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Wait to sow your seeds until soil temperatures reach 55 degrees (use a meat thermometer to check soil temperatures at a 1\u201d depth).<\/li><li><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">If you have bare spots that you must seed in the spring, mark the seeded areas with straw or light mulch so pre-emergents can be avoided in those areas.<\/span><\/li><li>Keep the seeded area well watered, as crabgrass thrives in dry soil.<\/li><li>Mow the area normally once the new grass is as tall as the rest of the lawn, to avoid the new turf growing too tall and lanky.<\/li><li>Weed control applications should be avoided on the young grass until it has been mowed 3 to 5 times.<\/li><li>If you plan a general, or large area seeding, a special program of crabgrass control should be worked out to prevent problems in the summer.<\/li><\/ol><p>For further information, visit our <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" target=\"_blank\">core aeration and overseeding<\/a> page or <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact your local Spring Green&nbsp;<\/a>professional<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/weeding-truth-spring-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:45:32","excerpt":"<p>Is spring the best time to seed your lawn? Find out!<\/p>","slug":"weeding-truth-spring-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weeding-truth-spring-seeding"],"url_override":""},{"id":289,"title":"Preventing Salt Damage","description":"<p>Salt damage to lawns and landscape plants normally comes from two sources. It comes from commercial salt used on city streets that may be splashed or spread on your yard, or from the use of an \"ice melt\" product that you may use to \"de-ice\" sidewalks or driveways. The easiest way to prevent the damage is not to plant anything close to the areas where they may be exposed to salt. Moving small shrubs or perennials is easy to do. It becomes much harder when it is a large tree, or extensive area of turf, like a parkway. The best way of preventing lawn and yard damage is not to use salt, or salt-like products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Threats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage from salt occurs when the foliage is burned by the salt product being splashed on to it, or when the salt is absorbed through the root system. The greatest damage is on the side that faces, or is adjacent to, the street, sidewalk, or driveway. It may take several years for enough salt to accumulate to cause severe damage to the plants. Normal rainfall will usually wash the salt deep into the soil. Constant repeating of the activity will increase the concentration levels, which leads to more severe problems. The plants may weaken or die as the levels accumulate to higher levels. Some plants, like the white pine, are especially sensitive to salt damage. Others are more resistant, such as many of the southern turfgrass varieties of Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass. Unfortunately, these grasses will not grow in the northern climates. Their use is, therefore, limited to the South and the transition zone between northern and southern states.<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention and modification are the best approaches to reduce salt damage. You can erect a barrier, using burlap or landscape fabric, in an effort to keep the salt from entering a landscape bed. You can cover plants with the same materials and that will help to keep the foliage from burning. If your parkway is always being damaged from salt, then consider replacing part or all of it with landscape bricks or decorative stones. Also, there is a variety of grass- fults pucinnellia distans, that has good salt tolerance. This may be used in a blend with other northern turfgrasses to develop a stand of grass that will not be damaged as easily.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are \"ice-melt\" products that you can use around your home that do a good job and will not damage the grass along the edges of the sidewalks or driveways. The name, \"ice-melt\" is a misnomer. Most of the products do not \"melt\" the ice as much as break the bond between the ice and the surface below it. Once the ice is loose, it can be removed easily. Commercial products that contain potassium chloride have a lower burn potential than ones that contain sodium chloride. Sand, kitty litter, and cinders will work as an aid to prevent someone from slipping on the ice, but do not work as well as an \"ice-melt\" compound. It is usually not a good idea to use regular rock salt, as it will damage the surrounding grass and plants easily, and it can damage concrete and blacktop. Having to deal with snow and ice is a \"fact of life\" when you live in the northern climates. Trying to remove it from streets, sidewalks, and driveways can be a challenge. <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Protecting your lawn and landscape<\/a> from the adverse effects of salt and \"ice-melt\" products can be a bigger challenge. If you do some planning and use products that are less damaging, then you will not have as much turf care work to complete the following spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>As always, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your local Spring Green if you have questions regarding your lawn and salt damage prevention. Our experts are glad to help.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\"><\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">More Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/salt-damage-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:24","excerpt":"<p>Keeping sidewalks free and clear of ice and snow is essential in the wintertime, but you could be feeling the effects of salt on your landscape well into spring. Learn how to prevent the headache.<\/p>","slug":"preventing-salt-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["preventing-salt-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":294,"title":"Practice Smart Lawn Care for a Healthier and Greener Lawn","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7564 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/a-beautiful-lawn.jpg\" alt=\"a beautiful lawn\" width=\"800\" height=\"300\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Practicing smart lawn care is more than cutting your lawn. Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn. Sustainable lawn care includes utilizing proper fertilizers, saving energy, and properly using lawn clippings. Below are best practices to deliver a healthy green beautiful lawn.<\/p><h2>A Nice looking Lawn - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><h3>Clippings<\/h3><p>Clippings are&nbsp;a great benefit because they contain valuable nutrients that can be recycled back into the soil. We may suggest collecting your clippings in certain situations where the lawn may have a disease or it has grown too long. Clippings are nutrient rich and made mostly from water; they will not significantly contribute to excessive thatch build-up. Excessive thatch build-up from other organic sources can increase the stress levels of your lawn making it more susceptible to insects and lawn disease as well as inhibiting proper root development. If the thatch level on your lawn exceeds 1\/2\", Spring-Green recommends Core Aeration.<\/p><h3>Seeding<\/h3><p>Whether establishing a new lawn or just reseeding thin or bare spots, best results are generally achieved in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Seeding in spring can delay or prevent your spring treatment containing pre-emergent crabgrass control.<\/p><h2>How to Mow &amp; Water a Lawn -- Lawn Care Techniques<\/h2><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7565 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lawn-mowing.jpg\" alt=\"lawn mowing \" width=\"800\" height=\"300\"><\/p><h3>Watering<\/h3><p>Proper watering is one of the most important cultural practices you can provide. Most lawns will require at least one inch of water per week to encourage proper color, density and overall health. Typically, watering one day a week, 1 hour per area in the early&nbsp;morning will encourage deeper root development and discourage disease development. When watering, you must consider the method and the amount of water applied. Most home lawns will require at least one inch of water per week.<\/p><h3>Mowing<\/h3><p>Mowing properly will greatly increase the health and beauty of your lawn. If your lawn has Tall Fescue, you should mow it at 3 1\/2\" to 4\". &nbsp;For Bermuda and Zoysia grass, mow between 3\/4\" to 2\". Longer grass blades will shade the ground beneath, keeping it cooler and moist for a longer time. Alternate your pattern of mowing each time to ensure a more even cut. Keep the mower blade sharp! https:\/\/youtu.be\/9V_clvJH-v8<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:11:19","excerpt":"<p>Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn.<\/p>","slug":"practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":43,"title":"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter","description":"<p>Before we get started, there is another excellent article in our archives on preparing your lawn and landscape for&nbsp;the chilly seasons. \"<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a>\" includes practical advice such as making sure the leaves are all raked up and the need for late fall&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Pre-Winter Lawn Mowing<\/h2><p>The most important tip is the need to mow your lawn short for the winter, especially in the northern areas of the country. If the grass is left too long, it will lay over on itself from the pressure of the snow cover. Air circulation around the plant is reduced, and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a>, a destructive early spring lawn disease, can become a problem in your lawn. It can cause large areas of grass to die, or at least weaken in vigor. Spring green-up and grass growing may also be slow. Often the grass blades will turn brown during the winter. This is a normal response to the cold weather of winter. The grass plant will need to grow an entirely new plant, from the crown up, the next spring. If there is a lot of brown grass left from the previous year, it will take a long time for the old plants to fall away and allow the new plants to show through and make the lawn green again.<\/p><h2>Other Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips<\/h2><p>There are several other late fall, early winter jobs that need attention. If you have any perennial plants that have gone dormant, cut back the brown tops. If the tops are still green, wait until they turn yellow or brown before cutting. There is still energy being transferred to the root system from the top growth. Depending upon the amount of snow cover your area receives, you may have to wait until spring to complete this yard care task.<\/p><h2>Lawn Furniture Tips<\/h2><p>Outdoor furniture should be covered or brought indoors. Clay pots and other outdoor statuary should be brought indoors to keep from breaking. Alternating freezing and thawing of these items could cause them to crack. If they are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp.<\/p><h2>Winter Mower Maintenance<\/h2><p>Your lawn mower needs attention at the end of the mowing season. Drain the gas tank or add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting \u2018old\u2019. It is also a good time to change the oil, clean the underside of the deck, sharpen the blade, and replace the spark plug and air cleaner. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting any repair on your mower, regardless of the time of year the maintenance or repair work is performed. Check out this checklist to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Winterizing-Lawn-Landscape-Equipment.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">winterize your lawn, landscape and equipment!<\/a><\/p><h2>Snow Clearing<\/h2><p>If you are in an area that receives significant snow fall, many of your plants could be damaged from excess accumulation of snow on the branches. This is especially true of evergreen trees, such as Arbor Vitae. Carefully and gently, brush the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs. If they become coated with ice, leave them alone. Trying to break off the ice could damage the tree or shrub, and won't help much with your tree maintenance. The ice normally melts at a rapid pace, even if the temperatures are below freezing. Finally, put out a bird feeder or two for our feathered friends. There are many birdseed mixes available, so choose one that will attract the varieties of birds that are most common for your area.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/maintain-care-poinsettia\/\" title=\"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia\">Poinsettias<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:11:15","excerpt":"<p>The state of your lawn in the spring is a direct result of your prep in the fall. Find out how to best prepare your lawn for the winter months.<\/p>","slug":"prepare-lawn-landscape-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prepare-lawn-landscape-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":48,"title":"Shaping Up for Spring","description":"<p><strong>Look Things Over and Make a Plan<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Did winter cause some problems for your lawn or landscape? &nbsp;Now is a good time to take stock of the situation and plan your projects for the year. &nbsp;Check out the turf for dead spots that may need seeding, address areas where poor drainage has caused your grass to thin, and check for structural problems with any of your ornamentals.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Mulch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fresh mulch provides both beauty and protection. &nbsp;Mulch\u2019s main roles include keeping in moisture and keeping out weed invaders. &nbsp;Mulch moderates soil temperatures in both hot and cold weather. &nbsp;Mulch will nourish the soil by providing food for many organisms found in the soil. &nbsp;Depending on the type, 2\u201d- 4\u201d is recommended.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Weeds can be best defined as anything unwelcome growing in your lawn, flower bed, garden\u2026or anywhere on your property. &nbsp;Weeds are often unsightly nuisances to a property owner. &nbsp;Both pre-emergent and post-emergent materials are available for keeping weeds properly managed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Pruning<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Good pruning can improve the look of a plant while helping to produce more blooms or fruit. &nbsp;Before pruning, it\u2019s important to know the particulars about the tree or shrub, and to have an eye for aesthetics. &nbsp;Some plants can be pruned almost anytime while others require special timing for proper results.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Check Equipment<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>P<\/p><p>ower equipment, whether gas or electric, requires some regular maintenance to deliver the results you want. &nbsp;Electric tools like edgers and trimmers should be cleaned, oiled and have sharp blades. &nbsp;Mowers should be tuned up and a new blade installed, or have the old one sharpened.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">More Lawn Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/shaping-spring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:48:55","excerpt":"<p>Spring is on it's way! Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your lawn is in top shape for summer.<\/p>","slug":"shaping-spring","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["shaping-spring"],"url_override":""},{"id":46,"title":"Fertilizing in the Fall","description":"<p>The days are starting to get shorter, which means that fall is coming up soon. &nbsp;With the changing of the seasons, it\u2019s time for your lawn to receive the all-important fall applications of fertilizer before the cool weather arrives. &nbsp;Your grass grows actively during the summer months and goes dormant during the cool months. &nbsp;So, providing your lawn with the right fertilization, before its natural \u201crest\u201d period, gives the turf a healthy boost before winter, promotes root growth, and provides vital food reserves for the spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, what exactly does fertilizing your lawn do besides green up the grass? &nbsp;A lot. Applying the right nutrients at this time of year, will help the lawn recover the energy it has used throughout the summer months. &nbsp;It, also, promotes new growth, recovery from wear and pest damage, and reduces the weed population. &nbsp;Regular applications of a good fertilizer, also, replaces the nutrients that have been lost to leaching, volatilization and clipping removal. Late-season fertilization of warm-season grasses should be done after the heat of summer has begun to subside, usually in early fall. &nbsp;It\u2019s important that applications be made early enough so that all of the nutrients have enough time to be absorbed before the beginning of dormancy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To combat annual weeds, like crabgrass, a pre-emergent herbicide is often combined with fertilizer in the fall. &nbsp;Pre-emergents, actually, prevent weed seeds from germinating and work with post-emergent herbicides in keeping your lawn as weed-free as possible all season. &nbsp;Regular on-going professional care for your lawn, all season, is important. The fall treatments, and other fall services, play a big part in having a thick, green, and virtually weed-free lawn through fall and into next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Benefits of Fall Fertilization:<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>-Keeps your grass green and growing later into the season.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Better recovery from the stresses of summer heat and drought.&nbsp;<\/p><p>- Increases the water-holding capacity of grass plants, which helps them withstand the drying and browning effects of winter winds.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Improves resistance to some cool weather fungus diseases by building over-all plant health.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Builds food reserves for the winter and increasing root development for denser turf next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><br><\/p><p>For additional information, visit our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fertilizing-fall-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-09 17:20:10","excerpt":"<p>The summer has been harsh on your grass, so the fall is the perfect time to fertilize. Here's how to best \"feed\" your lawn!<\/p>","slug":"fertilizing-fall","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilizing-fall"],"url_override":""},{"id":54,"title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips","description":"<p>Late fall is your last chance to take care of turf care details that will prepare your lawn for a healthy winter and give it a strong leg up next spring. If you\u2019ve been putting off putting your lawn to bed for the winter months, we strongly suggest doing it now. Our Spring-Green experts and their <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional&nbsp;lawn care services<\/a> will help you make sure your lawn is ready for the winter.<\/p><h2>Tips For Tucking In Your Lawn<\/h2><p>Lower the height of your mower. Your lawn should enter winter without any young, tender growth that could make it more appealing to winter lawn diseases, like snow mold. New, soft growth on the lawn is more prone to dry out after the first winter winds come through, which leaves you with a tan, or brown, lawn all winter. So, as late fall approaches, begin to gradually bring the cutting height down on your mower, until you are almost, but not quite scalping the lawn. Our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> article can help you sharpen your skills for this chore. It\u2019s important to do this in several steps to avoid suddenly removing all the green leaf tissue and damaging the turf.<\/p><h2>Don\u2019t Miss A Late Fall Lawn Fertilization<\/h2><p>This is a time of year when your lawn can really chow down, and make quick and good use of fertilizer. The lawn's top growth has slowed, so these lawn fertilizing nutrients go straight to the roots for a strong start next spring. Your turf, actually, converts the fertilizer into food reserves and loads up its root system so it\u2019s ready, willing, and able to get a quick (and healthy) start for growing grass in the spring. Expert&nbsp;fertilization&nbsp;from your local Spring-Green professional will help set your yard up for a successful winter. Contact your neighborhood Spring-Green professional today.<\/p><h2>Remove Leaves And Other Debris From Lawn<\/h2><p>Before snow or other winter weather hits, take the time to go over the lawn one more time. If the lawn has not been aerated, there may still be time. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Aeration<\/a> is very effective as long as the soil is not frozen. In other words, as long as we can still pull a good core, your lawn will directly benefit. Core aeration in late fall gives the plugs we pull plenty of time to \"melt\" down and to get thatch decomposing. Be sure your mower and other lawn equipment has been winterized to save grief in the spring. Late fall and winter are great times to discuss your turf care program for spring. Making a few yard care decisions early might save you money! After all, if winter is here, spring can't be far behind!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/pest-control-guides\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/moss-control\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-mowing-tips\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-lawn-care-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:59:12","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the best time of the year for those last minute lawn projects. Here are some ideas to wrap up the season before the weather gets too cold.<\/p>","slug":"fall-lawn-care-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-lawn-care-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":44,"title":"The Right Time for Fall Seeding","description":"<p>Fall is a great time for seeding your lawn. &nbsp;Your lawn may have a few thin or bare spots, or it may need a complete overseeding. &nbsp;Either way, if you\u2019re planning to seed, it\u2019s time to act. Right now, the soil temperatures are higher, which means your seed will sprout faster. You will get a renewed lawn in less time and reduce the chance of unwanted weeds shooting up first. By \u201chardening of\u201d the new grass this fall, your lawn will look better in the spring, and regular crabgrass and weed control applications can be made at the proper times. Here are five guidelines that will help to keep your new lawn on track and give you the results you\u2019ll love \u2013 this year and for years to come.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>#1:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Have your grass seed planted early:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Allow enough growing time to get in a few mowings before winter. <strong>#<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2: &nbsp;Seed-to-soil contact makes or breaks the job:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Seed must be able to put roots directly into the soil when it germinates or it will not survive long. &nbsp;Opening the soil with an aerator can make all the difference between the success or failure of the seed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#3:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Use the right kind of fertilizer on the seedbed:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>A good fertilizer, high in phosphorus for quick root growth, makes a huge difference in establishment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#4:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Keep it moist:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>After germination, your new seed will need a nearly constant supply of moisture. &nbsp;It\u2019s not necessary to water a long time in each spot, but do keep the growing zone of the new grass moist, with daily or nearly daily light watering.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#5:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Mow short in the fall, and mulch or remove leaves:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Set the mower lower for your last several mowings to\"harden off\" the grass. Control leaves by mulching them with your mower, or raking and removing them completely. &nbsp;Keeping leaves clear allows for faster green-up in the spring. Start planning now to beat the clock on your fall seeding. &nbsp;And, remember, timing makes all the difference. For further information, visit our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/other-yard-services\/aeration-overseeding.aspx\" title=\"core aeration &amp; overseeding\">core aeration &amp; overseeding<\/a> page.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/right-time-fall-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:48:08","excerpt":"<p>If you plan on seeding your lawn, the fall is the time to act. Here's some tips and tricks to ensure your success.<\/p>","slug":"right-time-fall-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["right-time-fall-seeding"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":23,"title":"Mushrooms","description":"<p>When the temperatures rise and there has been an abundance of rain or supplemental irrigation.&nbsp; Mushrooms come in all shapes and colors.&nbsp; For the most part, mushrooms are a good thing as they are a sign that there is plenty of activity going on in the soil food web below the ground. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that feed on organic material that exists in the soil, providing nutrients to other microorganism as well as to the roots of landscapes plants and to the turf. There are a lot of fungi varieties that can cause problems in lawns. Mushrooms are among the most visible, but least harmful of lawn fungi. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-ring\/\" title=\"Fairy Ring\">Fairy rings<\/a> are caused by up to 50 different types of fungi and create expanding rings in turf. Although fairy rings and mushrooms are not harmful, they are unslightly for some people. Here are a few facts about mushrooms and how to help control them on your lawn.<\/p><h3><strong>Mushrooms Don't Harm Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p><img class=\"size-full wp-image-7173 alignright fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp\" alt=\"mushrooms growing in a yard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mushrooms are caused by a large number of different fungi, and the good news is they won't cause lawn diseases. They are sensitive to moisture and normally appear during periods of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures or on very heavily irrigated turf. Mushrooms feed on decaying organic material on the lawn in the thatch or soil, and do not attack living grass plants. Shallow dead tree roots, construction debris, or heavy thatch on the lawn can become the \"host\" that mushrooms feed upon. In almost all cases, mushrooms will disappear when lawn moisture levels return to normal and regular mowing will help get rid of these unsightly fungi. Some of the fungi that cause mushrooms are sensitive to fungicides. Usually fungicides will only help prevent further mushrooms from developing and not kill the current ones. Because of this, we normally advise that attempting to remove mushrooms chemically is not really feasible. It's also a good idea to determine what kind of mushrooms your lawn is developing or spotting types of mushrooms in your neighborhood area. Although mushrooms don't affect your turf, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">mushrooms are toxic for pets<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How To Control Mushrooms In Your Lawn<\/strong> To control mushrooms on the lawn, we recommend keeping the soil open and reduce water frequency for the time being. Make sure you're following <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Watering-Facts-and-Best-Practices.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best watering practices<\/a> to avoid over watering your lawn (over watering leads to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Brown Patch<\/a>). Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> helps keep the soil open and allows more air, nutrients and water to reach the root zone for healthy, thick grass. These tips will generally help control mushrooms, and prevent new mushrooms from emerging on the lawn. Mushrooms don't last a long time once they surface and will usually decompose in a couple of days. &nbsp;There are no products that will keep mushrooms from growing in a lawn or landscape bed. They can be hand-picked and thrown away, but it is a good idea to wear gloves when doing so as some mushrooms are poisonous. &nbsp;Normally mowing will also remove those mushrooms that grow taller than the turf. They can also be kicked over or they can be a way to improve your golf swing.<\/p><h3>Partnering With Spring-Green For a Healthy Lawn<\/h3><p>Having a healthy lawn is the result of a continuous process. And in the process of creating great conditions for growing grass, the very best results come when you and Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> work together as partners. If mushrooms are growing in a circle within a lawn or are growing within a darker green circle of arc, this could be a sign of a disease called Fairy Ring. If mushrooms are growing in this type of pattern, call your Neighborhood Lawn Care Professional to inspect your lawn. They will provide the best recommendations to reduce the severity of this disease, which usually involves yearly core aeration on the lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread\/\" title=\"Red Thread\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:50:35","excerpt":"<p>There are a lot of fungus varieties that can cause problems in turf grass. Mushrooms are among the most visible but least harmful of lawn fungi.<\/p>","slug":"mushrooms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mushrooms"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Rust Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust. Not the same kind you'd find on your metal patio furniture, or your car, of course. But one that can be just as destructive. Rust is a fairly common lawn disease caused by fungus. It usually shows up from mid-summer through late fall, once the growth of your grass has slowed. But rust can also appear any time your turf is under stress, like after extended dry periods. Rust spores are tiny and very light weight. They can be carried long distances by the wind, which means that even the best kept lawns can be infected. Usually, grasses with a fine texture and deep color, like perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, are the most likely victims of rust lawn disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Recognizing Rust<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust usually takes hold in shaded areas first, during warm, humid weather. Any grass that remains wet for long periods of time, because of too much watering, lingering dew or poor drainage, could find itself rusting away. The fungi symptoms of this lawn disease begin as tiny yellow spots on the grass blades. These spots become elongated and eventually rupture into clusters of rust-orange spores that give the disease its name. When touched, the powdery, dust-like rust spores leave a color a lot like the fine particles of rust from metal.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_DMpX2lNsF4?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>Treating Rust Through Lawn Fertilization And Mowing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust that is not treated can quickly thin and destroy good turf, and it is especially dangerous to new seed. Once rust is established, a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer works better than lawn disease controls for treating the condition. By mowing more frequently, at a higher mower height, you can also help to remove the rust spores before they spread to other leaves.<\/p><h3><strong>Prevention is the Best Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>, eliminating the conditions that cause rust is the best lawn treatment. Your lawn service professionals at Spring-Green want to make sure your grass remains healthy and beautiful this season. By working together, we can develop a maintenance <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service&nbsp;<\/a> plan to keep your lawn as disease-free as possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/rust-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:54:19","excerpt":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust.<\/p>","slug":"rust-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rust-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Dollar Spot","description":"<p>Dollar spot is not a picky parasite; this <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> infects and kills a lot of different grasses. True to its name, dollar spot develops small, distinct circles from 1 to 6'' across, about the size of a silver dollar or a small pancake. Because these spots don't look very serious individually, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. But because dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, serious scarring of the lawn can occur.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Might Start Seeing Spots:<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus survives the winter as dormant mycelium (or fungal growth) in plant parts in the thatch and soil. When temperatures get into the 60s, the lawn disease starts growing again. The peak of disease activity occurs when temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees. Other factors that trigger development of dollar spot lawn disease include low soil moisture when the humidity is high; low nitrogen fertility; too much thatch on the lawn; and mowing too short during hot weather. Lawns not on a quality program that provides the correct blend of fertilizers, or that don't get properly watered or mowed are most likely to catch a case of dollar spot.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: How You Can Spot It<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are two easy ways to identify dollar spot lawn disease on turf. The first is the shape and size of the damaged areas. The individual spots are usually very circular and distinct, and grow to only a few inches in diameter. Another symptom that's easy to recognize are the lesions (or infection marks) on the individual grass blades. Dollar spot lawn disease causes an hour-glass shaped band to form across the width of the grass blade. This band is light tan and has a reddish-brown edge on the top and bottom. Being a very thorough fungus, dollar spot kills the entire grass plant. After a serious bout with dollar spot, lawn renovation or reseeding will almost always be required once the disease is brought under control.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: See Spot Run \u2014 Out Of Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p>Remember your first grade reader? See Spot run. Run Spot, run. You can help make dollar spot run from your lawn. Watering right is your department. Spring-Green can take care of the rest. Since grass diseases such as dollar spot favor turf with low soil moisture, it's important to saturate the soil regularly. But, because one of the ways this lawn disease moves is by water droplets splashing, it\u2019s best to avoid frequent late afternoon or evening watering. Always allow the grass to dry out before evening. Low nitrogen fertility (which pushes disease growth) should also be corrected with the correct combinations of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> during periods of disease activity. The very best prevention for dollar spot (as well as almost all types of lawn diseases) is the Spring-Green program and regular, deep watering.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Dollar spot lawn disease appears as silver dollar sized circles in the turf.<\/li><li>Low nitrogen fertility increases dollar spot activity, as does low soil moisture.<\/li><li>Dollar spot can be more serious than it may first appear because the lawn disease kills the entire grass plant, often requiring reseeding.<\/li><li>Grass diseases move by foot and equipment traffic and by water from irrigation, rain and dew.<\/li><\/ul><p>Treatments with a fungicide can be effective, so if you suspect this disease is what's making you see spots, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green right away.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/dollar-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:59:24","excerpt":"<p>Dollar spot doesn't look very serious individually so it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. Dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, causing serious damage.<\/p>","slug":"dollar-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["dollar-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":64,"title":"How to Identify Slime Mold on Grass","description":"<p>Picture this: As you work through your lawn, you notice a little patch of grayish growth. When you inspect it closely, you notice it resembles ash that has been sprinkled on the grass blades. When you touch it, a small cloud of dust rises off the blades. You immediately go to your phone and call your lawn service or local nursery because you are concerned that this problem will spread. On your way to the phone, you notice something weird on the mulch that is spread across your landscape beds. You may ask yourself the following questions:<\/p><h2>What does Slime Mold look like?<\/h2><p>You stop for a closer look and are appalled at what you see. It looks as if someone got physically sick and vomited in your flowerbed.&nbsp;You think,&nbsp;\"How disgusting\" \u2014 Yes it is! But, is there anything to be worried about \u2014 No there is not! Both of these \"conditions\" are caused by primitive fungi known as Slime Molds.<\/p><h2>What Is Slime Mold?<\/h2><p>Slime Molds are <em>saprophytes<\/em>, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. They will creep along the soil surface in search of food by pulling themselves along with finger-like projections. During periods of warm, rainy weather, Slime Molds will creep up on grass plants, on the lower branches of ornamental plants, or across landscape beds covered with mulch when they are ready to reproduce. From these locations, they will release millions of tiny spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that will help ensure many more generations of Slime Molds. The only purpose for creeping up on the plants or mulch is to give the spores the best advantage for distribution over a large area.<\/p><h2>Will Slime Mold Hurt My Lawn?<\/h2><p>Since <em>Slime Molds are not lawn disease that damage plants<\/em>, but are actually <em>beneficial to the ecosystem<\/em> of your landscape, control is not necessary. If you find the dried patches in the lawn, help Mother Nature by sweeping the spores into the wind. The slimy patches in the mulch will dry and can be raked under. They may be unsightly, but should not cause any concern in terms of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a>. They are just part of the wonderful world of nature.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/slime-mold-.600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:26:04","excerpt":"<p>Slime Molds are saprophytes, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. Learn how to best handle this lawn disease.<\/p>","slug":"identify-slime-mold-grass","description2":"","seo_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-slime-mold-grass"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Summer patch, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">necrotic ring spot<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch<\/a>: these grass diseases take no prisoners. Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass. Any time can be a prime time for fungal lawn disease to move in, if your turf is stressed from lack of water, high temperatures, too much moisture or the wrong kind of care. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>, but first you have to know what to look for. Here are three lawn diseases that you'll notice by their usual circular or ring shapes.<\/p><h3><strong>Summer Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus usually moves in about mid-summer, when your grass is suffering from heat, drought, and high humidity. Summer patch lawn disease begins with small, scattered light green patches that turn grass reddish-brown, and then light tan. These crescent-shaped patches can come up quickly and completely destroy a lawn. Although the symptoms appear in June or July, the disease actually begins by rotting the roots of your grass in early May.<\/p><h3><strong>Necrotic Ring Spot<\/strong><\/h3><p>Necrotic Ring Spot is another serious lawn disease that can destroy a lawn very suddenly. Its patches or rings of dead grass are brought on by dry, followed by wet, weather. Lawns 2 to 8 years old are favorite victims. The disease is most active in spring and fall, but it also shows up in summer during times of water stress. If your lawn has Necrotic Ring Spot, you'll first notice scattered light yellow patches, usually 2 to 6\u201d wide. The disease leaves a ring of dead turf that becomes brown or straw color with a healthy-looking green area in the center. This has prompted the nickname frog-eye disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Brown Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>Brown patch lawn disease usually strikes in the heat of summer, during humid, wet weather, when temperatures stay high even through the night. Brown Patch lawn disease creates irregular, circular areas up to several feet wide. The diseased patches turn purplish-green and then fade to brown. Patches look sunken as the leaves of the grass die and mat down. The edges of these large spots often have a darker, water-soaked appearance.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEQ970-U63o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Lawn Diseases are Easier to Prevent than to Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the Ring Gang of lawn diseases out of your lawn:<\/p><ul><li>Spring Green\u2019s lawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/preferred-lawn-care-program\">fertilization<\/a> program controls unhealthy bursts of turf growth that can attract disease.<\/li><li>Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> helps nutrients and water reach roots and breaks up thatch, which is one place diseases like to breed.<\/li><li>Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning, keeps moisture from remaining on the grass surface too long, which attracts disease.<\/li><li>Mowing frequently, at a high height and with a sharp mower blade, further helps to keep disease out.<\/li><li><a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">Overseeding<\/a> with disease-resistant grasses is another option you can consider.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you suspect your lawn has any type of lawn disease, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green about treatment services immediately. Quick action can make a big difference to save your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JThuC06R5s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/common-patch-and-ring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:11:07","excerpt":"<p>Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass.<\/p>","slug":"common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Necrotic Ring Spot","description":"<h3><strong>Death \u2014 that's what necrosis means.<\/strong><\/h3><p>And this lawn disease lives up to its name. Though often mistaken for Summer Patch blight because of the \u201cfrog\u2019s eye\u201d appearance, Summer Patch appears most often in hot weather, while necrotic ring spot shows up during cool weather, especially after periods of prolonged rainfall.<\/p><h3><strong>When And Where The Death Ring Shows Up<\/strong><\/h3><p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue. It usually appears in late winter, spring and fall during periods of cool and wet weather. Activity is greater in areas that are not properly&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilized<\/a>,&nbsp;and Neurotic ring spot lawn disease also tends to show up again and again in areas infected in prior years.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: Where The Confusion Came From<\/strong><\/h3><p>In the early stages, necrotic ring spot lawn disease shows up as roughly circular areas of turf that look like they're suffering from drought, even though there is plenty of soil moisture. You end up with patches that appear to be wilting and drying out when the surrounding turf looks healthy and well-watered. Thatch may decompose quickly in the areas affected by this lawn&nbsp;disease, creating a sunken look to the patch or ring areas. The typical patch of healthy looking turf in the center created the Summer Patch mix-up for years. The disease itself is not active during this phase, but the damage appears because the root system has been destroyed or reduced to the point where it can't support the plant's needs, and so the wilting and drying occur.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: Lawn Fertilization and Special Watering<\/strong><\/h3><p>The amount of nitrogen fertilizer greatly affects necrotic ring spot development. A minimum of 3 pounds, and preferably 5 pounds, of available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is recommended. It\u2019s also important to provide lawn fertilizing care to keep phosphorus and potassium levels high enough. The Spring Green program delivers the correct blend of nutrients throughout the year, but having a soil test done every 3 years is a good idea to identify any major lawn fertilization deficiencies your particular soil may have. Watering daily during the early to mid-afternoon, with 1\/10 to 1\/5'' of water, has also been shown to greatly reduce the severity of necrotic ring spot. Should lawn fertilization treatments be needed, they can be applied and are effective if made early in the season: usually 6 weeks to 2 months after the turf goes through its initial green up in the spring.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Necrotic ring spot develops symptoms similar to those seen in Summer Patch blight. This resulted in confusion for many years about which disease was active.<\/li><li>This lawn disease is most common in periods of cool and wet weather.<\/li><li>Lawn fertilization is very important. Maintaining proper amounts of all of the primary nutrients reduces disease activity.<\/li><li>Special daily watering can greatly reduce the severity of a ring spot outbreak.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you have any questions on this (or any other grass diseases), <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. Spring Green has the answers to all your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> questions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/necrotic-ring-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:55:00","excerpt":"<p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue.<\/p>","slug":"necrotic-ring-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["necrotic-ring-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"Mowing and Watering","description":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose. Once out of their cages, they can run wild over your property and be very tough to get back under control. That's why we need your help in keeping diseases locked up. And the way you water and mow your lawn makes a huge difference in lawn and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass disease<\/a> activity. Here are some tips that work:<\/p><h3><strong>Water Deeply and Only When Needed<\/strong><\/h3><p>On hot, dry days, 1,000 square feet of grass can lose 190 gallons of water. That's almost 1500 gallons of water consumed by an average lawn, per day! And since your grass is 80-90% water, it\u2019s important to replace the water that's lost to prevent water weakness that gives lawn diseases an easy entry. Water early in the morning (between 4-8 a.m. is best) to give water on grass blades time to dry. Most fungal grass diseases use the moisture on grass leaves to produce spores and to move from plant to plant. When the water is there long enough, these spores have time to cause problems. Water deeply; at least 6 to 8\u201d into the soil to encourage deep roots. This usually means you have to apply 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\">watering facts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">best practices<\/a> for your lawn and landscape.<\/p><h3><strong>Water When Your Lawn Needs It, But Only Then<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn has ways of showing you when it\u2019s ready for a drink. Grass will turn deep bluish and footprints won\u2019t spring back.<\/p><h3><strong>Mowing To Trim Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>The way you mow also affects your lawns ability to resist grass diseases.<\/p><ul><li>Mow Higher. Most grass should be cut at the highest recommended setting during the summer, to protect the stem from heavy sunlight. The shorter you trim your grass, the smaller the root system will be.<\/li><li>Mow More Often. Mowing higher means doing it more often. Make sure you don't remove more than 1\/3 of the grass blade in one mowing. Scalping, or cutting your grass extremely short, leaves it wide open to disease.<\/li><li>Don't use a dull blade because this shreds the tops of the grass, and exposes the turf's tissue for lawn disease spores to easily enter. Mowing with a dull blade is shown to increase disease activity by 20% or more. And it even uses 20% more fuel than mowing with a sharp blade. To avoid this, have your blades sharpened several times a season.<\/li><li>Keep grass clippings on your lawn, which returns about 25% of the nutrients back to the soil.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a> for a greener and healthier lawn. From <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch disease<\/a> to red thread fungus, we want to keep the disease dragons at bay, but we need your help. When we work together, your lawn will stay greener, thicker and more pest-free. For more information on disease management, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mowing-watering-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:12:57","excerpt":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose.<\/p>","slug":"mowing-watering","description2":"","seo_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mowing-watering"],"url_override":""},{"id":38,"title":"Spring Dead Spot","description":"<h3><strong>A Serious But Treatable Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone. Other grass types are affected, but this lawn disease is primarily a problem with Bermuda varieties. As the name suggests, spring dead spot usually appears in the spring as circular patches of bleached dead grass. It becomes visible as the surrounding dormant turf resumes its normal spring growth. These patches range from a few inches to several feet in diameter and tend to show up and expand in the same locations for several years, and then disappear after three to four years. The fungi appear to grow most actively in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool and the soil is fairly moist. Even though damage begins in earnest in the fall, damage is masked by the turf's normal dormancy over winter. This <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> is most commonly found on mature and well maintained turf, and is much less serious on lawns receiving little or no fertilization.<\/p><h3><strong>Disease Cycle: What Spring Dead Spot Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the early stages of this disease, the inside of the patches remain alive, but die off as the infection progresses. The entire plant structure inside these rings dies, including the shoots, rhizomes and roots. Regrowth in these dead areas must occur from the expansion of surrounding healthy plants and is very slow. The rings often fill with weeds or with stunted new turf plants. This appears to be because the lawn disease leaves a toxin in the area of dead grass which makes regrowth difficult.<\/p><h3><strong>Treatment Plan Must Include Fall Applications<\/strong><\/h3><p>Treatment for spring dead spot includes carefully controlling the amount of nitrogen&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> applied to the turf, since high nitrogen levels increase activity. In addition, fungicides must be applied during the fall months to fend off extreme root and stolon rot over the winter months. Contact type fungicides can be used with some success, but must be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, systemic lawn treatment fungicides that are actually taken into the plants can be applied once in the fall at heavy rates to help control the disease the following spring.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Bermuda varieties with high cold tolerance are less prone to spring dead spot.<\/li><li>The actual fungi (or causal organism) of spring dead spot is unknown.<\/li><li>Remember that control for spring must begin in the fall.<\/li><li>Part of controlling this lawn disease is regulating the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.<\/li><\/ul><p>We make a constant study of lawns and what ails them at Spring Green. Please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">local lawn service<\/a> needs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/spring-dead-spot-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:39","excerpt":"<p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone.<\/p>","slug":"spring-dead-spot","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-dead-spot"],"url_override":""},{"id":1,"title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">turf lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight when the weather conditions are just right. Brown patch lawn disease isn't picky; it attacks a wide variety of grass types, and really likes the lawns receiving large amounts of fast release nitrogen fertilizer. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/How-Lawn-Disease-Develops.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Brown Patch Loves Hot Summer<\/h2><blockquote>\u201cBrown Patch is the most damaging turf grass disease\u201d<\/blockquote><p>Brown patch is really a summer lawn disease that's caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The disease begins to show growth when temperatures reach 65\u00b0, but the most active growth of brown patch lawn disease occurs at temperatures of 80-85\u00b0 when humidity levels are very high. The fungi survive the winter in plant debris (thatch) and enter the leaf tissue through wounds caused by mowing and through the&nbsp;pores (or stomata) when daytime temperatures get into the 70s. Infected turf grass can go quite a while without showing damage because it\u2019s actively growing. But, if the daytime temperatures reach the mid 80s and nighttime air temperatures stay above 70\u00b0, the grass will be under stress. Then, lawn disease damage can become visible almost immediately. Once started, brown patch lawn disease spreads fast. Brown patch damage first appears as circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. This dark, smoke ring is not always visible, but is more likely to appear in the early morning when there's dew on the grass. Brown patch lawn disease grows out from a central point, so these circular areas can enlarge rapidly. Brown patch circles range from a few inches in diameter to several feet, and are not always true circles. Sometimes the patches grow together, creating large irregular dead areas. Diseased turf first appears water soaked with leaf edges showing a wavy or wilted pattern, but soon dies completely and mats down, creating a sunken effect.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><h2>Cultural Management: Preventing Brown Patch Lawn Disease<\/h2><p>Since high levels of fast release nitrogen increase disease activity, Spring-Green uses a correct blend of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> for lawn fertilizing during the warmer months. Mow less frequently during periods of hot and humid weather, this reduces stress and limits the movement of grass disease by being carried on your feet or mower. If possible, increase light and air penetration, or movement, by pruning overhanging trees and shrubs. During cooler seasons, open up the thatch layer with power <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a>. If these cultural cures fail, a preventative fungicide lawn treatment program may have to be applied to control this most damaging of lawn diseases. [attached-images title=\"What Brown Patch Looks Like\"]<\/p><h2>Remember<\/h2><ul><li>Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass diseases<\/li><li>Brown patch lawn disease becomes most active when day temperatures are over 85\u00b0 and night air stays above 70\u00b0<\/li><li>Because infected plants may appear healthy, brown patch damage can occur very fast when conditions are right<\/li><li>Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages brown patch development<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about grass facts and keeping your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn healthy and green<\/a>. At Spring Green, we take brown patch lawn disease seriously because we know the damage it can cause. If you ever suspect this disease of infecting your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn service.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot-2\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":["8","4","3","1","7"],"featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/brown-patch-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:00","excerpt":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all turf grass diseases. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight.<\/p>","slug":"brown-patch-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch-lawn-disease"],"url_override":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide"},{"id":37,"title":"Snow Mold","description":"<h3><strong>The First Disease of the Year<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn was perfect last fall. You spent all summer tenderly caring for your grass. You faithfully watered it during the hot, dry periods. You mowed at the right height, making sure you never removed more than 1\/3 of the grass blade when you cut it. You contracted with a reputable&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> company to apply the right fertilizers and weed control products to make your lawn healthy and beautiful. You had the best lawn in the neighborhood and were darn proud of it. As fall came, you made sure the leaves were removed as soon as possible, and you even invested in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">lawn aeration<\/a> to improve rooting and keep the thatch layer at bay. When the first snows came, you were confident that your lawn was strong enough to survive the tortures of winter. The snow came, as it usually does, and turned your lawn white. You were not worried, as you knew you did everything you could possibly have done so that your lawn will be as green and lush in the spring as it was the previous fall. But, when spring arrives you look through your window at your grass and your're mortified at the sight of your lawn. There are large patches of blighted, straw-colored grass covering half of it and areas of the grass seem matted. This is Snow Mold lawn disease!<\/p><h2>What is Snow Mold Lawn Disease?<\/h2><p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover. It is often the first disease of the year and may cause your lawn to have an unsightly appearance, especially after the snow melts. Snow Mold can even develop without snow cover. If it is cool, rainy, and overcast, then the disease can become active and affect the lawn.<\/p><h2>Types of Snow Mold<\/h2><p>There are two types of Snow Mold. One is Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight, and the other is Pink Snow Mold or Microdochium Patch. They have similar visual symptoms, but each affects the lawn in a different way. The control of either lawn disease may require a combination of methods. In severe, recurring cases, a combination of chemical, cultural, and biological controls may be required. In less severe cases, a light raking of the affected area may be the best answer.<\/p><h2>Controlling Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Controlling either of the grass diseases is easy if the infection is not severe. A light raking of the matted area will loosen the grass and allow the new plants to grow. Be sure to rake lightly, as the ground is usually very wet and the existing grass can be easily raked up. In severe infestation, raking is also recommended, but on a larger scale. It is not advisable to use a power rake as it may also damage the existing grass.<\/p><h2>Preventing Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Preventive maintenance before lawn repair is needed&nbsp;is usually the best answer when dealing with most diseases. This is true for Snow Mold. Follow a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year. Thatch management is another important key in Snow Mold prevention. Practice core aeration of your lawn at least once a year to keep thatch levels below 1\/2\". Another important factor is mowing the grass short before winter. Cut the lawn to 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d at the last mowing. This should be a gradual process and not a one-time exercise. Lower the height a notch a week until the mower is set at 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d. This will prevent the turf from laying over on itself,&nbsp;increasing the chance of Snow Mold.<\/p><h2>If You Have Snow Mold<\/h2><p>If you do have an outbreak of Snow Mold, it is a good idea to reduce any piles of snow that may remain, especially in shady areas. The longer the snow remains the more moisture and cool temperatures are present. Applying a chemical disease control material to grass already damaged by Snow Mold will do little to change the severity or need for lawn renovation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact your local lawn care professional at Spring Green<\/a> to begin a fertilizer program and schedule core aeration for a healthy lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/snow-mold-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:46","excerpt":"<p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover.<\/p>","slug":"snow-mold-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","meta_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","social_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["snow-mold-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease","description":"<p>The Colorful Cool Season Culprit Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration. Especially serious in the&nbsp;<a href=\"\/franchise-region\/northwest\/\">Pacific Northwest<\/a>, red thread also appears in stands of cool season grasses over a wide region when weather conditions are right.<\/p><h3><strong>When Green Lawns Turn 'Red'<\/strong><\/h3><p>Red thread lawn disease grows most aggressively when temperatures are in the 68 to 75 degree range and during extended periods of wet or very humid weather. Even though this may seem like a narrow \"window\" or set of circumstances for disease activity, red thread can overtake a turf area fast. Besides temperature, red thread gets a helping hand from certain nutritional imbalances, too. This&nbsp;lawn disease takes off much faster when there's a lack of nitrogen, for instance. Low levels of calcium (or lime) also affect some grass types.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Red Thread Looks Like And Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The symptoms of red thread lawn disease first appear as \"water soaked\" darkened irregular areas from just a few inches to several feet across. These areas gradually become bleached or tan colored. Healthy plants are usually interspersed with diseased plants, giving the lawn an over-all ragged look. As the red thread becomes well developed, light pink to red fungus strands (or threads) 1\/4'' or more in length begin to grow from the tips of the blades and the leaf sheaths \u2014 these threads are the reason for the disease's common name. The wind moves bits of these threads to non-infected plants to spread the disease. The threads can also touch nearby blades to spread the infection. Red thread lawn disease very seldom wipes out an entire stand of turf, and so infected lawns will often have an uneven or patchy appearance.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: You Can't Change The Weather<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a>, red thread is very much weather related. When conditions are right for development, management of red thread is limited to checking and correcting any nutritional deficiencies or direct treatment with a fungicide material. Lawn treatments with fungicides are usually effective, and one or two maintenance applications in the spring and again in the fall are adequate in most situations for control. If you have seen signs of red thread on your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re always ready to help with managing disease diseases, so you can have the best lawn possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Dead Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/red-thread-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:58:58","excerpt":"<p>Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration.<\/p>","slug":"red-thread-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["red-thread-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"Pythium","description":"<h3><strong>The Deadly Disease With Many Names<\/strong><\/h3><p>Pythium blight, grease spot, spot blight, root rot, cottony blight, and snow blight are the \u201cattractive\u201d names given to this lawn disease. Each name describes a different phase of the disease life-cycle and none of them are a pretty sight.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Pythium Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color. When the blades of grass in these areas are handled, they have a greasy or slimy feel. That's where the name grease spot comes from. These infected grass blades become light tan and shriveled, thus the name spot blight. When a lot of these infected areas appear, they begin to grow together and overlap. Pythium lawn disease infections usually concentrate in low, wet areas or along the natural course of drainage across the turf. When humidity remains high, the shriveled and collapsed leaves become matted and covered with a fluffy mass of white fungal threads or mycelium. This is sometimes called cottony blight. The most serious and severe damage occurs during hot, humid weather, when the disease can spread so quickly that an entire stand of turf can be destroyed in just one day. Pythium survives, as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands), in and on diseased turf tissue, as well as in organic material like thatch. Wet turf grass is always required, before Pythium can cause&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a>. Periods of wet grass and thatch, along with high relative humidity, present especially favorable conditions for the disease to grow. This lawn disease is most dramatic when it suddenly appears during very hot and humid weather, when the nights remain very warm and muggy.<\/p><h3><strong>Making Your Lawn An Anti-Pythium Environment<\/strong><\/h3><p>Since Pythium is almost always associated with wet turf, identifying any poorly draining areas where water tends to pool or stand can help prevent this type of lawn disease. Correct the drainage to promote rapid drying of grass plants. Attempt to water early in the day, so that the turf can dry before evening, and water as deeply but infrequently as possible. Controlling thatch is strongly suggested, by vertical mowing or regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">lawn&nbsp;aeration<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Using a properly balanced fertilizer for your grass care helps avoid nutrient imbalances that can stimulate grass diseases. It can also help to increase air movement by selectively pruning lower tree branches to eliminate pockets of still humid air. And finally, don't mow when the grass is wet, as this tends to spread the disease. Fungicides can also be effective in suppressing Pythium, but prevention is a much better and more economical turf care solution.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Under ideal conditions, Pythium can destroy an entire lawn in a single day.<\/li><li>Areas where turf remains wet tend to be more affected by this lawn disease.<\/li><li>Look for Pythium when temperatures and humidity are both very high.<\/li><li>Water deeply, but not too often, and water so that grass blades dry quickly (like in the morning.)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green with any lawn question you have. We've got the answers you need.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/pythium-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:56:56","excerpt":"<p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color.<\/p>","slug":"pythium","description2":"","seo_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pythium"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Leaf Spot","description":"<h3><strong>The Double Whammy Lawn Disease:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3><p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi. Helminthosporium (now that's a mouthful!) contains a large number of individual disease-causing organisms. What's similar in the grass diseases of this family is that they give your lawn a real one-two punch by creating the leaf spot phase in the spring and fall but changing gears into a sheath and root rot phase during the heat of summer.<\/p><h3><strong>When Can You Expect To See Spots?<\/strong><\/h3><p>The lawn disease fungi survive the winter as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands) in and on diseased turf tissue. When spring temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees and there is a lot of moisture from rain or dew, the fungus begins to grow and spreads its spores by wind and water. As the weather warms, the disease moves into the second phase of melting out.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the leaf spot phase of this lawn disease (spring or fall), individual grass blades will have large numbers of lesions (or infection marks) that appear a little like a cigarette burn, a dark circle with a tan spot in the center. During this part of the leaf spot lawn disease, the grass takes on a brown under cast making it appear underfed or dried out. Even though leaf spot does not do significant damage to the turf during this phase, it sets the stage for the much more serious melting-out phase. The melting-out phase begins during hot, dry weather and causes large irregular areas to appear dried out. There may not be any distinctly visible lawn disease symptoms during the melting out phase, as the damaged areas may appear very similar to the effects of dry weather or insect injury.<\/p><h3><strong>Early Action Needed: Don't Snooze, You Might Lose<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with all&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn diseases<\/a>, how the turf is watered, fed and mowed makes a huge difference. It\u2019s best to be sure the grass does not stay continuously wet or become excessively dry. Water no more than once per week and soak the soil to a depth of 6''. Water in the morning so the grass will not remain wet for long periods. Open the area around the grass crowns (where the plant goes through the thatch and into the soil) with core aeration. Regular lawn&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizing<\/a> and aeration can go far towards disease prevention. Collecting the clippings during the spring and fall (leaf spot stage) will help reduce the spread of disease as well. Lawn treatment services, if needed, should begin early. Spring and early summer applications of fungicide can be effective, but little can be done to reverse lawn disease once the melting-out phase begins.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Leaf spot makes turf look sick, but does little permanent damage. However, it sets the stage for the more serious melting-out phase of the disease.<\/li><li>Water in the morning so turf can dry out quickly. This helps prevent the spread of leaf spot spores.<\/li><li>Melting out occurs in hot weather and can be easily confused with drought stress or insect damage.<\/li><li>Frequent lawn <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">aeration<\/a> and thatch management help keep turf crowns open and reduces disease activity.<\/li><\/ul><p>Whenever you have a question on leaf spot (or any other lawn disease) <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We've got the answers!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">Mowing and Watering<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushroom<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/leaf-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:53:46","excerpt":"<p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi.<\/p>","slug":"leaf-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["leaf-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"Fairy Rings","description":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. Little fairies will dance the night away in a circle, resting on toadstool chairs until the next dance begins. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, dancing is often the last thought on their minds. Mushrooms are a common sight in many lawns, especially during wet, warm periods. They are usually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are breaking down organic material in the soil or thatch. Normally, they can be mowed or kicked off and are controlled. If they reoccur in the same spot every year, then it may indicate the location of an old tree stump or other decaying organic material. If the mushrooms are arranged in an arc or circle, it may indicate the beginning of Fairy Ring. No one knows for sure how this kind of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> becomes established or what conditions favor their development. They seem to be more prevalent on soils that are sandy, under-watered, or are poorly fertilized. Like most other types of grass diseases, Fairy Rings usually don't develop as often in highly maintained lawns.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r2KLXyVgJyE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Types of Fairy Ring Diseases<\/h2><p>Several types of lawn disease fungi are associated with Fairy Rings. These types of fungi have been causing problems for a long time. It is estimated that some Fairy Rings have survived for several hundred years. They can develop in lawns, parks, golf courses, or in pastures. Mushrooms are often the first outwardly visible sign of their presence. In fact, the fungi may have been present in the soil for two or three years prior to the development of the mushrooms. The fungi develop outwards from the center of the ring. The inner most part of the ring dies. As it is decomposing, it releases nitrogen into the soil, which will stimulate the grass above and turn it a dark green. The fungi produce a mass of cotton-like webbing called mycelium. As the mycelium dies, it may harden to a point where water will not be able to penetrate through it. This results in the death of the grass above it.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring Characteristics<\/h2><p>The rings or arcs can range in diameter from 3 feet to as large as 20 feet. If the ring encounters a sidewalk or cultivated flowerbed, its growth often stops at that point. When two or more rings meet, they may continue to get larger. In some cases, the two rings seem to disappear when they come together. These common lawn disease symptoms may also seem to disappear for several years, and then show up again.<\/p><h2>Controlling Fairy Rings<\/h2><p>Controlling Fairy Rings can prove to be a difficult task. There has been some reduction in activity using commercial lawn and grass disease control materials, but the results have been inconsistent. The dark green rings can be 'masked' by applying <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> to the area to even the color. In the areas where the grass has died, water penetration needs to be improved. Make holes in the ring with a garden fork to a depth of 12 to 24\u201d and then thoroughly water the area for 4 to 6 weeks. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> is also advisable for better water penetration. If the rings are severe, it may be necessary to remove the sod and repeatedly cultivate the area for several weeks before resodding or seeding a lawn. Mixing the soils of two opposing rings seems to cause them to cancel out each other. Regardless of the method used, it will be a difficult task to get the rings under control. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against many lawn diseases and insect problems. This is especially true when considering the problems associated with Fairy Ring. As they say, \"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-prevention\/\" title=\"Lawn Disease Prevention\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Lawn Disease Solutions<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/fairy-rings-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:18","excerpt":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, their good luck is often the last thought on their minds.<\/p>","slug":"fairy-rings","description2":"","seo_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fairy-rings"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"Lawn Disease Prevention","description":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn. And since treatment of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a> themselves is both difficult and fairly costly, prevention of fungus disease is very important. Keeping your lawn as healthy as possible is the best way to protect it from lawn disease-causing agents (or pathogens) that are all around. So, when we find something that works well to keep your lawn strong we want to make sure you know about it.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Eat Right, Breathe Right for Better Lawn Health<\/strong><\/h3><p>There's a kind of give-and-take to your lawn\u2019s health. The right kind of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> at the right time gives your grass the nutrients it needs, while lawn aeration takes, or removes, compacted soil and thatch to give water, air and nutrients an easy way to reach your turf's roots so they can breathe. Together, regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and the right kind of fertilizing lawn care are the two most important things we can do for your lawn to help it fight off grass diseases.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Fertilization: Keeping The Lawn Off Of Junk Food<\/strong><\/h3><p>Just like grandparents love to give kids a special candy treat, a lot of folks like to give their lawn junk food fertilizers of fast-release nitrogen for a super quick green. This kind of lawn fertilizing seems to make the grass happy, but can really bring on all kinds of lawn diseases and other problems. The Spring Green program provides balanced fertilizing lawn care, a meat and potatoes diet, instead of just dessert. Your turf is better able to outgrow disease, develop stronger roots and directly fight disease. Your grass keeps growing at a strong, steady rate, without the kind of quick growth that can invite lawn diseases. But it\u2019s not enough to provide these elements, if they can\u2019t reach their destination.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Aeration: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention<\/strong><\/h3><p>Watering, walking across our lawns, and rainfall help pack down the top layers of soil. This compacted soil makes it hard for water and other nourishment to get through to the roots. Thatch, the spongy layer of partially decomposed material between your grass and the soil, can also block water and fertilizer if it becomes thicker than a 1\/2\". Thick thatch and compacted soil contribute significantly to the development of lawn diseases. Core aeration helps both reduce thatch and break up soil. By pulling out thousands of plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, lawn aeration creates room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. A single lawn aeration will remove about 10% of the thatch from a lawn. Most lawns should be aerated at least once a year, when roots are actively growing in fall or spring. At Spring Green we want to keep your lawn healthy through good preventive medicine.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional with any questions you may have.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-10-10 20:20:06","excerpt":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-disease-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-disease-prevention"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2025-01-16 22:00:56","updated_at":"2025-01-16 22:31:59","description2":"","featured_image":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["property-evaluation"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":"","service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":5,"name":"Grassy Weed Control","description":"<p>There are a wide variety of grassy weeds that can grow among the desired grasses in your lawn. Grassy weeds grow quickly and can cause unsightly patches around your yard. We will identify and control these pesky plants and maintain the overall health of your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"grassy-weed-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rdpd-sMnq20?si=0hF94sn1qnu4uwHC\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>We offer grassy weed control services that will eliminate multiple varieties of unwanted weeds in your yard that can cause unsightly patches in your lawn.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"10","icon_class_name":"grassy-weed","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:52:57","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Grassy Weed Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Stops the spread of weeds&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevents future weeds&nbsp;<\/li><li>Cleaner, more attractive lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Grassy Weed Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our trained and licensed lawn care professional will identify the type of weeds in your lawn and tailor a program to eliminate them.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grassy weeds, such as nutsedge and poa annua (annual bluegrass), can be controlled but require special materials to limit their growth and establishment.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Broadleaf weeds, like dandelions and clover, differ from grassy weeds and will be controlled with your regular lawn care program applications.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-grassy-weed-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Grassy Weed Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Grassy Weed Control service is a cost-effective way to eliminate grassy weeds in your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grassy Weed Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Grassy Weed Control service is a cost-effective way to eliminate grassy weeds in your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grassy-weed-control"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":51,"name":"Core Aeration and Grub Control","description":"<p>Core Aeration is an essential process in maintaining a healthy, thick lawn. If you've been dreaming of plush and inviting grass, Core Aeration is a must. &nbsp;<\/p><p>By removing small cores of soil from your lawn, your grass will be able to better absorb nutrients, air and water, which will increase the effectiveness of other lawn care treatments like fertilization and weed control.<\/p><p>Grubs tend to feast on lawns in the late summer and early fall, causing extensive damage as they feed. If your turf is thinning and turning brown, you may be experiencing the repercussion of grubs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We can help you take back your lawn, whether you need to get rid of the grubs currently snacking on your grass or want to prevent future grub damage.<\/p><p><br><\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-grub-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?si=UAvLrZ4FtUCjOajJ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Core aeration and Grub Control service combination will promote a healthy looking lawn all year long!<\/p>","omni_service_id":"52","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":45,"title":"Fall Clean-up Ideas","description":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p><h2><strong>For Your Lawn and Landscape:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Keep leaves raked or mulched to prevent smothering your lawn, and to clear the ground for any final fertilization or mowing that\u2019s needed.<\/li><li>\"Harden off\" your lawn by mowing the grass shorter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clean up debris in shrub and flower beds for a neater look and less work in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Continue to water when it\u2019s very dry.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Remove expired annuals and prepare planting beds for next year.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prune summer blooming perennials, trees and shrubs. &nbsp;Avoid pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees, as they have already set their blooms and you\u2019ll lose the display if you prune now.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Plant hardy spring bulbs now for a glorious display in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><h2><strong>Around the House: <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Clean out gutters and be sure downspouts are working properly.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Disconnect and drain water hoses and store inside.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Avoid broken planting containers by either bringing them indoors, covering them against the weather elements or emptying them for winter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Set up bird feeding and water stations.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Winterize mowers and other lawn equipment by making sure gasoline is burned from any gas-powered equipment (this helps keep the lines and carburetor clear). If your mower needs repair, now is the time, before storing it.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>For further reading, view the rest of our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-clean-ideas-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:49:41","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p>","slug":"fall-clean-ideas","description2":"","seo_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-clean-ideas"],"url_override":""},{"id":42,"title":"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter","description":"<h3><strong>One average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air<\/strong><\/h3><p>As many of you are aware, plants give off oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are wonderful air purifiers\u2014one average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. It seems obvious that the more plants you have in your home, the cleaner your air will be. This is a better idea for those of you in the northern climates. Winter means sealing your house against the cold and drafts of the brutal winter winds. The air can get a little stale, so several, well-placed, houseplants can really help. There are, also, the psychological benefits of being surrounded by living houseplants. They can have a relaxing effect on people, and provide you a chance to keep exercising your 'green thumb'. Depending on the variety you pick, they can add to the overall d\u00e9cor of your home. Many plants have multi-colored leaves and some even produce flowers while indoors. Your interior environment can be aesthetically pleasing while providing a comfortable, relaxed feeling. It will require some thought on your part to choose plants that will fit the location that you select for them.<\/p><h3><strong>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one<\/strong><\/h3><p>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one. All others require varying degrees of care. Some that are relatively maintenance-free are Aloes, Cactus, Spider Plants, Pothos, and Dracaenas. Unless you are very experienced with indoor plants, you may wish to avoid any requiring special growing conditions such as African Violets and Orchids. All plants need light to survive. Some plants that can endure low light, such as from a north window, are Chinese Evergreens, Sansevieria (also called Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law's Tongue) and Heartleaf Philodendron. I can, personally, attest to the fact that the majority of the plants named so far will survive in extreme conditions. I sometimes think that I have conditioned my plants to survive in cave-like conditions. I am actually afraid to move them into better growing conditions for fear they may not know how to survive in the 'normal' world of light and adequate water supplies.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most plants that you purchase have a small tag that gives the light and watering requirements, so it is advisable to follow the directions. The Arizona Cooperative Extension Service has a good <a href=\"http:\/\/ag.arizona.edu\/pubs\/garden\/mg\/indoor\/lists.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a> to help pick indoor plants. A useful feature of their site is their use of common names for the plants, instead of the unpronounceable Latin names. The site has a comprehensive list of plants and the type of environment that is best suited for them to survive. Unfortunately, they don't list 'cave-like' as one of the choices, so I guess I will have to retrain my plants to allow them to live in a 'better' world. Too much or too little water is the number one factor that accounts for the majority of losses with plants \u2013 whether in the yard or in the home. This is the area where I realized that I was making several mistakes. In most potted plants, the roots are growing in the bottom 2\/3 of the pot. If I were feeling guilty about the care my plants were receiving and paid serious attention to them, I would water them at least once a week. That may have been too much, as the top dries out much faster than the root zone. The best way to check is to poke your finger into the pot about 2\u201d or up to your second knuckle. If the soil feels moist, do not water, but check again in a couple of days. If you prefer not to get your fingers dirty, there are fancy moisture meters available, but they are about $50. Personally, I would rather get my fingers a little dirty \u2013 it reminds me of working in my garden.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Some other factors that can affect moisture loss are the type of growing medium or soil that the plant is growing in, the type of pot used, or the amount of sunlight the plant receives. If you water when the soil on top is dry, you will probably over-water the plant. When you do water, supply enough so that it runs out of the bottom \u2013 assuming the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. It is always best to use a pot that has a drainage hole in the bottom to allow water to pass through the soil. There are two good reasons for this: to ensure the root zone receives enough water, and to allow excess salts (from fertilizers) and other minerals to pass through the soil. You should also be sure to not let the plant sit in the water that runs out. This practice allows the excess salts and other minerals, which were just washed out of the soil, to be re-absorbed. Pour off the excess water from the collection dish. If you do want to use a fancier pot that does not have a drainage hole, then place a smaller pot with a drainage hole, into the larger pot. This will allow the water to flow through the soil and allow you to use a more decorative pot. By the way, if you cannot poke your finger an inch or so into the pot, then it is either really dry or it is root-bound and should be re-potted into a larger pot.<\/p><h3><strong>Feed your indoor plants similar to the way you fertilize your outdoor plants.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Feeding your indoor plants is similar to the way outdoor plant and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> works. The general rule is to fertilize every two weeks, from March to September. Let the plants rest during the winter and do not fertilize them, unless they have unique requirements that dictate feeding at this time of year. Most indoor plants are imported from the tropics and need plenty of humidity. A humidifier is a good way to increase the relative humidity for the plants. Another way to increase the relative humidity is to set the plant in a tray with a layer of gravel in which an even level of water is maintained below the top of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it will provide an increase in the relative humidity. Misting has not proven to be adequate in increasing the relative humidity for the plants, but it doesn't hurt to do it. It is better to mist the plants in the morning so they have a chance to dry before dark. This is the same reason that it is best not to water your outdoor plants or lawn at night. Many diseases perpetuate during the cool, dark hours of nighttime. Adding available moisture at that time increases the potential for disease development. Living plants definitely improve your physical and mental indoor environment. If you choose them carefully and give them a little TLC, they will provide years of enjoyment and provide you with a chance to keep your gardening skills honed.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-grow-hostas\/\" title=\"How to Care for and Grow Hostas\">Hostas<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/care-indoor-plants-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:08:38","excerpt":"<p>The average-sized potted plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. Having plants especially during the cold winter months, provides cleaner air throughout your home. Learn how to best care for them.<\/p>","slug":"care-indoor-plants-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["care-indoor-plants-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":49,"title":"It's Time to Plant Spring Bulbs","description":"<p>\"Gardner\u2019s regret\" strikes when a gardener looks out in the early spring to see neighbors\u2019 yards sporting plots of colorful crocus and dancing daffodils, and realizes he or she has failed to plant spring-flowering bulbs. &nbsp;To have a wonderful array of flowers next spring, plant bulbs in the fall. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring bloomers develop their roots in the fall, before winter really sets in. &nbsp;This growth period is crucial to next spring\u2019s successful flowering. Bulbs will perform better if you prepare the soil before planting them. &nbsp;Dig out the soil to a depth of about 10\u201d and work in organic matter, like peat moss or compost. A tool called a bulb planter is helpful; it is an open-tipped, cone-shaped tool with a handle on top that scoops deep but narrow holes to plant the bulbs. Be sure to mix in bone meal, or similar bulb fertilizer, before planting bulbs with pointed ends up.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Have a Colorful Garden All Spring<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>To ensure continuous bloom next spring, be sure to plant a mixture of early and mid-season bloomers. &nbsp;For the very earliest bloomers, try crocus, narcissus, and glory of the snow. &nbsp;Crocus blooms are yellow, blue or bi-colored and 3 to 5 inches tall. &nbsp;Narcissus, also commonly called daffodil, is on a stem a foot or so high and ranges in color from white to dark yellows and oranges. &nbsp;Deer, chipmunks, and squirrels won\u2019t dig up narcissus bulbs, making it a good choice for many. &nbsp;Glory of the Snow grows 6 to 8 inches tall, producing a blue flower with a white eye. Sweet-smelling hyacinth is a tallish, mid-season bloomer. &nbsp;Its small version, hyacinth, blooms a little earlier. &nbsp;Hyacinth includes pink, white, yellow and blue varieties. &nbsp;Tulips, the most popular mid-season bloomers, come in an infinite variety of colors and bloom times. Spring flowering bulbs of all kinds are an important part of maintaining year-round color in any garden, and fall is the season to begin or expand your plantings.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For further reading, view our other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard\/\">spring cleanup tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/time-plant-spring-bulbs-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:51","excerpt":"<p>Nothing says spring more than a beautiful array of flowers. Make sure your spring landscape is bursting with shades of the rainbow by planting bulbs in the fall. Here are some tips.<\/p>","slug":"time-plant-spring-bulbs","description2":"","seo_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["time-plant-spring-bulbs"],"url_override":""},{"id":47,"title":"6 Things to Consider Before Seeding In The Spring!","description":"<p>It\u2019s spring! The weather is becoming warmer, and you\u2019re ready to get outside and turn your attention to lawn and landscape projects. While spring may seem like a great time to seed some of those thin or brown patches in your lawn, it may be better to wait. Here\u2019s why... Spring seeding makes it difficult to effectively control annual weeds, such as crabgrass, with pre-emergents. Pre-emergents stop weeds by creating a barrier below the soil surface to keep the weeds from ever sprouting. However, the same pre-emergent that kills crabgrass seedlings will keep your new grass from sprouting, too.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Putting off your early spring application of pre-emergent weed control can give crabgrass, and their weeds, a strong foothold. Once established, crabgrass spreads very quickly and can crowd out your new grass. Choosing to seed after pre-emergents have been applied also presents problems. Raking, or cultivating, the soil for planting will break the pre-emergent barrier under the soil and decrease its effectiveness. Conditions are best for planting lawn seed in the fall. Soil temperatures are ideal in late summer and early fall for quick germination of your lawn seed. Seeding in the fall allows your new turf to develop a strong root system before heading into the next season\u2019s hot, dry summer months. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>If Spring Seeding Can\u2019t Wait,&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Consider These 6 Things!&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Wait to sow your seeds until soil temperatures reach 55 degrees (use a meat thermometer to check soil temperatures at a 1\u201d depth).<\/li><li><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">If you have bare spots that you must seed in the spring, mark the seeded areas with straw or light mulch so pre-emergents can be avoided in those areas.<\/span><\/li><li>Keep the seeded area well watered, as crabgrass thrives in dry soil.<\/li><li>Mow the area normally once the new grass is as tall as the rest of the lawn, to avoid the new turf growing too tall and lanky.<\/li><li>Weed control applications should be avoided on the young grass until it has been mowed 3 to 5 times.<\/li><li>If you plan a general, or large area seeding, a special program of crabgrass control should be worked out to prevent problems in the summer.<\/li><\/ol><p>For further information, visit our <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" target=\"_blank\">core aeration and overseeding<\/a> page or <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact your local Spring Green&nbsp;<\/a>professional<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/weeding-truth-spring-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:45:32","excerpt":"<p>Is spring the best time to seed your lawn? Find out!<\/p>","slug":"weeding-truth-spring-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weeding-truth-spring-seeding"],"url_override":""},{"id":289,"title":"Preventing Salt Damage","description":"<p>Salt damage to lawns and landscape plants normally comes from two sources. It comes from commercial salt used on city streets that may be splashed or spread on your yard, or from the use of an \"ice melt\" product that you may use to \"de-ice\" sidewalks or driveways. The easiest way to prevent the damage is not to plant anything close to the areas where they may be exposed to salt. Moving small shrubs or perennials is easy to do. It becomes much harder when it is a large tree, or extensive area of turf, like a parkway. The best way of preventing lawn and yard damage is not to use salt, or salt-like products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Threats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage from salt occurs when the foliage is burned by the salt product being splashed on to it, or when the salt is absorbed through the root system. The greatest damage is on the side that faces, or is adjacent to, the street, sidewalk, or driveway. It may take several years for enough salt to accumulate to cause severe damage to the plants. Normal rainfall will usually wash the salt deep into the soil. Constant repeating of the activity will increase the concentration levels, which leads to more severe problems. The plants may weaken or die as the levels accumulate to higher levels. Some plants, like the white pine, are especially sensitive to salt damage. Others are more resistant, such as many of the southern turfgrass varieties of Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass. Unfortunately, these grasses will not grow in the northern climates. Their use is, therefore, limited to the South and the transition zone between northern and southern states.<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention and modification are the best approaches to reduce salt damage. You can erect a barrier, using burlap or landscape fabric, in an effort to keep the salt from entering a landscape bed. You can cover plants with the same materials and that will help to keep the foliage from burning. If your parkway is always being damaged from salt, then consider replacing part or all of it with landscape bricks or decorative stones. Also, there is a variety of grass- fults pucinnellia distans, that has good salt tolerance. This may be used in a blend with other northern turfgrasses to develop a stand of grass that will not be damaged as easily.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are \"ice-melt\" products that you can use around your home that do a good job and will not damage the grass along the edges of the sidewalks or driveways. The name, \"ice-melt\" is a misnomer. Most of the products do not \"melt\" the ice as much as break the bond between the ice and the surface below it. Once the ice is loose, it can be removed easily. Commercial products that contain potassium chloride have a lower burn potential than ones that contain sodium chloride. Sand, kitty litter, and cinders will work as an aid to prevent someone from slipping on the ice, but do not work as well as an \"ice-melt\" compound. It is usually not a good idea to use regular rock salt, as it will damage the surrounding grass and plants easily, and it can damage concrete and blacktop. Having to deal with snow and ice is a \"fact of life\" when you live in the northern climates. Trying to remove it from streets, sidewalks, and driveways can be a challenge. <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Protecting your lawn and landscape<\/a> from the adverse effects of salt and \"ice-melt\" products can be a bigger challenge. If you do some planning and use products that are less damaging, then you will not have as much turf care work to complete the following spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>As always, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your local Spring Green if you have questions regarding your lawn and salt damage prevention. Our experts are glad to help.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\"><\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">More Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/salt-damage-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:24","excerpt":"<p>Keeping sidewalks free and clear of ice and snow is essential in the wintertime, but you could be feeling the effects of salt on your landscape well into spring. Learn how to prevent the headache.<\/p>","slug":"preventing-salt-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["preventing-salt-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":294,"title":"Practice Smart Lawn Care for a Healthier and Greener Lawn","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7564 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/a-beautiful-lawn.jpg\" alt=\"a beautiful lawn\" width=\"800\" height=\"300\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Practicing smart lawn care is more than cutting your lawn. Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn. Sustainable lawn care includes utilizing proper fertilizers, saving energy, and properly using lawn clippings. Below are best practices to deliver a healthy green beautiful lawn.<\/p><h2>A Nice looking Lawn - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><h3>Clippings<\/h3><p>Clippings are&nbsp;a great benefit because they contain valuable nutrients that can be recycled back into the soil. We may suggest collecting your clippings in certain situations where the lawn may have a disease or it has grown too long. Clippings are nutrient rich and made mostly from water; they will not significantly contribute to excessive thatch build-up. Excessive thatch build-up from other organic sources can increase the stress levels of your lawn making it more susceptible to insects and lawn disease as well as inhibiting proper root development. If the thatch level on your lawn exceeds 1\/2\", Spring-Green recommends Core Aeration.<\/p><h3>Seeding<\/h3><p>Whether establishing a new lawn or just reseeding thin or bare spots, best results are generally achieved in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Seeding in spring can delay or prevent your spring treatment containing pre-emergent crabgrass control.<\/p><h2>How to Mow &amp; Water a Lawn -- Lawn Care Techniques<\/h2><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7565 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lawn-mowing.jpg\" alt=\"lawn mowing \" width=\"800\" height=\"300\"><\/p><h3>Watering<\/h3><p>Proper watering is one of the most important cultural practices you can provide. Most lawns will require at least one inch of water per week to encourage proper color, density and overall health. Typically, watering one day a week, 1 hour per area in the early&nbsp;morning will encourage deeper root development and discourage disease development. When watering, you must consider the method and the amount of water applied. Most home lawns will require at least one inch of water per week.<\/p><h3>Mowing<\/h3><p>Mowing properly will greatly increase the health and beauty of your lawn. If your lawn has Tall Fescue, you should mow it at 3 1\/2\" to 4\". &nbsp;For Bermuda and Zoysia grass, mow between 3\/4\" to 2\". Longer grass blades will shade the ground beneath, keeping it cooler and moist for a longer time. Alternate your pattern of mowing each time to ensure a more even cut. Keep the mower blade sharp! https:\/\/youtu.be\/9V_clvJH-v8<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:11:19","excerpt":"<p>Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn.<\/p>","slug":"practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":43,"title":"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter","description":"<p>Before we get started, there is another excellent article in our archives on preparing your lawn and landscape for&nbsp;the chilly seasons. \"<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a>\" includes practical advice such as making sure the leaves are all raked up and the need for late fall&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Pre-Winter Lawn Mowing<\/h2><p>The most important tip is the need to mow your lawn short for the winter, especially in the northern areas of the country. If the grass is left too long, it will lay over on itself from the pressure of the snow cover. Air circulation around the plant is reduced, and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a>, a destructive early spring lawn disease, can become a problem in your lawn. It can cause large areas of grass to die, or at least weaken in vigor. Spring green-up and grass growing may also be slow. Often the grass blades will turn brown during the winter. This is a normal response to the cold weather of winter. The grass plant will need to grow an entirely new plant, from the crown up, the next spring. If there is a lot of brown grass left from the previous year, it will take a long time for the old plants to fall away and allow the new plants to show through and make the lawn green again.<\/p><h2>Other Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips<\/h2><p>There are several other late fall, early winter jobs that need attention. If you have any perennial plants that have gone dormant, cut back the brown tops. If the tops are still green, wait until they turn yellow or brown before cutting. There is still energy being transferred to the root system from the top growth. Depending upon the amount of snow cover your area receives, you may have to wait until spring to complete this yard care task.<\/p><h2>Lawn Furniture Tips<\/h2><p>Outdoor furniture should be covered or brought indoors. Clay pots and other outdoor statuary should be brought indoors to keep from breaking. Alternating freezing and thawing of these items could cause them to crack. If they are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp.<\/p><h2>Winter Mower Maintenance<\/h2><p>Your lawn mower needs attention at the end of the mowing season. Drain the gas tank or add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting \u2018old\u2019. It is also a good time to change the oil, clean the underside of the deck, sharpen the blade, and replace the spark plug and air cleaner. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting any repair on your mower, regardless of the time of year the maintenance or repair work is performed. Check out this checklist to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Winterizing-Lawn-Landscape-Equipment.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">winterize your lawn, landscape and equipment!<\/a><\/p><h2>Snow Clearing<\/h2><p>If you are in an area that receives significant snow fall, many of your plants could be damaged from excess accumulation of snow on the branches. This is especially true of evergreen trees, such as Arbor Vitae. Carefully and gently, brush the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs. If they become coated with ice, leave them alone. Trying to break off the ice could damage the tree or shrub, and won't help much with your tree maintenance. The ice normally melts at a rapid pace, even if the temperatures are below freezing. Finally, put out a bird feeder or two for our feathered friends. There are many birdseed mixes available, so choose one that will attract the varieties of birds that are most common for your area.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/maintain-care-poinsettia\/\" title=\"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia\">Poinsettias<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:11:15","excerpt":"<p>The state of your lawn in the spring is a direct result of your prep in the fall. Find out how to best prepare your lawn for the winter months.<\/p>","slug":"prepare-lawn-landscape-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prepare-lawn-landscape-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":48,"title":"Shaping Up for Spring","description":"<p><strong>Look Things Over and Make a Plan<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Did winter cause some problems for your lawn or landscape? &nbsp;Now is a good time to take stock of the situation and plan your projects for the year. &nbsp;Check out the turf for dead spots that may need seeding, address areas where poor drainage has caused your grass to thin, and check for structural problems with any of your ornamentals.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Mulch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fresh mulch provides both beauty and protection. &nbsp;Mulch\u2019s main roles include keeping in moisture and keeping out weed invaders. &nbsp;Mulch moderates soil temperatures in both hot and cold weather. &nbsp;Mulch will nourish the soil by providing food for many organisms found in the soil. &nbsp;Depending on the type, 2\u201d- 4\u201d is recommended.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Weeds can be best defined as anything unwelcome growing in your lawn, flower bed, garden\u2026or anywhere on your property. &nbsp;Weeds are often unsightly nuisances to a property owner. &nbsp;Both pre-emergent and post-emergent materials are available for keeping weeds properly managed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Pruning<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Good pruning can improve the look of a plant while helping to produce more blooms or fruit. &nbsp;Before pruning, it\u2019s important to know the particulars about the tree or shrub, and to have an eye for aesthetics. &nbsp;Some plants can be pruned almost anytime while others require special timing for proper results.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Check Equipment<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>P<\/p><p>ower equipment, whether gas or electric, requires some regular maintenance to deliver the results you want. &nbsp;Electric tools like edgers and trimmers should be cleaned, oiled and have sharp blades. &nbsp;Mowers should be tuned up and a new blade installed, or have the old one sharpened.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">More Lawn Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/shaping-spring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:48:55","excerpt":"<p>Spring is on it's way! Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your lawn is in top shape for summer.<\/p>","slug":"shaping-spring","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["shaping-spring"],"url_override":""},{"id":46,"title":"Fertilizing in the Fall","description":"<p>The days are starting to get shorter, which means that fall is coming up soon. &nbsp;With the changing of the seasons, it\u2019s time for your lawn to receive the all-important fall applications of fertilizer before the cool weather arrives. &nbsp;Your grass grows actively during the summer months and goes dormant during the cool months. &nbsp;So, providing your lawn with the right fertilization, before its natural \u201crest\u201d period, gives the turf a healthy boost before winter, promotes root growth, and provides vital food reserves for the spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, what exactly does fertilizing your lawn do besides green up the grass? &nbsp;A lot. Applying the right nutrients at this time of year, will help the lawn recover the energy it has used throughout the summer months. &nbsp;It, also, promotes new growth, recovery from wear and pest damage, and reduces the weed population. &nbsp;Regular applications of a good fertilizer, also, replaces the nutrients that have been lost to leaching, volatilization and clipping removal. Late-season fertilization of warm-season grasses should be done after the heat of summer has begun to subside, usually in early fall. &nbsp;It\u2019s important that applications be made early enough so that all of the nutrients have enough time to be absorbed before the beginning of dormancy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To combat annual weeds, like crabgrass, a pre-emergent herbicide is often combined with fertilizer in the fall. &nbsp;Pre-emergents, actually, prevent weed seeds from germinating and work with post-emergent herbicides in keeping your lawn as weed-free as possible all season. &nbsp;Regular on-going professional care for your lawn, all season, is important. The fall treatments, and other fall services, play a big part in having a thick, green, and virtually weed-free lawn through fall and into next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Benefits of Fall Fertilization:<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>-Keeps your grass green and growing later into the season.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Better recovery from the stresses of summer heat and drought.&nbsp;<\/p><p>- Increases the water-holding capacity of grass plants, which helps them withstand the drying and browning effects of winter winds.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Improves resistance to some cool weather fungus diseases by building over-all plant health.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Builds food reserves for the winter and increasing root development for denser turf next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><br><\/p><p>For additional information, visit our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fertilizing-fall-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-09 17:20:10","excerpt":"<p>The summer has been harsh on your grass, so the fall is the perfect time to fertilize. Here's how to best \"feed\" your lawn!<\/p>","slug":"fertilizing-fall","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilizing-fall"],"url_override":""},{"id":54,"title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips","description":"<p>Late fall is your last chance to take care of turf care details that will prepare your lawn for a healthy winter and give it a strong leg up next spring. If you\u2019ve been putting off putting your lawn to bed for the winter months, we strongly suggest doing it now. Our Spring-Green experts and their <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional&nbsp;lawn care services<\/a> will help you make sure your lawn is ready for the winter.<\/p><h2>Tips For Tucking In Your Lawn<\/h2><p>Lower the height of your mower. Your lawn should enter winter without any young, tender growth that could make it more appealing to winter lawn diseases, like snow mold. New, soft growth on the lawn is more prone to dry out after the first winter winds come through, which leaves you with a tan, or brown, lawn all winter. So, as late fall approaches, begin to gradually bring the cutting height down on your mower, until you are almost, but not quite scalping the lawn. Our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> article can help you sharpen your skills for this chore. It\u2019s important to do this in several steps to avoid suddenly removing all the green leaf tissue and damaging the turf.<\/p><h2>Don\u2019t Miss A Late Fall Lawn Fertilization<\/h2><p>This is a time of year when your lawn can really chow down, and make quick and good use of fertilizer. The lawn's top growth has slowed, so these lawn fertilizing nutrients go straight to the roots for a strong start next spring. Your turf, actually, converts the fertilizer into food reserves and loads up its root system so it\u2019s ready, willing, and able to get a quick (and healthy) start for growing grass in the spring. Expert&nbsp;fertilization&nbsp;from your local Spring-Green professional will help set your yard up for a successful winter. Contact your neighborhood Spring-Green professional today.<\/p><h2>Remove Leaves And Other Debris From Lawn<\/h2><p>Before snow or other winter weather hits, take the time to go over the lawn one more time. If the lawn has not been aerated, there may still be time. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Aeration<\/a> is very effective as long as the soil is not frozen. In other words, as long as we can still pull a good core, your lawn will directly benefit. Core aeration in late fall gives the plugs we pull plenty of time to \"melt\" down and to get thatch decomposing. Be sure your mower and other lawn equipment has been winterized to save grief in the spring. Late fall and winter are great times to discuss your turf care program for spring. Making a few yard care decisions early might save you money! After all, if winter is here, spring can't be far behind!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/pest-control-guides\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/moss-control\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-mowing-tips\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-lawn-care-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:59:12","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the best time of the year for those last minute lawn projects. Here are some ideas to wrap up the season before the weather gets too cold.<\/p>","slug":"fall-lawn-care-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-lawn-care-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":44,"title":"The Right Time for Fall Seeding","description":"<p>Fall is a great time for seeding your lawn. &nbsp;Your lawn may have a few thin or bare spots, or it may need a complete overseeding. &nbsp;Either way, if you\u2019re planning to seed, it\u2019s time to act. Right now, the soil temperatures are higher, which means your seed will sprout faster. You will get a renewed lawn in less time and reduce the chance of unwanted weeds shooting up first. By \u201chardening of\u201d the new grass this fall, your lawn will look better in the spring, and regular crabgrass and weed control applications can be made at the proper times. Here are five guidelines that will help to keep your new lawn on track and give you the results you\u2019ll love \u2013 this year and for years to come.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>#1:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Have your grass seed planted early:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Allow enough growing time to get in a few mowings before winter. <strong>#<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2: &nbsp;Seed-to-soil contact makes or breaks the job:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Seed must be able to put roots directly into the soil when it germinates or it will not survive long. &nbsp;Opening the soil with an aerator can make all the difference between the success or failure of the seed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#3:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Use the right kind of fertilizer on the seedbed:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>A good fertilizer, high in phosphorus for quick root growth, makes a huge difference in establishment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#4:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Keep it moist:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>After germination, your new seed will need a nearly constant supply of moisture. &nbsp;It\u2019s not necessary to water a long time in each spot, but do keep the growing zone of the new grass moist, with daily or nearly daily light watering.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#5:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Mow short in the fall, and mulch or remove leaves:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Set the mower lower for your last several mowings to\"harden off\" the grass. Control leaves by mulching them with your mower, or raking and removing them completely. &nbsp;Keeping leaves clear allows for faster green-up in the spring. Start planning now to beat the clock on your fall seeding. &nbsp;And, remember, timing makes all the difference. For further information, visit our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/other-yard-services\/aeration-overseeding.aspx\" title=\"core aeration &amp; overseeding\">core aeration &amp; overseeding<\/a> page.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/right-time-fall-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:48:08","excerpt":"<p>If you plan on seeding your lawn, the fall is the time to act. Here's some tips and tricks to ensure your success.<\/p>","slug":"right-time-fall-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["right-time-fall-seeding"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2024-10-04 16:36:56","updated_at":"2025-10-02 17:58:09","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Core Aeration?<\/h2><ul><li>Promotes healthy growth&nbsp;<\/li><li>Increases access to air, water and nutrients&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduces compaction&nbsp;<\/li><li>Creates heartier, drought- and disease-resistant lawns&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thickens turf<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Core Aeration Work?<\/h2><p>Our lawn care professional will mechanically remove small cores of soil and thatch and deposit them back onto your turf's surface. Doing so will lessen soil compaction so that water, air and nutrients can better reach the grass roots to encourage wholesome growth. The cores left on your lawn will dissolve back into the thatch layer to help it naturally break down.<\/p><p>Core Aeration should be performed yearly, either in the spring or fall.<\/p><h2>What are the Benefits of Grub Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Stop present grubs from damaging your turf&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevent future grubs during their larval stage&nbsp;<\/li><li>Minimize the damage caused by skunks, raccoons, birds, voles and other animals that hunt for grubs&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Grub Control Work?<\/h2><p>If you live in an area that\u2019s affected by grubs, our team will apply a preventative application in the early spring and summer to control the larval stage of a range of insects.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For the yards that are already experiencing grub activity, we will treat your lawn in the late summer or early fall to control the grubs feeding on the roots of your grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Once the application has a chance to set in, you\u2019ll need to water your grass regularly to help the roots healthily grow and recover from damage. Over time, grub control will help you achieve a lush, green lawn.<\/p><!-- Drop this whole section into your HTML editor --><section><h2>What Our Lawn Care Customers Say<\/h2><p>See what our long-time lawn care program customers have to say about their experience with SpringGreen.<\/p><table width=\"100%\"><tbody><tr><td valign=\"top\" width=\"33%\"><p><strong>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cSpring Green is as interested in my lawn looking beautiful as I am. They treat me with respect and ensure the highest quality services are rendered on time. I have used many lawn care services over the years, but Spring Green is by far the best! I highly recommend using their services!!\u201d<\/p><p>\u2014 Jeffrey K.<\/p><\/td><td valign=\"top\" width=\"33%\"><p><strong>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cThis is second year of contact services with Spring-Green. Overall lawn is improving. On average it has improved 75%. Area on right side (facing the home) and left rear area needs some more attention. We have and will continue to recommend Spring-Green services to our neighbors and friends. Thanks for your services.\u201d<\/p><p>\u2014 Mahesh S.<\/p><\/td><td valign=\"top\" width=\"33%\"><p><strong>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cThey've cared for our lawn for many years now and it's always looked great. They are helpful with questions that have come up and great with communication and letting us know when they'll be out. We're very happy with their service and highly recommend them!\u201d<\/p><p>\u2014 Megan H.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/section>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-core-aeration-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Core Aeration and Grub Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Core Aeration and Grub Control is a cost-effective way to properly care for your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration and Grub Control | Spring Green","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-grub-control"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":"","service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":18,"name":"Crane Fly Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Do you have unhealthy patches of brown&nbsp;and&nbsp;yellow grass or&nbsp;areas of&nbsp;bare dirt&nbsp;on&nbsp;your lawn? This could be a sign of crane fly infestation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Looking like very large mosquitoes, crane flies&nbsp;lay their&nbsp;eggs in&nbsp;lawns, and their larvae are what cause&nbsp;turf&nbsp;damage.&nbsp;The larvae feed on the grass roots&nbsp;and may also emerge to chew on the grass blades on warmer nights.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">If your lawn has become&nbsp;a&nbsp;victim to crane flies and their larvae,&nbsp;it\u2019s time to stop them in their tracks so you can achieve a thicker, greener lawn.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"crane-fly-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Crane flies can cause extensive damage to your lawn if left untreated. Our lawn care experts have extensive knowledge about how to identify and control them.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"7","icon_class_name":"crane-fly-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:36:59","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Crane Fly Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Control and prevent crane flies&nbsp;<\/li><li>Greener, healthier lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Crane Fly Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our trained lawn care professional will inspect your lawn for possible crane fly activity. Once the cause of the damage is confirmed, we\u2019ll apply the proper control product based on your location and lawn\u2019s needs. After the crane fly control product is applied to your yard, it will knock down these pesky insects so that you can work toward a greener, healthier, more attractive lawn.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-crane-fly-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Crane Fly Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Crane Fly Control service is a cost-effective way to properly eliminate a crane fly problem. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Crane Fly Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Crane Fly Control service is a cost-effective way to properly eliminate a crane fly problem. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["crane-fly-control"],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Surface Feeding Insect Control","Total Home Pest Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":50,"name":"Core Aeration and Irrigation Shutdown","description":"<p>Core Aeration is an essential process in maintaining a healthy, thick lawn. If you've been dreaming of plush and inviting grass, Core Aeration is a must. &nbsp;<\/p><p>By removing small cores of soil from your lawn, your grass will be able to better absorb nutrients, air and water, which will increase the effectiveness of other lawn care treatments like fertilization and weed control.<\/p><p>An irrigation system can help you achieve the healthy and green lawn you\u2019ve been dreaming about as long as you don\u2019t sleep on the maintenance.&nbsp;<\/p><p>While a sprinkler system tends to do the work for you when it comes to watering, it\u2019s imperative that you maintain it with regular check-ups at the beginning, middle and end of the season, as well as call for periodic repairs if you suspect something is wrong.<\/p><p><br><\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-irrigation-shutdown","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?si=lmgiPfQxltdPsiyp\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Our Core Aeration and Irrigation Shutdown service combination will get your prepared for a healthy lawn.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"29","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":50,"title":"Automatic Sprinklers","description":"<p>Most of us know how important water is for keeping our lawns and landscapes healthy and green. Without water, our grass and plants can\u2019t survive. Automatic <a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"irrigation systems\">irrigation systems<\/a> can provide great care for a lawn. They eliminate hose pulling and can do your watering chores anytime, even when you\u2019re asleep or out of town. But even with the most sophisticated sprinklers, you could still be sending money down the drain if it\u2019s not used correctly. Without proper watering procedures, even the best <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> will end up going to waste. No amount of fertilizer or <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> can help a lawn that isn't receiving proper hydration. Read on to find out how to keep your yard healthy and hydrated.<\/p><h2>Getting coverage and depth is the first step.<\/h2><p>Your lawn needs 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. That\u2019s about 600-900 gallons per 1,000 square feet of grass. That\u2019s a lot of water and you don\u2019t want to waste any of it. The first step is to know when (and how) to turn your system off. That\u2019s right. We see sprinklers going full blast in the middle of rainstorms and wonder if the folks are asleep, or if they don\u2019t have a master switch for their system. You need to know how much rainfall you\u2019re getting to know when your system needs to run, and when it can be turned off for awhile. Keeping in mind how much water your lawn needs, and setting the timers on your system, will determine how deeply you are watering. There are also rain sensors that can be installed to shut off your system if it's raining. In addition with modern technology you can install a wi-fi controller that is connected to weather stations to help prevent over watering. A big temptation with automatic systems is to water the lawn for a short time every day or two. This results in shallow watering and shallow, weak roots. Responsible turf care means taking care to ensure that all of the lawn is getting watered. Each type of sprinkler head has a different pattern and flow rate. If your system is properly designed, it is divided into zones that cover all of the turf and planting beds on your property.<\/p><h3>Maintaining In-Ground Sprinkler Systems<\/h3><p>Most in-ground sprinkler systems today are efficient and precise. But regular, minor adjustments to these automated systems can lead to major improvements in how well they work:<\/p><ul><li>Check sprinkler heads periodically to make sure none have been jostled, and are still aimed in the right directions.<\/li><li>Be sure sprinklers have an even spray pattern, and that leaves or other debris aren\u2019t blocking the spray as your landscape grows.<\/li><li>Keep an eye out for any damaged sprinkler heads.<\/li><li>Make sure your timer is adjusted correctly for the season.<\/li><li>Follow manufacturer instructions for winterizing your system each year. For many systems, this means blowing out&nbsp;pipes so water that can freeze will not do any damage.<\/li><li>Consider drip systems for deep roots. They deliver water very slowly so it can penetrate.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Irrigation-Proper-Maintenance-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a> about Proper Irrigation Maintenance and the Spring Green Irrigation Maintenance Program. We know how important water is to everything we do at Spring-Green. We want you to get the most from your system, have a beautiful turf, and not waste water or money. So if you have any questions, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood lawn professional today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Best Results for Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating Your Lawn<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/automatic-sprinklers-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:15:10","excerpt":"<p>Automatic sprinklers can take a huge chunk out of your lawn maintenance time. Find out more about these great tools.<\/p>","slug":"automatic-sprinklers","description2":"","seo_title":"Automatic Sprinklers | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using automatic sprinklers in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Automatic Sprinklers | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using automatic sprinklers in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["automatic-sprinklers"],"url_override":""},{"id":51,"title":"The Benefits of Using an Irrigation System","description":"<p>There is a lot of work that goes into making sure your lawn is always looking and feeling its best, including proper watering, regular fertilizing, and keeping regional insects and diseases out of your lawn. Because climates across North America can vary, it's important to consider the best times and frequency to water your lawn \u2013 but this can be difficult when you go from extreme hot days to ones where frost might accumulate over night. That's where the benefits of having an irrigation system can come into play. An irrigation system that is properly designed, maintained and managed, applies water only when needed. And, it only applies the amount of water necessary to replenish soil moisture once it has been lost due to evaporation from the soil, or through transpiration from the lawn and landscape.<\/p><h2>Types of Irrigation Systems<\/h2><p>There are two types of irrigation you can use on your lawn: \u2022 Manual Irrigation \u2022 Automatic Irrigation System<\/p><p>Manual irrigation is done by hand watering turf using hoses, sprinklers, or nozzles. Using a manual irrigation process can be more efficient and less expensive, but it can require a lot of work and attention from the homeowner. Attaching timers to a sprinkler system, installing quick connectors, and using drip irrigation on trees, shrubs, and flower beds can all help make manual irrigation more efficient for a landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>An automatic irrigation system is in-ground and clock-driven. It can be more expensive to install and maintain, but the results will pay off in the long run. An automatic system requires professional installation, but once it is installed, you can schedule your irrigation system to accommodate your climate and landscape needs. It's also important to have a professional perform regular <a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"irrigation system maintenance\">irrigation system maintenance<\/a>&nbsp; to ensure your irrigation system is always functioning properly.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, whether you go with an automatic irrigation system, or start performing manual irrigation on your own, remember to monitor how your lawn, or other parts of your landscape, are reacting to the irrigation. Some plants and turf grasses require high volumes of water; while others are drought resistant (you don\u2019t want to waste your water resource on plants like these).&nbsp;<\/p><p>Take care of your lawn by learning from our other expert lawn care tips\u2026&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Automatic Sprinkler Care<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn &amp; Grass Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/benefits-using-irrigation-system-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:39:25","excerpt":"<p>Are you thinking about putting in an irrigation system? Find out all the details you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-using-irrigation-system","description2":"","seo_title":"Irrigation System Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about installing an irrigation system and the benefits it can provide? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation System Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about installing an irrigation system and the benefits it can provide? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-using-irrigation-system"],"url_override":""},{"id":319,"title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line","description":"<p>A main line leak in your sprinkler system is unlikely but can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water and damage your property. Save money and avoid a service call by following these directions yourself to detect a leak in your sprinkler system mainline before calling in the professionals.<\/p><h2>Detecting A Leak In Your Irrigation System Main Line<\/h2><h3>With Drip Indicator<\/h3><p>Most water meters have a drip indicator on them. This would appear to be a small red triangle or a small red flat bar on your meter.&nbsp;<\/p><p>1. If the red indicator isn\u2019t moving, go to the nearest faucet and turn it so that the faucet drips. Go back and check the indicator. What is now moving is the drip indicator. When there\u2019s no water running and the drip indicator is moving, this tells you there is a leak somewhere.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. Shut the sprinkler valve OFF (see below instructions on how to turn valve off) and check the indicator again. If the indicator stops then there is probably a leak in your sprinkler system. If the indicator doesn\u2019t stop, there is a leak elsewhere and should be checked out by a plumber.<\/p><h3>Without a Drip Indicator<\/h3><p>1. On the top of the water meter, there is a series of numbers. Write down all the numbers.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. DO NOT use any water for about 4-8 hours. (It is easiest to do this when you will be out of the house for the day) Remember to turn off ice machines and water dispensers in the refrigerator.&nbsp;<\/p><p>3. Recheck the numbers. If the numbers have increased there could be a potential leak.&nbsp;<\/p><p>4. Turn your sprinkler valve OFF (see below for instructions on how to turn valve off) and write down the new numbers.&nbsp;<\/p><p>5. DO NOT use any water for about 4-8 hours Remember to turn off ice machines and water dispensers in the refrigerator.&nbsp;<\/p><p>6. Recheck the numbers again. If the numbers have changed the leak is NOT your sprinkler system but elsewhere in your home and should be checked out by a plumber. If the numbers have not changed then there is probably a leak in your sprinkler system.&nbsp;<\/p><h2>How to Turn the Main Sprinkler Valve On and Off<\/h2><p>1. Locate the Sprinkler Valve. The sprinkler valve is normally located near the water meter, which is usually in the basement. If you are a Spring Green customer there will be a green or orange tag hanging on the pipe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. Look at the picture below to see if your Main Sprinkler Valve is ON or OFF position. It\u2019s in the ON position when it\u2019s in line with the pipe.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-15186 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/USE-THIS-FOR-ON-e1561402918333.jpg\" alt=\"Sprinkler Valve On\" width=\"284\" height=\"379\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>It\u2019s in the OFF position when it makes a <em>\u201cT\u201d<\/em> or goes across the pipe.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-15187 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/USE-THIS-FOR-OFF.jpg\" alt=\"Sprinkler Valve Off\" width=\"337\" height=\"252\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Read other irrigation system maintenance and repair tips you can do yourself, or give your professional irrigation team a call to make sure your sprinkler system is working properly.<\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/detect-leak-sprinkler-system-mail-line-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:22:27","excerpt":"<p>A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water and damage your property. Learn these tips to detect a leak in your sprinkler system main line before calling in the professionals.<\/p>","slug":"detect-leak-sprinkler-system-main-line","description2":"","seo_title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water, and damage your property. Learn how to detect a leak in your sprinkler system.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water, and damage your property. Learn how to detect a leak in your sprinkler system.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["detect-leak-sprinkler-system-main-line"],"url_override":""},{"id":297,"title":"Temporary Sprinkler System Protection Against an Freeze","description":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">When Mother Nature decides to bring freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, there are a few simple steps you can take to help defend against freeze damage to your sprinkler system. Some of the most expensive components in your irrigation system are made of brass and other materials that are very susceptible to damage caused by the expansion of water when it freezes. When performing your winterization service, Spring-Green will use industrial compressors having the capacity to push a large volume of air under high pressure through your irrigation lines to blow out water.<\/p><h2>Steps to Help Protect Sprinkler Irrigation System From Freeze<\/h2><p>When freezing temperatures arrive before the date of your winterization service appointment, we strongly urge you to take the following preventative actions.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 1: Shut off Water supply to Irrigation System<\/strong> A) Locate the shut off valve to the irrigation system. This valve is usually located near your main water meter usually on a pipe that comes off to the side of the main water line. It is a 1\u201d pipe and may be larger than the main water line. You might be able to see it going toward the outside of the house. There should be an orange \u201cspring-green\u201d tag to identify the correct valve. B) Turn the valve a \u00bc turn, it will only go one way it may be up down right or left depending on the pipe position. Please check a sink to be sure you have not turned off your main water supply.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step1Valve.png\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"\"><\/p><p><strong>Step 2: Unplug Booster Pump (not installed on all systems)<\/strong> If you have a booster pump, it will be located on the floor and have a cord going to an outlet or box. If it's a regular outlet simply remove the plug. If it goes to a box then unplug your controller\/timer for the sprinkler system in the garage after you have followed step #3.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 3: Run System to Relieve Pressure<\/strong> Go to sprinkler controller\/timer (usually located in garage) and turn on any zone to run for 2 minutes. No water will come out of the irrigation head, but it will relieve the pressure in the main line.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 4: Open Outside Pipe<\/strong> Outside where the pipe to the irrigation system comes out of the house. Turn the spigot handle (if there is one) attached to this pipe counterclockwise to open it completely.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 5: Open Outside RPZ Valve<\/strong> If your RPZ valve is outside, locate the mini valves (3 or 4) sticking out of the RPZ that have a groove for a flat head screwdriver (See picture below).<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step5Valve.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Close-up of a backflow prevention device with text indicating 'Valves are CLOSED' and 'This is normal when sprinkler system is active'\"><\/p><p>To open the mini valves use a flat head screw driver to turn the screw \u00bc turn counter clockwise (See picture below). Water will come out as you open more of these mini valves \u2013 this is normal.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step5aValve.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Close-up of a backflow prevention device with text indicating that all three valves are open, highlighted by red arrows\"><\/p><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Step 6: Schedule Your Appointment for Irrigation Winterization Service<\/strong> The preceding steps are only a temporary precaution and will not substitute for having your irrigation system thoroughly winterized by the professionals at Spring Green.<\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-21 12:03:42","excerpt":"<p>Take these simple steps to help defend against freeze damage to your sprinkler system.<\/p>","slug":"temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze","description2":"","seo_title":"Temporary Protection on Sprinkler System Against Cold Temperatures | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"When there are freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, you can take a few steps to help defend against freeze.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Temporary Protection on Sprinkler System Against Cold Temperatures | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"When there are freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, you can take a few steps to help defend against freeze.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze"],"url_override":""},{"id":52,"title":"Regular Irrigation System Maintenance You Can Do At-Home","description":"<p>If you have an irrigation system, you might have had people ask you the question, \"Don't those waste water?\" Well, if your system is properly maintained, wasting water&nbsp;is not something you have to worry about. System maintenance and checks should be performed at least twice each season:<\/p><ul><li>Once in the beginning of the season (when you first turn on your system)<\/li><li>Once at the end of the season (to prepare for the winter)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"Irrigation system maintenance\">Irrigation system maintenance<\/a> on an automatic system can be rather complex \u2013 sometimes you just need to call in a professional. But, there are some minor tasks you could try on your own to keep your irrigation system working properly until your next scheduled maintenance appointment.<\/p><h2>Realign Irrigation System Heads<\/h2><p>If you notice the water in your system isn't spraying as far as it used to, that it is spraying in an unwanted direction, or if brown areas are developing on your lawn, you may need to realign or replace your irrigation system heads. To do this, simply twist the sprinkler head while the system is running until it is secure and spraying the direction you desire. If you have a loose nozzle, you may need to do this more often.<\/p><h2>Adjusting Heads that are Overspraying<\/h2><p>A sprinkler system can create brown spots in areas directly surrounding the sprinkler head \u2013 or it could spray your guests and others passing by your lawn when they least expect it! To make sure you're not wasting water, make sure you have the proper size nozzles for the area covered by that head.<\/p><h2>Replacing Heads &amp; Nozzles<\/h2><p>There are a number of reasons a nozzle, or sprinkler head, might need to be replaced. If it's broken by a lawn mower, becomes clogged from debris, or just wears out, you may need to replace it. Nozzles and sprinkler heads are rather inexpensive. To replace a sprinkler head, dig out around it to the bottom, unscrew it being careful no debris falls in. Then screw in the new head making sure it's at the proper level. Be sure to use the proper size nozzle for the area. The tips above are some general things you can do to maintain your system. If you have any problems, you'll want to schedule an irrigation sprinkler service appointment with a professional. Your local Spring Green professional can help you with routine checks and maintenance needs that might arise.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Keep your lawn looking its best when you learn more about proper lawn care\u2026 <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Automatic Sprinkler Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:40:14","excerpt":"<p>Keep your irrigation system working like new with these do-it-yourself maintenance tricks.<\/p>","slug":"regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home","description2":"","seo_title":"Irrigation Maintenance | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about proper irrigation system maintenance and how it can benefit your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation Maintenance | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about proper irrigation system maintenance and how it can benefit your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2024-10-04 16:35:32","updated_at":"2025-02-05 16:05:27","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Core Aeration?<\/h2><ul><li>Promotes healthy growth&nbsp;<\/li><li>Increases access to air, water and nutrients&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduces compaction&nbsp;<\/li><li>Creates heartier, drought- and disease-resistant lawns&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thickens turf<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Core Aeration Work?<\/h2><p>Our lawn care professional will mechanically remove small cores of soil and thatch and deposit them back onto your turf's surface. Doing so will lessen soil compaction so that water, air and nutrients can better reach the grass roots to encourage wholesome growth. The cores left on your lawn will dissolve back into the thatch layer to help it naturally break down.<\/p><p>Core Aeration should be performed yearly, either in the spring or fall.<\/p><p><br><\/p><h2>What are the Benefits of Irrigation System Maintenance?<\/h2><ul><li>Industry trained professionals to start up, maintain and winterize your irrigation system&nbsp;<\/li><li>Receive inspections to repair broken heads and rotors, reset controllers and check for leaks or broken water lines&nbsp;<\/li><li>Maintain even watering across turf and landscape areas for a greener, healthier lawn&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduce water consumption with a well-working system<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Irrigation System Maintenance Work?<\/h2><p>Having an automatic irrigation system makes watering your lawn and landscape an easy task. To keep your sprinkler system working as efficiently as possible, it needs periodic maintenance. It also requires proper start-up in the spring and shut down in the fall.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our team will provide these services through our Irrigation Maintenance Program. The program includes specialized visits to ensure that your system is running correctly:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Spring Start-Up Service<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Ensuring the main water supply is on&nbsp;<\/li><li>Priming the mainline&nbsp;<\/li><li>Verifying operation at each zone&nbsp;<\/li><li>Adjusting for head-to-head coverage&nbsp;<\/li><li>Checking for leaks&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clearing growth from around each head&nbsp;<\/li><li>Testing controller operation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Calibrating run time for spring conditions&nbsp;<\/li><li>Checking rain sensor operation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Identifying needed repairs&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Mid-Season System Performance Evaluation<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Resetting the controller&nbsp;<\/li><li>Checking for system leaks&nbsp;<\/li><li>Cleaning out overgrowth around heads&nbsp;<\/li><li>Ensuring rotors are turning properly&nbsp;<\/li><li>Leveling heads&nbsp;<\/li><li>Diagnosing system repairs&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Winterization Service<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Checking for potential system repairs&nbsp;<\/li><li>Blowing out heads, rotors, valves and lines before freezing temperatures set in<\/li><\/ul><p><br><\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-core-aeration-600x600.webp","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-irrigation-shutdown"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":"","service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":11,"name":"2-Step Tree Program","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">When it comes to caring for your lawn and landscape, tree and shrub care is just as important as lawn care&nbsp;because the typical neighborhood environment doesn\u2019t provide the&nbsp;nutrients that ornamental plants need&nbsp;in order to&nbsp;thrive.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Investing&nbsp;in a healthy landscape not only enriches&nbsp;your experience enjoying your yard, but it also adds value to your property.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Our 2-Step Tree Program offers a spring and fall application to ensure your landscape is as healthy and hearty.<\/span><\/p>","slug":"2-step-tree-program","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"4","excerpt":"<p>You can nourish and protect your trees and shrubs for a fraction of their replacement cost with Spring Green's tree and shrub care programs and services.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"16","icon_class_name":"two-step-and-specialty-injection","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"2","connected_services_to":"2","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2023-07-31 16:28:34","description2":"<h2><span class=\"fr-video fr-dvb fr-draggable\" contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\"><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fj86lZUZd2Y\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/span><br><\/h2><h2>What are the Benefits of 2-Step Tree Program?<\/h2><ul><li>Healthier, heartier trees and shrubs&nbsp;<\/li><li>Controls insect activity&nbsp;<\/li><li>Improves root health&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduces soil compaction<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does 2-Step Tree Program Work?<\/h2><p>Our team will survey your yard to become familiar with the ornamental plants on your property. Once we identify all your trees and shrubs, our trained and licensed field service professionals will apply one injected application in the spring and another in the fall. All injections are environmentally-sound and inserted into the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The product will assist with fertilization to provide proper nutrients, introduce a root-enhancing organic material that\u2019ll improve nutrient and water intake while reducing soil compaction and insert a systemic insect control that moves from the root system throughout the entire plant to control insect activity for the entire following season.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/tree-care\/service-tree-care-2-step-tree-program-600x600.webp","seo_title":"2-Step Tree Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's 2-Step Tree Program is a cost-effective way to properly care for trees and shrubs. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"2-Step Tree Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's 2-Step Tree Program is a cost-effective way to properly care for trees and shrubs. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["2-step-tree-program"],"connected_tree_care_guides":[[{"id":9,"title":"Tree Maintenance Tips","description":"<h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\">How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs<\/a><\/h2><p>Like all living organisms, trees and shrubs need proper nutrients to live long, healthy lives. The proper fertilization methods can prevent against disease and insect invasion, helping to improve the health and beauty of your trees. Read more about <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\">fertilizing trees and shrubs<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\">How to Prevent Landscape Damage From Deer<\/a><\/h2><p>You have spent time and money preserving and beautifying your lawn and landscape in order to ensure a beautiful atmosphere around your home or business. However, some of those much loved plants may also be your local deer population\u2019s favorite food. The proper prevention plan can help keep deer from destroying lawn and plant life. Read more about how to prevent <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\">damage from deer<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\">The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape<\/a><\/h2><p>Placing mulch around the base of trees and shrubs can help improve the look and health of your landscape. In addition to facilitating tree and shrub care and growth, mulching can also be a tool to help with the overall maintenance and care of your lawn. Learn about <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\">mulch tips<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\">How to Make a Landscape Plan<\/a><\/h2><p>Taking care and maintaining your landscape involves a lot more than just planting various trees and shrubs. Knowing the layout of your land, the types of plants and trees that you would like to plant and how your soil and environment can affect them, and their care and maintenance are all important components in the process of planning your landscape. Read more about the essentials of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\">landscape planning<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape\/\">Tips for Properly Watering Plants in Your Landscape<\/a><\/h2><p>While watering is an essential part of landscape care for plants and shrubs, overwatering or saturating some types of plants can cause serious damage. Certain plants such as Yews are even more susceptible than others to complications caused by overwatering. Read about proper <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape\/\">landscape watering.<\/a><\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\">Tips on Maintaining Trees &amp; Avoiding Tree Damage<\/a><\/h2><p>There are various ways that trees can become injured. Inclement weather, tree staking, and repeated damage by mowers and trimmers can all have negative impacts on tree health and growth. Knowing how trees can be damaged, how to avoid damage, and what to do when you find damage is essential in proper tree care. Learn about how to prevent and repair <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\">tree damage<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips\/\">Tree Watering Tips<\/a><\/h2><p>The proper watering process for recently planted or established trees is an essential part of their growth and longevity. Proper tree care involves knowing when and how much to water as well as being able to recognize possible stresses that can come from over or under watering. Read more <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips\/\">tree watering tips.<\/a><\/p><h2>Caring for Your Trees and Shrubs - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VDmWCO9P6fc?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":false,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Like all living organisms, trees and shrubs need proper nutrients to live long, healthy lives. The proper maintenance methods can prevent against disease and insect invasion, helping to improve the health and beauty of your trees.<\/p>","slug":"tree-maintenance-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Tree Maintenance Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about proper maintenance for the trees in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"noindex","meta_robots_follow":"nofollow","social_title":"Tree Maintenance Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about proper maintenance for the trees in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:38:10","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-maintenance-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":4,"title":"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape","description":"<p>A lot of homeowners think of mulch as strictly cosmetic, just something to make the place look good. And it\u2019s true that mulch around the base of trees and shrubs does improve property appearance. But there's so much more that mulch can contribute to your landscape. It makes lawn and tree maintenance a whole lot easier, and provides other yard care benefits that are underground and out of sight.<\/p><h3>Managing Soil Temperatures For Better Tree Growth<\/h3><p>Proper use of mulch is an essential <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> technique. Tree roots are sensitive to high summer temperatures. When the surface soil reaches 100 to 108 degrees, or more (which it can during hot weather), most tree roots begin to die. Temperatures that high simply kill the roots. Unfortunately, this happens in the upper area of the soil (the top 5 to 6''), which is usually the most fertile. A 3'' layer of mulch can reduce soil temperatures by as much as 10 degrees, maintaining a healthy growth environment for the roots, and letting them grow actively in the upper soil.<\/p><h3>There Are Other Yard Care Benefits, Too<\/h3><p>Mulched soil retains moisture much better than bare soil can around your trees. This means watering less and reducing the chance of water stress on the trees. Mulch cuts down soil erosion, or wash-out, around trees. It reduces soil compaction, and can improve soil structure as the mulch breaks down. Mulched barriers around trees keep mowers and trimmers from causing mechanical damage to the trees.<\/p><h3>Many Materials Available As Mulch<\/h3><p>Mulches are either organic or inorganic. Organic choices include bark chips and shredded bark (of which there are many kinds commercially available); wood shavings; sawdust; peat moss; cocoa hulls (a great smelling choice if you like chocolate!); straw or pine straw; rice hulls or crushed corn cobs; and yard waste like leaves, grass and twigs. Those in the yard waste group are not widely used because they usually don't improve property appearance as much as the commercially produced mulches. Inorganic mulches include gravel (or crushed rock), a variety of sheet materials (like plastic), and several types of shredded rubber or tires. Of the commercially produced mulches, costs vary greatly depending on the area of the country, but overall, wood and bark products are the most common and economical.<\/p><h3>A Couple Of Quick Pointers On Mulching<\/h3><p>If you mulch in the fall, wait until the first really cold snap is over before tackling this lawn and tree care step. By then, most ground-burrowing rodents have settled themselves for the winter. If you mulch earlier they may decide to move into your beds. You should keep mulch from piling up around the trunk. Don't keep adding to the top of the pile each year, as this can cause rot, disease, and insect problems at the base. Apply mulch 2 to 5'' deep after removing grass and weeds, and cultivating the soil.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Mulch reduces soil temperature as much as 10 degrees \u2014 enough to make a difference between supporting or killing tiny feeder roots near the surface.<\/li><li>Mulch applied around your trees each year reduces water stress, weeds, and damage to trees.<\/li><li>Many materials work well as mulch, with wood products being the most common.<\/li><li>Don't mulch in early fall, preventing mice and ground squirrels from nesting in beds.<\/li><\/ul><p>So, besides helping the place put on a happy face, Spring Green suggests mulching every year as part of your yard maintenance plan for all the good health it delivers. Combine mulching with time-tested techniques like <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a> to keep your lawn healthy and happy for years to come.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mulch adds so much value to your landscape, and not just in looks. Learn about all the great benefits mulch adds to your yard.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-using-mulch-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Benefits of Mulch | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using mulch as part of your landscaping efforts? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Benefits of Mulch | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using mulch as part of your landscaping efforts? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:24:49","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-using-mulch-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":6,"title":"Tips for Properly Watering Your Landscape","description":"<p>Standing in water all day long is not fun, unless it is on some sunny beach in a warm climate. Even then, you would get out every so often to dry off. Everyone has experienced 'pruning' of the feet or hands; when they become wrinkled after being in the water for a long time. The condition can get worse if the moisture is held in by boots or gloves. Trench foot, foot fungus, and other maladies will accompany wet, soggy situations.<\/p><h2>Too Much Water?<\/h2><p>Well, the same thing can happen to many landscape plants. One plant that is especially susceptible to this condition is the Yew. The Yew is a shrub, or small tree, that is often formally sheared into a globe, pyramid, or hedge shape. It is one of the most popular shrubs in landscapes. It will grow well in moderate shade or full sun. Yews prefer sandy, well-drained soils that are not heavy or compacted. When the soils become waterlogged, Yews will often become infected with several root rot <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">diseases<\/a>. Phytophthora and Armillaria are two varieties of root rot diseases that will infect Yews.<\/p><h2>Risks of Saturated Soil<\/h2><p>Oxygen availability is reduced anytime soils become saturated. The water fills the spaces between the soil particles and the plants suffer. Proper planting and site location is very critical when planting Yews. Choose a location that is not in a low area or next to a gutter down spout. If the area is prone to flooding, choose another plant. Many people will dig a hole that is just larger than the root ball. This will not allow for good root growth. It is better to dig the hole twice as large in diameter as the root ball and one and a half times as deep as the length. Adding yard care soil amendments, such as peat moss, is usually not required. It is better to reuse the same soil that came out of the hole. Break it up so that it is easy to replace. The top of the root ball should be at grade level or slightly above grade. Make a circular mound about 3 to 4\u201d high around the perimeter of the hole. As the soil settles, the mound will settle into the hole. The saucer-shaped ring will also help retain water to aid to the establishment of the new plant.<\/p><h2>Landscape Services<\/h2><p>Yews are attractive plants that come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and growth habits. They will live a long time, provided they are planted correctly and in a good location. Talk with your landscaper, garden center manager, or county extension service for recommendations of varieties that are best suited for your area. Your friendly neighborhood Spring Green expert can help you with further <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> and expertise, as well.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs <\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Knowing how much to water your plants can sometimes be tough to determine. Here are some tips on how to keep your landscape quenched and not drowning.<\/p>","slug":"tips-properly-watering-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Proper Landscape Watering | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to water your lawn and landscape elements properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Proper Landscape Watering | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to water your lawn and landscape elements properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:44:05","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tips-properly-watering-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":5,"title":"How to Make a Landscape Plan","description":"<h1><strong>Landscape Planning Essentials<\/strong><\/h1><p>Landscaping is an art form. It requires planning, knowledge, and hard work. It entails a whole lot more to <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree and shrub care<\/a> than going to the local nursery, picking a couple of plants that look nice, digging some holes, and calling it a job done. Before you start a landscape project, you need to answer some basic questions that will help you pick the right plant and put it in the right place.<\/p><h2>Starting Your Landscape Plan<\/h2><p>First, you need to decide the basic layout and space available for the trees and shrubs you are going to buy. Take a survey of your property and make a drawing of the shape of your property. Draw in the location of your house, driveway, sidewalks, and any other permanent structures. It is a good idea to try to determine the slope of your property and note any areas of your yard that may be influenced by surrounding structures or plants. An example of this would be the amount of shade coming from a neighbor's trees. Sketch some ideas on paper to get an idea where you may want to add new plants, or replace old ones. On the layout, it would be a good idea to pencil in the location of the windows on your house; determine the distance from the window to the ground level; and write it underneath each window sketched. This information will be useful when choosing foundation plants.<\/p><h2>Picking Landscape Plants<\/h2><p>Second, you need to decide why you are planting what you are planting. Is it going to be a focal point of the entire landscape, or is it going to be used to fill in an open space? Are you purchasing it for its beauty and looks, or will it be functional, such as a border or hedge, or both? Do some research by looking at landscape guides, garden magazines, or by visiting a local nursery or garden center. It is important to know the ultimate height and\/or width of the trees and shrubs you are considering. One common mistake that many do-it-yourselfers make is putting too many plants in too small of a place. Another common mistake is not considering the height or width of the plant. If the window is 3 feet from the ground and the plant you purchase will grow to 10 feet, there will be a shrub care problem in a very short time. The same holds true when placing plants next to a door. If the plant will grow to a width of 8 feet and it is planted 2 feet from the front door, then it may soon become difficult to find the door. It can be deceiving when you go to purchase a plant that is only 24\u201c wide and try to envision it at its full size. It is important to keep this in mind, or you may be redoing your landscape every 10 years, or so.<\/p><h2>Placing Landscape Plants<\/h2><p>The third consideration is the placement of the plants in relationship to the growing and maintenance conditions of the planting site and the growing requirements of the plant itself. An example of this is putting shade loving plants in shady yard areas and sun-loving plants in sunny yard areas. Remember to consider the potential size of the surrounding plants. Finally, consider the aesthetic value and appeal of the plants you are choosing. You need to decide what looks good to you. You could hire a landscape architect to make many of the decisions for you and offer suggestions for plant selections. Those services will cost extra money, but it may be worth it if you are at your wit's end deciding which plants to choose.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/how-to-make-a-landscape-plan-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>In need of a spectacular landscape, but don't know where to start? Read about the essentials of landscape planning.<\/p>","slug":"how-to-make-a-landscape-plan","description2":"","seo_title":"Making a Landscape Plan | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to make a landscaping plan for your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Making a Landscape Plan | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to make a landscaping plan for your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:33:28","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["how-to-make-a-landscape-plan"],"url_override":""},{"id":7,"title":"Tree Watering Tips","description":"<h3><strong>Water - Nothing lives without it.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your trees are no exception. Because larger trees show stress symptoms slowly, a lot of homeowners completely overlook maintaining the water needs of the most valuable landscape investment they own. Proper, consistent watering is crucial to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree maintenance<\/a> strategy. Attractive and healthy trees need enough water at the right times. Your trees pull water from the soil and lose most of it through tiny pores in the leaves by evaporation (or transpiration). Since most tree roots are located in the top 3 feet of the soil, they can (and do) suffer during periods of extended drought. Deeper roots can supply some of the plant\u2019s water needs during dry spells. Water stress is still a major maintenance concern with both recent transplants and established trees.<\/p><h3>Starting them right:<\/h3><h3>Watering recently planted trees<\/h3><p>Most garden centers water their trees a lot, even daily to keep them looking their best for customers. So, you should always consider the shock a new environment has on the tree's system and help it along with plenty of <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> and watering until its roots get firmly established. If you planted the new tree right, there is a transition zone of loose soil between the planting ball and the native soil of your property. At first, you need to provide extra water to the ball, while keeping plenty of water in the transition soil. To do this, build two shallow dikes or ridges 4 to 5'' high around the base of the tree: one slightly smaller than the root ball and the other about 30'' in diameter. For the first 2 to 3 weeks, water the inner circle every 1 to 3 days to assure the root ball has enough moisture. After the roots have penetrated the transition zone (4 to 6 weeks), you can knock down the inner dike. During this early phase, the outer ring will need less water, but do keep it moist.<\/p><h3>Watering Established Trees<\/h3><p>Established trees show water stress more slowly, but signs include wilting, change in leaf color, and premature leaf drop. The most important goal is to get as much of the water as possible to the roots of the tree. To accomplish this, eliminate runoff (don't apply water faster than the soil can absorb it); keep the water inside the drip line of the tree; and apply the water evenly across the whole area. Whether old plantings or new, when you give your trees the care they need through regular watering and maintenance, they give you beauty and growth in return.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Watering for tree maintenance is often overlooked because they show signs of stress very slowly.<\/li><li>Garden centers tend to water heavily.<\/li><li>Water new transplants heavily until the tree adapts to its new environment.<\/li><li>A double dike system around new plantings will help get water where it\u2019s needed during establishment.<\/li><li>Older trees need water too.<\/li><li>Watch for signs of stress and provide the water needed to keep them healthy through drought periods<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; For more information on proper tree care, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re here to help you have the most beautiful lawn and landscape possible. We have many other resources regarding <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">proper lawn watering techniques<\/a> here on our site, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Larger trees show water stress very slowly, so it tends to be an often overlooked part of tree maintenance. Learn the steps of proper watering practices.<\/p>","slug":"tree-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Tree Watering Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to water the trees in your yard properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Tree Watering Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to water the trees in your yard properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:37:53","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage","description":"<p>We've all seen trees gashed by car bumpers, and limbs blown off in storms, but these are just a couple of the many ways trees get injured. Others include chafing, scrapes, and cuts from lawn mowers being pushed into the lower trunks, or by improper staking; line trimmers cutting away bark week after week; rubbing away of the bark caused by touching branches; and improper pruning. All of these things create injuries, similar to a person being cut by a dull knife. If you get too many such cuts, you're going to be in serious trouble from infection, or loss of blood. Trees react in much the same way, so it\u2019s important to avoid damage, if possible, and to provide proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> when it occurs.<\/p><h3><strong>Repeated Abuse Is The Worst<\/strong><\/h3><p>Of all the damaging things we've listed, the worst may be the repeated damage from lawn mowers and trimmers. When grass grows right up to a tree, the base of that tree is nearly guaranteed to take some direct hits by mowers, trimmers, or both. What makes it all worse is that it continues week after week, compounding the injuries over time. A simple and effective tree maintenance fix is a border of mulch around the base of your trees. This makes mowing a lot easier and protects the trees at the same time. You can read more about proper mowing techniques on our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> page.<\/p><h3><strong>Avoid Staking Trees When Possible<\/strong><\/h3><p>Staking of trees should always be avoided when possible (to encourage stronger growth), but if needed, should be done right. Don't stake by tying stakes directly to the tree; avoid tightly binding straps; and remove all stakes as soon as the tree can stand on its own.<\/p><h3><strong>Proper Pruning<\/strong><\/h3><p>When pruning, make sure all cuts are clean, and keep heavier branches from ripping when your saw is 2\/3 of the way through by doing an initial cut from the bottom. As part of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree maintenance<\/a>, remove one of each pair of branches that are rubbing and chafing against each other.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Discover Damage<\/strong><\/h3><p>When you do discover damage, it\u2019s important to clean the wound. All tree injuries provide entry points for disease and insects, while interrupting the flow of water, food, and nutrients between the roots and the leaves. Removing any loose bark and brushing out any dirt that is lodged in the wound will expose the damaged area to sunlight, air, and promote healing. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Fertilization<\/a> helps speed up recovery from damage and general plant health.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Mechanical damage causes wounds that allow entry of diseases and insects into the soft tree wood.<\/li><li>Mulch all lawn trees to eliminate mower and trimmer damage.<\/li><li>Dress all wounds to promote fast healing and reduce disease or insect problems.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp;We want to help you protect all of your landscape investment through effective lawn and tree care. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green anytime you have questions about your lawn and tree care.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-trees-avoiding-tree-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Whether it's a car bumper or a lawn mower, our trees can take a heavy beating. Make sure you protect them to the best of your abilities with these steps.<\/p>","slug":"tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Maintaining Damaged Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to maintain and treat damaged trees? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Maintaining Damaged Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to maintain and treat damaged trees? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:34:47","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":16,"title":"How to Fertilize Trees & Shrubs","description":"<p><strong>All living things need nourishment, and trees and shrubs have a big appetite.<\/strong> It\u2019s true, large, well-established, and healthy trees may not need much supplemental feeding, but fertilizing smaller trees and shrubs will pay you big dividends in return for your feeding investment during their first several years on your property. Your payback will include better resistance to disease and insects, improved flowering, and a quicker establishment than similar plants denied regular fertilization. At Spring-Green, our <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree and shrub care<\/a> experts help you master the art of fertilization. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you're fertilizing the trees and shrubs in your own lawn: <strong>Tip #1: Give your plants a balanced diet.<\/strong> The primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are all used by your trees in different ways.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Nitrogen encourages fast trunk and branch growth, and the production of healthy and dark green leaves.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Phosphorus stimulates vigorous root growth (which makes it especially beneficial to recently planted trees and shrubs).<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Phosphorus also promotes flower bud formation and increases resistance to cold.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Potassium makes the trees stronger, helping them to withstand wind and ice breakage as well as <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">diseases<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Iron is often added to fertilizers for trees to unlock the other nutrients, or make them more available to the plant.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Micro-nutrients, like iron, are needed in some soils and for some types of plants that are prone to specific deficiencies. <strong>Tip #2: Make sure the feeder roots of your trees have access to the fertilizer.<\/strong><a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Fertilizing trees<\/a> should put the nutrients within reach of the feeder roots. This means feeding an area that reaches from about 1\/3 of the distance from the tree trunk to the drip line (on the inside), to a spot about the same distance outside the drip line. Fertilizer needs to be placed into holes that are about 6 to 12'' deep throughout this area. For good distribution, you may need up to 10 feeding holes per inch of trunk diameter throughout the target area (a tree 5'' across may need 50 or so holes in the feeding zone). That's a lot of holes, but it assures that the fertilizer will be evenly available to the tree. <strong>Tip #3: Apply fertilizer to trees early enough to withstand cold weather conditions.<\/strong> Trees can be fertilized anytime between when the sap goes down in fall or winter until about mid-July (at the latest). Fertilizing trees between July and fall stimulates late growth that gets no chance to harden off and is more susceptible to damage from winter cold and winds. Early spring is probably the ideal feeding time, but with slow release materials, any time during the window will give excellent results. Newly planted trees and shrubs benefit the most from regular fertilizing during their first 5 years in the landscape. In establishment, growth, and flowering, there is just no comparison between plants that are fed and those left to go it alone. <strong>Things to remember when fertilizing trees and shrubs:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Feeding of recent transplants during the first 5 years helps plants mature quickly.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Balanced fertility is important. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium each perform distinct functions in your landscape plants.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Don't fertilize trees between July 15th and September 30 after trees start dormancy or resting periods.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>If you would like to see your landscape investment start paying better dividends to you through regular shrub and tree maintenance, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green. We know trees and have solutions that work, in addition to our years of lawn care service experience for the rest of your yard.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage 101<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Trees and shrubs are the essential ingredients to a beautiful landscape. Read more to find out exactly how to help your plants reach their potential.<\/p>","slug":"fertilize-trees-shrubs","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Fertilize Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to fertilize your trees and shrubs? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Fertilize Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to fertilize your trees and shrubs? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:33:05","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilize-trees-shrubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Binomial Nomenclature - Plant Identification","description":"<p>Carl Linnaeus was an eighteenth century botanist who introduced the world to a method of naming plants called the binomial nomenclature system. Before his system, many grass and plants had very lengthy descriptions in Latin that were sentences long. His idea was to give each plant two Latin names that would make it easy to identify them. Latin was used as a standard so that botanists around the world would be able to communicate about the same plant that often had several names. For example, the dandelion is also known as Blow Ball, Lion's Tooth, Peasant's Cloak, Yellow Gowan, Priest's Crown, Irish Daisy and Monk's Head, to name just a few. Therefore, it makes a botanist's life simpler to use the Latin name, Taraxacum officinale, when discussing the dandelion with someone outside of his area.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Rumex acetosella L., means \"little vinegar plant\".<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Carl Linnaeus' system used descriptive Latin words to name plants. Sheep Sorrel (or Red Sorrel, Field Sorrel, Sour Weed, Red-topped Sorrel, Cow Sorrel, Sour Leek, Horse Sorrel, Gentleman's Sorrel, Toad Sorrel, or just plain Sorrel) is a good indicator plant for acid or sour soil. The Latin name, Rumex acetosella L., means \"little vinegar plant\", which is more descriptive than any of the common names. Some plants are called the same thing, as is the case with wild onion and wild garlic. These names are often interchanged, depending on where they are growing.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Lawn care customers will use all sorts of names for the same plant. \"Water grass\" is freely used to describe all sorts of weedy grasses. Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, and Creeping Crude are used to describe a variety of different weeds. All thistles are \"sticker bushes\" and all plants with three leaves are clover \u2014 although they may be clover, or Black Medic, or Oxalis.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Many weeds in the U.S. were imported from Europe or Asia.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Many of the weeds we contend with in the U.S. were imported from Europe or Asia. They were originally brought here to serve a purpose, such as a ground cover. Such is the case with Ground Ivy (or Gill-Over-The-Ground, Haymaids, Tunoff, Hedgemaids, Lizzy-Run-Up-The-Hedge, Cat's Foot, Gill-Go-By-The-Hedge, Robin-Run-In-The-Hedge, or Creeping Charlie). The Latin name, Nepeta hederacea L. means ivy-like plant from Nepeta. The \"L\" at the end indicates that our friend, Carl Linnaeus, named it. It was initially brought to this country as a plant that would quickly fill in a bare area and keep down dust and dirt. If you have ever had the experience of trying to rid your lawn of this troublesome weed, you know how well it does its job.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring Green helps customers control these wild weeds with our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control services<\/a>. The binomial nomenclature system makes it easier for the botanist to communicate. Since we are not all botanists, we will struggle to communicate our displeasure of having Smart Weed (or Water Pepper, Pepper Plant, Biting Persicaria, Biting Knotweed, Red Knees, or Red Shanks) in our lawn or garden. Then again, some of the common names are somewhat cute, like Robin-Run-In-The-Hedge instead of Nepeta hederacea L. And one thing is for certain; it is a lot easier to pronounce. Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/flower-care\/\">Flower and Garden Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter\/\">Winter Landscapes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Ever wonder how plants get their names? Learn more!<\/p>","slug":"binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification","description2":"","seo_title":"Plant Identification | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what type of plants are in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to learn about properly identifying plants!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Plant Identification | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what type of plants are in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to learn about properly identifying plants!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:25:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer","description":"<p>It has been your life long dream, a house in the country away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. A place where the air is clean, the soil is fertile, and \"\u2026where the deer and the antelope play.\" But, have you ever thought about the feeding habits of those deer and antelope? You spend a good amount of time and money investing in <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn care services<\/a> and making your landscape beautiful, only to find that the plants you chose seem to be the favorite \"snacks\" of the local deer population.<\/p><h2>Yard Damage &amp; Deer<\/h2><p>At the turn of the century, there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. The most recent estimate is that their population has grown to over 25 million \u2014 a 5,000% increase! The farming industry and homeowners will lose close to a billion dollars as the result of damage caused by deer. Nature has always kept animal populations in check, but the suburban environment has disrupted the natural check and balance systems. The deer have had an opportunity to grow unchecked, and have become a nuisance in many communities. Deer feed on many plants and trees commonly found in the yard. They love strawberries, many vegetables, flowers, and the tender tips of young trees. They will, also, damage trees by rubbing their antlers against them. They have been known to dig up a lawn in search of grubs, the fall favorite of many forest animals. Keeping them from doing what comes naturally, foraging for food, can be arduous. This is especially true during long snowy winters when food supplies are scarce. Most home landscapes and yard are \"easy pickings\" for a hungry deer. They see it as an easily accessible buffet of culinary delights, much to your chagrin. You can either plant less of their favorite foods, or try to control their feeding habits.<\/p><h2>Preventing Lawn Damage by Deer<\/h2><p>There are several commercial and home-remedy yard care products available to help reduce their feeding on valuable plants and trees. Many are short-lived, and once the deer become accustomed to the odor or taste, they may become ineffective. It is best to change products, or methods, on a regular basis. Some of the home remedies are:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Hang a bar of soap in a mesh bag from a tree. Fragrant soaps such as Lifebuoy, Irish Spring, and Dial seem to work the best. If there are several trees to protect, use hotel-size bars, or cut the larger bars into several pieces. Tie the bags to the ends of the branches so that any soap that drips off during a rain or snowstorm will not drip onto the trunk. There have been some reports that rabbits will gnaw on the soap residue.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Human or dog hair can also be placed in mesh bags or nylons and hung from tree branches.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Baby powder, blood meal, or bone meal will also provide some resistance to their feeding, but these will require continued, repeated applications.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>There are numerous animal repellent products available. A simple web search on the key words 'Deer Repellent Products' will provide you with a wide range of choices. Deer are beautiful, serene creatures and are fascinating to watch. Keeping them away from your landscape plants can be a frustrating and seemingly hopeless task. It is the price you have to pay for <em>'living in the country'<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>We love deer. We just don't love them making dinner out of our bushes. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keep those beautiful creatures out of your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"prevent-landscape-damage-deer","description2":"","seo_title":"Yard Damage From Deer | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to repair and prevent yard damage from deer? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Yard Damage From Deer | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to repair and prevent yard damage from deer? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:44:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prevent-landscape-damage-deer"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"tree_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Ornamental Bed Weed Control","Root Feeding","Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":1,"name":"Brown Patch Disease Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Do you have brown rings or patches on your lawn? This could be a sign of Brown Patch Disease.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Easily mistaken for heat or drought stress, this lawn disease is caused by a fungus and appears when the weather is hot and humid. It can be costly to homeowners, but with proper treatment and cultural practices, brown patch disease can be avoided.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"brown-patch","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?si=P9Tmw2FXzNIrqH3f\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Are those brown spots on your lawn continuing to grow? Act before it\u2019s too late - brown patches can be prevented and restored. &nbsp;<\/p>","omni_service_id":"6","icon_class_name":"brownpatch","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Mushrooms","description":"<p>When the temperatures rise and there has been an abundance of rain or supplemental irrigation.&nbsp; Mushrooms come in all shapes and colors.&nbsp; For the most part, mushrooms are a good thing as they are a sign that there is plenty of activity going on in the soil food web below the ground. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that feed on organic material that exists in the soil, providing nutrients to other microorganism as well as to the roots of landscapes plants and to the turf. There are a lot of fungi varieties that can cause problems in lawns. Mushrooms are among the most visible, but least harmful of lawn fungi. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-ring\/\" title=\"Fairy Ring\">Fairy rings<\/a> are caused by up to 50 different types of fungi and create expanding rings in turf. Although fairy rings and mushrooms are not harmful, they are unslightly for some people. Here are a few facts about mushrooms and how to help control them on your lawn.<\/p><h3><strong>Mushrooms Don't Harm Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p><img class=\"size-full wp-image-7173 alignright fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp\" alt=\"mushrooms growing in a yard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mushrooms are caused by a large number of different fungi, and the good news is they won't cause lawn diseases. They are sensitive to moisture and normally appear during periods of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures or on very heavily irrigated turf. Mushrooms feed on decaying organic material on the lawn in the thatch or soil, and do not attack living grass plants. Shallow dead tree roots, construction debris, or heavy thatch on the lawn can become the \"host\" that mushrooms feed upon. In almost all cases, mushrooms will disappear when lawn moisture levels return to normal and regular mowing will help get rid of these unsightly fungi. Some of the fungi that cause mushrooms are sensitive to fungicides. Usually fungicides will only help prevent further mushrooms from developing and not kill the current ones. Because of this, we normally advise that attempting to remove mushrooms chemically is not really feasible. It's also a good idea to determine what kind of mushrooms your lawn is developing or spotting types of mushrooms in your neighborhood area. Although mushrooms don't affect your turf, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">mushrooms are toxic for pets<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How To Control Mushrooms In Your Lawn<\/strong> To control mushrooms on the lawn, we recommend keeping the soil open and reduce water frequency for the time being. Make sure you're following <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Watering-Facts-and-Best-Practices.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best watering practices<\/a> to avoid over watering your lawn (over watering leads to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Brown Patch<\/a>). Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> helps keep the soil open and allows more air, nutrients and water to reach the root zone for healthy, thick grass. These tips will generally help control mushrooms, and prevent new mushrooms from emerging on the lawn. Mushrooms don't last a long time once they surface and will usually decompose in a couple of days. &nbsp;There are no products that will keep mushrooms from growing in a lawn or landscape bed. They can be hand-picked and thrown away, but it is a good idea to wear gloves when doing so as some mushrooms are poisonous. &nbsp;Normally mowing will also remove those mushrooms that grow taller than the turf. They can also be kicked over or they can be a way to improve your golf swing.<\/p><h3>Partnering With Spring-Green For a Healthy Lawn<\/h3><p>Having a healthy lawn is the result of a continuous process. And in the process of creating great conditions for growing grass, the very best results come when you and Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> work together as partners. If mushrooms are growing in a circle within a lawn or are growing within a darker green circle of arc, this could be a sign of a disease called Fairy Ring. If mushrooms are growing in this type of pattern, call your Neighborhood Lawn Care Professional to inspect your lawn. They will provide the best recommendations to reduce the severity of this disease, which usually involves yearly core aeration on the lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread\/\" title=\"Red Thread\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:50:35","excerpt":"<p>There are a lot of fungus varieties that can cause problems in turf grass. Mushrooms are among the most visible but least harmful of lawn fungi.<\/p>","slug":"mushrooms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mushrooms"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Rust Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust. Not the same kind you'd find on your metal patio furniture, or your car, of course. But one that can be just as destructive. Rust is a fairly common lawn disease caused by fungus. It usually shows up from mid-summer through late fall, once the growth of your grass has slowed. But rust can also appear any time your turf is under stress, like after extended dry periods. Rust spores are tiny and very light weight. They can be carried long distances by the wind, which means that even the best kept lawns can be infected. Usually, grasses with a fine texture and deep color, like perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, are the most likely victims of rust lawn disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Recognizing Rust<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust usually takes hold in shaded areas first, during warm, humid weather. Any grass that remains wet for long periods of time, because of too much watering, lingering dew or poor drainage, could find itself rusting away. The fungi symptoms of this lawn disease begin as tiny yellow spots on the grass blades. These spots become elongated and eventually rupture into clusters of rust-orange spores that give the disease its name. When touched, the powdery, dust-like rust spores leave a color a lot like the fine particles of rust from metal.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_DMpX2lNsF4?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>Treating Rust Through Lawn Fertilization And Mowing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust that is not treated can quickly thin and destroy good turf, and it is especially dangerous to new seed. Once rust is established, a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer works better than lawn disease controls for treating the condition. By mowing more frequently, at a higher mower height, you can also help to remove the rust spores before they spread to other leaves.<\/p><h3><strong>Prevention is the Best Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>, eliminating the conditions that cause rust is the best lawn treatment. Your lawn service professionals at Spring-Green want to make sure your grass remains healthy and beautiful this season. By working together, we can develop a maintenance <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service&nbsp;<\/a> plan to keep your lawn as disease-free as possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/rust-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:54:19","excerpt":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust.<\/p>","slug":"rust-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rust-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Dollar Spot","description":"<p>Dollar spot is not a picky parasite; this <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> infects and kills a lot of different grasses. True to its name, dollar spot develops small, distinct circles from 1 to 6'' across, about the size of a silver dollar or a small pancake. Because these spots don't look very serious individually, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. But because dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, serious scarring of the lawn can occur.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Might Start Seeing Spots:<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus survives the winter as dormant mycelium (or fungal growth) in plant parts in the thatch and soil. When temperatures get into the 60s, the lawn disease starts growing again. The peak of disease activity occurs when temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees. Other factors that trigger development of dollar spot lawn disease include low soil moisture when the humidity is high; low nitrogen fertility; too much thatch on the lawn; and mowing too short during hot weather. Lawns not on a quality program that provides the correct blend of fertilizers, or that don't get properly watered or mowed are most likely to catch a case of dollar spot.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: How You Can Spot It<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are two easy ways to identify dollar spot lawn disease on turf. The first is the shape and size of the damaged areas. The individual spots are usually very circular and distinct, and grow to only a few inches in diameter. Another symptom that's easy to recognize are the lesions (or infection marks) on the individual grass blades. Dollar spot lawn disease causes an hour-glass shaped band to form across the width of the grass blade. This band is light tan and has a reddish-brown edge on the top and bottom. Being a very thorough fungus, dollar spot kills the entire grass plant. After a serious bout with dollar spot, lawn renovation or reseeding will almost always be required once the disease is brought under control.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: See Spot Run \u2014 Out Of Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p>Remember your first grade reader? See Spot run. Run Spot, run. You can help make dollar spot run from your lawn. Watering right is your department. Spring-Green can take care of the rest. Since grass diseases such as dollar spot favor turf with low soil moisture, it's important to saturate the soil regularly. But, because one of the ways this lawn disease moves is by water droplets splashing, it\u2019s best to avoid frequent late afternoon or evening watering. Always allow the grass to dry out before evening. Low nitrogen fertility (which pushes disease growth) should also be corrected with the correct combinations of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> during periods of disease activity. The very best prevention for dollar spot (as well as almost all types of lawn diseases) is the Spring-Green program and regular, deep watering.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Dollar spot lawn disease appears as silver dollar sized circles in the turf.<\/li><li>Low nitrogen fertility increases dollar spot activity, as does low soil moisture.<\/li><li>Dollar spot can be more serious than it may first appear because the lawn disease kills the entire grass plant, often requiring reseeding.<\/li><li>Grass diseases move by foot and equipment traffic and by water from irrigation, rain and dew.<\/li><\/ul><p>Treatments with a fungicide can be effective, so if you suspect this disease is what's making you see spots, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green right away.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/dollar-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:59:24","excerpt":"<p>Dollar spot doesn't look very serious individually so it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. Dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, causing serious damage.<\/p>","slug":"dollar-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["dollar-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":64,"title":"How to Identify Slime Mold on Grass","description":"<p>Picture this: As you work through your lawn, you notice a little patch of grayish growth. When you inspect it closely, you notice it resembles ash that has been sprinkled on the grass blades. When you touch it, a small cloud of dust rises off the blades. You immediately go to your phone and call your lawn service or local nursery because you are concerned that this problem will spread. On your way to the phone, you notice something weird on the mulch that is spread across your landscape beds. You may ask yourself the following questions:<\/p><h2>What does Slime Mold look like?<\/h2><p>You stop for a closer look and are appalled at what you see. It looks as if someone got physically sick and vomited in your flowerbed.&nbsp;You think,&nbsp;\"How disgusting\" \u2014 Yes it is! But, is there anything to be worried about \u2014 No there is not! Both of these \"conditions\" are caused by primitive fungi known as Slime Molds.<\/p><h2>What Is Slime Mold?<\/h2><p>Slime Molds are <em>saprophytes<\/em>, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. They will creep along the soil surface in search of food by pulling themselves along with finger-like projections. During periods of warm, rainy weather, Slime Molds will creep up on grass plants, on the lower branches of ornamental plants, or across landscape beds covered with mulch when they are ready to reproduce. From these locations, they will release millions of tiny spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that will help ensure many more generations of Slime Molds. The only purpose for creeping up on the plants or mulch is to give the spores the best advantage for distribution over a large area.<\/p><h2>Will Slime Mold Hurt My Lawn?<\/h2><p>Since <em>Slime Molds are not lawn disease that damage plants<\/em>, but are actually <em>beneficial to the ecosystem<\/em> of your landscape, control is not necessary. If you find the dried patches in the lawn, help Mother Nature by sweeping the spores into the wind. The slimy patches in the mulch will dry and can be raked under. They may be unsightly, but should not cause any concern in terms of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a>. They are just part of the wonderful world of nature.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/slime-mold-.600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:26:04","excerpt":"<p>Slime Molds are saprophytes, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. Learn how to best handle this lawn disease.<\/p>","slug":"identify-slime-mold-grass","description2":"","seo_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-slime-mold-grass"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Summer patch, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">necrotic ring spot<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch<\/a>: these grass diseases take no prisoners. Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass. Any time can be a prime time for fungal lawn disease to move in, if your turf is stressed from lack of water, high temperatures, too much moisture or the wrong kind of care. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>, but first you have to know what to look for. Here are three lawn diseases that you'll notice by their usual circular or ring shapes.<\/p><h3><strong>Summer Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus usually moves in about mid-summer, when your grass is suffering from heat, drought, and high humidity. Summer patch lawn disease begins with small, scattered light green patches that turn grass reddish-brown, and then light tan. These crescent-shaped patches can come up quickly and completely destroy a lawn. Although the symptoms appear in June or July, the disease actually begins by rotting the roots of your grass in early May.<\/p><h3><strong>Necrotic Ring Spot<\/strong><\/h3><p>Necrotic Ring Spot is another serious lawn disease that can destroy a lawn very suddenly. Its patches or rings of dead grass are brought on by dry, followed by wet, weather. Lawns 2 to 8 years old are favorite victims. The disease is most active in spring and fall, but it also shows up in summer during times of water stress. If your lawn has Necrotic Ring Spot, you'll first notice scattered light yellow patches, usually 2 to 6\u201d wide. The disease leaves a ring of dead turf that becomes brown or straw color with a healthy-looking green area in the center. This has prompted the nickname frog-eye disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Brown Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>Brown patch lawn disease usually strikes in the heat of summer, during humid, wet weather, when temperatures stay high even through the night. Brown Patch lawn disease creates irregular, circular areas up to several feet wide. The diseased patches turn purplish-green and then fade to brown. Patches look sunken as the leaves of the grass die and mat down. The edges of these large spots often have a darker, water-soaked appearance.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEQ970-U63o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Lawn Diseases are Easier to Prevent than to Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the Ring Gang of lawn diseases out of your lawn:<\/p><ul><li>Spring Green\u2019s lawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/preferred-lawn-care-program\">fertilization<\/a> program controls unhealthy bursts of turf growth that can attract disease.<\/li><li>Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> helps nutrients and water reach roots and breaks up thatch, which is one place diseases like to breed.<\/li><li>Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning, keeps moisture from remaining on the grass surface too long, which attracts disease.<\/li><li>Mowing frequently, at a high height and with a sharp mower blade, further helps to keep disease out.<\/li><li><a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">Overseeding<\/a> with disease-resistant grasses is another option you can consider.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you suspect your lawn has any type of lawn disease, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green about treatment services immediately. Quick action can make a big difference to save your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JThuC06R5s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/common-patch-and-ring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:11:07","excerpt":"<p>Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass.<\/p>","slug":"common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Necrotic Ring Spot","description":"<h3><strong>Death \u2014 that's what necrosis means.<\/strong><\/h3><p>And this lawn disease lives up to its name. Though often mistaken for Summer Patch blight because of the \u201cfrog\u2019s eye\u201d appearance, Summer Patch appears most often in hot weather, while necrotic ring spot shows up during cool weather, especially after periods of prolonged rainfall.<\/p><h3><strong>When And Where The Death Ring Shows Up<\/strong><\/h3><p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue. It usually appears in late winter, spring and fall during periods of cool and wet weather. Activity is greater in areas that are not properly&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilized<\/a>,&nbsp;and Neurotic ring spot lawn disease also tends to show up again and again in areas infected in prior years.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: Where The Confusion Came From<\/strong><\/h3><p>In the early stages, necrotic ring spot lawn disease shows up as roughly circular areas of turf that look like they're suffering from drought, even though there is plenty of soil moisture. You end up with patches that appear to be wilting and drying out when the surrounding turf looks healthy and well-watered. Thatch may decompose quickly in the areas affected by this lawn&nbsp;disease, creating a sunken look to the patch or ring areas. The typical patch of healthy looking turf in the center created the Summer Patch mix-up for years. The disease itself is not active during this phase, but the damage appears because the root system has been destroyed or reduced to the point where it can't support the plant's needs, and so the wilting and drying occur.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: Lawn Fertilization and Special Watering<\/strong><\/h3><p>The amount of nitrogen fertilizer greatly affects necrotic ring spot development. A minimum of 3 pounds, and preferably 5 pounds, of available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is recommended. It\u2019s also important to provide lawn fertilizing care to keep phosphorus and potassium levels high enough. The Spring Green program delivers the correct blend of nutrients throughout the year, but having a soil test done every 3 years is a good idea to identify any major lawn fertilization deficiencies your particular soil may have. Watering daily during the early to mid-afternoon, with 1\/10 to 1\/5'' of water, has also been shown to greatly reduce the severity of necrotic ring spot. Should lawn fertilization treatments be needed, they can be applied and are effective if made early in the season: usually 6 weeks to 2 months after the turf goes through its initial green up in the spring.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Necrotic ring spot develops symptoms similar to those seen in Summer Patch blight. This resulted in confusion for many years about which disease was active.<\/li><li>This lawn disease is most common in periods of cool and wet weather.<\/li><li>Lawn fertilization is very important. Maintaining proper amounts of all of the primary nutrients reduces disease activity.<\/li><li>Special daily watering can greatly reduce the severity of a ring spot outbreak.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you have any questions on this (or any other grass diseases), <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. Spring Green has the answers to all your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> questions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/necrotic-ring-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:55:00","excerpt":"<p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue.<\/p>","slug":"necrotic-ring-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["necrotic-ring-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"Mowing and Watering","description":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose. Once out of their cages, they can run wild over your property and be very tough to get back under control. That's why we need your help in keeping diseases locked up. And the way you water and mow your lawn makes a huge difference in lawn and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass disease<\/a> activity. Here are some tips that work:<\/p><h3><strong>Water Deeply and Only When Needed<\/strong><\/h3><p>On hot, dry days, 1,000 square feet of grass can lose 190 gallons of water. That's almost 1500 gallons of water consumed by an average lawn, per day! And since your grass is 80-90% water, it\u2019s important to replace the water that's lost to prevent water weakness that gives lawn diseases an easy entry. Water early in the morning (between 4-8 a.m. is best) to give water on grass blades time to dry. Most fungal grass diseases use the moisture on grass leaves to produce spores and to move from plant to plant. When the water is there long enough, these spores have time to cause problems. Water deeply; at least 6 to 8\u201d into the soil to encourage deep roots. This usually means you have to apply 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\">watering facts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">best practices<\/a> for your lawn and landscape.<\/p><h3><strong>Water When Your Lawn Needs It, But Only Then<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn has ways of showing you when it\u2019s ready for a drink. Grass will turn deep bluish and footprints won\u2019t spring back.<\/p><h3><strong>Mowing To Trim Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>The way you mow also affects your lawns ability to resist grass diseases.<\/p><ul><li>Mow Higher. Most grass should be cut at the highest recommended setting during the summer, to protect the stem from heavy sunlight. The shorter you trim your grass, the smaller the root system will be.<\/li><li>Mow More Often. Mowing higher means doing it more often. Make sure you don't remove more than 1\/3 of the grass blade in one mowing. Scalping, or cutting your grass extremely short, leaves it wide open to disease.<\/li><li>Don't use a dull blade because this shreds the tops of the grass, and exposes the turf's tissue for lawn disease spores to easily enter. Mowing with a dull blade is shown to increase disease activity by 20% or more. And it even uses 20% more fuel than mowing with a sharp blade. To avoid this, have your blades sharpened several times a season.<\/li><li>Keep grass clippings on your lawn, which returns about 25% of the nutrients back to the soil.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a> for a greener and healthier lawn. From <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch disease<\/a> to red thread fungus, we want to keep the disease dragons at bay, but we need your help. When we work together, your lawn will stay greener, thicker and more pest-free. For more information on disease management, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mowing-watering-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:12:57","excerpt":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose.<\/p>","slug":"mowing-watering","description2":"","seo_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mowing-watering"],"url_override":""},{"id":38,"title":"Spring Dead Spot","description":"<h3><strong>A Serious But Treatable Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone. Other grass types are affected, but this lawn disease is primarily a problem with Bermuda varieties. As the name suggests, spring dead spot usually appears in the spring as circular patches of bleached dead grass. It becomes visible as the surrounding dormant turf resumes its normal spring growth. These patches range from a few inches to several feet in diameter and tend to show up and expand in the same locations for several years, and then disappear after three to four years. The fungi appear to grow most actively in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool and the soil is fairly moist. Even though damage begins in earnest in the fall, damage is masked by the turf's normal dormancy over winter. This <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> is most commonly found on mature and well maintained turf, and is much less serious on lawns receiving little or no fertilization.<\/p><h3><strong>Disease Cycle: What Spring Dead Spot Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the early stages of this disease, the inside of the patches remain alive, but die off as the infection progresses. The entire plant structure inside these rings dies, including the shoots, rhizomes and roots. Regrowth in these dead areas must occur from the expansion of surrounding healthy plants and is very slow. The rings often fill with weeds or with stunted new turf plants. This appears to be because the lawn disease leaves a toxin in the area of dead grass which makes regrowth difficult.<\/p><h3><strong>Treatment Plan Must Include Fall Applications<\/strong><\/h3><p>Treatment for spring dead spot includes carefully controlling the amount of nitrogen&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> applied to the turf, since high nitrogen levels increase activity. In addition, fungicides must be applied during the fall months to fend off extreme root and stolon rot over the winter months. Contact type fungicides can be used with some success, but must be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, systemic lawn treatment fungicides that are actually taken into the plants can be applied once in the fall at heavy rates to help control the disease the following spring.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Bermuda varieties with high cold tolerance are less prone to spring dead spot.<\/li><li>The actual fungi (or causal organism) of spring dead spot is unknown.<\/li><li>Remember that control for spring must begin in the fall.<\/li><li>Part of controlling this lawn disease is regulating the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.<\/li><\/ul><p>We make a constant study of lawns and what ails them at Spring Green. Please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">local lawn service<\/a> needs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/spring-dead-spot-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:39","excerpt":"<p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone.<\/p>","slug":"spring-dead-spot","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-dead-spot"],"url_override":""},{"id":1,"title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">turf lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight when the weather conditions are just right. Brown patch lawn disease isn't picky; it attacks a wide variety of grass types, and really likes the lawns receiving large amounts of fast release nitrogen fertilizer. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/How-Lawn-Disease-Develops.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Brown Patch Loves Hot Summer<\/h2><blockquote>\u201cBrown Patch is the most damaging turf grass disease\u201d<\/blockquote><p>Brown patch is really a summer lawn disease that's caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The disease begins to show growth when temperatures reach 65\u00b0, but the most active growth of brown patch lawn disease occurs at temperatures of 80-85\u00b0 when humidity levels are very high. The fungi survive the winter in plant debris (thatch) and enter the leaf tissue through wounds caused by mowing and through the&nbsp;pores (or stomata) when daytime temperatures get into the 70s. Infected turf grass can go quite a while without showing damage because it\u2019s actively growing. But, if the daytime temperatures reach the mid 80s and nighttime air temperatures stay above 70\u00b0, the grass will be under stress. Then, lawn disease damage can become visible almost immediately. Once started, brown patch lawn disease spreads fast. Brown patch damage first appears as circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. This dark, smoke ring is not always visible, but is more likely to appear in the early morning when there's dew on the grass. Brown patch lawn disease grows out from a central point, so these circular areas can enlarge rapidly. Brown patch circles range from a few inches in diameter to several feet, and are not always true circles. Sometimes the patches grow together, creating large irregular dead areas. Diseased turf first appears water soaked with leaf edges showing a wavy or wilted pattern, but soon dies completely and mats down, creating a sunken effect.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><h2>Cultural Management: Preventing Brown Patch Lawn Disease<\/h2><p>Since high levels of fast release nitrogen increase disease activity, Spring-Green uses a correct blend of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> for lawn fertilizing during the warmer months. Mow less frequently during periods of hot and humid weather, this reduces stress and limits the movement of grass disease by being carried on your feet or mower. If possible, increase light and air penetration, or movement, by pruning overhanging trees and shrubs. During cooler seasons, open up the thatch layer with power <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a>. If these cultural cures fail, a preventative fungicide lawn treatment program may have to be applied to control this most damaging of lawn diseases. [attached-images title=\"What Brown Patch Looks Like\"]<\/p><h2>Remember<\/h2><ul><li>Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass diseases<\/li><li>Brown patch lawn disease becomes most active when day temperatures are over 85\u00b0 and night air stays above 70\u00b0<\/li><li>Because infected plants may appear healthy, brown patch damage can occur very fast when conditions are right<\/li><li>Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages brown patch development<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about grass facts and keeping your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn healthy and green<\/a>. At Spring Green, we take brown patch lawn disease seriously because we know the damage it can cause. If you ever suspect this disease of infecting your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn service.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot-2\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":["8","4","3","1","7"],"featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/brown-patch-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:00","excerpt":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all turf grass diseases. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight.<\/p>","slug":"brown-patch-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch-lawn-disease"],"url_override":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide"},{"id":37,"title":"Snow Mold","description":"<h3><strong>The First Disease of the Year<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn was perfect last fall. You spent all summer tenderly caring for your grass. You faithfully watered it during the hot, dry periods. You mowed at the right height, making sure you never removed more than 1\/3 of the grass blade when you cut it. You contracted with a reputable&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> company to apply the right fertilizers and weed control products to make your lawn healthy and beautiful. You had the best lawn in the neighborhood and were darn proud of it. As fall came, you made sure the leaves were removed as soon as possible, and you even invested in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">lawn aeration<\/a> to improve rooting and keep the thatch layer at bay. When the first snows came, you were confident that your lawn was strong enough to survive the tortures of winter. The snow came, as it usually does, and turned your lawn white. You were not worried, as you knew you did everything you could possibly have done so that your lawn will be as green and lush in the spring as it was the previous fall. But, when spring arrives you look through your window at your grass and your're mortified at the sight of your lawn. There are large patches of blighted, straw-colored grass covering half of it and areas of the grass seem matted. This is Snow Mold lawn disease!<\/p><h2>What is Snow Mold Lawn Disease?<\/h2><p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover. It is often the first disease of the year and may cause your lawn to have an unsightly appearance, especially after the snow melts. Snow Mold can even develop without snow cover. If it is cool, rainy, and overcast, then the disease can become active and affect the lawn.<\/p><h2>Types of Snow Mold<\/h2><p>There are two types of Snow Mold. One is Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight, and the other is Pink Snow Mold or Microdochium Patch. They have similar visual symptoms, but each affects the lawn in a different way. The control of either lawn disease may require a combination of methods. In severe, recurring cases, a combination of chemical, cultural, and biological controls may be required. In less severe cases, a light raking of the affected area may be the best answer.<\/p><h2>Controlling Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Controlling either of the grass diseases is easy if the infection is not severe. A light raking of the matted area will loosen the grass and allow the new plants to grow. Be sure to rake lightly, as the ground is usually very wet and the existing grass can be easily raked up. In severe infestation, raking is also recommended, but on a larger scale. It is not advisable to use a power rake as it may also damage the existing grass.<\/p><h2>Preventing Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Preventive maintenance before lawn repair is needed&nbsp;is usually the best answer when dealing with most diseases. This is true for Snow Mold. Follow a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year. Thatch management is another important key in Snow Mold prevention. Practice core aeration of your lawn at least once a year to keep thatch levels below 1\/2\". Another important factor is mowing the grass short before winter. Cut the lawn to 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d at the last mowing. This should be a gradual process and not a one-time exercise. Lower the height a notch a week until the mower is set at 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d. This will prevent the turf from laying over on itself,&nbsp;increasing the chance of Snow Mold.<\/p><h2>If You Have Snow Mold<\/h2><p>If you do have an outbreak of Snow Mold, it is a good idea to reduce any piles of snow that may remain, especially in shady areas. The longer the snow remains the more moisture and cool temperatures are present. Applying a chemical disease control material to grass already damaged by Snow Mold will do little to change the severity or need for lawn renovation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact your local lawn care professional at Spring Green<\/a> to begin a fertilizer program and schedule core aeration for a healthy lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/snow-mold-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:46","excerpt":"<p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover.<\/p>","slug":"snow-mold-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","meta_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","social_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["snow-mold-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease","description":"<p>The Colorful Cool Season Culprit Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration. Especially serious in the&nbsp;<a href=\"\/franchise-region\/northwest\/\">Pacific Northwest<\/a>, red thread also appears in stands of cool season grasses over a wide region when weather conditions are right.<\/p><h3><strong>When Green Lawns Turn 'Red'<\/strong><\/h3><p>Red thread lawn disease grows most aggressively when temperatures are in the 68 to 75 degree range and during extended periods of wet or very humid weather. Even though this may seem like a narrow \"window\" or set of circumstances for disease activity, red thread can overtake a turf area fast. Besides temperature, red thread gets a helping hand from certain nutritional imbalances, too. This&nbsp;lawn disease takes off much faster when there's a lack of nitrogen, for instance. Low levels of calcium (or lime) also affect some grass types.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Red Thread Looks Like And Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The symptoms of red thread lawn disease first appear as \"water soaked\" darkened irregular areas from just a few inches to several feet across. These areas gradually become bleached or tan colored. Healthy plants are usually interspersed with diseased plants, giving the lawn an over-all ragged look. As the red thread becomes well developed, light pink to red fungus strands (or threads) 1\/4'' or more in length begin to grow from the tips of the blades and the leaf sheaths \u2014 these threads are the reason for the disease's common name. The wind moves bits of these threads to non-infected plants to spread the disease. The threads can also touch nearby blades to spread the infection. Red thread lawn disease very seldom wipes out an entire stand of turf, and so infected lawns will often have an uneven or patchy appearance.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: You Can't Change The Weather<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a>, red thread is very much weather related. When conditions are right for development, management of red thread is limited to checking and correcting any nutritional deficiencies or direct treatment with a fungicide material. Lawn treatments with fungicides are usually effective, and one or two maintenance applications in the spring and again in the fall are adequate in most situations for control. If you have seen signs of red thread on your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re always ready to help with managing disease diseases, so you can have the best lawn possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Dead Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/red-thread-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:58:58","excerpt":"<p>Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration.<\/p>","slug":"red-thread-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["red-thread-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"Pythium","description":"<h3><strong>The Deadly Disease With Many Names<\/strong><\/h3><p>Pythium blight, grease spot, spot blight, root rot, cottony blight, and snow blight are the \u201cattractive\u201d names given to this lawn disease. Each name describes a different phase of the disease life-cycle and none of them are a pretty sight.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Pythium Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color. When the blades of grass in these areas are handled, they have a greasy or slimy feel. That's where the name grease spot comes from. These infected grass blades become light tan and shriveled, thus the name spot blight. When a lot of these infected areas appear, they begin to grow together and overlap. Pythium lawn disease infections usually concentrate in low, wet areas or along the natural course of drainage across the turf. When humidity remains high, the shriveled and collapsed leaves become matted and covered with a fluffy mass of white fungal threads or mycelium. This is sometimes called cottony blight. The most serious and severe damage occurs during hot, humid weather, when the disease can spread so quickly that an entire stand of turf can be destroyed in just one day. Pythium survives, as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands), in and on diseased turf tissue, as well as in organic material like thatch. Wet turf grass is always required, before Pythium can cause&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a>. Periods of wet grass and thatch, along with high relative humidity, present especially favorable conditions for the disease to grow. This lawn disease is most dramatic when it suddenly appears during very hot and humid weather, when the nights remain very warm and muggy.<\/p><h3><strong>Making Your Lawn An Anti-Pythium Environment<\/strong><\/h3><p>Since Pythium is almost always associated with wet turf, identifying any poorly draining areas where water tends to pool or stand can help prevent this type of lawn disease. Correct the drainage to promote rapid drying of grass plants. Attempt to water early in the day, so that the turf can dry before evening, and water as deeply but infrequently as possible. Controlling thatch is strongly suggested, by vertical mowing or regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">lawn&nbsp;aeration<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Using a properly balanced fertilizer for your grass care helps avoid nutrient imbalances that can stimulate grass diseases. It can also help to increase air movement by selectively pruning lower tree branches to eliminate pockets of still humid air. And finally, don't mow when the grass is wet, as this tends to spread the disease. Fungicides can also be effective in suppressing Pythium, but prevention is a much better and more economical turf care solution.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Under ideal conditions, Pythium can destroy an entire lawn in a single day.<\/li><li>Areas where turf remains wet tend to be more affected by this lawn disease.<\/li><li>Look for Pythium when temperatures and humidity are both very high.<\/li><li>Water deeply, but not too often, and water so that grass blades dry quickly (like in the morning.)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green with any lawn question you have. We've got the answers you need.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/pythium-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:56:56","excerpt":"<p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color.<\/p>","slug":"pythium","description2":"","seo_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pythium"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Leaf Spot","description":"<h3><strong>The Double Whammy Lawn Disease:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3><p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi. Helminthosporium (now that's a mouthful!) contains a large number of individual disease-causing organisms. What's similar in the grass diseases of this family is that they give your lawn a real one-two punch by creating the leaf spot phase in the spring and fall but changing gears into a sheath and root rot phase during the heat of summer.<\/p><h3><strong>When Can You Expect To See Spots?<\/strong><\/h3><p>The lawn disease fungi survive the winter as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands) in and on diseased turf tissue. When spring temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees and there is a lot of moisture from rain or dew, the fungus begins to grow and spreads its spores by wind and water. As the weather warms, the disease moves into the second phase of melting out.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the leaf spot phase of this lawn disease (spring or fall), individual grass blades will have large numbers of lesions (or infection marks) that appear a little like a cigarette burn, a dark circle with a tan spot in the center. During this part of the leaf spot lawn disease, the grass takes on a brown under cast making it appear underfed or dried out. Even though leaf spot does not do significant damage to the turf during this phase, it sets the stage for the much more serious melting-out phase. The melting-out phase begins during hot, dry weather and causes large irregular areas to appear dried out. There may not be any distinctly visible lawn disease symptoms during the melting out phase, as the damaged areas may appear very similar to the effects of dry weather or insect injury.<\/p><h3><strong>Early Action Needed: Don't Snooze, You Might Lose<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with all&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn diseases<\/a>, how the turf is watered, fed and mowed makes a huge difference. It\u2019s best to be sure the grass does not stay continuously wet or become excessively dry. Water no more than once per week and soak the soil to a depth of 6''. Water in the morning so the grass will not remain wet for long periods. Open the area around the grass crowns (where the plant goes through the thatch and into the soil) with core aeration. Regular lawn&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizing<\/a> and aeration can go far towards disease prevention. Collecting the clippings during the spring and fall (leaf spot stage) will help reduce the spread of disease as well. Lawn treatment services, if needed, should begin early. Spring and early summer applications of fungicide can be effective, but little can be done to reverse lawn disease once the melting-out phase begins.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Leaf spot makes turf look sick, but does little permanent damage. However, it sets the stage for the more serious melting-out phase of the disease.<\/li><li>Water in the morning so turf can dry out quickly. This helps prevent the spread of leaf spot spores.<\/li><li>Melting out occurs in hot weather and can be easily confused with drought stress or insect damage.<\/li><li>Frequent lawn <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">aeration<\/a> and thatch management help keep turf crowns open and reduces disease activity.<\/li><\/ul><p>Whenever you have a question on leaf spot (or any other lawn disease) <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We've got the answers!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">Mowing and Watering<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushroom<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/leaf-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:53:46","excerpt":"<p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi.<\/p>","slug":"leaf-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["leaf-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"Fairy Rings","description":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. Little fairies will dance the night away in a circle, resting on toadstool chairs until the next dance begins. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, dancing is often the last thought on their minds. Mushrooms are a common sight in many lawns, especially during wet, warm periods. They are usually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are breaking down organic material in the soil or thatch. Normally, they can be mowed or kicked off and are controlled. If they reoccur in the same spot every year, then it may indicate the location of an old tree stump or other decaying organic material. If the mushrooms are arranged in an arc or circle, it may indicate the beginning of Fairy Ring. No one knows for sure how this kind of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> becomes established or what conditions favor their development. They seem to be more prevalent on soils that are sandy, under-watered, or are poorly fertilized. Like most other types of grass diseases, Fairy Rings usually don't develop as often in highly maintained lawns.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r2KLXyVgJyE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Types of Fairy Ring Diseases<\/h2><p>Several types of lawn disease fungi are associated with Fairy Rings. These types of fungi have been causing problems for a long time. It is estimated that some Fairy Rings have survived for several hundred years. They can develop in lawns, parks, golf courses, or in pastures. Mushrooms are often the first outwardly visible sign of their presence. In fact, the fungi may have been present in the soil for two or three years prior to the development of the mushrooms. The fungi develop outwards from the center of the ring. The inner most part of the ring dies. As it is decomposing, it releases nitrogen into the soil, which will stimulate the grass above and turn it a dark green. The fungi produce a mass of cotton-like webbing called mycelium. As the mycelium dies, it may harden to a point where water will not be able to penetrate through it. This results in the death of the grass above it.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring Characteristics<\/h2><p>The rings or arcs can range in diameter from 3 feet to as large as 20 feet. If the ring encounters a sidewalk or cultivated flowerbed, its growth often stops at that point. When two or more rings meet, they may continue to get larger. In some cases, the two rings seem to disappear when they come together. These common lawn disease symptoms may also seem to disappear for several years, and then show up again.<\/p><h2>Controlling Fairy Rings<\/h2><p>Controlling Fairy Rings can prove to be a difficult task. There has been some reduction in activity using commercial lawn and grass disease control materials, but the results have been inconsistent. The dark green rings can be 'masked' by applying <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> to the area to even the color. In the areas where the grass has died, water penetration needs to be improved. Make holes in the ring with a garden fork to a depth of 12 to 24\u201d and then thoroughly water the area for 4 to 6 weeks. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> is also advisable for better water penetration. If the rings are severe, it may be necessary to remove the sod and repeatedly cultivate the area for several weeks before resodding or seeding a lawn. Mixing the soils of two opposing rings seems to cause them to cancel out each other. Regardless of the method used, it will be a difficult task to get the rings under control. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against many lawn diseases and insect problems. This is especially true when considering the problems associated with Fairy Ring. As they say, \"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-prevention\/\" title=\"Lawn Disease Prevention\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Lawn Disease Solutions<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/fairy-rings-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:18","excerpt":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, their good luck is often the last thought on their minds.<\/p>","slug":"fairy-rings","description2":"","seo_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fairy-rings"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"Lawn Disease Prevention","description":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn. And since treatment of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a> themselves is both difficult and fairly costly, prevention of fungus disease is very important. Keeping your lawn as healthy as possible is the best way to protect it from lawn disease-causing agents (or pathogens) that are all around. So, when we find something that works well to keep your lawn strong we want to make sure you know about it.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Eat Right, Breathe Right for Better Lawn Health<\/strong><\/h3><p>There's a kind of give-and-take to your lawn\u2019s health. The right kind of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> at the right time gives your grass the nutrients it needs, while lawn aeration takes, or removes, compacted soil and thatch to give water, air and nutrients an easy way to reach your turf's roots so they can breathe. Together, regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and the right kind of fertilizing lawn care are the two most important things we can do for your lawn to help it fight off grass diseases.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Fertilization: Keeping The Lawn Off Of Junk Food<\/strong><\/h3><p>Just like grandparents love to give kids a special candy treat, a lot of folks like to give their lawn junk food fertilizers of fast-release nitrogen for a super quick green. This kind of lawn fertilizing seems to make the grass happy, but can really bring on all kinds of lawn diseases and other problems. The Spring Green program provides balanced fertilizing lawn care, a meat and potatoes diet, instead of just dessert. Your turf is better able to outgrow disease, develop stronger roots and directly fight disease. Your grass keeps growing at a strong, steady rate, without the kind of quick growth that can invite lawn diseases. But it\u2019s not enough to provide these elements, if they can\u2019t reach their destination.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Aeration: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention<\/strong><\/h3><p>Watering, walking across our lawns, and rainfall help pack down the top layers of soil. This compacted soil makes it hard for water and other nourishment to get through to the roots. Thatch, the spongy layer of partially decomposed material between your grass and the soil, can also block water and fertilizer if it becomes thicker than a 1\/2\". Thick thatch and compacted soil contribute significantly to the development of lawn diseases. Core aeration helps both reduce thatch and break up soil. By pulling out thousands of plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, lawn aeration creates room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. A single lawn aeration will remove about 10% of the thatch from a lawn. Most lawns should be aerated at least once a year, when roots are actively growing in fall or spring. At Spring Green we want to keep your lawn healthy through good preventive medicine.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional with any questions you may have.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-10-10 20:20:06","excerpt":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-disease-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-disease-prevention"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:56:45","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Brown Patch Disease Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Minimizes lawn damage&nbsp;<\/li><li>Helps prevent future disease&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Brown Patch Disease Control Work?<\/h2><p>To combat the brown patch in your yard, our team will apply the right disease control product according to your location and your lawn\u2019s requirements. Once applied, the product will begin to fight the disease. To ensure the efficacy of the disease control program, you must also follow these cultural practices as a homeowner:&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Water your lawn during the morning, never at night&nbsp;<\/li><li>Mow your grass at a high setting like 3.5 inches - 4 inches&nbsp;<\/li><li>Aerate and overseed your lawn in the fall<\/li><\/ul>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-brown-patch-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Brown Patch Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Brown Patch Control service is a cost-effective way to properly eliminate Brown Patch Disease. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Brown Patch Control service is a cost-effective way to properly eliminate Brown Patch Disease. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Ornamental Bed Weed Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":4,"name":"Core Aeration","description":"<p>Core Aeration is an essential process in maintaining a healthy, thick lawn. If you've been dreaming of plush and inviting grass, Core Aeration is a must. &nbsp;<\/p><p>By removing small cores of soil from your lawn, your grass will be able to better absorb nutrients, air and water, which will increase the effectiveness of other lawn care treatments like fertilization and weed control.&nbsp;<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?si=dgUEoY_vyHT1GLl9\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Core aeration opens up your lawn by allowing more air, water and nutrients to reach the spots that need them the most providing a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"4","icon_class_name":"core-aeration","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":45,"title":"Fall Clean-up Ideas","description":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p><h2><strong>For Your Lawn and Landscape:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Keep leaves raked or mulched to prevent smothering your lawn, and to clear the ground for any final fertilization or mowing that\u2019s needed.<\/li><li>\"Harden off\" your lawn by mowing the grass shorter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clean up debris in shrub and flower beds for a neater look and less work in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Continue to water when it\u2019s very dry.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Remove expired annuals and prepare planting beds for next year.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prune summer blooming perennials, trees and shrubs. &nbsp;Avoid pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees, as they have already set their blooms and you\u2019ll lose the display if you prune now.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Plant hardy spring bulbs now for a glorious display in the spring.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><h2><strong>Around the House: <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2><ul><li>Clean out gutters and be sure downspouts are working properly.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Disconnect and drain water hoses and store inside.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Avoid broken planting containers by either bringing them indoors, covering them against the weather elements or emptying them for winter.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Set up bird feeding and water stations.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Winterize mowers and other lawn equipment by making sure gasoline is burned from any gas-powered equipment (this helps keep the lines and carburetor clear). If your mower needs repair, now is the time, before storing it.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p>For further reading, view the rest of our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-clean-ideas-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:49:41","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the time to clean up your act! Here are some great ideas on how to clean up your lawn this fall.<\/p>","slug":"fall-clean-ideas","description2":"","seo_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Clean Your Lawn for Fall | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to clean up your lawn this fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-clean-ideas"],"url_override":""},{"id":42,"title":"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter","description":"<h3><strong>One average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air<\/strong><\/h3><p>As many of you are aware, plants give off oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are wonderful air purifiers\u2014one average-size plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. It seems obvious that the more plants you have in your home, the cleaner your air will be. This is a better idea for those of you in the northern climates. Winter means sealing your house against the cold and drafts of the brutal winter winds. The air can get a little stale, so several, well-placed, houseplants can really help. There are, also, the psychological benefits of being surrounded by living houseplants. They can have a relaxing effect on people, and provide you a chance to keep exercising your 'green thumb'. Depending on the variety you pick, they can add to the overall d\u00e9cor of your home. Many plants have multi-colored leaves and some even produce flowers while indoors. Your interior environment can be aesthetically pleasing while providing a comfortable, relaxed feeling. It will require some thought on your part to choose plants that will fit the location that you select for them.<\/p><h3><strong>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one<\/strong><\/h3><p>The only indestructible indoor plant is a fake one. All others require varying degrees of care. Some that are relatively maintenance-free are Aloes, Cactus, Spider Plants, Pothos, and Dracaenas. Unless you are very experienced with indoor plants, you may wish to avoid any requiring special growing conditions such as African Violets and Orchids. All plants need light to survive. Some plants that can endure low light, such as from a north window, are Chinese Evergreens, Sansevieria (also called Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law's Tongue) and Heartleaf Philodendron. I can, personally, attest to the fact that the majority of the plants named so far will survive in extreme conditions. I sometimes think that I have conditioned my plants to survive in cave-like conditions. I am actually afraid to move them into better growing conditions for fear they may not know how to survive in the 'normal' world of light and adequate water supplies.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most plants that you purchase have a small tag that gives the light and watering requirements, so it is advisable to follow the directions. The Arizona Cooperative Extension Service has a good <a href=\"http:\/\/ag.arizona.edu\/pubs\/garden\/mg\/indoor\/lists.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a> to help pick indoor plants. A useful feature of their site is their use of common names for the plants, instead of the unpronounceable Latin names. The site has a comprehensive list of plants and the type of environment that is best suited for them to survive. Unfortunately, they don't list 'cave-like' as one of the choices, so I guess I will have to retrain my plants to allow them to live in a 'better' world. Too much or too little water is the number one factor that accounts for the majority of losses with plants \u2013 whether in the yard or in the home. This is the area where I realized that I was making several mistakes. In most potted plants, the roots are growing in the bottom 2\/3 of the pot. If I were feeling guilty about the care my plants were receiving and paid serious attention to them, I would water them at least once a week. That may have been too much, as the top dries out much faster than the root zone. The best way to check is to poke your finger into the pot about 2\u201d or up to your second knuckle. If the soil feels moist, do not water, but check again in a couple of days. If you prefer not to get your fingers dirty, there are fancy moisture meters available, but they are about $50. Personally, I would rather get my fingers a little dirty \u2013 it reminds me of working in my garden.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Some other factors that can affect moisture loss are the type of growing medium or soil that the plant is growing in, the type of pot used, or the amount of sunlight the plant receives. If you water when the soil on top is dry, you will probably over-water the plant. When you do water, supply enough so that it runs out of the bottom \u2013 assuming the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. It is always best to use a pot that has a drainage hole in the bottom to allow water to pass through the soil. There are two good reasons for this: to ensure the root zone receives enough water, and to allow excess salts (from fertilizers) and other minerals to pass through the soil. You should also be sure to not let the plant sit in the water that runs out. This practice allows the excess salts and other minerals, which were just washed out of the soil, to be re-absorbed. Pour off the excess water from the collection dish. If you do want to use a fancier pot that does not have a drainage hole, then place a smaller pot with a drainage hole, into the larger pot. This will allow the water to flow through the soil and allow you to use a more decorative pot. By the way, if you cannot poke your finger an inch or so into the pot, then it is either really dry or it is root-bound and should be re-potted into a larger pot.<\/p><h3><strong>Feed your indoor plants similar to the way you fertilize your outdoor plants.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Feeding your indoor plants is similar to the way outdoor plant and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> works. The general rule is to fertilize every two weeks, from March to September. Let the plants rest during the winter and do not fertilize them, unless they have unique requirements that dictate feeding at this time of year. Most indoor plants are imported from the tropics and need plenty of humidity. A humidifier is a good way to increase the relative humidity for the plants. Another way to increase the relative humidity is to set the plant in a tray with a layer of gravel in which an even level of water is maintained below the top of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it will provide an increase in the relative humidity. Misting has not proven to be adequate in increasing the relative humidity for the plants, but it doesn't hurt to do it. It is better to mist the plants in the morning so they have a chance to dry before dark. This is the same reason that it is best not to water your outdoor plants or lawn at night. Many diseases perpetuate during the cool, dark hours of nighttime. Adding available moisture at that time increases the potential for disease development. Living plants definitely improve your physical and mental indoor environment. If you choose them carefully and give them a little TLC, they will provide years of enjoyment and provide you with a chance to keep your gardening skills honed.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-grow-hostas\/\" title=\"How to Care for and Grow Hostas\">Hostas<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/care-indoor-plants-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:08:38","excerpt":"<p>The average-sized potted plant can help purify up to 100 cubic feet of air. Having plants especially during the cold winter months, provides cleaner air throughout your home. Learn how to best care for them.<\/p>","slug":"care-indoor-plants-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Indoor Plant Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about caring for your indoor plants in the winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["care-indoor-plants-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":49,"title":"It's Time to Plant Spring Bulbs","description":"<p>\"Gardner\u2019s regret\" strikes when a gardener looks out in the early spring to see neighbors\u2019 yards sporting plots of colorful crocus and dancing daffodils, and realizes he or she has failed to plant spring-flowering bulbs. &nbsp;To have a wonderful array of flowers next spring, plant bulbs in the fall. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring bloomers develop their roots in the fall, before winter really sets in. &nbsp;This growth period is crucial to next spring\u2019s successful flowering. Bulbs will perform better if you prepare the soil before planting them. &nbsp;Dig out the soil to a depth of about 10\u201d and work in organic matter, like peat moss or compost. A tool called a bulb planter is helpful; it is an open-tipped, cone-shaped tool with a handle on top that scoops deep but narrow holes to plant the bulbs. Be sure to mix in bone meal, or similar bulb fertilizer, before planting bulbs with pointed ends up.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Have a Colorful Garden All Spring<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>To ensure continuous bloom next spring, be sure to plant a mixture of early and mid-season bloomers. &nbsp;For the very earliest bloomers, try crocus, narcissus, and glory of the snow. &nbsp;Crocus blooms are yellow, blue or bi-colored and 3 to 5 inches tall. &nbsp;Narcissus, also commonly called daffodil, is on a stem a foot or so high and ranges in color from white to dark yellows and oranges. &nbsp;Deer, chipmunks, and squirrels won\u2019t dig up narcissus bulbs, making it a good choice for many. &nbsp;Glory of the Snow grows 6 to 8 inches tall, producing a blue flower with a white eye. Sweet-smelling hyacinth is a tallish, mid-season bloomer. &nbsp;Its small version, hyacinth, blooms a little earlier. &nbsp;Hyacinth includes pink, white, yellow and blue varieties. &nbsp;Tulips, the most popular mid-season bloomers, come in an infinite variety of colors and bloom times. Spring flowering bulbs of all kinds are an important part of maintaining year-round color in any garden, and fall is the season to begin or expand your plantings.&nbsp;<\/p><p>For further reading, view our other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard\/\">spring cleanup tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/time-plant-spring-bulbs-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:51","excerpt":"<p>Nothing says spring more than a beautiful array of flowers. Make sure your spring landscape is bursting with shades of the rainbow by planting bulbs in the fall. Here are some tips.<\/p>","slug":"time-plant-spring-bulbs","description2":"","seo_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Planting Spring Bulbs | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["time-plant-spring-bulbs"],"url_override":""},{"id":47,"title":"6 Things to Consider Before Seeding In The Spring!","description":"<p>It\u2019s spring! The weather is becoming warmer, and you\u2019re ready to get outside and turn your attention to lawn and landscape projects. While spring may seem like a great time to seed some of those thin or brown patches in your lawn, it may be better to wait. Here\u2019s why... Spring seeding makes it difficult to effectively control annual weeds, such as crabgrass, with pre-emergents. Pre-emergents stop weeds by creating a barrier below the soil surface to keep the weeds from ever sprouting. However, the same pre-emergent that kills crabgrass seedlings will keep your new grass from sprouting, too.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Putting off your early spring application of pre-emergent weed control can give crabgrass, and their weeds, a strong foothold. Once established, crabgrass spreads very quickly and can crowd out your new grass. Choosing to seed after pre-emergents have been applied also presents problems. Raking, or cultivating, the soil for planting will break the pre-emergent barrier under the soil and decrease its effectiveness. Conditions are best for planting lawn seed in the fall. Soil temperatures are ideal in late summer and early fall for quick germination of your lawn seed. Seeding in the fall allows your new turf to develop a strong root system before heading into the next season\u2019s hot, dry summer months. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>If Spring Seeding Can\u2019t Wait,&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Consider These 6 Things!&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Wait to sow your seeds until soil temperatures reach 55 degrees (use a meat thermometer to check soil temperatures at a 1\u201d depth).<\/li><li><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">If you have bare spots that you must seed in the spring, mark the seeded areas with straw or light mulch so pre-emergents can be avoided in those areas.<\/span><\/li><li>Keep the seeded area well watered, as crabgrass thrives in dry soil.<\/li><li>Mow the area normally once the new grass is as tall as the rest of the lawn, to avoid the new turf growing too tall and lanky.<\/li><li>Weed control applications should be avoided on the young grass until it has been mowed 3 to 5 times.<\/li><li>If you plan a general, or large area seeding, a special program of crabgrass control should be worked out to prevent problems in the summer.<\/li><\/ol><p>For further information, visit our <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" target=\"_blank\">core aeration and overseeding<\/a> page or <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact your local Spring Green&nbsp;<\/a>professional<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/weeding-truth-spring-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:45:32","excerpt":"<p>Is spring the best time to seed your lawn? Find out!<\/p>","slug":"weeding-truth-spring-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Seeding Dos & Don\u2019ts | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to seed your lawn this spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weeding-truth-spring-seeding"],"url_override":""},{"id":289,"title":"Preventing Salt Damage","description":"<p>Salt damage to lawns and landscape plants normally comes from two sources. It comes from commercial salt used on city streets that may be splashed or spread on your yard, or from the use of an \"ice melt\" product that you may use to \"de-ice\" sidewalks or driveways. The easiest way to prevent the damage is not to plant anything close to the areas where they may be exposed to salt. Moving small shrubs or perennials is easy to do. It becomes much harder when it is a large tree, or extensive area of turf, like a parkway. The best way of preventing lawn and yard damage is not to use salt, or salt-like products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Threats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage from salt occurs when the foliage is burned by the salt product being splashed on to it, or when the salt is absorbed through the root system. The greatest damage is on the side that faces, or is adjacent to, the street, sidewalk, or driveway. It may take several years for enough salt to accumulate to cause severe damage to the plants. Normal rainfall will usually wash the salt deep into the soil. Constant repeating of the activity will increase the concentration levels, which leads to more severe problems. The plants may weaken or die as the levels accumulate to higher levels. Some plants, like the white pine, are especially sensitive to salt damage. Others are more resistant, such as many of the southern turfgrass varieties of Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass. Unfortunately, these grasses will not grow in the northern climates. Their use is, therefore, limited to the South and the transition zone between northern and southern states.<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention and modification are the best approaches to reduce salt damage. You can erect a barrier, using burlap or landscape fabric, in an effort to keep the salt from entering a landscape bed. You can cover plants with the same materials and that will help to keep the foliage from burning. If your parkway is always being damaged from salt, then consider replacing part or all of it with landscape bricks or decorative stones. Also, there is a variety of grass- fults pucinnellia distans, that has good salt tolerance. This may be used in a blend with other northern turfgrasses to develop a stand of grass that will not be damaged as easily.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Salt Damage Prevention Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are \"ice-melt\" products that you can use around your home that do a good job and will not damage the grass along the edges of the sidewalks or driveways. The name, \"ice-melt\" is a misnomer. Most of the products do not \"melt\" the ice as much as break the bond between the ice and the surface below it. Once the ice is loose, it can be removed easily. Commercial products that contain potassium chloride have a lower burn potential than ones that contain sodium chloride. Sand, kitty litter, and cinders will work as an aid to prevent someone from slipping on the ice, but do not work as well as an \"ice-melt\" compound. It is usually not a good idea to use regular rock salt, as it will damage the surrounding grass and plants easily, and it can damage concrete and blacktop. Having to deal with snow and ice is a \"fact of life\" when you live in the northern climates. Trying to remove it from streets, sidewalks, and driveways can be a challenge. <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Protecting your lawn and landscape<\/a> from the adverse effects of salt and \"ice-melt\" products can be a bigger challenge. If you do some planning and use products that are less damaging, then you will not have as much turf care work to complete the following spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>As always, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your local Spring Green if you have questions regarding your lawn and salt damage prevention. Our experts are glad to help.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\"><\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">More Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/salt-damage-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:09:24","excerpt":"<p>Keeping sidewalks free and clear of ice and snow is essential in the wintertime, but you could be feeling the effects of salt on your landscape well into spring. Learn how to prevent the headache.<\/p>","slug":"preventing-salt-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Salt Damage | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent salt damage on your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["preventing-salt-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":294,"title":"Practice Smart Lawn Care for a Healthier and Greener Lawn","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7564 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/a-beautiful-lawn.jpg\" alt=\"a beautiful lawn\" width=\"800\" height=\"300\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Practicing smart lawn care is more than cutting your lawn. Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn. Sustainable lawn care includes utilizing proper fertilizers, saving energy, and properly using lawn clippings. Below are best practices to deliver a healthy green beautiful lawn.<\/p><h2>A Nice looking Lawn - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><h3>Clippings<\/h3><p>Clippings are&nbsp;a great benefit because they contain valuable nutrients that can be recycled back into the soil. We may suggest collecting your clippings in certain situations where the lawn may have a disease or it has grown too long. Clippings are nutrient rich and made mostly from water; they will not significantly contribute to excessive thatch build-up. Excessive thatch build-up from other organic sources can increase the stress levels of your lawn making it more susceptible to insects and lawn disease as well as inhibiting proper root development. If the thatch level on your lawn exceeds 1\/2\", Spring-Green recommends Core Aeration.<\/p><h3>Seeding<\/h3><p>Whether establishing a new lawn or just reseeding thin or bare spots, best results are generally achieved in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Seeding in spring can delay or prevent your spring treatment containing pre-emergent crabgrass control.<\/p><h2>How to Mow &amp; Water a Lawn -- Lawn Care Techniques<\/h2><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7565 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lawn-mowing.jpg\" alt=\"lawn mowing \" width=\"800\" height=\"300\"><\/p><h3>Watering<\/h3><p>Proper watering is one of the most important cultural practices you can provide. Most lawns will require at least one inch of water per week to encourage proper color, density and overall health. Typically, watering one day a week, 1 hour per area in the early&nbsp;morning will encourage deeper root development and discourage disease development. When watering, you must consider the method and the amount of water applied. Most home lawns will require at least one inch of water per week.<\/p><h3>Mowing<\/h3><p>Mowing properly will greatly increase the health and beauty of your lawn. If your lawn has Tall Fescue, you should mow it at 3 1\/2\" to 4\". &nbsp;For Bermuda and Zoysia grass, mow between 3\/4\" to 2\". Longer grass blades will shade the ground beneath, keeping it cooler and moist for a longer time. Alternate your pattern of mowing each time to ensure a more even cut. Keep the mower blade sharp! https:\/\/youtu.be\/9V_clvJH-v8<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:11:19","excerpt":"<p>Maintaining a form of lawn care habits that are beneficial to the environment as well as your lawn, leads to a healthier and greener lawn.<\/p>","slug":"practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Get A Healthy, Green Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to get a healthy, green lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["practice-smart-lawn-care-healthier-greener-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":43,"title":"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter","description":"<p>Before we get started, there is another excellent article in our archives on preparing your lawn and landscape for&nbsp;the chilly seasons. \"<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a>\" includes practical advice such as making sure the leaves are all raked up and the need for late fall&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Pre-Winter Lawn Mowing<\/h2><p>The most important tip is the need to mow your lawn short for the winter, especially in the northern areas of the country. If the grass is left too long, it will lay over on itself from the pressure of the snow cover. Air circulation around the plant is reduced, and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a>, a destructive early spring lawn disease, can become a problem in your lawn. It can cause large areas of grass to die, or at least weaken in vigor. Spring green-up and grass growing may also be slow. Often the grass blades will turn brown during the winter. This is a normal response to the cold weather of winter. The grass plant will need to grow an entirely new plant, from the crown up, the next spring. If there is a lot of brown grass left from the previous year, it will take a long time for the old plants to fall away and allow the new plants to show through and make the lawn green again.<\/p><h2>Other Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips<\/h2><p>There are several other late fall, early winter jobs that need attention. If you have any perennial plants that have gone dormant, cut back the brown tops. If the tops are still green, wait until they turn yellow or brown before cutting. There is still energy being transferred to the root system from the top growth. Depending upon the amount of snow cover your area receives, you may have to wait until spring to complete this yard care task.<\/p><h2>Lawn Furniture Tips<\/h2><p>Outdoor furniture should be covered or brought indoors. Clay pots and other outdoor statuary should be brought indoors to keep from breaking. Alternating freezing and thawing of these items could cause them to crack. If they are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp.<\/p><h2>Winter Mower Maintenance<\/h2><p>Your lawn mower needs attention at the end of the mowing season. Drain the gas tank or add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting \u2018old\u2019. It is also a good time to change the oil, clean the underside of the deck, sharpen the blade, and replace the spark plug and air cleaner. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting any repair on your mower, regardless of the time of year the maintenance or repair work is performed. Check out this checklist to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Winterizing-Lawn-Landscape-Equipment.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">winterize your lawn, landscape and equipment!<\/a><\/p><h2>Snow Clearing<\/h2><p>If you are in an area that receives significant snow fall, many of your plants could be damaged from excess accumulation of snow on the branches. This is especially true of evergreen trees, such as Arbor Vitae. Carefully and gently, brush the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs. If they become coated with ice, leave them alone. Trying to break off the ice could damage the tree or shrub, and won't help much with your tree maintenance. The ice normally melts at a rapid pace, even if the temperatures are below freezing. Finally, put out a bird feeder or two for our feathered friends. There are many birdseed mixes available, so choose one that will attract the varieties of birds that are most common for your area.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/maintain-care-poinsettia\/\" title=\"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia\">Poinsettias<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:11:15","excerpt":"<p>The state of your lawn in the spring is a direct result of your prep in the fall. Find out how to best prepare your lawn for the winter months.<\/p>","slug":"prepare-lawn-landscape-winter","description2":"","seo_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Winter Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prepare your lawn and landscape for winter? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prepare-lawn-landscape-winter"],"url_override":""},{"id":48,"title":"Shaping Up for Spring","description":"<p><strong>Look Things Over and Make a Plan<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Did winter cause some problems for your lawn or landscape? &nbsp;Now is a good time to take stock of the situation and plan your projects for the year. &nbsp;Check out the turf for dead spots that may need seeding, address areas where poor drainage has caused your grass to thin, and check for structural problems with any of your ornamentals.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Mulch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fresh mulch provides both beauty and protection. &nbsp;Mulch\u2019s main roles include keeping in moisture and keeping out weed invaders. &nbsp;Mulch moderates soil temperatures in both hot and cold weather. &nbsp;Mulch will nourish the soil by providing food for many organisms found in the soil. &nbsp;Depending on the type, 2\u201d- 4\u201d is recommended.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Weeds can be best defined as anything unwelcome growing in your lawn, flower bed, garden\u2026or anywhere on your property. &nbsp;Weeds are often unsightly nuisances to a property owner. &nbsp;Both pre-emergent and post-emergent materials are available for keeping weeds properly managed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Pruning<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>Good pruning can improve the look of a plant while helping to produce more blooms or fruit. &nbsp;Before pruning, it\u2019s important to know the particulars about the tree or shrub, and to have an eye for aesthetics. &nbsp;Some plants can be pruned almost anytime while others require special timing for proper results.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Check Equipment<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>P<\/p><p>ower equipment, whether gas or electric, requires some regular maintenance to deliver the results you want. &nbsp;Electric tools like edgers and trimmers should be cleaned, oiled and have sharp blades. &nbsp;Mowers should be tuned up and a new blade installed, or have the old one sharpened.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">More Lawn Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/shaping-spring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:48:55","excerpt":"<p>Spring is on it's way! Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your lawn is in top shape for summer.<\/p>","slug":"shaping-spring","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Lawn Preparation | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly prepare your lawn for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["shaping-spring"],"url_override":""},{"id":46,"title":"Fertilizing in the Fall","description":"<p>The days are starting to get shorter, which means that fall is coming up soon. &nbsp;With the changing of the seasons, it\u2019s time for your lawn to receive the all-important fall applications of fertilizer before the cool weather arrives. &nbsp;Your grass grows actively during the summer months and goes dormant during the cool months. &nbsp;So, providing your lawn with the right fertilization, before its natural \u201crest\u201d period, gives the turf a healthy boost before winter, promotes root growth, and provides vital food reserves for the spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, what exactly does fertilizing your lawn do besides green up the grass? &nbsp;A lot. Applying the right nutrients at this time of year, will help the lawn recover the energy it has used throughout the summer months. &nbsp;It, also, promotes new growth, recovery from wear and pest damage, and reduces the weed population. &nbsp;Regular applications of a good fertilizer, also, replaces the nutrients that have been lost to leaching, volatilization and clipping removal. Late-season fertilization of warm-season grasses should be done after the heat of summer has begun to subside, usually in early fall. &nbsp;It\u2019s important that applications be made early enough so that all of the nutrients have enough time to be absorbed before the beginning of dormancy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To combat annual weeds, like crabgrass, a pre-emergent herbicide is often combined with fertilizer in the fall. &nbsp;Pre-emergents, actually, prevent weed seeds from germinating and work with post-emergent herbicides in keeping your lawn as weed-free as possible all season. &nbsp;Regular on-going professional care for your lawn, all season, is important. The fall treatments, and other fall services, play a big part in having a thick, green, and virtually weed-free lawn through fall and into next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Benefits of Fall Fertilization:<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>-Keeps your grass green and growing later into the season.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Better recovery from the stresses of summer heat and drought.&nbsp;<\/p><p>- Increases the water-holding capacity of grass plants, which helps them withstand the drying and browning effects of winter winds.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Improves resistance to some cool weather fungus diseases by building over-all plant health.&nbsp;<\/p><p>-Builds food reserves for the winter and increasing root development for denser turf next spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p><br><\/p><p>For additional information, visit our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">fall lawn care tips<\/a>.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fertilizing-fall-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-09 17:20:10","excerpt":"<p>The summer has been harsh on your grass, so the fall is the perfect time to fertilize. Here's how to best \"feed\" your lawn!<\/p>","slug":"fertilizing-fall","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits of fertilizing your lawn in the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilizing-fall"],"url_override":""},{"id":54,"title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips","description":"<p>Late fall is your last chance to take care of turf care details that will prepare your lawn for a healthy winter and give it a strong leg up next spring. If you\u2019ve been putting off putting your lawn to bed for the winter months, we strongly suggest doing it now. Our Spring-Green experts and their <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional&nbsp;lawn care services<\/a> will help you make sure your lawn is ready for the winter.<\/p><h2>Tips For Tucking In Your Lawn<\/h2><p>Lower the height of your mower. Your lawn should enter winter without any young, tender growth that could make it more appealing to winter lawn diseases, like snow mold. New, soft growth on the lawn is more prone to dry out after the first winter winds come through, which leaves you with a tan, or brown, lawn all winter. So, as late fall approaches, begin to gradually bring the cutting height down on your mower, until you are almost, but not quite scalping the lawn. Our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> article can help you sharpen your skills for this chore. It\u2019s important to do this in several steps to avoid suddenly removing all the green leaf tissue and damaging the turf.<\/p><h2>Don\u2019t Miss A Late Fall Lawn Fertilization<\/h2><p>This is a time of year when your lawn can really chow down, and make quick and good use of fertilizer. The lawn's top growth has slowed, so these lawn fertilizing nutrients go straight to the roots for a strong start next spring. Your turf, actually, converts the fertilizer into food reserves and loads up its root system so it\u2019s ready, willing, and able to get a quick (and healthy) start for growing grass in the spring. Expert&nbsp;fertilization&nbsp;from your local Spring-Green professional will help set your yard up for a successful winter. Contact your neighborhood Spring-Green professional today.<\/p><h2>Remove Leaves And Other Debris From Lawn<\/h2><p>Before snow or other winter weather hits, take the time to go over the lawn one more time. If the lawn has not been aerated, there may still be time. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Aeration<\/a> is very effective as long as the soil is not frozen. In other words, as long as we can still pull a good core, your lawn will directly benefit. Core aeration in late fall gives the plugs we pull plenty of time to \"melt\" down and to get thatch decomposing. Be sure your mower and other lawn equipment has been winterized to save grief in the spring. Late fall and winter are great times to discuss your turf care program for spring. Making a few yard care decisions early might save you money! After all, if winter is here, spring can't be far behind!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/pest-control-guides\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/moss-control\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-mowing-tips\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/fall-lawn-care-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-10 14:59:12","excerpt":"<p>Fall is the best time of the year for those last minute lawn projects. Here are some ideas to wrap up the season before the weather gets too cold.<\/p>","slug":"fall-lawn-care-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fall Lawn Care Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what to do this fall to make sure your lawn is ready for spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fall-lawn-care-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":44,"title":"The Right Time for Fall Seeding","description":"<p>Fall is a great time for seeding your lawn. &nbsp;Your lawn may have a few thin or bare spots, or it may need a complete overseeding. &nbsp;Either way, if you\u2019re planning to seed, it\u2019s time to act. Right now, the soil temperatures are higher, which means your seed will sprout faster. You will get a renewed lawn in less time and reduce the chance of unwanted weeds shooting up first. By \u201chardening of\u201d the new grass this fall, your lawn will look better in the spring, and regular crabgrass and weed control applications can be made at the proper times. Here are five guidelines that will help to keep your new lawn on track and give you the results you\u2019ll love \u2013 this year and for years to come.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>#1:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Have your grass seed planted early:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Allow enough growing time to get in a few mowings before winter. <strong>#<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2: &nbsp;Seed-to-soil contact makes or breaks the job:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Seed must be able to put roots directly into the soil when it germinates or it will not survive long. &nbsp;Opening the soil with an aerator can make all the difference between the success or failure of the seed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#3:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Use the right kind of fertilizer on the seedbed:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>A good fertilizer, high in phosphorus for quick root growth, makes a huge difference in establishment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#4:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Keep it moist:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p>After germination, your new seed will need a nearly constant supply of moisture. &nbsp;It\u2019s not necessary to water a long time in each spot, but do keep the growing zone of the new grass moist, with daily or nearly daily light watering.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>#5:<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>Mow short in the fall, and mulch or remove leaves:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Set the mower lower for your last several mowings to\"harden off\" the grass. Control leaves by mulching them with your mower, or raking and removing them completely. &nbsp;Keeping leaves clear allows for faster green-up in the spring. Start planning now to beat the clock on your fall seeding. &nbsp;And, remember, timing makes all the difference. For further information, visit our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/other-yard-services\/aeration-overseeding.aspx\" title=\"core aeration &amp; overseeding\">core aeration &amp; overseeding<\/a> page.<\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/seasonal-preparation\/right-time-fall-seeding-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:48:08","excerpt":"<p>If you plan on seeding your lawn, the fall is the time to act. Here's some tips and tricks to ensure your success.<\/p>","slug":"right-time-fall-seeding","description2":"","seo_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Time For Fall Seeding | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the right time to start seeding your lawn for the fall? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["right-time-fall-seeding"],"url_override":""}],[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:50:15","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Core Aeration?<\/h2><ul><li>Promotes healthy growth&nbsp;<\/li><li>Increases access to air, water and nutrients&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduces compaction&nbsp;<\/li><li>Creates heartier, drought- and disease-resistant lawns&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thickens turf<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Core Aeration Work?<\/h2><p>Our lawn care professional will mechanically remove small cores of soil and thatch and deposit them back onto your turf's surface. Doing so will lessen soil compaction so that water, air and nutrients can better reach the grass roots to encourage wholesome growth. The cores left on your lawn will dissolve back into the thatch layer to help it naturally break down.<\/p><p>Core Aeration should be performed yearly, either in the spring or fall.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-core-aeration-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Core Aeration | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Core Aeration is a cost-effective way to properly care for your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Core Aeration is a cost-effective way to properly care for your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":24,"name":"Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Sub-surface damaging insects, like grubs, feed on the roots of grass plants, wreaking havoc in the soil and causing destruction to your turf.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p>We know your lawn needs protection from the insects that make a meal or a home out of your well-maintained grass so we tailor insect control services to protect and maintain the health of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p>","slug":"subsurface-damaging-insects","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4iEma47k-38?si=UCpqe7MamhmOZW0I\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Sub-surface insects, such as grubs, feed on grass roots and can cause serious damage. This service controls lawn damaging insects before they become a problem.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"21","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 16:09:26","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Sub-Surface Damaging Insect Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Protects against sub-surface damaging insects<\/li><li>Prevents future infestation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener, healthier lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Sub-Surface Damaging Insect Control Work?<\/h2><p>Whether you want to prevent sub-surface damaging insects or eliminate after you become aware of their infestation, our team will apply the necessary sub-surface insect control to fit your needs. As a preventive measure, this service controls lawn damaging insects before they become a problem. As a curative measure, this service controls insects that are actively damaging your lawn.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-subsurface-damaging-insects-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Sub-surface Damaging Insect Treatment is a cost-effective way to prevent an insect problem. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Sub-surface Damaging Insect Treatment is a cost-effective way to prevent an insect problem. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["subsurface-damaging-insects"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":12,"name":"Root Feeding","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Root feeding&nbsp;helps trees and shrubs grow with vigor&nbsp;and become more disease- and insect-resistant.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Some trees and shrubs are not native to the area they\u2019re planted and may need additional nutrients to develop into strong, healthy and attractive plants.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">If you notice that your ornamental plants are not as green or hearty as they should be, root feeding will deliver the nutrients they need to thrive.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><br><\/p><p><br><\/p>","slug":"root-feeding","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VDmWCO9P6fc?si=-mx1s6ZSf1CAi09v\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"4","excerpt":"<p>A healthy plant needs a healthy root system to survive. We utilize a deep root feeding method to deliver important nutrients into the root zones of &nbsp;your trees and shrubs.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"19","icon_class_name":"root-feeding","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:47:36","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Root Feeding?<\/h2><ul><li>Healthier, heartier trees and shrubs&nbsp;<\/li><li>Delivers proper nutrients to the plant&nbsp;<\/li><li>Helps plants survive during periods of stress<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Root Feeding Work?<\/h2><p>We use a deep root feeding method of pressurized soil injection to deliver nutrients to plants\u2019 root zones. This method helps trees and shrubs grow as healthily as possible so that they\u2019re stronger, greener and more resistant to disease and insect infestations.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our team will survey your yard to become familiar with the ornamental plants on your property. Once we identify all your trees and shrubs, our trained and licensed tree care professionals will apply the necessary soil injections. All injections are environmentally-sound and inserted into the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Keeping up with root feeding each year will help maintain an attractive and healthy landscape. Ideally, this practice should be completed twice per year in the Spring and Fall.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/tree-care\/service-tree-care-root-feeding-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Root Feeding | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Root Feeding service is a cost-effective way to properly care for your trees and shrubs. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Root Feeding | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Root Feeding service is a cost-effective way to properly care for your trees and shrubs. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["root-feeding"],"connected_tree_care_guides":[[{"id":9,"title":"Tree Maintenance Tips","description":"<h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\">How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs<\/a><\/h2><p>Like all living organisms, trees and shrubs need proper nutrients to live long, healthy lives. The proper fertilization methods can prevent against disease and insect invasion, helping to improve the health and beauty of your trees. Read more about <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\">fertilizing trees and shrubs<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\">How to Prevent Landscape Damage From Deer<\/a><\/h2><p>You have spent time and money preserving and beautifying your lawn and landscape in order to ensure a beautiful atmosphere around your home or business. However, some of those much loved plants may also be your local deer population\u2019s favorite food. The proper prevention plan can help keep deer from destroying lawn and plant life. Read more about how to prevent <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\">damage from deer<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\">The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape<\/a><\/h2><p>Placing mulch around the base of trees and shrubs can help improve the look and health of your landscape. In addition to facilitating tree and shrub care and growth, mulching can also be a tool to help with the overall maintenance and care of your lawn. Learn about <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\">mulch tips<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\">How to Make a Landscape Plan<\/a><\/h2><p>Taking care and maintaining your landscape involves a lot more than just planting various trees and shrubs. Knowing the layout of your land, the types of plants and trees that you would like to plant and how your soil and environment can affect them, and their care and maintenance are all important components in the process of planning your landscape. Read more about the essentials of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\">landscape planning<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape\/\">Tips for Properly Watering Plants in Your Landscape<\/a><\/h2><p>While watering is an essential part of landscape care for plants and shrubs, overwatering or saturating some types of plants can cause serious damage. Certain plants such as Yews are even more susceptible than others to complications caused by overwatering. Read about proper <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape\/\">landscape watering.<\/a><\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\">Tips on Maintaining Trees &amp; Avoiding Tree Damage<\/a><\/h2><p>There are various ways that trees can become injured. Inclement weather, tree staking, and repeated damage by mowers and trimmers can all have negative impacts on tree health and growth. Knowing how trees can be damaged, how to avoid damage, and what to do when you find damage is essential in proper tree care. Learn about how to prevent and repair <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\">tree damage<\/a>.<\/p><h2><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips\/\">Tree Watering Tips<\/a><\/h2><p>The proper watering process for recently planted or established trees is an essential part of their growth and longevity. Proper tree care involves knowing when and how much to water as well as being able to recognize possible stresses that can come from over or under watering. Read more <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips\/\">tree watering tips.<\/a><\/p><h2>Caring for Your Trees and Shrubs - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VDmWCO9P6fc?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":false,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Like all living organisms, trees and shrubs need proper nutrients to live long, healthy lives. The proper maintenance methods can prevent against disease and insect invasion, helping to improve the health and beauty of your trees.<\/p>","slug":"tree-maintenance-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Tree Maintenance Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about proper maintenance for the trees in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"noindex","meta_robots_follow":"nofollow","social_title":"Tree Maintenance Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about proper maintenance for the trees in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:38:10","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-maintenance-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":4,"title":"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape","description":"<p>A lot of homeowners think of mulch as strictly cosmetic, just something to make the place look good. And it\u2019s true that mulch around the base of trees and shrubs does improve property appearance. But there's so much more that mulch can contribute to your landscape. It makes lawn and tree maintenance a whole lot easier, and provides other yard care benefits that are underground and out of sight.<\/p><h3>Managing Soil Temperatures For Better Tree Growth<\/h3><p>Proper use of mulch is an essential <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> technique. Tree roots are sensitive to high summer temperatures. When the surface soil reaches 100 to 108 degrees, or more (which it can during hot weather), most tree roots begin to die. Temperatures that high simply kill the roots. Unfortunately, this happens in the upper area of the soil (the top 5 to 6''), which is usually the most fertile. A 3'' layer of mulch can reduce soil temperatures by as much as 10 degrees, maintaining a healthy growth environment for the roots, and letting them grow actively in the upper soil.<\/p><h3>There Are Other Yard Care Benefits, Too<\/h3><p>Mulched soil retains moisture much better than bare soil can around your trees. This means watering less and reducing the chance of water stress on the trees. Mulch cuts down soil erosion, or wash-out, around trees. It reduces soil compaction, and can improve soil structure as the mulch breaks down. Mulched barriers around trees keep mowers and trimmers from causing mechanical damage to the trees.<\/p><h3>Many Materials Available As Mulch<\/h3><p>Mulches are either organic or inorganic. Organic choices include bark chips and shredded bark (of which there are many kinds commercially available); wood shavings; sawdust; peat moss; cocoa hulls (a great smelling choice if you like chocolate!); straw or pine straw; rice hulls or crushed corn cobs; and yard waste like leaves, grass and twigs. Those in the yard waste group are not widely used because they usually don't improve property appearance as much as the commercially produced mulches. Inorganic mulches include gravel (or crushed rock), a variety of sheet materials (like plastic), and several types of shredded rubber or tires. Of the commercially produced mulches, costs vary greatly depending on the area of the country, but overall, wood and bark products are the most common and economical.<\/p><h3>A Couple Of Quick Pointers On Mulching<\/h3><p>If you mulch in the fall, wait until the first really cold snap is over before tackling this lawn and tree care step. By then, most ground-burrowing rodents have settled themselves for the winter. If you mulch earlier they may decide to move into your beds. You should keep mulch from piling up around the trunk. Don't keep adding to the top of the pile each year, as this can cause rot, disease, and insect problems at the base. Apply mulch 2 to 5'' deep after removing grass and weeds, and cultivating the soil.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Mulch reduces soil temperature as much as 10 degrees \u2014 enough to make a difference between supporting or killing tiny feeder roots near the surface.<\/li><li>Mulch applied around your trees each year reduces water stress, weeds, and damage to trees.<\/li><li>Many materials work well as mulch, with wood products being the most common.<\/li><li>Don't mulch in early fall, preventing mice and ground squirrels from nesting in beds.<\/li><\/ul><p>So, besides helping the place put on a happy face, Spring Green suggests mulching every year as part of your yard maintenance plan for all the good health it delivers. Combine mulching with time-tested techniques like <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilization<\/a> to keep your lawn healthy and happy for years to come.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mulch adds so much value to your landscape, and not just in looks. Learn about all the great benefits mulch adds to your yard.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-using-mulch-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Benefits of Mulch | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using mulch as part of your landscaping efforts? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Benefits of Mulch | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using mulch as part of your landscaping efforts? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:24:49","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-using-mulch-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":6,"title":"Tips for Properly Watering Your Landscape","description":"<p>Standing in water all day long is not fun, unless it is on some sunny beach in a warm climate. Even then, you would get out every so often to dry off. Everyone has experienced 'pruning' of the feet or hands; when they become wrinkled after being in the water for a long time. The condition can get worse if the moisture is held in by boots or gloves. Trench foot, foot fungus, and other maladies will accompany wet, soggy situations.<\/p><h2>Too Much Water?<\/h2><p>Well, the same thing can happen to many landscape plants. One plant that is especially susceptible to this condition is the Yew. The Yew is a shrub, or small tree, that is often formally sheared into a globe, pyramid, or hedge shape. It is one of the most popular shrubs in landscapes. It will grow well in moderate shade or full sun. Yews prefer sandy, well-drained soils that are not heavy or compacted. When the soils become waterlogged, Yews will often become infected with several root rot <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">diseases<\/a>. Phytophthora and Armillaria are two varieties of root rot diseases that will infect Yews.<\/p><h2>Risks of Saturated Soil<\/h2><p>Oxygen availability is reduced anytime soils become saturated. The water fills the spaces between the soil particles and the plants suffer. Proper planting and site location is very critical when planting Yews. Choose a location that is not in a low area or next to a gutter down spout. If the area is prone to flooding, choose another plant. Many people will dig a hole that is just larger than the root ball. This will not allow for good root growth. It is better to dig the hole twice as large in diameter as the root ball and one and a half times as deep as the length. Adding yard care soil amendments, such as peat moss, is usually not required. It is better to reuse the same soil that came out of the hole. Break it up so that it is easy to replace. The top of the root ball should be at grade level or slightly above grade. Make a circular mound about 3 to 4\u201d high around the perimeter of the hole. As the soil settles, the mound will settle into the hole. The saucer-shaped ring will also help retain water to aid to the establishment of the new plant.<\/p><h2>Landscape Services<\/h2><p>Yews are attractive plants that come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and growth habits. They will live a long time, provided they are planted correctly and in a good location. Talk with your landscaper, garden center manager, or county extension service for recommendations of varieties that are best suited for your area. Your friendly neighborhood Spring Green expert can help you with further <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> and expertise, as well.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs <\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/tree-care-guides\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tips-properly-watering-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Knowing how much to water your plants can sometimes be tough to determine. Here are some tips on how to keep your landscape quenched and not drowning.<\/p>","slug":"tips-properly-watering-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Proper Landscape Watering | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to water your lawn and landscape elements properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Proper Landscape Watering | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to water your lawn and landscape elements properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:44:05","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tips-properly-watering-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":5,"title":"How to Make a Landscape Plan","description":"<h1><strong>Landscape Planning Essentials<\/strong><\/h1><p>Landscaping is an art form. It requires planning, knowledge, and hard work. It entails a whole lot more to <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree and shrub care<\/a> than going to the local nursery, picking a couple of plants that look nice, digging some holes, and calling it a job done. Before you start a landscape project, you need to answer some basic questions that will help you pick the right plant and put it in the right place.<\/p><h2>Starting Your Landscape Plan<\/h2><p>First, you need to decide the basic layout and space available for the trees and shrubs you are going to buy. Take a survey of your property and make a drawing of the shape of your property. Draw in the location of your house, driveway, sidewalks, and any other permanent structures. It is a good idea to try to determine the slope of your property and note any areas of your yard that may be influenced by surrounding structures or plants. An example of this would be the amount of shade coming from a neighbor's trees. Sketch some ideas on paper to get an idea where you may want to add new plants, or replace old ones. On the layout, it would be a good idea to pencil in the location of the windows on your house; determine the distance from the window to the ground level; and write it underneath each window sketched. This information will be useful when choosing foundation plants.<\/p><h2>Picking Landscape Plants<\/h2><p>Second, you need to decide why you are planting what you are planting. Is it going to be a focal point of the entire landscape, or is it going to be used to fill in an open space? Are you purchasing it for its beauty and looks, or will it be functional, such as a border or hedge, or both? Do some research by looking at landscape guides, garden magazines, or by visiting a local nursery or garden center. It is important to know the ultimate height and\/or width of the trees and shrubs you are considering. One common mistake that many do-it-yourselfers make is putting too many plants in too small of a place. Another common mistake is not considering the height or width of the plant. If the window is 3 feet from the ground and the plant you purchase will grow to 10 feet, there will be a shrub care problem in a very short time. The same holds true when placing plants next to a door. If the plant will grow to a width of 8 feet and it is planted 2 feet from the front door, then it may soon become difficult to find the door. It can be deceiving when you go to purchase a plant that is only 24\u201c wide and try to envision it at its full size. It is important to keep this in mind, or you may be redoing your landscape every 10 years, or so.<\/p><h2>Placing Landscape Plants<\/h2><p>The third consideration is the placement of the plants in relationship to the growing and maintenance conditions of the planting site and the growing requirements of the plant itself. An example of this is putting shade loving plants in shady yard areas and sun-loving plants in sunny yard areas. Remember to consider the potential size of the surrounding plants. Finally, consider the aesthetic value and appeal of the plants you are choosing. You need to decide what looks good to you. You could hire a landscape architect to make many of the decisions for you and offer suggestions for plant selections. Those services will cost extra money, but it may be worth it if you are at your wit's end deciding which plants to choose.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage\/\" title=\"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage\">Tree Damage Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/how-to-make-a-landscape-plan-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>In need of a spectacular landscape, but don't know where to start? Read about the essentials of landscape planning.<\/p>","slug":"how-to-make-a-landscape-plan","description2":"","seo_title":"Making a Landscape Plan | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to make a landscaping plan for your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Making a Landscape Plan | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to make a landscaping plan for your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:33:28","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["how-to-make-a-landscape-plan"],"url_override":""},{"id":7,"title":"Tree Watering Tips","description":"<h3><strong>Water - Nothing lives without it.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your trees are no exception. Because larger trees show stress symptoms slowly, a lot of homeowners completely overlook maintaining the water needs of the most valuable landscape investment they own. Proper, consistent watering is crucial to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree maintenance<\/a> strategy. Attractive and healthy trees need enough water at the right times. Your trees pull water from the soil and lose most of it through tiny pores in the leaves by evaporation (or transpiration). Since most tree roots are located in the top 3 feet of the soil, they can (and do) suffer during periods of extended drought. Deeper roots can supply some of the plant\u2019s water needs during dry spells. Water stress is still a major maintenance concern with both recent transplants and established trees.<\/p><h3>Starting them right:<\/h3><h3>Watering recently planted trees<\/h3><p>Most garden centers water their trees a lot, even daily to keep them looking their best for customers. So, you should always consider the shock a new environment has on the tree's system and help it along with plenty of <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> and watering until its roots get firmly established. If you planted the new tree right, there is a transition zone of loose soil between the planting ball and the native soil of your property. At first, you need to provide extra water to the ball, while keeping plenty of water in the transition soil. To do this, build two shallow dikes or ridges 4 to 5'' high around the base of the tree: one slightly smaller than the root ball and the other about 30'' in diameter. For the first 2 to 3 weeks, water the inner circle every 1 to 3 days to assure the root ball has enough moisture. After the roots have penetrated the transition zone (4 to 6 weeks), you can knock down the inner dike. During this early phase, the outer ring will need less water, but do keep it moist.<\/p><h3>Watering Established Trees<\/h3><p>Established trees show water stress more slowly, but signs include wilting, change in leaf color, and premature leaf drop. The most important goal is to get as much of the water as possible to the roots of the tree. To accomplish this, eliminate runoff (don't apply water faster than the soil can absorb it); keep the water inside the drip line of the tree; and apply the water evenly across the whole area. Whether old plantings or new, when you give your trees the care they need through regular watering and maintenance, they give you beauty and growth in return.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Watering for tree maintenance is often overlooked because they show signs of stress very slowly.<\/li><li>Garden centers tend to water heavily.<\/li><li>Water new transplants heavily until the tree adapts to its new environment.<\/li><li>A double dike system around new plantings will help get water where it\u2019s needed during establishment.<\/li><li>Older trees need water too.<\/li><li>Watch for signs of stress and provide the water needed to keep them healthy through drought periods<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; For more information on proper tree care, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re here to help you have the most beautiful lawn and landscape possible. We have many other resources regarding <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">proper lawn watering techniques<\/a> here on our site, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tree-watering-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Larger trees show water stress very slowly, so it tends to be an often overlooked part of tree maintenance. Learn the steps of proper watering practices.<\/p>","slug":"tree-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Tree Watering Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to water the trees in your yard properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Tree Watering Tips | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to water the trees in your yard properly? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:37:53","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tree-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"Tips on Maintaining Trees and Avoiding Tree Damage","description":"<p>We've all seen trees gashed by car bumpers, and limbs blown off in storms, but these are just a couple of the many ways trees get injured. Others include chafing, scrapes, and cuts from lawn mowers being pushed into the lower trunks, or by improper staking; line trimmers cutting away bark week after week; rubbing away of the bark caused by touching branches; and improper pruning. All of these things create injuries, similar to a person being cut by a dull knife. If you get too many such cuts, you're going to be in serious trouble from infection, or loss of blood. Trees react in much the same way, so it\u2019s important to avoid damage, if possible, and to provide proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree care<\/a> when it occurs.<\/p><h3><strong>Repeated Abuse Is The Worst<\/strong><\/h3><p>Of all the damaging things we've listed, the worst may be the repeated damage from lawn mowers and trimmers. When grass grows right up to a tree, the base of that tree is nearly guaranteed to take some direct hits by mowers, trimmers, or both. What makes it all worse is that it continues week after week, compounding the injuries over time. A simple and effective tree maintenance fix is a border of mulch around the base of your trees. This makes mowing a lot easier and protects the trees at the same time. You can read more about proper mowing techniques on our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">mowing tips<\/a> page.<\/p><h3><strong>Avoid Staking Trees When Possible<\/strong><\/h3><p>Staking of trees should always be avoided when possible (to encourage stronger growth), but if needed, should be done right. Don't stake by tying stakes directly to the tree; avoid tightly binding straps; and remove all stakes as soon as the tree can stand on its own.<\/p><h3><strong>Proper Pruning<\/strong><\/h3><p>When pruning, make sure all cuts are clean, and keep heavier branches from ripping when your saw is 2\/3 of the way through by doing an initial cut from the bottom. As part of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree maintenance<\/a>, remove one of each pair of branches that are rubbing and chafing against each other.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Discover Damage<\/strong><\/h3><p>When you do discover damage, it\u2019s important to clean the wound. All tree injuries provide entry points for disease and insects, while interrupting the flow of water, food, and nutrients between the roots and the leaves. Removing any loose bark and brushing out any dirt that is lodged in the wound will expose the damaged area to sunlight, air, and promote healing. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Fertilization<\/a> helps speed up recovery from damage and general plant health.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Mechanical damage causes wounds that allow entry of diseases and insects into the soft tree wood.<\/li><li>Mulch all lawn trees to eliminate mower and trimmer damage.<\/li><li>Dress all wounds to promote fast healing and reduce disease or insect problems.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp;We want to help you protect all of your landscape investment through effective lawn and tree care. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green anytime you have questions about your lawn and tree care.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs\/\" title=\"How to Fertilize Trees &amp; Shrubs\">Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/tips-maintaining-trees-avoiding-tree-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Whether it's a car bumper or a lawn mower, our trees can take a heavy beating. Make sure you protect them to the best of your abilities with these steps.<\/p>","slug":"tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Maintaining Damaged Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to maintain and treat damaged trees? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Maintaining Damaged Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to maintain and treat damaged trees? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:34:47","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["tips-maintaining-tress-avoiding-tree-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":16,"title":"How to Fertilize Trees & Shrubs","description":"<p><strong>All living things need nourishment, and trees and shrubs have a big appetite.<\/strong> It\u2019s true, large, well-established, and healthy trees may not need much supplemental feeding, but fertilizing smaller trees and shrubs will pay you big dividends in return for your feeding investment during their first several years on your property. Your payback will include better resistance to disease and insects, improved flowering, and a quicker establishment than similar plants denied regular fertilization. At Spring-Green, our <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\">tree and shrub care<\/a> experts help you master the art of fertilization. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you're fertilizing the trees and shrubs in your own lawn: <strong>Tip #1: Give your plants a balanced diet.<\/strong> The primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are all used by your trees in different ways.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Nitrogen encourages fast trunk and branch growth, and the production of healthy and dark green leaves.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Phosphorus stimulates vigorous root growth (which makes it especially beneficial to recently planted trees and shrubs).<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Phosphorus also promotes flower bud formation and increases resistance to cold.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Potassium makes the trees stronger, helping them to withstand wind and ice breakage as well as <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">diseases<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Iron is often added to fertilizers for trees to unlock the other nutrients, or make them more available to the plant.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Micro-nutrients, like iron, are needed in some soils and for some types of plants that are prone to specific deficiencies. <strong>Tip #2: Make sure the feeder roots of your trees have access to the fertilizer.<\/strong><a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Fertilizing trees<\/a> should put the nutrients within reach of the feeder roots. This means feeding an area that reaches from about 1\/3 of the distance from the tree trunk to the drip line (on the inside), to a spot about the same distance outside the drip line. Fertilizer needs to be placed into holes that are about 6 to 12'' deep throughout this area. For good distribution, you may need up to 10 feeding holes per inch of trunk diameter throughout the target area (a tree 5'' across may need 50 or so holes in the feeding zone). That's a lot of holes, but it assures that the fertilizer will be evenly available to the tree. <strong>Tip #3: Apply fertilizer to trees early enough to withstand cold weather conditions.<\/strong> Trees can be fertilized anytime between when the sap goes down in fall or winter until about mid-July (at the latest). Fertilizing trees between July and fall stimulates late growth that gets no chance to harden off and is more susceptible to damage from winter cold and winds. Early spring is probably the ideal feeding time, but with slow release materials, any time during the window will give excellent results. Newly planted trees and shrubs benefit the most from regular fertilizing during their first 5 years in the landscape. In establishment, growth, and flowering, there is just no comparison between plants that are fed and those left to go it alone. <strong>Things to remember when fertilizing trees and shrubs:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Feeding of recent transplants during the first 5 years helps plants mature quickly.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Balanced fertility is important. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium each perform distinct functions in your landscape plants.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Don't fertilize trees between July 15th and September 30 after trees start dormancy or resting periods.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>If you would like to see your landscape investment start paying better dividends to you through regular shrub and tree maintenance, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green. We know trees and have solutions that work, in addition to our years of lawn care service experience for the rest of your yard.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer\/\" title=\"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer\">Deer Damage 101<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/fertilize-trees-shrubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Trees and shrubs are the essential ingredients to a beautiful landscape. Read more to find out exactly how to help your plants reach their potential.<\/p>","slug":"fertilize-trees-shrubs","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Fertilize Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to fertilize your trees and shrubs? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Fertilize Trees | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to fertilize your trees and shrubs? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:33:05","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fertilize-trees-shrubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Binomial Nomenclature - Plant Identification","description":"<p>Carl Linnaeus was an eighteenth century botanist who introduced the world to a method of naming plants called the binomial nomenclature system. Before his system, many grass and plants had very lengthy descriptions in Latin that were sentences long. His idea was to give each plant two Latin names that would make it easy to identify them. Latin was used as a standard so that botanists around the world would be able to communicate about the same plant that often had several names. For example, the dandelion is also known as Blow Ball, Lion's Tooth, Peasant's Cloak, Yellow Gowan, Priest's Crown, Irish Daisy and Monk's Head, to name just a few. Therefore, it makes a botanist's life simpler to use the Latin name, Taraxacum officinale, when discussing the dandelion with someone outside of his area.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Rumex acetosella L., means \"little vinegar plant\".<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Carl Linnaeus' system used descriptive Latin words to name plants. Sheep Sorrel (or Red Sorrel, Field Sorrel, Sour Weed, Red-topped Sorrel, Cow Sorrel, Sour Leek, Horse Sorrel, Gentleman's Sorrel, Toad Sorrel, or just plain Sorrel) is a good indicator plant for acid or sour soil. The Latin name, Rumex acetosella L., means \"little vinegar plant\", which is more descriptive than any of the common names. Some plants are called the same thing, as is the case with wild onion and wild garlic. These names are often interchanged, depending on where they are growing.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Lawn care customers will use all sorts of names for the same plant. \"Water grass\" is freely used to describe all sorts of weedy grasses. Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, and Creeping Crude are used to describe a variety of different weeds. All thistles are \"sticker bushes\" and all plants with three leaves are clover \u2014 although they may be clover, or Black Medic, or Oxalis.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Many weeds in the U.S. were imported from Europe or Asia.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Many of the weeds we contend with in the U.S. were imported from Europe or Asia. They were originally brought here to serve a purpose, such as a ground cover. Such is the case with Ground Ivy (or Gill-Over-The-Ground, Haymaids, Tunoff, Hedgemaids, Lizzy-Run-Up-The-Hedge, Cat's Foot, Gill-Go-By-The-Hedge, Robin-Run-In-The-Hedge, or Creeping Charlie). The Latin name, Nepeta hederacea L. means ivy-like plant from Nepeta. The \"L\" at the end indicates that our friend, Carl Linnaeus, named it. It was initially brought to this country as a plant that would quickly fill in a bare area and keep down dust and dirt. If you have ever had the experience of trying to rid your lawn of this troublesome weed, you know how well it does its job.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Spring Green helps customers control these wild weeds with our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control services<\/a>. The binomial nomenclature system makes it easier for the botanist to communicate. Since we are not all botanists, we will struggle to communicate our displeasure of having Smart Weed (or Water Pepper, Pepper Plant, Biting Persicaria, Biting Knotweed, Red Knees, or Red Shanks) in our lawn or garden. Then again, some of the common names are somewhat cute, like Robin-Run-In-The-Hedge instead of Nepeta hederacea L. And one thing is for certain; it is a lot easier to pronounce. Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/flower-care\/\">Flower and Garden Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter\/\">Winter Landscapes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Ever wonder how plants get their names? Learn more!<\/p>","slug":"binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification","description2":"","seo_title":"Plant Identification | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about what type of plants are in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to learn about properly identifying plants!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Plant Identification | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about what type of plants are in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to learn about properly identifying plants!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 13:25:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"How to Prevent Landscape Damage from Deer","description":"<p>It has been your life long dream, a house in the country away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. A place where the air is clean, the soil is fertile, and \"\u2026where the deer and the antelope play.\" But, have you ever thought about the feeding habits of those deer and antelope? You spend a good amount of time and money investing in <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn care services<\/a> and making your landscape beautiful, only to find that the plants you chose seem to be the favorite \"snacks\" of the local deer population.<\/p><h2>Yard Damage &amp; Deer<\/h2><p>At the turn of the century, there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. The most recent estimate is that their population has grown to over 25 million \u2014 a 5,000% increase! The farming industry and homeowners will lose close to a billion dollars as the result of damage caused by deer. Nature has always kept animal populations in check, but the suburban environment has disrupted the natural check and balance systems. The deer have had an opportunity to grow unchecked, and have become a nuisance in many communities. Deer feed on many plants and trees commonly found in the yard. They love strawberries, many vegetables, flowers, and the tender tips of young trees. They will, also, damage trees by rubbing their antlers against them. They have been known to dig up a lawn in search of grubs, the fall favorite of many forest animals. Keeping them from doing what comes naturally, foraging for food, can be arduous. This is especially true during long snowy winters when food supplies are scarce. Most home landscapes and yard are \"easy pickings\" for a hungry deer. They see it as an easily accessible buffet of culinary delights, much to your chagrin. You can either plant less of their favorite foods, or try to control their feeding habits.<\/p><h2>Preventing Lawn Damage by Deer<\/h2><p>There are several commercial and home-remedy yard care products available to help reduce their feeding on valuable plants and trees. Many are short-lived, and once the deer become accustomed to the odor or taste, they may become ineffective. It is best to change products, or methods, on a regular basis. Some of the home remedies are:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Hang a bar of soap in a mesh bag from a tree. Fragrant soaps such as Lifebuoy, Irish Spring, and Dial seem to work the best. If there are several trees to protect, use hotel-size bars, or cut the larger bars into several pieces. Tie the bags to the ends of the branches so that any soap that drips off during a rain or snowstorm will not drip onto the trunk. There have been some reports that rabbits will gnaw on the soap residue.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Human or dog hair can also be placed in mesh bags or nylons and hung from tree branches.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Baby powder, blood meal, or bone meal will also provide some resistance to their feeding, but these will require continued, repeated applications.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>There are numerous animal repellent products available. A simple web search on the key words 'Deer Repellent Products' will provide you with a wide range of choices. Deer are beautiful, serene creatures and are fascinating to watch. Keeping them away from your landscape plants can be a frustrating and seemingly hopeless task. It is the price you have to pay for <em>'living in the country'<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-using-mulch-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscape\">Mulching&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/make-landscape-plan\/\" title=\"How to Make a Landscape Plan\">Planning Landscapes&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Plants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/prevent-landscape-damage-deer-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>We love deer. We just don't love them making dinner out of our bushes. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keep those beautiful creatures out of your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"prevent-landscape-damage-deer","description2":"","seo_title":"Yard Damage From Deer | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to repair and prevent yard damage from deer? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Yard Damage From Deer | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to repair and prevent yard damage from deer? Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-09 13:44:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["prevent-landscape-damage-deer"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"tree_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["2-Step Tree Program","Ornamental Bed Weed Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":8,"name":"Lime Treatments","description":"<p>The soil in some areas has an acidic tendency, causing it to be deprived of essential nutrients. Acidic soil often time produces grass with yellow spots, wilting grass blades and moss.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Lime treatments will help adjust soil acidity levels to achieve a fuller, greener lawn with fewer weeds.<\/p>","slug":"lime-treatments","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dwnTCqqKg3w?si=TzFylhfQ4dBWhNf9\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Adding lime to your lawn helps adjust soil acidity levels to achieve that lush, green look you\u2019ve been working for, as well as help with weed prevention and control.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"13","icon_class_name":"lime-treatment","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 15:58:07","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Lime Treatment?<\/h2><ul><li>Correct low soil pH levels&nbsp;<\/li><li>Allows turf to access nutrients that promote healthy growth&nbsp;<\/li><li>Fewer weeds&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Lime Treatment Work?<\/h2><p>Our team will assess your soil to determine if it has a low pH level. To combat low soil pH, we will apply a lime treatment that also adds calcium and magnesium to the grass. This allows the nutrients to become more available to the grass plant, resulting in proper and healthy growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Depending on the severity of the soil's acidity, it may require multiple treatments throughout the year to ensure the pH level is corrected and your lawn has the ability to grow into its full potential.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lime-treatments-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Lime Treatment | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Lime Treatment service is a great way to care for your lawn with the benefits of lime. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lime Treatment | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Lime Treatment service is a great way to care for your lawn with the benefits of lime. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lime-treatments"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":22,"name":"Total Lawn Insect Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">No matter whether pests are present in your yard or you want to avoid future damage, our Total Lawn Insect Control will help you attain a greener, healthier lawn you can enjoy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Your lawn needs protection from insects that make a meal or a home out of your well-maintained grass, so we tailor insect control services to protect and maintain the health of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-and-insect-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4iEma47k-38?si=XcD6FWhLb0LKCeUh\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Take care of lawn-damaging insects above and below the ground, before they damage your lawn. Get rid of insects\u2014and get your peace of mind\u2014today.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"23","icon_class_name":"total-lawn-insect-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-02-05 16:14:17","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Total Lawn Insect Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Controls both surface and sub-surface feeding insects&nbsp;<\/li><li>Stops insects from damaging your turf&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevents future infestation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener, healthier lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Total Lawn Insect Control Work?<\/h2><p>Insects feed on all parts of the grass plant. Sub-surface feeding insects prefer to feed on the root system, while the surface feeding insects enjoy the grass blade.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To help battle these bugs, your local lawn care professional will identify the types of insects feeding on your lawn and the lifecycle they\u2019re in to determine the best control method.<\/p><p>Total Lawn Insect Control service takes care of both types of insect problems and prevents infestation that could require extensive renovation or costly reseeding of your lawn.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-total-lawn-insect-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Total Lawn Insect Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Total Lawn Insect Control is a cost-effective way to prevent surface and sub-surface insects from feeding on your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Insect Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Total Lawn Insect Control is a cost-effective way to prevent surface and sub-surface insects from feeding on your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-and-insect-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":33,"name":"Mosquito Add-on","description":"<p>If you\u2019re tired of do-it-yourself preventative measures and swatting at these pests, it\u2019s time to get true long-lasting relief and protection from mosquito activity. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our Mosquito Program is a multi-application approach that provides season-long protection so you can enjoy your yard without worry.&nbsp;<\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">This service requires our&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"\/services\/total-home-pest-control\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">Total Home Pest Control&nbsp;<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">program. &nbsp;Additional mosquito services can be found&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"\/services\/mosquito-control\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">.<\/span><\/p>","slug":"mosquito-add-on","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Adding Mosquito Control Program to our Total Home Pest Control Program provides full protection from pests so you can get outside and enjoy your yard all season long. Mosquito Protection Program visits are timed to maintain a barrier around your yard to control mosquito activity throughout the season, leaving you free to spend more time in your yard.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"40","icon_class_name":"mosquito-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2022-05-04 02:42:33","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:41:22","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of the Mosquito Program?<\/h2><ul><li>Knocks down existing mosquitoes&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevents re-infestation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Long-lasting relief<\/li><li>Eliminates mosquitoes and over 30 other pests when combined with our <a href=\"\/services\/total-home-pest-control\">Total Home Pest Control<\/a> program<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does the Mosquito Program Work?<\/h2><p>Our trained and licensed professional will assess the size, location and natural vegetation of your yard before applying the appropriate mosquito control product to your lawn and landscape. The application creates a barrier around your home to control mosquito activity and prevent re-infestation.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Relief after each application lasts up to 28 days and visits are timed to provide season long relief. You will be able to enjoy your mosquito-free outdoor space any time of day during the months these pests are active.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-mosquito-add-on-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Mosquito Add-On Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Add Spring Green's Mosquito Program to the Total Home Pest Control program and enjoy protection from mosquitoes and over 30 other insect pests. Visit spring-green.com to find out more.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mosquito Add-On Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Add Spring Green's Mosquito Program to the Total Home Pest Control program and enjoy protection from mosquitoes and over 30 other insect pests. Visit spring-green.com to find out more.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mosquito-add-on"],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":"","service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":9,"name":"Ornamental Bed Weed Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">Help your flower beds look their best by getting rid of unwanted weeds.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;Ornamental Bed Weed Control will reduce the need for<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;tedious hand weeding so you have more time to enjoy the beauty that your flower beds and landscape.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"ornamental-bed-weed-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Tired of weeding by hand? Eliminate the need for tedious hand weeding of your ornamental beds and promote a more vibrant landscape free of unwanted plants.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"17","icon_class_name":"ornamental-weeds","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":41,"title":"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden","description":"<p>January and February are the traditional months when the seed and plant catalogues are sent. After you finish up your&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter\/\" title=\"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter\">winter landscaping<\/a> routine, it's nice to settle in and look at new roses for your garden. As you flip through the pages, you may wonder which type of rose plant to buy. There are hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, miniature teas, rose trees, and climbing roses. We consulted <em>Crocket's Flower Garden<\/em> by James Crocket (Little, Brown and Company) for some helpful advice on choosing the rose that best suits your needs and to eliminate some of the guesswork in choosing from all the available varieties of roses.<\/p><h3><strong>Hybrid teas have large blossoms and are commonly used for cut flowers<\/strong><\/h3><p>Hybrid Teas are the oldest and most popular of all the roses. The earliest hybrid teas were introduced in the mid-nineteenth century. Hybrid teas are a cross between the traditional tea rose and the newer (for the time) hybrid perpetual roses. Hybrid teas have large blossoms and they are commonly used for cut flowers. They have long, straight stems that can reach 3 or 4 feet in length and some varieties produce flowers as large as 7\u201d across. The Peace rose is the most popular of the hybrid teas and can be found in many rose gardens. Floribundas have smaller flowers than the hybrid teas, but have more flowers per stem. The flowers are 3 to 4\u201d across and each stem seems to produce a bouquet by itself. Grandiflora roses are a cross between the hybrid teas and the floribundas. They produce flowers that are larger than the floribundas and have more flowers per stem than the hybrid teas. It is like having the best of both worlds when it comes to these roses.<\/p><h3><strong>Miniature roses ... generally grow to no more than 15 inches ...<\/strong><\/h3><p>Miniature roses are naturally hardy and are miniature versions of the full size plant. They generally grow to no more than 15\u201c and require less care than their hybrid cousins. They are very hardy and make a nice \"rose bed\" in your garden.<\/p><h3><strong>Rose trees ... are not for the novice gardener<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rose trees require extensive care and attention and are not for the novice gardener. They have been developed by grafting a single strong cane to a hardy rootstock. The desired variety of hybrid rose is then grafted on top of the cane. They are very formal and often appear \"out-of-place\" in most home landscapes. They often need additional support for the main cane and need elaborate protection from the winter weather. They may look pretty, but they require more <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a> than most home gardeners can handle. Climbing roses do not actually climb. They do not have any natural method of attaching themselves to a trellis or other structure, as a true climbing vine does. They need to be tied or woven into a trellis or other structure. They are just roses that have very long canes. They often die back in colder climates, and the dead canes need to be cut every spring.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We hope these explanations help you choose the best rose for your home garden. Here are a few other yard care requirements to keep in mind when making your choices. Roses need rich, organic soil and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. They like well-drained locations and do not like to be crowded too close together. They also need more attention and care than most landscape plants and are often plagued by disease and insect problems. They can be a challenge, but the rewards are wonderful.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p>","topic":["7"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/flower-care\/choose-roses-garden-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:38:03","excerpt":"<p>Choosing roses for your garden can be a daunting task. There are so many different kinds. Find out some helpful tips.<\/p>","slug":"choose-roses-garden","description2":"","seo_title":"Roses for Your Garden | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Are you struggling to choose which roses to use for your garden? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Roses for Your Garden | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Are you struggling to choose which roses to use for your garden? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["choose-roses-garden"],"url_override":""},{"id":40,"title":"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia","description":"<p>Many people receive plants for Christmas, but are not sure how to care for them. Three varieties that are often given as presents are the ever-popular, but most frequently killed, Poinsettia, the \"kinda boring after they flower\" Amaryllis, and the \"How do I get this thing to bloom again?\" Christmas Cactus. Each of these plants requires a rest period or special growing conditions to stimulate new flowers. They also require a little extra care over most other houseplants.<\/p><h3>If you are like me, however, you are always ready for a challenge when it comes to making something grow where it shouldn't.<\/h3><p>The Poinsettia is most often associated with Christmas. Thousands are sold every year and, like so many goldfish, thousands end up in the trash can by the middle of January. Keeping a Poinsettia alive until next year may not be worth the effort, since a new one does not cost that much. Another reason is that they never look as good the second year as a new one that you can purchase the next year.<\/p><h3><strong>The red or white 'flowers' of a poinsettia are not really flowers, but colored leaves.<\/strong><\/h3><p>The red or white 'flowers' of a poinsettia are not really flowers, but colored leaves. The actual flowers are the small growths in the middle of the clusters (or bracts) of colored leaves. Some varieties of poinsettias will stay active all winter, where others will begin to fade quickly. To keep your Poinsettia through next season, try these steps.<\/p><ul><li>Keep the plant in an area where it will receive bright light and temperatures between 60\u00b0 and 75\u00b0.<\/li><li>Keep it well watered, but not soggy. (Use the finger-poking method, described in <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Winter Indoor Plant Care Tips<\/a>.)<\/li><li>Fertilize it with a 10-10-10 fertilizer every two weeks during the winter months.<\/li><li>As the bracts start to fade and fall, move the plant to a location where it receives indirect light and temperatures of 55\u00b0 to 60\u00b0. Cut the plant back to around 5\u201d from the soil level and repot it with fresh soil. Water infrequently during this time. Give the plant just enough water to keep the stems from shriveling.<\/li><li>Watch for new growth and then move it back to a well-lighted location.<\/li><li>In the late spring, after the danger of frost has passed, place the pot in a partially shaded area outside.<\/li><li>For a fuller plant, pinch back the new growth to encourage branching.<\/li><li>After Labor Day, stop pinching and bring the plant indoors. Place it back in a sunny location with evening temperatures of about 65\u00b0.<\/li><li>Now comes the bothersome part. Poinsettias only 'bloom' during short days, so place the plant in total darkness for 12 hours each day. This can be accomplished by moving the plant to a dark closet or by placing a lightproof box over the poinsettia each day. Be sure to keep it in a sunny location during the day and water on a regular basis.<\/li><\/ul><p>By following these directions, your poinsettia should be in 'full bloom' for next Christmas. As I said, I will keep you informed on the progress of my two poinsettias and hope you do the same for me.<\/p><h3><strong>Amaryllis plants have blooms of many colors.<\/strong><\/h3><p>Amaryllis is another Christmas favorite. To keep it around for years to come only requires you to keep it growing after it blooms. This is another plant that requires a lot of bright sun to do well. Amaryllis success depends on these steps:<\/p><ul><li>Water on a regular basis, even after the flowers fade.<\/li><li>Once it warms up and frost is no longer a danger, move it outdoors&nbsp;to a semi-shaded location.<\/li><li>In the fall, bring the pot back indoors and allow the leaves to die by withholding water. Then store the pot in a cool, dark spot to 'rest'.<\/li><li>Around the beginning of November, bring the plant back into a sunny location. Water on a regular basis and new growth will begin shortly.<\/li><\/ul><p>Amaryllis plants have blooms of many colors. It is a relatively easy plant to care for, so brighten your interiorscape with several different varieties.<\/p><h3><strong>As with the Poinsettia and Amaryllis, the Christmas Cactus requires a 'rest' period.<\/strong><\/h3><p>The Christmas Cactus has become very popular and the blooms have a variety of colors. Controlling temperature and the amount of sunlight is critical to the development of new blooms. The most active growth period is from April until September, but they do not like a lot of bright sunlight during this time. Too much direct sun during the summer months can cause the leaves to yellow, or fall off. A bright location without direct sun is best during the summer. Water and fertilize it on a regular basis during this period. As with the Poinsettia and Amaryllis, the Christmas Cactus requires a 'rest' period. From mid-September until mid-November, water infrequently and keep it out of direct sunlight. Then, start to increase the watering and move the plant to a sunny location. Christmas Cactus requires less water during the winter, but they do enjoy the bright winter sun. They also flower better when slightly pot-bound. If it does need repotting, do so during the winter months, but after it flowers.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>General Care<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Keeping your entire landscape healthy and beautiful doesn't have to be hard work. Spring-Green helps you out with our professional <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>. Make sure that your yard and lawn area looks as good as your new poinsettias with help from your local Spring Green professional.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips\/\" title=\"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems &amp; Prevention Tips\">Squirrel Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p>","topic":["7"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/flower-care\/maintain-care-poinsettia-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:37:37","excerpt":"<p>Many people receive plants for Christmas, but are not sure how to care for them. Find out how!<\/p>","slug":"maintain-care-poinsettia","description2":"","seo_title":"Poinsettia Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for maintaining and caring for poinsettias? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Poinsettia Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for maintaining and caring for poinsettias? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["maintain-care-poinsettia"],"url_override":""},{"id":39,"title":"How to Care for and Grow Hostas","description":"<p>Many home gardens and yards have a shady spot where nothing seems to grow well. A good choice for such a spot is the versatile Hosta. It has a long-standing reputation as a plant that only grows well in shady locations. However, this is no longer the case. The newer varieties of Hostas grow well in direct sun, and&nbsp;do not have the sun scald problems associated with older varieties. Hostas are available in different colors as well as in an assortment of blended colors. They also range in size from very small to quite large. Hosta 'Thumb Nails' are only 2\u201d tall and the leaves are only 1\/2\u201d wide. One of the largest is the Hosta 'Blue Angel' that can grow to four feet and has leaves that are 14\u201d across and 20\u201d long.<\/p><h2>Features of Hostas<\/h2><p>The prominent feature of Hostas is the foliage. The leaves range from a dark green to varying shades of green and blue. Some of the leaves are oval, some are heart-shaped, and others are strap-like. The edges of the leaves can be flat and straight, have a wavy edge, or appear somewhat contorted. Some varieties have variegated leaves that may be yellow on the edge and green in the middle, or vice versa. Others have combinations of white and green, or white and yellow. With all the varieties available \u2013 well over 150 \u2013 it would be difficult to find one that did not appeal to every taste. Besides the leaves, the Hosta has a lovely flower. Depending upon the variety, Hostas can flower from early summer until fall. The trumpet-shaped flower may be white, lavender, blue, purple, or even bicolor. The flowers are arranged on a stalk that rises above the foliage. They can be very small or as large as 3\u201d long and 5\u201d across.<\/p><h2>Caring for a Hosta<\/h2><p>Hostas are relatively carefree plants for your yard. They like well-drained soil and cannot tolerate wet conditions as they are prone to root and stem rots. They, also, like soil that has had organic matter added to it. They do not need much fertilizer, but will flourish with occasional additions of organic material. They can get crowded in one area and do need to be split every now and then. Many people have started their Hostas from plants they have received from a friend or relative who had recently split their plants. Thinning should take place in late fall or early spring, when the leaves are not opened.<\/p><h2>Common Hosta Issues<\/h2><p>The one major problem with Hostas is damage from <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">slugs<\/a>. Slugs will feed on the leaves, resulting in numerous holes and a horrific appearance. Hostas provide a great environment for slugs as the leaves hold in moisture and provide a hiding place from the hot sun. Avoid using mulch around Hostas if there is a problem with slugs as the mulch provides hiding places and nesting sites for laying eggs. A good <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-clean-ideas\/\" title=\"Fall Clean-up Ideas\">fall<\/a> and spring clean up as part of your regular <a href=\"\/service-category\/tree-shrub-care\/\" target=\"_blank\">tree and shrub care program<\/a> will also remove over-wintering egg masses and keep the populations in check. There are many home remedies and commercial shrub care products available for slug control. A terrific site for more information about Hostas is at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmountainhosta.com\/about_hostas.htm\">greenmountainhosta.com<\/a>. They carry many varieties of Hostas as well as many other perennial plants for sale. Most nurseries and garden centers carry Hostas, but they go quickly, so get there early. As was mentioned earlier in the article, check with your friends and relatives who may have Hostas and ask them to save you a few the next time they split their plants.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/prepare-lawn-landscape-winter\/\" title=\"How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter\">Winter Landscapes<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/maintain-care-poinsettia\/\" title=\"How to Maintain and Care for Poinsettia\">Poinsettias<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/choose-roses-garden\/\" title=\"How to Choose Roses for Your Garden\">Roses<\/a><\/p>","topic":["7"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/flower-care\/care-grow-hostas-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:38:24","excerpt":"<p>Many home gardens and yards have a shady spot where nothing seems to grow well. A good choice for such a spot is the versatile Hosta.<\/p>","slug":"care-grow-hostas","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Grow Hostas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about growing Hostas in your lawn or ornamental flower bed? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Grow Hostas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about growing Hostas in your lawn or ornamental flower bed? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["care-grow-hostas"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:23:40","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Ornamental Bed Weed Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Controls existing weeds&nbsp;<\/li><li>Prevents future weeds&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduces maintenance&nbsp;<\/li><li>More attractive flower beds<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Ornamental Bed Weed Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our field service professionals will use specialized equipment to apply pre- and post-emergent weed control to eliminate existing weeds and prevent future weeds. This program will take care of the unruly weeds in your flower beds without harming established plants, shrubs and trees.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-ornamental-bed-weed-control-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Ornamental Bed Weed Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Ornamental Bed Weed Control is a cost-effective way to properly landscape your ornamental beds. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Ornamental Bed Weed Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Ornamental Bed Weed Control is a cost-effective way to properly landscape your ornamental beds. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["ornamental-bed-weed-control"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Core Aeration","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Surface Feeding Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":44,"name":"Rodent Reduction Program","description":"<p>The Rodent Reduction Program provides a rodent-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-Round Pest Protection from rats and mice<\/li><li>Highly effective Exterior Rodent Reduction System<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify rodents' points of entry<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal rodent activity<\/li><li>Exterior baiting of rodents<\/li><li>Monitoring of rodent populations<\/li><li>Licensed and Trained Pest Service Professional<\/li><li>Environmentally conscientious approach<\/li><li>Free service calls between visits<\/li><\/ul>","slug":"rodent-reduction-program","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>The Rodent Reduction Program provides a rodent-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-Round Pest Protection from rats and mice<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal rodent activity<\/li><li>Licensed and Trained Pest Service Professional<\/li><li>Environmentally conscientious approach<\/li><li>Free service calls between visits<\/li><\/ul>","omni_service_id":"43","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2022-06-13 03:44:51","updated_at":"2022-08-12 14:29:54","description2":"<h2>How Does The Rodent Reduction Program Work?<\/h2><p>Our Rodent Reduction Program will keep your home rodent-free all year long. Coverage includes routine, automatic visits strategically spaced throughout the year along with access to unlimited, free service calls as needed upon request.<\/p><h3>Inspection<\/h3><p>Each visit includes a comprehensive exterior inspection by one of our trained and licensed pest professionals who will identify rodent presence, assess activity levels, locate potential points of rodent entry, and implement a customized rodent control treatment approach.<\/p><h3>Tailored Plan<\/h3><p>Our team will develop and execute a tailored rodent control plan designed to proactively reduce populations of rats and mice and maintain a rodent-free environment outside your home so they never become a nuisance inside your home.<\/p><h3>Well Timed Visits<\/h3><p>Visits are strategically spaced for seasonal rodent activity. Each visit includes a multi-step inspection and treatment process, including the monitoring and re-positioning of bait stations, hat targets established rodent populations and prevent new ones from arising.&nbsp;<\/p><h3>Service Calls<\/h3><p>In the unlikely event rodent activity persists between routine visits, we will come back to diagnose the problem and re-treat as necessary. Your coverage includes unlimited additional service calls at no additional cost.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-rodent-reduction-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Rodent Reduction Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Your Rodent Reduction Program provides year-round protection against rats & mice. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rodent Reduction Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Your Rodent Reduction Program provides year-round protection against rats & mice. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rodent-reduction-program"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Surface Feeding Insect Control","Total Home Pest Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent & Vole Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":7,"name":"Irrigation System Maintenance","description":"<p>An irrigation system can help you achieve the healthy and green lawn you\u2019ve been dreaming about as long as you don\u2019t sleep on the maintenance.&nbsp;<\/p><p>While a sprinkler system tends to do the work for you when it comes to watering, it\u2019s imperative that you maintain it with regular check-ups at the beginning, middle and end of the season, as well as call for periodic repairs if you suspect something is wrong.<\/p>","slug":"irrigation-maintenance","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jxX7BmgJy94\" title=\"YouTube video player\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>An irrigation system can play an important role in maintaining a healthy lawn. From start-up to shut down, we'll make sure your system is working efficiently.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"27","icon_class_name":"irrigation-maintenance","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":50,"title":"Automatic Sprinklers","description":"<p>Most of us know how important water is for keeping our lawns and landscapes healthy and green. Without water, our grass and plants can\u2019t survive. Automatic <a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"irrigation systems\">irrigation systems<\/a> can provide great care for a lawn. They eliminate hose pulling and can do your watering chores anytime, even when you\u2019re asleep or out of town. But even with the most sophisticated sprinklers, you could still be sending money down the drain if it\u2019s not used correctly. Without proper watering procedures, even the best <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> will end up going to waste. No amount of fertilizer or <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> can help a lawn that isn't receiving proper hydration. Read on to find out how to keep your yard healthy and hydrated.<\/p><h2>Getting coverage and depth is the first step.<\/h2><p>Your lawn needs 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. That\u2019s about 600-900 gallons per 1,000 square feet of grass. That\u2019s a lot of water and you don\u2019t want to waste any of it. The first step is to know when (and how) to turn your system off. That\u2019s right. We see sprinklers going full blast in the middle of rainstorms and wonder if the folks are asleep, or if they don\u2019t have a master switch for their system. You need to know how much rainfall you\u2019re getting to know when your system needs to run, and when it can be turned off for awhile. Keeping in mind how much water your lawn needs, and setting the timers on your system, will determine how deeply you are watering. There are also rain sensors that can be installed to shut off your system if it's raining. In addition with modern technology you can install a wi-fi controller that is connected to weather stations to help prevent over watering. A big temptation with automatic systems is to water the lawn for a short time every day or two. This results in shallow watering and shallow, weak roots. Responsible turf care means taking care to ensure that all of the lawn is getting watered. Each type of sprinkler head has a different pattern and flow rate. If your system is properly designed, it is divided into zones that cover all of the turf and planting beds on your property.<\/p><h3>Maintaining In-Ground Sprinkler Systems<\/h3><p>Most in-ground sprinkler systems today are efficient and precise. But regular, minor adjustments to these automated systems can lead to major improvements in how well they work:<\/p><ul><li>Check sprinkler heads periodically to make sure none have been jostled, and are still aimed in the right directions.<\/li><li>Be sure sprinklers have an even spray pattern, and that leaves or other debris aren\u2019t blocking the spray as your landscape grows.<\/li><li>Keep an eye out for any damaged sprinkler heads.<\/li><li>Make sure your timer is adjusted correctly for the season.<\/li><li>Follow manufacturer instructions for winterizing your system each year. For many systems, this means blowing out&nbsp;pipes so water that can freeze will not do any damage.<\/li><li>Consider drip systems for deep roots. They deliver water very slowly so it can penetrate.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Irrigation-Proper-Maintenance-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a> about Proper Irrigation Maintenance and the Spring Green Irrigation Maintenance Program. We know how important water is to everything we do at Spring-Green. We want you to get the most from your system, have a beautiful turf, and not waste water or money. So if you have any questions, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood lawn professional today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Best Results for Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating Your Lawn<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/automatic-sprinklers-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:15:10","excerpt":"<p>Automatic sprinklers can take a huge chunk out of your lawn maintenance time. Find out more about these great tools.<\/p>","slug":"automatic-sprinklers","description2":"","seo_title":"Automatic Sprinklers | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using automatic sprinklers in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Automatic Sprinklers | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the pros and cons of using automatic sprinklers in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["automatic-sprinklers"],"url_override":""},{"id":51,"title":"The Benefits of Using an Irrigation System","description":"<p>There is a lot of work that goes into making sure your lawn is always looking and feeling its best, including proper watering, regular fertilizing, and keeping regional insects and diseases out of your lawn. Because climates across North America can vary, it's important to consider the best times and frequency to water your lawn \u2013 but this can be difficult when you go from extreme hot days to ones where frost might accumulate over night. That's where the benefits of having an irrigation system can come into play. An irrigation system that is properly designed, maintained and managed, applies water only when needed. And, it only applies the amount of water necessary to replenish soil moisture once it has been lost due to evaporation from the soil, or through transpiration from the lawn and landscape.<\/p><h2>Types of Irrigation Systems<\/h2><p>There are two types of irrigation you can use on your lawn: \u2022 Manual Irrigation \u2022 Automatic Irrigation System<\/p><p>Manual irrigation is done by hand watering turf using hoses, sprinklers, or nozzles. Using a manual irrigation process can be more efficient and less expensive, but it can require a lot of work and attention from the homeowner. Attaching timers to a sprinkler system, installing quick connectors, and using drip irrigation on trees, shrubs, and flower beds can all help make manual irrigation more efficient for a landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>An automatic irrigation system is in-ground and clock-driven. It can be more expensive to install and maintain, but the results will pay off in the long run. An automatic system requires professional installation, but once it is installed, you can schedule your irrigation system to accommodate your climate and landscape needs. It's also important to have a professional perform regular <a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"irrigation system maintenance\">irrigation system maintenance<\/a>&nbsp; to ensure your irrigation system is always functioning properly.&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, whether you go with an automatic irrigation system, or start performing manual irrigation on your own, remember to monitor how your lawn, or other parts of your landscape, are reacting to the irrigation. Some plants and turf grasses require high volumes of water; while others are drought resistant (you don\u2019t want to waste your water resource on plants like these).&nbsp;<\/p><p>Take care of your lawn by learning from our other expert lawn care tips\u2026&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Automatic Sprinkler Care<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn &amp; Grass Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/benefits-using-irrigation-system-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:39:25","excerpt":"<p>Are you thinking about putting in an irrigation system? Find out all the details you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-using-irrigation-system","description2":"","seo_title":"Irrigation System Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about installing an irrigation system and the benefits it can provide? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation System Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about installing an irrigation system and the benefits it can provide? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-using-irrigation-system"],"url_override":""},{"id":319,"title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line","description":"<p>A main line leak in your sprinkler system is unlikely but can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water and damage your property. Save money and avoid a service call by following these directions yourself to detect a leak in your sprinkler system mainline before calling in the professionals.<\/p><h2>Detecting A Leak In Your Irrigation System Main Line<\/h2><h3>With Drip Indicator<\/h3><p>Most water meters have a drip indicator on them. This would appear to be a small red triangle or a small red flat bar on your meter.&nbsp;<\/p><p>1. If the red indicator isn\u2019t moving, go to the nearest faucet and turn it so that the faucet drips. Go back and check the indicator. What is now moving is the drip indicator. When there\u2019s no water running and the drip indicator is moving, this tells you there is a leak somewhere.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. Shut the sprinkler valve OFF (see below instructions on how to turn valve off) and check the indicator again. If the indicator stops then there is probably a leak in your sprinkler system. If the indicator doesn\u2019t stop, there is a leak elsewhere and should be checked out by a plumber.<\/p><h3>Without a Drip Indicator<\/h3><p>1. On the top of the water meter, there is a series of numbers. Write down all the numbers.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. DO NOT use any water for about 4-8 hours. (It is easiest to do this when you will be out of the house for the day) Remember to turn off ice machines and water dispensers in the refrigerator.&nbsp;<\/p><p>3. Recheck the numbers. If the numbers have increased there could be a potential leak.&nbsp;<\/p><p>4. Turn your sprinkler valve OFF (see below for instructions on how to turn valve off) and write down the new numbers.&nbsp;<\/p><p>5. DO NOT use any water for about 4-8 hours Remember to turn off ice machines and water dispensers in the refrigerator.&nbsp;<\/p><p>6. Recheck the numbers again. If the numbers have changed the leak is NOT your sprinkler system but elsewhere in your home and should be checked out by a plumber. If the numbers have not changed then there is probably a leak in your sprinkler system.&nbsp;<\/p><h2>How to Turn the Main Sprinkler Valve On and Off<\/h2><p>1. Locate the Sprinkler Valve. The sprinkler valve is normally located near the water meter, which is usually in the basement. If you are a Spring Green customer there will be a green or orange tag hanging on the pipe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>2. Look at the picture below to see if your Main Sprinkler Valve is ON or OFF position. It\u2019s in the ON position when it\u2019s in line with the pipe.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-15186 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/USE-THIS-FOR-ON-e1561402918333.jpg\" alt=\"Sprinkler Valve On\" width=\"284\" height=\"379\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>It\u2019s in the OFF position when it makes a <em>\u201cT\u201d<\/em> or goes across the pipe.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-15187 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/USE-THIS-FOR-OFF.jpg\" alt=\"Sprinkler Valve Off\" width=\"337\" height=\"252\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Read other irrigation system maintenance and repair tips you can do yourself, or give your professional irrigation team a call to make sure your sprinkler system is working properly.<\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/detect-leak-sprinkler-system-mail-line-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-07-31 17:22:27","excerpt":"<p>A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water and damage your property. Learn these tips to detect a leak in your sprinkler system main line before calling in the professionals.<\/p>","slug":"detect-leak-sprinkler-system-main-line","description2":"","seo_title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water, and damage your property. Learn how to detect a leak in your sprinkler system.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How To Detect A Leak In Your Sprinkler System Main Line | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"A leak in your sprinkler system can cost you hundreds of dollars, waste water, and damage your property. Learn how to detect a leak in your sprinkler system.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["detect-leak-sprinkler-system-main-line"],"url_override":""},{"id":297,"title":"Temporary Sprinkler System Protection Against an Freeze","description":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">When Mother Nature decides to bring freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, there are a few simple steps you can take to help defend against freeze damage to your sprinkler system. Some of the most expensive components in your irrigation system are made of brass and other materials that are very susceptible to damage caused by the expansion of water when it freezes. When performing your winterization service, Spring-Green will use industrial compressors having the capacity to push a large volume of air under high pressure through your irrigation lines to blow out water.<\/p><h2>Steps to Help Protect Sprinkler Irrigation System From Freeze<\/h2><p>When freezing temperatures arrive before the date of your winterization service appointment, we strongly urge you to take the following preventative actions.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 1: Shut off Water supply to Irrigation System<\/strong> A) Locate the shut off valve to the irrigation system. This valve is usually located near your main water meter usually on a pipe that comes off to the side of the main water line. It is a 1\u201d pipe and may be larger than the main water line. You might be able to see it going toward the outside of the house. There should be an orange \u201cspring-green\u201d tag to identify the correct valve. B) Turn the valve a \u00bc turn, it will only go one way it may be up down right or left depending on the pipe position. Please check a sink to be sure you have not turned off your main water supply.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step1Valve.png\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"\"><\/p><p><strong>Step 2: Unplug Booster Pump (not installed on all systems)<\/strong> If you have a booster pump, it will be located on the floor and have a cord going to an outlet or box. If it's a regular outlet simply remove the plug. If it goes to a box then unplug your controller\/timer for the sprinkler system in the garage after you have followed step #3.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 3: Run System to Relieve Pressure<\/strong> Go to sprinkler controller\/timer (usually located in garage) and turn on any zone to run for 2 minutes. No water will come out of the irrigation head, but it will relieve the pressure in the main line.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 4: Open Outside Pipe<\/strong> Outside where the pipe to the irrigation system comes out of the house. Turn the spigot handle (if there is one) attached to this pipe counterclockwise to open it completely.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step 5: Open Outside RPZ Valve<\/strong> If your RPZ valve is outside, locate the mini valves (3 or 4) sticking out of the RPZ that have a groove for a flat head screwdriver (See picture below).<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step5Valve.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Close-up of a backflow prevention device with text indicating 'Valves are CLOSED' and 'This is normal when sprinkler system is active'\"><\/p><p>To open the mini valves use a flat head screw driver to turn the screw \u00bc turn counter clockwise (See picture below). Water will come out as you open more of these mini valves \u2013 this is normal.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/uploaded-files\/Step5aValve.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil\" alt=\"Close-up of a backflow prevention device with text indicating that all three valves are open, highlighted by red arrows\"><\/p><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Step 6: Schedule Your Appointment for Irrigation Winterization Service<\/strong> The preceding steps are only a temporary precaution and will not substitute for having your irrigation system thoroughly winterized by the professionals at Spring Green.<\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-21 12:03:42","excerpt":"<p>Take these simple steps to help defend against freeze damage to your sprinkler system.<\/p>","slug":"temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze","description2":"","seo_title":"Temporary Protection on Sprinkler System Against Cold Temperatures | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"When there are freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, you can take a few steps to help defend against freeze.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Temporary Protection on Sprinkler System Against Cold Temperatures | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"When there are freezing temperatures before your sprinkler system has been winterized, you can take a few steps to help defend against freeze.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["temporary-sprinkler-protection-against-freeze"],"url_override":""},{"id":52,"title":"Regular Irrigation System Maintenance You Can Do At-Home","description":"<p>If you have an irrigation system, you might have had people ask you the question, \"Don't those waste water?\" Well, if your system is properly maintained, wasting water&nbsp;is not something you have to worry about. System maintenance and checks should be performed at least twice each season:<\/p><ul><li>Once in the beginning of the season (when you first turn on your system)<\/li><li>Once at the end of the season (to prepare for the winter)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/service\/irrigation-maintenance\/\" title=\"Irrigation system maintenance\">Irrigation system maintenance<\/a> on an automatic system can be rather complex \u2013 sometimes you just need to call in a professional. But, there are some minor tasks you could try on your own to keep your irrigation system working properly until your next scheduled maintenance appointment.<\/p><h2>Realign Irrigation System Heads<\/h2><p>If you notice the water in your system isn't spraying as far as it used to, that it is spraying in an unwanted direction, or if brown areas are developing on your lawn, you may need to realign or replace your irrigation system heads. To do this, simply twist the sprinkler head while the system is running until it is secure and spraying the direction you desire. If you have a loose nozzle, you may need to do this more often.<\/p><h2>Adjusting Heads that are Overspraying<\/h2><p>A sprinkler system can create brown spots in areas directly surrounding the sprinkler head \u2013 or it could spray your guests and others passing by your lawn when they least expect it! To make sure you're not wasting water, make sure you have the proper size nozzles for the area covered by that head.<\/p><h2>Replacing Heads &amp; Nozzles<\/h2><p>There are a number of reasons a nozzle, or sprinkler head, might need to be replaced. If it's broken by a lawn mower, becomes clogged from debris, or just wears out, you may need to replace it. Nozzles and sprinkler heads are rather inexpensive. To replace a sprinkler head, dig out around it to the bottom, unscrew it being careful no debris falls in. Then screw in the new head making sure it's at the proper level. Be sure to use the proper size nozzle for the area. The tips above are some general things you can do to maintain your system. If you have any problems, you'll want to schedule an irrigation sprinkler service appointment with a professional. Your local Spring Green professional can help you with routine checks and maintenance needs that might arise.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Keep your lawn looking its best when you learn more about proper lawn care\u2026 <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Automatic Sprinkler Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["11"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/irrigation\/regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:40:14","excerpt":"<p>Keep your irrigation system working like new with these do-it-yourself maintenance tricks.<\/p>","slug":"regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home","description2":"","seo_title":"Irrigation Maintenance | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about proper irrigation system maintenance and how it can benefit your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation Maintenance | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about proper irrigation system maintenance and how it can benefit your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["regular-irrigation-system-maintenance-can-home"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2022-08-02 16:21:37","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Irrigation System Maintenance?<\/h2><ul><li>Industry trained professionals to start up, maintain and winterize your irrigation system&nbsp;<\/li><li>Receive inspections to repair broken heads and rotors, reset controllers and check for leaks or broken water lines&nbsp;<\/li><li>Maintain even watering across turf and landscape areas for a greener, healthier lawn&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reduce water consumption with a well-working system<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Irrigation System Maintenance Work?<\/h2><p>Having an automatic irrigation system makes watering your lawn and landscape an easy task. To keep your sprinkler system working as efficiently as possible, it needs periodic maintenance. It also requires proper start-up in the spring and shut down in the fall.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our team will provide these services through our Irrigation Maintenance Program. The program includes specialized visits to ensure that your system is running correctly:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Spring Start-Up Service<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Ensuring the main water supply is on&nbsp;<\/li><li>Priming the mainline&nbsp;<\/li><li>Verifying operation at each zone&nbsp;<\/li><li>Adjusting for head-to-head coverage&nbsp;<\/li><li>Checking for leaks&nbsp;<\/li><li>Clearing growth from around each head&nbsp;<\/li><li>Testing controller operation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Calibrating run time for spring conditions&nbsp;<\/li><li>Checking rain sensor operation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Identifying needed repairs&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Mid-Season System Performance Evaluation<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Resetting the controller&nbsp;<\/li><li>Checking for system leaks&nbsp;<\/li><li>Cleaning out overgrowth around heads&nbsp;<\/li><li>Ensuring rotors are turning properly&nbsp;<\/li><li>Leveling heads&nbsp;<\/li><li>Diagnosing system repairs&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Winterization Service<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><ul><li>Checking for potential system repairs&nbsp;<\/li><li>Blowing out heads, rotors, valves and lines before freezing temperatures set in<\/li><\/ul>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-irrigation-maintenance-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Irrigation System Maintenance | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Irrigation System Maintenance service is a cost-effective way to care for your sprinkler system. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Irrigation System Maintenance | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Irrigation System Maintenance service is a cost-effective way to care for your sprinkler system. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["irrigation-maintenance"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Surface Feeding Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":45,"name":"Soil Amendment and Surface Feeding Insect Control","description":"<p>*Only available in select markets<\/p><p>To keep your lawn looking its best, we will amend your soil with organic ingredients and protect grass plants from damaging insects. Enhancing the nutrient levels in your soil will help you achieve a fuller, greener lawn with fewer weeds. And our tailored approach to surface feeding insect control will target the pests feeding on your lawn and prevent future infestation.<\/p>","slug":"soil-amendment-and-surface-feeding-insect-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":null,"organic_based_fertilizer":null,"service_category":"1","excerpt":"<p>This 2-service bundle enriches your soil and protects your lawn from surface feeding insects. The result is a greener, healthier lawn for you to enjoy.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"32","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Mushrooms","description":"<p>When the temperatures rise and there has been an abundance of rain or supplemental irrigation.&nbsp; Mushrooms come in all shapes and colors.&nbsp; For the most part, mushrooms are a good thing as they are a sign that there is plenty of activity going on in the soil food web below the ground. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that feed on organic material that exists in the soil, providing nutrients to other microorganism as well as to the roots of landscapes plants and to the turf. There are a lot of fungi varieties that can cause problems in lawns. Mushrooms are among the most visible, but least harmful of lawn fungi. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-ring\/\" title=\"Fairy Ring\">Fairy rings<\/a> are caused by up to 50 different types of fungi and create expanding rings in turf. Although fairy rings and mushrooms are not harmful, they are unslightly for some people. Here are a few facts about mushrooms and how to help control them on your lawn.<\/p><h3><strong>Mushrooms Don't Harm Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p><img class=\"size-full wp-image-7173 alignright fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp\" alt=\"mushrooms growing in a yard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mushrooms are caused by a large number of different fungi, and the good news is they won't cause lawn diseases. They are sensitive to moisture and normally appear during periods of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures or on very heavily irrigated turf. Mushrooms feed on decaying organic material on the lawn in the thatch or soil, and do not attack living grass plants. Shallow dead tree roots, construction debris, or heavy thatch on the lawn can become the \"host\" that mushrooms feed upon. In almost all cases, mushrooms will disappear when lawn moisture levels return to normal and regular mowing will help get rid of these unsightly fungi. Some of the fungi that cause mushrooms are sensitive to fungicides. Usually fungicides will only help prevent further mushrooms from developing and not kill the current ones. Because of this, we normally advise that attempting to remove mushrooms chemically is not really feasible. It's also a good idea to determine what kind of mushrooms your lawn is developing or spotting types of mushrooms in your neighborhood area. Although mushrooms don't affect your turf, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">mushrooms are toxic for pets<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How To Control Mushrooms In Your Lawn<\/strong> To control mushrooms on the lawn, we recommend keeping the soil open and reduce water frequency for the time being. Make sure you're following <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Watering-Facts-and-Best-Practices.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best watering practices<\/a> to avoid over watering your lawn (over watering leads to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Brown Patch<\/a>). Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> helps keep the soil open and allows more air, nutrients and water to reach the root zone for healthy, thick grass. These tips will generally help control mushrooms, and prevent new mushrooms from emerging on the lawn. Mushrooms don't last a long time once they surface and will usually decompose in a couple of days. &nbsp;There are no products that will keep mushrooms from growing in a lawn or landscape bed. They can be hand-picked and thrown away, but it is a good idea to wear gloves when doing so as some mushrooms are poisonous. &nbsp;Normally mowing will also remove those mushrooms that grow taller than the turf. They can also be kicked over or they can be a way to improve your golf swing.<\/p><h3>Partnering With Spring-Green For a Healthy Lawn<\/h3><p>Having a healthy lawn is the result of a continuous process. And in the process of creating great conditions for growing grass, the very best results come when you and Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> work together as partners. If mushrooms are growing in a circle within a lawn or are growing within a darker green circle of arc, this could be a sign of a disease called Fairy Ring. If mushrooms are growing in this type of pattern, call your Neighborhood Lawn Care Professional to inspect your lawn. They will provide the best recommendations to reduce the severity of this disease, which usually involves yearly core aeration on the lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread\/\" title=\"Red Thread\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:50:35","excerpt":"<p>There are a lot of fungus varieties that can cause problems in turf grass. Mushrooms are among the most visible but least harmful of lawn fungi.<\/p>","slug":"mushrooms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mushrooms"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Rust Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust. Not the same kind you'd find on your metal patio furniture, or your car, of course. But one that can be just as destructive. Rust is a fairly common lawn disease caused by fungus. It usually shows up from mid-summer through late fall, once the growth of your grass has slowed. But rust can also appear any time your turf is under stress, like after extended dry periods. Rust spores are tiny and very light weight. They can be carried long distances by the wind, which means that even the best kept lawns can be infected. Usually, grasses with a fine texture and deep color, like perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, are the most likely victims of rust lawn disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Recognizing Rust<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust usually takes hold in shaded areas first, during warm, humid weather. Any grass that remains wet for long periods of time, because of too much watering, lingering dew or poor drainage, could find itself rusting away. The fungi symptoms of this lawn disease begin as tiny yellow spots on the grass blades. These spots become elongated and eventually rupture into clusters of rust-orange spores that give the disease its name. When touched, the powdery, dust-like rust spores leave a color a lot like the fine particles of rust from metal.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_DMpX2lNsF4?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>Treating Rust Through Lawn Fertilization And Mowing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust that is not treated can quickly thin and destroy good turf, and it is especially dangerous to new seed. Once rust is established, a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer works better than lawn disease controls for treating the condition. By mowing more frequently, at a higher mower height, you can also help to remove the rust spores before they spread to other leaves.<\/p><h3><strong>Prevention is the Best Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>, eliminating the conditions that cause rust is the best lawn treatment. Your lawn service professionals at Spring-Green want to make sure your grass remains healthy and beautiful this season. By working together, we can develop a maintenance <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service&nbsp;<\/a> plan to keep your lawn as disease-free as possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/rust-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:54:19","excerpt":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust.<\/p>","slug":"rust-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rust-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Dollar Spot","description":"<p>Dollar spot is not a picky parasite; this <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> infects and kills a lot of different grasses. True to its name, dollar spot develops small, distinct circles from 1 to 6'' across, about the size of a silver dollar or a small pancake. Because these spots don't look very serious individually, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. But because dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, serious scarring of the lawn can occur.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Might Start Seeing Spots:<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus survives the winter as dormant mycelium (or fungal growth) in plant parts in the thatch and soil. When temperatures get into the 60s, the lawn disease starts growing again. The peak of disease activity occurs when temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees. Other factors that trigger development of dollar spot lawn disease include low soil moisture when the humidity is high; low nitrogen fertility; too much thatch on the lawn; and mowing too short during hot weather. Lawns not on a quality program that provides the correct blend of fertilizers, or that don't get properly watered or mowed are most likely to catch a case of dollar spot.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: How You Can Spot It<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are two easy ways to identify dollar spot lawn disease on turf. The first is the shape and size of the damaged areas. The individual spots are usually very circular and distinct, and grow to only a few inches in diameter. Another symptom that's easy to recognize are the lesions (or infection marks) on the individual grass blades. Dollar spot lawn disease causes an hour-glass shaped band to form across the width of the grass blade. This band is light tan and has a reddish-brown edge on the top and bottom. Being a very thorough fungus, dollar spot kills the entire grass plant. After a serious bout with dollar spot, lawn renovation or reseeding will almost always be required once the disease is brought under control.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: See Spot Run \u2014 Out Of Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p>Remember your first grade reader? See Spot run. Run Spot, run. You can help make dollar spot run from your lawn. Watering right is your department. Spring-Green can take care of the rest. Since grass diseases such as dollar spot favor turf with low soil moisture, it's important to saturate the soil regularly. But, because one of the ways this lawn disease moves is by water droplets splashing, it\u2019s best to avoid frequent late afternoon or evening watering. Always allow the grass to dry out before evening. Low nitrogen fertility (which pushes disease growth) should also be corrected with the correct combinations of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> during periods of disease activity. The very best prevention for dollar spot (as well as almost all types of lawn diseases) is the Spring-Green program and regular, deep watering.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Dollar spot lawn disease appears as silver dollar sized circles in the turf.<\/li><li>Low nitrogen fertility increases dollar spot activity, as does low soil moisture.<\/li><li>Dollar spot can be more serious than it may first appear because the lawn disease kills the entire grass plant, often requiring reseeding.<\/li><li>Grass diseases move by foot and equipment traffic and by water from irrigation, rain and dew.<\/li><\/ul><p>Treatments with a fungicide can be effective, so if you suspect this disease is what's making you see spots, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green right away.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/dollar-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:59:24","excerpt":"<p>Dollar spot doesn't look very serious individually so it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. Dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, causing serious damage.<\/p>","slug":"dollar-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["dollar-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":64,"title":"How to Identify Slime Mold on Grass","description":"<p>Picture this: As you work through your lawn, you notice a little patch of grayish growth. When you inspect it closely, you notice it resembles ash that has been sprinkled on the grass blades. When you touch it, a small cloud of dust rises off the blades. You immediately go to your phone and call your lawn service or local nursery because you are concerned that this problem will spread. On your way to the phone, you notice something weird on the mulch that is spread across your landscape beds. You may ask yourself the following questions:<\/p><h2>What does Slime Mold look like?<\/h2><p>You stop for a closer look and are appalled at what you see. It looks as if someone got physically sick and vomited in your flowerbed.&nbsp;You think,&nbsp;\"How disgusting\" \u2014 Yes it is! But, is there anything to be worried about \u2014 No there is not! Both of these \"conditions\" are caused by primitive fungi known as Slime Molds.<\/p><h2>What Is Slime Mold?<\/h2><p>Slime Molds are <em>saprophytes<\/em>, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. They will creep along the soil surface in search of food by pulling themselves along with finger-like projections. During periods of warm, rainy weather, Slime Molds will creep up on grass plants, on the lower branches of ornamental plants, or across landscape beds covered with mulch when they are ready to reproduce. From these locations, they will release millions of tiny spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that will help ensure many more generations of Slime Molds. The only purpose for creeping up on the plants or mulch is to give the spores the best advantage for distribution over a large area.<\/p><h2>Will Slime Mold Hurt My Lawn?<\/h2><p>Since <em>Slime Molds are not lawn disease that damage plants<\/em>, but are actually <em>beneficial to the ecosystem<\/em> of your landscape, control is not necessary. If you find the dried patches in the lawn, help Mother Nature by sweeping the spores into the wind. The slimy patches in the mulch will dry and can be raked under. They may be unsightly, but should not cause any concern in terms of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a>. They are just part of the wonderful world of nature.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/slime-mold-.600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:26:04","excerpt":"<p>Slime Molds are saprophytes, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. Learn how to best handle this lawn disease.<\/p>","slug":"identify-slime-mold-grass","description2":"","seo_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-slime-mold-grass"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Summer patch, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">necrotic ring spot<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch<\/a>: these grass diseases take no prisoners. Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass. Any time can be a prime time for fungal lawn disease to move in, if your turf is stressed from lack of water, high temperatures, too much moisture or the wrong kind of care. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>, but first you have to know what to look for. Here are three lawn diseases that you'll notice by their usual circular or ring shapes.<\/p><h3><strong>Summer Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus usually moves in about mid-summer, when your grass is suffering from heat, drought, and high humidity. Summer patch lawn disease begins with small, scattered light green patches that turn grass reddish-brown, and then light tan. These crescent-shaped patches can come up quickly and completely destroy a lawn. Although the symptoms appear in June or July, the disease actually begins by rotting the roots of your grass in early May.<\/p><h3><strong>Necrotic Ring Spot<\/strong><\/h3><p>Necrotic Ring Spot is another serious lawn disease that can destroy a lawn very suddenly. Its patches or rings of dead grass are brought on by dry, followed by wet, weather. Lawns 2 to 8 years old are favorite victims. The disease is most active in spring and fall, but it also shows up in summer during times of water stress. If your lawn has Necrotic Ring Spot, you'll first notice scattered light yellow patches, usually 2 to 6\u201d wide. The disease leaves a ring of dead turf that becomes brown or straw color with a healthy-looking green area in the center. This has prompted the nickname frog-eye disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Brown Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>Brown patch lawn disease usually strikes in the heat of summer, during humid, wet weather, when temperatures stay high even through the night. Brown Patch lawn disease creates irregular, circular areas up to several feet wide. The diseased patches turn purplish-green and then fade to brown. Patches look sunken as the leaves of the grass die and mat down. The edges of these large spots often have a darker, water-soaked appearance.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEQ970-U63o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Lawn Diseases are Easier to Prevent than to Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the Ring Gang of lawn diseases out of your lawn:<\/p><ul><li>Spring Green\u2019s lawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/preferred-lawn-care-program\">fertilization<\/a> program controls unhealthy bursts of turf growth that can attract disease.<\/li><li>Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> helps nutrients and water reach roots and breaks up thatch, which is one place diseases like to breed.<\/li><li>Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning, keeps moisture from remaining on the grass surface too long, which attracts disease.<\/li><li>Mowing frequently, at a high height and with a sharp mower blade, further helps to keep disease out.<\/li><li><a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">Overseeding<\/a> with disease-resistant grasses is another option you can consider.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you suspect your lawn has any type of lawn disease, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green about treatment services immediately. Quick action can make a big difference to save your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JThuC06R5s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/common-patch-and-ring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:11:07","excerpt":"<p>Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass.<\/p>","slug":"common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Necrotic Ring Spot","description":"<h3><strong>Death \u2014 that's what necrosis means.<\/strong><\/h3><p>And this lawn disease lives up to its name. Though often mistaken for Summer Patch blight because of the \u201cfrog\u2019s eye\u201d appearance, Summer Patch appears most often in hot weather, while necrotic ring spot shows up during cool weather, especially after periods of prolonged rainfall.<\/p><h3><strong>When And Where The Death Ring Shows Up<\/strong><\/h3><p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue. It usually appears in late winter, spring and fall during periods of cool and wet weather. Activity is greater in areas that are not properly&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilized<\/a>,&nbsp;and Neurotic ring spot lawn disease also tends to show up again and again in areas infected in prior years.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: Where The Confusion Came From<\/strong><\/h3><p>In the early stages, necrotic ring spot lawn disease shows up as roughly circular areas of turf that look like they're suffering from drought, even though there is plenty of soil moisture. You end up with patches that appear to be wilting and drying out when the surrounding turf looks healthy and well-watered. Thatch may decompose quickly in the areas affected by this lawn&nbsp;disease, creating a sunken look to the patch or ring areas. The typical patch of healthy looking turf in the center created the Summer Patch mix-up for years. The disease itself is not active during this phase, but the damage appears because the root system has been destroyed or reduced to the point where it can't support the plant's needs, and so the wilting and drying occur.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: Lawn Fertilization and Special Watering<\/strong><\/h3><p>The amount of nitrogen fertilizer greatly affects necrotic ring spot development. A minimum of 3 pounds, and preferably 5 pounds, of available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is recommended. It\u2019s also important to provide lawn fertilizing care to keep phosphorus and potassium levels high enough. The Spring Green program delivers the correct blend of nutrients throughout the year, but having a soil test done every 3 years is a good idea to identify any major lawn fertilization deficiencies your particular soil may have. Watering daily during the early to mid-afternoon, with 1\/10 to 1\/5'' of water, has also been shown to greatly reduce the severity of necrotic ring spot. Should lawn fertilization treatments be needed, they can be applied and are effective if made early in the season: usually 6 weeks to 2 months after the turf goes through its initial green up in the spring.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Necrotic ring spot develops symptoms similar to those seen in Summer Patch blight. This resulted in confusion for many years about which disease was active.<\/li><li>This lawn disease is most common in periods of cool and wet weather.<\/li><li>Lawn fertilization is very important. Maintaining proper amounts of all of the primary nutrients reduces disease activity.<\/li><li>Special daily watering can greatly reduce the severity of a ring spot outbreak.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you have any questions on this (or any other grass diseases), <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. Spring Green has the answers to all your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> questions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/necrotic-ring-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:55:00","excerpt":"<p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue.<\/p>","slug":"necrotic-ring-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["necrotic-ring-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"Mowing and Watering","description":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose. Once out of their cages, they can run wild over your property and be very tough to get back under control. That's why we need your help in keeping diseases locked up. And the way you water and mow your lawn makes a huge difference in lawn and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass disease<\/a> activity. Here are some tips that work:<\/p><h3><strong>Water Deeply and Only When Needed<\/strong><\/h3><p>On hot, dry days, 1,000 square feet of grass can lose 190 gallons of water. That's almost 1500 gallons of water consumed by an average lawn, per day! And since your grass is 80-90% water, it\u2019s important to replace the water that's lost to prevent water weakness that gives lawn diseases an easy entry. Water early in the morning (between 4-8 a.m. is best) to give water on grass blades time to dry. Most fungal grass diseases use the moisture on grass leaves to produce spores and to move from plant to plant. When the water is there long enough, these spores have time to cause problems. Water deeply; at least 6 to 8\u201d into the soil to encourage deep roots. This usually means you have to apply 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\">watering facts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">best practices<\/a> for your lawn and landscape.<\/p><h3><strong>Water When Your Lawn Needs It, But Only Then<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn has ways of showing you when it\u2019s ready for a drink. Grass will turn deep bluish and footprints won\u2019t spring back.<\/p><h3><strong>Mowing To Trim Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>The way you mow also affects your lawns ability to resist grass diseases.<\/p><ul><li>Mow Higher. Most grass should be cut at the highest recommended setting during the summer, to protect the stem from heavy sunlight. The shorter you trim your grass, the smaller the root system will be.<\/li><li>Mow More Often. Mowing higher means doing it more often. Make sure you don't remove more than 1\/3 of the grass blade in one mowing. Scalping, or cutting your grass extremely short, leaves it wide open to disease.<\/li><li>Don't use a dull blade because this shreds the tops of the grass, and exposes the turf's tissue for lawn disease spores to easily enter. Mowing with a dull blade is shown to increase disease activity by 20% or more. And it even uses 20% more fuel than mowing with a sharp blade. To avoid this, have your blades sharpened several times a season.<\/li><li>Keep grass clippings on your lawn, which returns about 25% of the nutrients back to the soil.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a> for a greener and healthier lawn. From <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch disease<\/a> to red thread fungus, we want to keep the disease dragons at bay, but we need your help. When we work together, your lawn will stay greener, thicker and more pest-free. For more information on disease management, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mowing-watering-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:12:57","excerpt":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose.<\/p>","slug":"mowing-watering","description2":"","seo_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mowing-watering"],"url_override":""},{"id":38,"title":"Spring Dead Spot","description":"<h3><strong>A Serious But Treatable Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone. Other grass types are affected, but this lawn disease is primarily a problem with Bermuda varieties. As the name suggests, spring dead spot usually appears in the spring as circular patches of bleached dead grass. It becomes visible as the surrounding dormant turf resumes its normal spring growth. These patches range from a few inches to several feet in diameter and tend to show up and expand in the same locations for several years, and then disappear after three to four years. The fungi appear to grow most actively in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool and the soil is fairly moist. Even though damage begins in earnest in the fall, damage is masked by the turf's normal dormancy over winter. This <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> is most commonly found on mature and well maintained turf, and is much less serious on lawns receiving little or no fertilization.<\/p><h3><strong>Disease Cycle: What Spring Dead Spot Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the early stages of this disease, the inside of the patches remain alive, but die off as the infection progresses. The entire plant structure inside these rings dies, including the shoots, rhizomes and roots. Regrowth in these dead areas must occur from the expansion of surrounding healthy plants and is very slow. The rings often fill with weeds or with stunted new turf plants. This appears to be because the lawn disease leaves a toxin in the area of dead grass which makes regrowth difficult.<\/p><h3><strong>Treatment Plan Must Include Fall Applications<\/strong><\/h3><p>Treatment for spring dead spot includes carefully controlling the amount of nitrogen&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> applied to the turf, since high nitrogen levels increase activity. In addition, fungicides must be applied during the fall months to fend off extreme root and stolon rot over the winter months. Contact type fungicides can be used with some success, but must be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, systemic lawn treatment fungicides that are actually taken into the plants can be applied once in the fall at heavy rates to help control the disease the following spring.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Bermuda varieties with high cold tolerance are less prone to spring dead spot.<\/li><li>The actual fungi (or causal organism) of spring dead spot is unknown.<\/li><li>Remember that control for spring must begin in the fall.<\/li><li>Part of controlling this lawn disease is regulating the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.<\/li><\/ul><p>We make a constant study of lawns and what ails them at Spring Green. Please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">local lawn service<\/a> needs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/spring-dead-spot-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:39","excerpt":"<p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone.<\/p>","slug":"spring-dead-spot","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-dead-spot"],"url_override":""},{"id":1,"title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">turf lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight when the weather conditions are just right. Brown patch lawn disease isn't picky; it attacks a wide variety of grass types, and really likes the lawns receiving large amounts of fast release nitrogen fertilizer. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/How-Lawn-Disease-Develops.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Brown Patch Loves Hot Summer<\/h2><blockquote>\u201cBrown Patch is the most damaging turf grass disease\u201d<\/blockquote><p>Brown patch is really a summer lawn disease that's caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The disease begins to show growth when temperatures reach 65\u00b0, but the most active growth of brown patch lawn disease occurs at temperatures of 80-85\u00b0 when humidity levels are very high. The fungi survive the winter in plant debris (thatch) and enter the leaf tissue through wounds caused by mowing and through the&nbsp;pores (or stomata) when daytime temperatures get into the 70s. Infected turf grass can go quite a while without showing damage because it\u2019s actively growing. But, if the daytime temperatures reach the mid 80s and nighttime air temperatures stay above 70\u00b0, the grass will be under stress. Then, lawn disease damage can become visible almost immediately. Once started, brown patch lawn disease spreads fast. Brown patch damage first appears as circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. This dark, smoke ring is not always visible, but is more likely to appear in the early morning when there's dew on the grass. Brown patch lawn disease grows out from a central point, so these circular areas can enlarge rapidly. Brown patch circles range from a few inches in diameter to several feet, and are not always true circles. Sometimes the patches grow together, creating large irregular dead areas. Diseased turf first appears water soaked with leaf edges showing a wavy or wilted pattern, but soon dies completely and mats down, creating a sunken effect.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><h2>Cultural Management: Preventing Brown Patch Lawn Disease<\/h2><p>Since high levels of fast release nitrogen increase disease activity, Spring-Green uses a correct blend of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> for lawn fertilizing during the warmer months. Mow less frequently during periods of hot and humid weather, this reduces stress and limits the movement of grass disease by being carried on your feet or mower. If possible, increase light and air penetration, or movement, by pruning overhanging trees and shrubs. During cooler seasons, open up the thatch layer with power <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a>. If these cultural cures fail, a preventative fungicide lawn treatment program may have to be applied to control this most damaging of lawn diseases. [attached-images title=\"What Brown Patch Looks Like\"]<\/p><h2>Remember<\/h2><ul><li>Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass diseases<\/li><li>Brown patch lawn disease becomes most active when day temperatures are over 85\u00b0 and night air stays above 70\u00b0<\/li><li>Because infected plants may appear healthy, brown patch damage can occur very fast when conditions are right<\/li><li>Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages brown patch development<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about grass facts and keeping your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn healthy and green<\/a>. At Spring Green, we take brown patch lawn disease seriously because we know the damage it can cause. If you ever suspect this disease of infecting your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn service.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot-2\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":["8","4","3","1","7"],"featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/brown-patch-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:00","excerpt":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all turf grass diseases. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight.<\/p>","slug":"brown-patch-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch-lawn-disease"],"url_override":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide"},{"id":37,"title":"Snow Mold","description":"<h3><strong>The First Disease of the Year<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn was perfect last fall. You spent all summer tenderly caring for your grass. You faithfully watered it during the hot, dry periods. You mowed at the right height, making sure you never removed more than 1\/3 of the grass blade when you cut it. You contracted with a reputable&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> company to apply the right fertilizers and weed control products to make your lawn healthy and beautiful. You had the best lawn in the neighborhood and were darn proud of it. As fall came, you made sure the leaves were removed as soon as possible, and you even invested in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">lawn aeration<\/a> to improve rooting and keep the thatch layer at bay. When the first snows came, you were confident that your lawn was strong enough to survive the tortures of winter. The snow came, as it usually does, and turned your lawn white. You were not worried, as you knew you did everything you could possibly have done so that your lawn will be as green and lush in the spring as it was the previous fall. But, when spring arrives you look through your window at your grass and your're mortified at the sight of your lawn. There are large patches of blighted, straw-colored grass covering half of it and areas of the grass seem matted. This is Snow Mold lawn disease!<\/p><h2>What is Snow Mold Lawn Disease?<\/h2><p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover. It is often the first disease of the year and may cause your lawn to have an unsightly appearance, especially after the snow melts. Snow Mold can even develop without snow cover. If it is cool, rainy, and overcast, then the disease can become active and affect the lawn.<\/p><h2>Types of Snow Mold<\/h2><p>There are two types of Snow Mold. One is Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight, and the other is Pink Snow Mold or Microdochium Patch. They have similar visual symptoms, but each affects the lawn in a different way. The control of either lawn disease may require a combination of methods. In severe, recurring cases, a combination of chemical, cultural, and biological controls may be required. In less severe cases, a light raking of the affected area may be the best answer.<\/p><h2>Controlling Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Controlling either of the grass diseases is easy if the infection is not severe. A light raking of the matted area will loosen the grass and allow the new plants to grow. Be sure to rake lightly, as the ground is usually very wet and the existing grass can be easily raked up. In severe infestation, raking is also recommended, but on a larger scale. It is not advisable to use a power rake as it may also damage the existing grass.<\/p><h2>Preventing Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Preventive maintenance before lawn repair is needed&nbsp;is usually the best answer when dealing with most diseases. This is true for Snow Mold. Follow a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year. Thatch management is another important key in Snow Mold prevention. Practice core aeration of your lawn at least once a year to keep thatch levels below 1\/2\". Another important factor is mowing the grass short before winter. Cut the lawn to 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d at the last mowing. This should be a gradual process and not a one-time exercise. Lower the height a notch a week until the mower is set at 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d. This will prevent the turf from laying over on itself,&nbsp;increasing the chance of Snow Mold.<\/p><h2>If You Have Snow Mold<\/h2><p>If you do have an outbreak of Snow Mold, it is a good idea to reduce any piles of snow that may remain, especially in shady areas. The longer the snow remains the more moisture and cool temperatures are present. Applying a chemical disease control material to grass already damaged by Snow Mold will do little to change the severity or need for lawn renovation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact your local lawn care professional at Spring Green<\/a> to begin a fertilizer program and schedule core aeration for a healthy lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/snow-mold-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:46","excerpt":"<p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover.<\/p>","slug":"snow-mold-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","meta_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","social_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["snow-mold-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease","description":"<p>The Colorful Cool Season Culprit Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration. Especially serious in the&nbsp;<a href=\"\/franchise-region\/northwest\/\">Pacific Northwest<\/a>, red thread also appears in stands of cool season grasses over a wide region when weather conditions are right.<\/p><h3><strong>When Green Lawns Turn 'Red'<\/strong><\/h3><p>Red thread lawn disease grows most aggressively when temperatures are in the 68 to 75 degree range and during extended periods of wet or very humid weather. Even though this may seem like a narrow \"window\" or set of circumstances for disease activity, red thread can overtake a turf area fast. Besides temperature, red thread gets a helping hand from certain nutritional imbalances, too. This&nbsp;lawn disease takes off much faster when there's a lack of nitrogen, for instance. Low levels of calcium (or lime) also affect some grass types.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Red Thread Looks Like And Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The symptoms of red thread lawn disease first appear as \"water soaked\" darkened irregular areas from just a few inches to several feet across. These areas gradually become bleached or tan colored. Healthy plants are usually interspersed with diseased plants, giving the lawn an over-all ragged look. As the red thread becomes well developed, light pink to red fungus strands (or threads) 1\/4'' or more in length begin to grow from the tips of the blades and the leaf sheaths \u2014 these threads are the reason for the disease's common name. The wind moves bits of these threads to non-infected plants to spread the disease. The threads can also touch nearby blades to spread the infection. Red thread lawn disease very seldom wipes out an entire stand of turf, and so infected lawns will often have an uneven or patchy appearance.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: You Can't Change The Weather<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a>, red thread is very much weather related. When conditions are right for development, management of red thread is limited to checking and correcting any nutritional deficiencies or direct treatment with a fungicide material. Lawn treatments with fungicides are usually effective, and one or two maintenance applications in the spring and again in the fall are adequate in most situations for control. If you have seen signs of red thread on your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re always ready to help with managing disease diseases, so you can have the best lawn possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Dead Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/red-thread-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:58:58","excerpt":"<p>Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration.<\/p>","slug":"red-thread-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["red-thread-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"Pythium","description":"<h3><strong>The Deadly Disease With Many Names<\/strong><\/h3><p>Pythium blight, grease spot, spot blight, root rot, cottony blight, and snow blight are the \u201cattractive\u201d names given to this lawn disease. Each name describes a different phase of the disease life-cycle and none of them are a pretty sight.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Pythium Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color. When the blades of grass in these areas are handled, they have a greasy or slimy feel. That's where the name grease spot comes from. These infected grass blades become light tan and shriveled, thus the name spot blight. When a lot of these infected areas appear, they begin to grow together and overlap. Pythium lawn disease infections usually concentrate in low, wet areas or along the natural course of drainage across the turf. When humidity remains high, the shriveled and collapsed leaves become matted and covered with a fluffy mass of white fungal threads or mycelium. This is sometimes called cottony blight. The most serious and severe damage occurs during hot, humid weather, when the disease can spread so quickly that an entire stand of turf can be destroyed in just one day. Pythium survives, as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands), in and on diseased turf tissue, as well as in organic material like thatch. Wet turf grass is always required, before Pythium can cause&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a>. Periods of wet grass and thatch, along with high relative humidity, present especially favorable conditions for the disease to grow. This lawn disease is most dramatic when it suddenly appears during very hot and humid weather, when the nights remain very warm and muggy.<\/p><h3><strong>Making Your Lawn An Anti-Pythium Environment<\/strong><\/h3><p>Since Pythium is almost always associated with wet turf, identifying any poorly draining areas where water tends to pool or stand can help prevent this type of lawn disease. Correct the drainage to promote rapid drying of grass plants. Attempt to water early in the day, so that the turf can dry before evening, and water as deeply but infrequently as possible. Controlling thatch is strongly suggested, by vertical mowing or regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">lawn&nbsp;aeration<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Using a properly balanced fertilizer for your grass care helps avoid nutrient imbalances that can stimulate grass diseases. It can also help to increase air movement by selectively pruning lower tree branches to eliminate pockets of still humid air. And finally, don't mow when the grass is wet, as this tends to spread the disease. Fungicides can also be effective in suppressing Pythium, but prevention is a much better and more economical turf care solution.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Under ideal conditions, Pythium can destroy an entire lawn in a single day.<\/li><li>Areas where turf remains wet tend to be more affected by this lawn disease.<\/li><li>Look for Pythium when temperatures and humidity are both very high.<\/li><li>Water deeply, but not too often, and water so that grass blades dry quickly (like in the morning.)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green with any lawn question you have. We've got the answers you need.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/pythium-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:56:56","excerpt":"<p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color.<\/p>","slug":"pythium","description2":"","seo_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pythium"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Leaf Spot","description":"<h3><strong>The Double Whammy Lawn Disease:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3><p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi. Helminthosporium (now that's a mouthful!) contains a large number of individual disease-causing organisms. What's similar in the grass diseases of this family is that they give your lawn a real one-two punch by creating the leaf spot phase in the spring and fall but changing gears into a sheath and root rot phase during the heat of summer.<\/p><h3><strong>When Can You Expect To See Spots?<\/strong><\/h3><p>The lawn disease fungi survive the winter as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands) in and on diseased turf tissue. When spring temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees and there is a lot of moisture from rain or dew, the fungus begins to grow and spreads its spores by wind and water. As the weather warms, the disease moves into the second phase of melting out.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the leaf spot phase of this lawn disease (spring or fall), individual grass blades will have large numbers of lesions (or infection marks) that appear a little like a cigarette burn, a dark circle with a tan spot in the center. During this part of the leaf spot lawn disease, the grass takes on a brown under cast making it appear underfed or dried out. Even though leaf spot does not do significant damage to the turf during this phase, it sets the stage for the much more serious melting-out phase. The melting-out phase begins during hot, dry weather and causes large irregular areas to appear dried out. There may not be any distinctly visible lawn disease symptoms during the melting out phase, as the damaged areas may appear very similar to the effects of dry weather or insect injury.<\/p><h3><strong>Early Action Needed: Don't Snooze, You Might Lose<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with all&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn diseases<\/a>, how the turf is watered, fed and mowed makes a huge difference. It\u2019s best to be sure the grass does not stay continuously wet or become excessively dry. Water no more than once per week and soak the soil to a depth of 6''. Water in the morning so the grass will not remain wet for long periods. Open the area around the grass crowns (where the plant goes through the thatch and into the soil) with core aeration. Regular lawn&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizing<\/a> and aeration can go far towards disease prevention. Collecting the clippings during the spring and fall (leaf spot stage) will help reduce the spread of disease as well. Lawn treatment services, if needed, should begin early. Spring and early summer applications of fungicide can be effective, but little can be done to reverse lawn disease once the melting-out phase begins.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Leaf spot makes turf look sick, but does little permanent damage. However, it sets the stage for the more serious melting-out phase of the disease.<\/li><li>Water in the morning so turf can dry out quickly. This helps prevent the spread of leaf spot spores.<\/li><li>Melting out occurs in hot weather and can be easily confused with drought stress or insect damage.<\/li><li>Frequent lawn <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">aeration<\/a> and thatch management help keep turf crowns open and reduces disease activity.<\/li><\/ul><p>Whenever you have a question on leaf spot (or any other lawn disease) <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We've got the answers!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">Mowing and Watering<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushroom<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/leaf-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:53:46","excerpt":"<p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi.<\/p>","slug":"leaf-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["leaf-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"Fairy Rings","description":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. Little fairies will dance the night away in a circle, resting on toadstool chairs until the next dance begins. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, dancing is often the last thought on their minds. Mushrooms are a common sight in many lawns, especially during wet, warm periods. They are usually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are breaking down organic material in the soil or thatch. Normally, they can be mowed or kicked off and are controlled. If they reoccur in the same spot every year, then it may indicate the location of an old tree stump or other decaying organic material. If the mushrooms are arranged in an arc or circle, it may indicate the beginning of Fairy Ring. No one knows for sure how this kind of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> becomes established or what conditions favor their development. They seem to be more prevalent on soils that are sandy, under-watered, or are poorly fertilized. Like most other types of grass diseases, Fairy Rings usually don't develop as often in highly maintained lawns.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r2KLXyVgJyE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Types of Fairy Ring Diseases<\/h2><p>Several types of lawn disease fungi are associated with Fairy Rings. These types of fungi have been causing problems for a long time. It is estimated that some Fairy Rings have survived for several hundred years. They can develop in lawns, parks, golf courses, or in pastures. Mushrooms are often the first outwardly visible sign of their presence. In fact, the fungi may have been present in the soil for two or three years prior to the development of the mushrooms. The fungi develop outwards from the center of the ring. The inner most part of the ring dies. As it is decomposing, it releases nitrogen into the soil, which will stimulate the grass above and turn it a dark green. The fungi produce a mass of cotton-like webbing called mycelium. As the mycelium dies, it may harden to a point where water will not be able to penetrate through it. This results in the death of the grass above it.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring Characteristics<\/h2><p>The rings or arcs can range in diameter from 3 feet to as large as 20 feet. If the ring encounters a sidewalk or cultivated flowerbed, its growth often stops at that point. When two or more rings meet, they may continue to get larger. In some cases, the two rings seem to disappear when they come together. These common lawn disease symptoms may also seem to disappear for several years, and then show up again.<\/p><h2>Controlling Fairy Rings<\/h2><p>Controlling Fairy Rings can prove to be a difficult task. There has been some reduction in activity using commercial lawn and grass disease control materials, but the results have been inconsistent. The dark green rings can be 'masked' by applying <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> to the area to even the color. In the areas where the grass has died, water penetration needs to be improved. Make holes in the ring with a garden fork to a depth of 12 to 24\u201d and then thoroughly water the area for 4 to 6 weeks. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> is also advisable for better water penetration. If the rings are severe, it may be necessary to remove the sod and repeatedly cultivate the area for several weeks before resodding or seeding a lawn. Mixing the soils of two opposing rings seems to cause them to cancel out each other. Regardless of the method used, it will be a difficult task to get the rings under control. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against many lawn diseases and insect problems. This is especially true when considering the problems associated with Fairy Ring. As they say, \"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-prevention\/\" title=\"Lawn Disease Prevention\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Lawn Disease Solutions<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/fairy-rings-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:18","excerpt":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, their good luck is often the last thought on their minds.<\/p>","slug":"fairy-rings","description2":"","seo_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fairy-rings"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"Lawn Disease Prevention","description":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn. And since treatment of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a> themselves is both difficult and fairly costly, prevention of fungus disease is very important. Keeping your lawn as healthy as possible is the best way to protect it from lawn disease-causing agents (or pathogens) that are all around. So, when we find something that works well to keep your lawn strong we want to make sure you know about it.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Eat Right, Breathe Right for Better Lawn Health<\/strong><\/h3><p>There's a kind of give-and-take to your lawn\u2019s health. The right kind of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> at the right time gives your grass the nutrients it needs, while lawn aeration takes, or removes, compacted soil and thatch to give water, air and nutrients an easy way to reach your turf's roots so they can breathe. Together, regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and the right kind of fertilizing lawn care are the two most important things we can do for your lawn to help it fight off grass diseases.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Fertilization: Keeping The Lawn Off Of Junk Food<\/strong><\/h3><p>Just like grandparents love to give kids a special candy treat, a lot of folks like to give their lawn junk food fertilizers of fast-release nitrogen for a super quick green. This kind of lawn fertilizing seems to make the grass happy, but can really bring on all kinds of lawn diseases and other problems. The Spring Green program provides balanced fertilizing lawn care, a meat and potatoes diet, instead of just dessert. Your turf is better able to outgrow disease, develop stronger roots and directly fight disease. Your grass keeps growing at a strong, steady rate, without the kind of quick growth that can invite lawn diseases. But it\u2019s not enough to provide these elements, if they can\u2019t reach their destination.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Aeration: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention<\/strong><\/h3><p>Watering, walking across our lawns, and rainfall help pack down the top layers of soil. This compacted soil makes it hard for water and other nourishment to get through to the roots. Thatch, the spongy layer of partially decomposed material between your grass and the soil, can also block water and fertilizer if it becomes thicker than a 1\/2\". Thick thatch and compacted soil contribute significantly to the development of lawn diseases. Core aeration helps both reduce thatch and break up soil. By pulling out thousands of plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, lawn aeration creates room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. A single lawn aeration will remove about 10% of the thatch from a lawn. Most lawns should be aerated at least once a year, when roots are actively growing in fall or spring. At Spring Green we want to keep your lawn healthy through good preventive medicine.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional with any questions you may have.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-10-10 20:20:06","excerpt":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-disease-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-disease-prevention"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":null,"connected_services_to":null,"created_at":"2023-02-20 17:34:34","updated_at":"2023-02-22 20:03:52","description2":"<h2>Soil Amendment<\/h2><h3>What are the Benefits of Soil Amendment?<\/h3><ul><li>Acts as a probiotic for your soil<\/li><li>Stronger and healthier plant roots<\/li><li>Organic ingredients reduce the environmental footprint<\/li><\/ul><h3>How Does Soil Amendment Work?<\/h3><p>Bio-nutritional material is added to the soil to promote the efficient use of nutrients. This will create healthier roots and overall plant growth. The use of organic ingredients reduces the environmental footprint and reduces the amount of herbicide needed to treat broadleaf weeds.<\/p><h2><br><\/h2><h2>Surface Feeding Insect Control<\/h2><h3>What are the Benefits of Surface Feeding Insect Control?<\/h3><ul><li>Protects against surface feeding insects<\/li><li>Prevents future infestation&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener, healthier lawn<\/li><\/ul><h3>How Does Surface Feeding Insect Control Work?<\/h3><p>Surface feeding insects chew on the grass plants and suck vital juices from the blades initiating damage to lawns. Their damaging activity causes yellowing and crunchy grass, making yards took less than desirable. &nbsp;As a preventative measure, this treatment will control lawn damaging insects before they become a problem. If your yard is currently infested, we\u2019ll take curative measures to combat the insects feasting on your grass.&nbsp;<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lime-treatments-600x600.webp","seo_title":"","meta_description":"","meta_robots_index":"noindex","meta_robots_follow":"nofollow","social_title":"","social_description":"","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["\/soil-amendment-and-surface-feeding-insect-control\/","soil-amendment-and-surface-feeding-insect-control"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Grub Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Total Home Pest Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":null},{"id":30,"name":"Total Home Pest Control Program*","description":"<h3>Got Pests? Spring Green Provides Year-Round Pest Protection Against Ants, Roaches, Spiders, and More!<\/h3><div><p>Spring Green's Pest Control gives you peace of mind by eliminating pests &amp; insects, and reducing their opportunity for re-entry to your home. Our thorough, customized approach will help keep your home free of pests and bugs such as ants, cockroaches, spiders, earwigs and more than 30 other types of pests commonly found inside the home -- and prevent them from coming back! &nbsp;<strong>We are proud to offer unlimited, FREE extra services for all covered pests anytime it might become necessary. So if the bugs return, so will we<\/strong><strong style=\"background-color: transparent;\">.<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><h3>Year Round Protection from <a href=\"#whatpests\">30+ Types of Pests<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li><h3><a href=\"#seasonalvisits\">Planned Seasonal Visits<\/a> for Treatment and Prevention<\/h3><\/li><li><h3><a href=\"#extravisits\">FREE, Unlimited Extra Visits<\/a> if Pests Return<\/h3><\/li><li><h3>Service Guarantee**<\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><em>*This service is not available in the state of AR, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/em><\/p><p><em>**See our&nbsp;<a data-v-62569f4a=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.spring-green.com\/policies\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and our&nbsp;<a data-v-62569f4a=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.spring-green.com\/policies\/terms-service\" target=\"_blank\">Terms of Service<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p><\/div>","slug":"total-home-pest-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hv2qybwdLY8?si=3VLNYjY-4pvc6bTB\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>We can help you solve your pest problems. The Total Home Pest Control Program* provides a pest-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-Round Pest Protection from over 30 types of insect pests<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify pests' points of entry.<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal pest activity<\/li><li>Unlimited FREE Extra Visits if Pests Return<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of KS, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"33","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-10-06 20:44:40","description2":"<h2>Why Choose Spring-Green for Pest Control?<\/h2><p>Get peace of mind knowing that our trained and licensed professionals will protect your home from pests through all the seasons of the year.&nbsp;<\/p><h3>Satisfaction Guaranteed<\/h3><p>At Spring Green, meeting your expectations is our number one goal. We offer an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) customized and comprehensive approach with GUARANTEED year-round protection from over 30 types of pests all by trained and licensed service professionals.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a name=\"extravisits\"><\/a><\/p><h3>FREE, Unlimited Visits<\/h3><p>Spring Green's Total Home Pest program includes scheduled seasonal visits for treatment and prevention with <strong>unlimited FREE extra visits if pests return<\/strong>. In the unlikely event covered pests persist between routine visits, we provide free service calls inside and outside of your home. We will come back to diagnose the problem and re-treat as necessary. Rest assured knowing your coverage includes unlimited additional service calls at no additional cost for all covered pests anytime it might become necessary.<\/p><h3>Cancel Any Time with NO FEE&nbsp;<\/h3><p>Our Total Home Pest Control program requires no long-term contract, and you may cancel at any time. If you move or in the unlikely event that we are unable to meet your expectations, we offer no-obligation programs without any cancellation fees. Once your notification of cancellation has been received, no additional payments will be processed and your coverage will be discontinued.<\/p><p><a name=\"whatpests\"><\/a><\/p><h2>What Pests Will Be Eliminated?<\/h2><p><span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">Total Home Pest Control Program provides protection against a broad spectrum of common household pests.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"float:left;max-width:180px;padding:0 10px 0 0;\"><ul><li>Ants<\/li><li>Carpenter Ants<\/li><li>Spiders<\/li><li>German cockroaches<\/li><li>Brown banded cockroaches<\/li><li>Centipedes<\/li><li>Millipedes<\/li><li>Pillbugs<\/li><li>Crickets<\/li><li>Earwigs<\/li><li>Silverfish<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div style=\"float:left;max-width:180px;padding:0 10px 0 0;\"><ul><li>Beetles<\/li><li>Booklice<\/li><li>Weevils<\/li><li>Flies<\/li><li>Drain Flies<\/li><li>Fruit Flies<\/li><li>Moths<\/li><li>Hornets<\/li><li>Wasps<\/li><li>Stink Bugs<\/li><li>Carpenter Bees<\/li><li>Boxelder Bugs<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div style=\"clear: both;\"><br><\/div><h2>How Does Total Home Pest Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our Total Home Pest Control Program will help keep your home pest free all year long \u2013 guaranteed. Coverage includes routine, automatic visits strategically spaced throughout the year along with access to unlimited, free service calls as needed upon request.&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">Spring Green also provides&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/rodent-reduction-program\">rodent control, baiting and monitoring<\/a><span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">&nbsp;to help eliminate mice and rats in or around your home.<\/span><\/p><h3>Multi-Step Pest Inspection<\/h3><p>Each visit includes a comprehensive exterior inspection by one of our trained and licensed pest professionals. This multi-step inspection and treatment process targets established pest populations and prevents new ones from arising. We will inspect doors, windows and eaves at every visit!<\/p><h3>Tailored Pest Control Plan<\/h3><p>Our team will develop and execute a tailored pest control plan designed to establish and maintain a pest-free environment in and around your home so that pests never become a nuisance inside your home. We will identify pest presence, assess pest activity levels, locate potential points of pest entry, and implement a customized pest control treatment approach.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a name=\"seasonalvisits\"><\/a><\/p><h3>Well Timed, Seasonal Visits<\/h3><p>Visits are strategically spaced for seasonal pest activity. All routine services are done on the exterior of the home in order to mitigate pest populations in their natural habitat. There is no need for you to be home at the time of any routine service.<\/p><p><br><\/p><p><em>This exclusive offer is for new pest control customers only and may not be combined with other offers. Pricing may vary based on the size of the home, which will be verified on the first visit. Prices are subject to change. Additional initial service fees may apply.<\/em><\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-total-home-pest-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Total Home Pest Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"The Total Home Pest Control Program provides year-round pest protection inside and outside your home against 30+ insect pests and indoor control of rats & mice. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Home Pest Control | Spring Green","social_description":"The Total Home Pest Control Program provides year-round pest protection inside and outside your home against 30+ insect pests and indoor control of rats & mice. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-home-pest-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Rodent Reduction Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent & Vole Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":47,"name":"Perimeter Pest Control Treatment","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">The perfect place for&nbsp;an&nbsp;insect to nest is the foundation of your home.&nbsp;While bugs love to live in plants, shrubs,&nbsp;mulch&nbsp;and other features around your home, they&nbsp;enjoy the inside of your house even more because it provides food, water, warmth and protection.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">If you commonly find ants, spiders, stinkbugs, silverfish, earwigs and other insects in your home, our Perimeter Pest Control will provide you protection by eliminating any pests that try to enter.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"perimeter-pest-control-treatment","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zV8ZarrEnAs?si=PkhQ3pA1DjeQHvUp\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Get protection from insects trying to enter your home. We create a barrier around the outside of your home that eliminates pests, on contact, that attempt to cross it.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"46","icon_class_name":"perimeter-pest","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2023-04-07 18:39:05","updated_at":"2025-02-05 16:06:57","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Perimeter Pest Control Treatment?<\/h2><ul><li>Keep insects out of your home&nbsp;<\/li><li>One time insect control<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Perimeter Pest Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our Perimeter Pest Control is designed to create a barrier around the outside of your house to repel insects from infiltrating your home. This method of pest control includes an outdoor-only insect spray that is odorless and harmless to grass, plants and soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our trained and licensed field service professionals will apply the appropriate amount of pest control product to the perimeter of your house. After it\u2019s applied, it will eliminate any pests on contact that attempt to cross it, so you can enjoy the inside of your home pest-free and without worry.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-perimieter-pest-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Perimeter Pest Control Treatment | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Perimeter Pest Control service establishes a barrier around the outside of your home to keep pests out. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Perimeter Pest Control Treatment | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Perimeter Pest Control service establishes a barrier around the outside of your home to keep pests out. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["perimeter-pest-control-treatment"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":14,"name":"Lawn Damaging Disease Control","description":"<p>Have you tried all the lawn care tips and tricks but are still not seeing success? If you're noticing brown patches, discoloration, dead spots, rust or mildew, your turf could be at risk of a lawn-damaging disease.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We can help protect your lawn from diseases that can quickly damage your well-maintained grass.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-damaging-diseases","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?si=nEMjLYmi2fBGnbHJ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Our wide selection of professional disease control services helps protect and maintain the health of your lawn from the roots up.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"12","icon_class_name":"tree-and-shrub_and_insect-and-disease-control","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Mushrooms","description":"<p>When the temperatures rise and there has been an abundance of rain or supplemental irrigation.&nbsp; Mushrooms come in all shapes and colors.&nbsp; For the most part, mushrooms are a good thing as they are a sign that there is plenty of activity going on in the soil food web below the ground. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that feed on organic material that exists in the soil, providing nutrients to other microorganism as well as to the roots of landscapes plants and to the turf. There are a lot of fungi varieties that can cause problems in lawns. Mushrooms are among the most visible, but least harmful of lawn fungi. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-ring\/\" title=\"Fairy Ring\">Fairy rings<\/a> are caused by up to 50 different types of fungi and create expanding rings in turf. Although fairy rings and mushrooms are not harmful, they are unslightly for some people. Here are a few facts about mushrooms and how to help control them on your lawn.<\/p><h3><strong>Mushrooms Don't Harm Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p><img class=\"size-full wp-image-7173 alignright fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp\" alt=\"mushrooms growing in a yard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">&nbsp;<\/p><p>Mushrooms are caused by a large number of different fungi, and the good news is they won't cause lawn diseases. They are sensitive to moisture and normally appear during periods of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures or on very heavily irrigated turf. Mushrooms feed on decaying organic material on the lawn in the thatch or soil, and do not attack living grass plants. Shallow dead tree roots, construction debris, or heavy thatch on the lawn can become the \"host\" that mushrooms feed upon. In almost all cases, mushrooms will disappear when lawn moisture levels return to normal and regular mowing will help get rid of these unsightly fungi. Some of the fungi that cause mushrooms are sensitive to fungicides. Usually fungicides will only help prevent further mushrooms from developing and not kill the current ones. Because of this, we normally advise that attempting to remove mushrooms chemically is not really feasible. It's also a good idea to determine what kind of mushrooms your lawn is developing or spotting types of mushrooms in your neighborhood area. Although mushrooms don't affect your turf, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">mushrooms are toxic for pets<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How To Control Mushrooms In Your Lawn<\/strong> To control mushrooms on the lawn, we recommend keeping the soil open and reduce water frequency for the time being. Make sure you're following <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Watering-Facts-and-Best-Practices.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best watering practices<\/a> to avoid over watering your lawn (over watering leads to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Brown Patch<\/a>). Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> helps keep the soil open and allows more air, nutrients and water to reach the root zone for healthy, thick grass. These tips will generally help control mushrooms, and prevent new mushrooms from emerging on the lawn. Mushrooms don't last a long time once they surface and will usually decompose in a couple of days. &nbsp;There are no products that will keep mushrooms from growing in a lawn or landscape bed. They can be hand-picked and thrown away, but it is a good idea to wear gloves when doing so as some mushrooms are poisonous. &nbsp;Normally mowing will also remove those mushrooms that grow taller than the turf. They can also be kicked over or they can be a way to improve your golf swing.<\/p><h3>Partnering With Spring-Green For a Healthy Lawn<\/h3><p>Having a healthy lawn is the result of a continuous process. And in the process of creating great conditions for growing grass, the very best results come when you and Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> work together as partners. If mushrooms are growing in a circle within a lawn or are growing within a darker green circle of arc, this could be a sign of a disease called Fairy Ring. If mushrooms are growing in this type of pattern, call your Neighborhood Lawn Care Professional to inspect your lawn. They will provide the best recommendations to reduce the severity of this disease, which usually involves yearly core aeration on the lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread\/\" title=\"Red Thread\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mushrooms-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:50:35","excerpt":"<p>There are a lot of fungus varieties that can cause problems in turf grass. Mushrooms are among the most visible but least harmful of lawn fungi.<\/p>","slug":"mushrooms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mushrooms | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and eliminating mushrooms infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mushrooms"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Rust Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust. Not the same kind you'd find on your metal patio furniture, or your car, of course. But one that can be just as destructive. Rust is a fairly common lawn disease caused by fungus. It usually shows up from mid-summer through late fall, once the growth of your grass has slowed. But rust can also appear any time your turf is under stress, like after extended dry periods. Rust spores are tiny and very light weight. They can be carried long distances by the wind, which means that even the best kept lawns can be infected. Usually, grasses with a fine texture and deep color, like perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, are the most likely victims of rust lawn disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Recognizing Rust<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust usually takes hold in shaded areas first, during warm, humid weather. Any grass that remains wet for long periods of time, because of too much watering, lingering dew or poor drainage, could find itself rusting away. The fungi symptoms of this lawn disease begin as tiny yellow spots on the grass blades. These spots become elongated and eventually rupture into clusters of rust-orange spores that give the disease its name. When touched, the powdery, dust-like rust spores leave a color a lot like the fine particles of rust from metal.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_DMpX2lNsF4?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>Treating Rust Through Lawn Fertilization And Mowing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Rust that is not treated can quickly thin and destroy good turf, and it is especially dangerous to new seed. Once rust is established, a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer works better than lawn disease controls for treating the condition. By mowing more frequently, at a higher mower height, you can also help to remove the rust spores before they spread to other leaves.<\/p><h3><strong>Prevention is the Best Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>, eliminating the conditions that cause rust is the best lawn treatment. Your lawn service professionals at Spring-Green want to make sure your grass remains healthy and beautiful this season. By working together, we can develop a maintenance <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service&nbsp;<\/a> plan to keep your lawn as disease-free as possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/rust-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:54:19","excerpt":"<p>Have you ever walked through your lawn and noticed a slight orange or reddish-brown tinge across patches of your grass that look like rust? Crazy as it sounds, it might actually have been rust.<\/p>","slug":"rust-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rust Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating rust lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rust-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Dollar Spot","description":"<p>Dollar spot is not a picky parasite; this <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> infects and kills a lot of different grasses. True to its name, dollar spot develops small, distinct circles from 1 to 6'' across, about the size of a silver dollar or a small pancake. Because these spots don't look very serious individually, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. But because dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, serious scarring of the lawn can occur.<\/p><h3><strong>When You Might Start Seeing Spots:<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus survives the winter as dormant mycelium (or fungal growth) in plant parts in the thatch and soil. When temperatures get into the 60s, the lawn disease starts growing again. The peak of disease activity occurs when temperatures are between 70 to 90 degrees. Other factors that trigger development of dollar spot lawn disease include low soil moisture when the humidity is high; low nitrogen fertility; too much thatch on the lawn; and mowing too short during hot weather. Lawns not on a quality program that provides the correct blend of fertilizers, or that don't get properly watered or mowed are most likely to catch a case of dollar spot.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: How You Can Spot It<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are two easy ways to identify dollar spot lawn disease on turf. The first is the shape and size of the damaged areas. The individual spots are usually very circular and distinct, and grow to only a few inches in diameter. Another symptom that's easy to recognize are the lesions (or infection marks) on the individual grass blades. Dollar spot lawn disease causes an hour-glass shaped band to form across the width of the grass blade. This band is light tan and has a reddish-brown edge on the top and bottom. Being a very thorough fungus, dollar spot kills the entire grass plant. After a serious bout with dollar spot, lawn renovation or reseeding will almost always be required once the disease is brought under control.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: See Spot Run \u2014 Out Of Your Lawn<\/strong><\/h3><p>Remember your first grade reader? See Spot run. Run Spot, run. You can help make dollar spot run from your lawn. Watering right is your department. Spring-Green can take care of the rest. Since grass diseases such as dollar spot favor turf with low soil moisture, it's important to saturate the soil regularly. But, because one of the ways this lawn disease moves is by water droplets splashing, it\u2019s best to avoid frequent late afternoon or evening watering. Always allow the grass to dry out before evening. Low nitrogen fertility (which pushes disease growth) should also be corrected with the correct combinations of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> during periods of disease activity. The very best prevention for dollar spot (as well as almost all types of lawn diseases) is the Spring-Green program and regular, deep watering.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Dollar spot lawn disease appears as silver dollar sized circles in the turf.<\/li><li>Low nitrogen fertility increases dollar spot activity, as does low soil moisture.<\/li><li>Dollar spot can be more serious than it may first appear because the lawn disease kills the entire grass plant, often requiring reseeding.<\/li><li>Grass diseases move by foot and equipment traffic and by water from irrigation, rain and dew.<\/li><\/ul><p>Treatments with a fungicide can be effective, so if you suspect this disease is what's making you see spots, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green right away.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/dollar-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:59:24","excerpt":"<p>Dollar spot doesn't look very serious individually so it\u2019s easy to underestimate the damage potential. Dollar spot lawn disease kills the turf clear to the roots, causing serious damage.<\/p>","slug":"dollar-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dollar Spot Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about dealing with dollar spot lawn disease and how to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["dollar-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":64,"title":"How to Identify Slime Mold on Grass","description":"<p>Picture this: As you work through your lawn, you notice a little patch of grayish growth. When you inspect it closely, you notice it resembles ash that has been sprinkled on the grass blades. When you touch it, a small cloud of dust rises off the blades. You immediately go to your phone and call your lawn service or local nursery because you are concerned that this problem will spread. On your way to the phone, you notice something weird on the mulch that is spread across your landscape beds. You may ask yourself the following questions:<\/p><h2>What does Slime Mold look like?<\/h2><p>You stop for a closer look and are appalled at what you see. It looks as if someone got physically sick and vomited in your flowerbed.&nbsp;You think,&nbsp;\"How disgusting\" \u2014 Yes it is! But, is there anything to be worried about \u2014 No there is not! Both of these \"conditions\" are caused by primitive fungi known as Slime Molds.<\/p><h2>What Is Slime Mold?<\/h2><p>Slime Molds are <em>saprophytes<\/em>, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. They will creep along the soil surface in search of food by pulling themselves along with finger-like projections. During periods of warm, rainy weather, Slime Molds will creep up on grass plants, on the lower branches of ornamental plants, or across landscape beds covered with mulch when they are ready to reproduce. From these locations, they will release millions of tiny spores. Spores are like tiny seeds that will help ensure many more generations of Slime Molds. The only purpose for creeping up on the plants or mulch is to give the spores the best advantage for distribution over a large area.<\/p><h2>Will Slime Mold Hurt My Lawn?<\/h2><p>Since <em>Slime Molds are not lawn disease that damage plants<\/em>, but are actually <em>beneficial to the ecosystem<\/em> of your landscape, control is not necessary. If you find the dried patches in the lawn, help Mother Nature by sweeping the spores into the wind. The slimy patches in the mulch will dry and can be raked under. They may be unsightly, but should not cause any concern in terms of your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care<\/a>. They are just part of the wonderful world of nature.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\">Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/slime-mold-.600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:26:04","excerpt":"<p>Slime Molds are saprophytes, or organisms that obtain their food from dead or decaying organic matter. Learn how to best handle this lawn disease.<\/p>","slug":"identify-slime-mold-grass","description2":"","seo_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Slime Mold Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about slime mold lawn disease and how to identify and prevent it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-slime-mold-grass"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Summer patch, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/necrotic-ring-spot-2\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">necrotic ring spot<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch<\/a>: these grass diseases take no prisoners. Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass. Any time can be a prime time for fungal lawn disease to move in, if your turf is stressed from lack of water, high temperatures, too much moisture or the wrong kind of care. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>, but first you have to know what to look for. Here are three lawn diseases that you'll notice by their usual circular or ring shapes.<\/p><h3><strong>Summer Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>This fungus usually moves in about mid-summer, when your grass is suffering from heat, drought, and high humidity. Summer patch lawn disease begins with small, scattered light green patches that turn grass reddish-brown, and then light tan. These crescent-shaped patches can come up quickly and completely destroy a lawn. Although the symptoms appear in June or July, the disease actually begins by rotting the roots of your grass in early May.<\/p><h3><strong>Necrotic Ring Spot<\/strong><\/h3><p>Necrotic Ring Spot is another serious lawn disease that can destroy a lawn very suddenly. Its patches or rings of dead grass are brought on by dry, followed by wet, weather. Lawns 2 to 8 years old are favorite victims. The disease is most active in spring and fall, but it also shows up in summer during times of water stress. If your lawn has Necrotic Ring Spot, you'll first notice scattered light yellow patches, usually 2 to 6\u201d wide. The disease leaves a ring of dead turf that becomes brown or straw color with a healthy-looking green area in the center. This has prompted the nickname frog-eye disease.<\/p><h3><strong>Brown Patch<\/strong><\/h3><p>Brown patch lawn disease usually strikes in the heat of summer, during humid, wet weather, when temperatures stay high even through the night. Brown Patch lawn disease creates irregular, circular areas up to several feet wide. The diseased patches turn purplish-green and then fade to brown. Patches look sunken as the leaves of the grass die and mat down. The edges of these large spots often have a darker, water-soaked appearance.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEQ970-U63o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Lawn Diseases are Easier to Prevent than to Cure<\/strong><\/h3><p>Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the Ring Gang of lawn diseases out of your lawn:<\/p><ul><li>Spring Green\u2019s lawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/services\/preferred-lawn-care-program\">fertilization<\/a> program controls unhealthy bursts of turf growth that can attract disease.<\/li><li>Regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> helps nutrients and water reach roots and breaks up thatch, which is one place diseases like to breed.<\/li><li>Deep, infrequent watering in the early morning, keeps moisture from remaining on the grass surface too long, which attracts disease.<\/li><li>Mowing frequently, at a high height and with a sharp mower blade, further helps to keep disease out.<\/li><li><a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">Overseeding<\/a> with disease-resistant grasses is another option you can consider.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you suspect your lawn has any type of lawn disease, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green about treatment services immediately. Quick action can make a big difference to save your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JThuC06R5s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease\">Brown Patch and Large Patch Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/common-patch-and-ring-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:11:07","excerpt":"<p>Lawn diseases are always in the wings, just waiting for a weak moment to attack your grass.<\/p>","slug":"common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Patch & Ring Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Struggling to identify issues with your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about some common patch and ring lawn diseases!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Necrotic Ring Spot","description":"<h3><strong>Death \u2014 that's what necrosis means.<\/strong><\/h3><p>And this lawn disease lives up to its name. Though often mistaken for Summer Patch blight because of the \u201cfrog\u2019s eye\u201d appearance, Summer Patch appears most often in hot weather, while necrotic ring spot shows up during cool weather, especially after periods of prolonged rainfall.<\/p><h3><strong>When And Where The Death Ring Shows Up<\/strong><\/h3><p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue. It usually appears in late winter, spring and fall during periods of cool and wet weather. Activity is greater in areas that are not properly&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilized<\/a>,&nbsp;and Neurotic ring spot lawn disease also tends to show up again and again in areas infected in prior years.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: Where The Confusion Came From<\/strong><\/h3><p>In the early stages, necrotic ring spot lawn disease shows up as roughly circular areas of turf that look like they're suffering from drought, even though there is plenty of soil moisture. You end up with patches that appear to be wilting and drying out when the surrounding turf looks healthy and well-watered. Thatch may decompose quickly in the areas affected by this lawn&nbsp;disease, creating a sunken look to the patch or ring areas. The typical patch of healthy looking turf in the center created the Summer Patch mix-up for years. The disease itself is not active during this phase, but the damage appears because the root system has been destroyed or reduced to the point where it can't support the plant's needs, and so the wilting and drying occur.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: Lawn Fertilization and Special Watering<\/strong><\/h3><p>The amount of nitrogen fertilizer greatly affects necrotic ring spot development. A minimum of 3 pounds, and preferably 5 pounds, of available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is recommended. It\u2019s also important to provide lawn fertilizing care to keep phosphorus and potassium levels high enough. The Spring Green program delivers the correct blend of nutrients throughout the year, but having a soil test done every 3 years is a good idea to identify any major lawn fertilization deficiencies your particular soil may have. Watering daily during the early to mid-afternoon, with 1\/10 to 1\/5'' of water, has also been shown to greatly reduce the severity of necrotic ring spot. Should lawn fertilization treatments be needed, they can be applied and are effective if made early in the season: usually 6 weeks to 2 months after the turf goes through its initial green up in the spring.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Necrotic ring spot develops symptoms similar to those seen in Summer Patch blight. This resulted in confusion for many years about which disease was active.<\/li><li>This lawn disease is most common in periods of cool and wet weather.<\/li><li>Lawn fertilization is very important. Maintaining proper amounts of all of the primary nutrients reduces disease activity.<\/li><li>Special daily watering can greatly reduce the severity of a ring spot outbreak.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you have any questions on this (or any other grass diseases), <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. Spring Green has the answers to all your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> questions.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/necrotic-ring-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:55:00","excerpt":"<p>This type of lawn disease can be severe on Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, and also takes a stab at ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue and Chewings fescue.<\/p>","slug":"necrotic-ring-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Necrotic Ring Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating necrotic ring spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["necrotic-ring-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"Mowing and Watering","description":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose. Once out of their cages, they can run wild over your property and be very tough to get back under control. That's why we need your help in keeping diseases locked up. And the way you water and mow your lawn makes a huge difference in lawn and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass disease<\/a> activity. Here are some tips that work:<\/p><h3><strong>Water Deeply and Only When Needed<\/strong><\/h3><p>On hot, dry days, 1,000 square feet of grass can lose 190 gallons of water. That's almost 1500 gallons of water consumed by an average lawn, per day! And since your grass is 80-90% water, it\u2019s important to replace the water that's lost to prevent water weakness that gives lawn diseases an easy entry. Water early in the morning (between 4-8 a.m. is best) to give water on grass blades time to dry. Most fungal grass diseases use the moisture on grass leaves to produce spores and to move from plant to plant. When the water is there long enough, these spores have time to cause problems. Water deeply; at least 6 to 8\u201d into the soil to encourage deep roots. This usually means you have to apply 1 to 2\u201d of water a week. Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\">watering facts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">best practices<\/a> for your lawn and landscape.<\/p><h3><strong>Water When Your Lawn Needs It, But Only Then<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn has ways of showing you when it\u2019s ready for a drink. Grass will turn deep bluish and footprints won\u2019t spring back.<\/p><h3><strong>Mowing To Trim Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>The way you mow also affects your lawns ability to resist grass diseases.<\/p><ul><li>Mow Higher. Most grass should be cut at the highest recommended setting during the summer, to protect the stem from heavy sunlight. The shorter you trim your grass, the smaller the root system will be.<\/li><li>Mow More Often. Mowing higher means doing it more often. Make sure you don't remove more than 1\/3 of the grass blade in one mowing. Scalping, or cutting your grass extremely short, leaves it wide open to disease.<\/li><li>Don't use a dull blade because this shreds the tops of the grass, and exposes the turf's tissue for lawn disease spores to easily enter. Mowing with a dull blade is shown to increase disease activity by 20% or more. And it even uses 20% more fuel than mowing with a sharp blade. To avoid this, have your blades sharpened several times a season.<\/li><li>Keep grass clippings on your lawn, which returns about 25% of the nutrients back to the soil.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a> for a greener and healthier lawn. From <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Lawn Disease\">brown patch disease<\/a> to red thread fungus, we want to keep the disease dragons at bay, but we need your help. When we work together, your lawn will stay greener, thicker and more pest-free. For more information on disease management, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/pythium\/\" title=\"Pythium\">Pythium<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/mowing-watering-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:12:57","excerpt":"<p>Your lawn gets put through a lot. Weeds invade it, insects chew it, and heat shrivels it. But nothing is as hard to tame as fungus lawn diseases on the loose.<\/p>","slug":"mowing-watering","description2":"","seo_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Mowing & Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing and watering your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring- Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["mowing-watering"],"url_override":""},{"id":38,"title":"Spring Dead Spot","description":"<h3><strong>A Serious But Treatable Lawn Disease<\/strong><\/h3><p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone. Other grass types are affected, but this lawn disease is primarily a problem with Bermuda varieties. As the name suggests, spring dead spot usually appears in the spring as circular patches of bleached dead grass. It becomes visible as the surrounding dormant turf resumes its normal spring growth. These patches range from a few inches to several feet in diameter and tend to show up and expand in the same locations for several years, and then disappear after three to four years. The fungi appear to grow most actively in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool and the soil is fairly moist. Even though damage begins in earnest in the fall, damage is masked by the turf's normal dormancy over winter. This <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> is most commonly found on mature and well maintained turf, and is much less serious on lawns receiving little or no fertilization.<\/p><h3><strong>Disease Cycle: What Spring Dead Spot Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the early stages of this disease, the inside of the patches remain alive, but die off as the infection progresses. The entire plant structure inside these rings dies, including the shoots, rhizomes and roots. Regrowth in these dead areas must occur from the expansion of surrounding healthy plants and is very slow. The rings often fill with weeds or with stunted new turf plants. This appears to be because the lawn disease leaves a toxin in the area of dead grass which makes regrowth difficult.<\/p><h3><strong>Treatment Plan Must Include Fall Applications<\/strong><\/h3><p>Treatment for spring dead spot includes carefully controlling the amount of nitrogen&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> applied to the turf, since high nitrogen levels increase activity. In addition, fungicides must be applied during the fall months to fend off extreme root and stolon rot over the winter months. Contact type fungicides can be used with some success, but must be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, systemic lawn treatment fungicides that are actually taken into the plants can be applied once in the fall at heavy rates to help control the disease the following spring.<\/p><h3>Remember:<\/h3><ul><li>Bermuda varieties with high cold tolerance are less prone to spring dead spot.<\/li><li>The actual fungi (or causal organism) of spring dead spot is unknown.<\/li><li>Remember that control for spring must begin in the fall.<\/li><li>Part of controlling this lawn disease is regulating the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.<\/li><\/ul><p>We make a constant study of lawns and what ails them at Spring Green. Please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">local lawn service<\/a> needs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/spring-dead-spot-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:39","excerpt":"<p>Nearly all Bermuda grass varieties are affected by spring dead spot, especially in the cooler parts of the transition zone.<\/p>","slug":"spring-dead-spot","description2":"","seo_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spring Dead Spot | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling spring dead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-dead-spot"],"url_override":""},{"id":1,"title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease","description":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">turf lawn&nbsp;diseases<\/a>. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight when the weather conditions are just right. Brown patch lawn disease isn't picky; it attacks a wide variety of grass types, and really likes the lawns receiving large amounts of fast release nitrogen fertilizer. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/How-Lawn-Disease-Develops.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how lawn disease develops and tips to prevent it<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Brown Patch Loves Hot Summer<\/h2><blockquote>\u201cBrown Patch is the most damaging turf grass disease\u201d<\/blockquote><p>Brown patch is really a summer lawn disease that's caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The disease begins to show growth when temperatures reach 65\u00b0, but the most active growth of brown patch lawn disease occurs at temperatures of 80-85\u00b0 when humidity levels are very high. The fungi survive the winter in plant debris (thatch) and enter the leaf tissue through wounds caused by mowing and through the&nbsp;pores (or stomata) when daytime temperatures get into the 70s. Infected turf grass can go quite a while without showing damage because it\u2019s actively growing. But, if the daytime temperatures reach the mid 80s and nighttime air temperatures stay above 70\u00b0, the grass will be under stress. Then, lawn disease damage can become visible almost immediately. Once started, brown patch lawn disease spreads fast. Brown patch damage first appears as circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. This dark, smoke ring is not always visible, but is more likely to appear in the early morning when there's dew on the grass. Brown patch lawn disease grows out from a central point, so these circular areas can enlarge rapidly. Brown patch circles range from a few inches in diameter to several feet, and are not always true circles. Sometimes the patches grow together, creating large irregular dead areas. Diseased turf first appears water soaked with leaf edges showing a wavy or wilted pattern, but soon dies completely and mats down, creating a sunken effect.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A644I3t1uj8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><h2>Cultural Management: Preventing Brown Patch Lawn Disease<\/h2><p>Since high levels of fast release nitrogen increase disease activity, Spring-Green uses a correct blend of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizers<\/a> for lawn fertilizing during the warmer months. Mow less frequently during periods of hot and humid weather, this reduces stress and limits the movement of grass disease by being carried on your feet or mower. If possible, increase light and air penetration, or movement, by pruning overhanging trees and shrubs. During cooler seasons, open up the thatch layer with power <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a>. If these cultural cures fail, a preventative fungicide lawn treatment program may have to be applied to control this most damaging of lawn diseases. [attached-images title=\"What Brown Patch Looks Like\"]<\/p><h2>Remember<\/h2><ul><li>Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass diseases<\/li><li>Brown patch lawn disease becomes most active when day temperatures are over 85\u00b0 and night air stays above 70\u00b0<\/li><li>Because infected plants may appear healthy, brown patch damage can occur very fast when conditions are right<\/li><li>Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages brown patch development<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about grass facts and keeping your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lawn healthy and green<\/a>. At Spring Green, we take brown patch lawn disease seriously because we know the damage it can cause. If you ever suspect this disease of infecting your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn service.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/dollar-spot-2\/\" title=\"Dollar Spot\">Dollar Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fairy-rings\/\" title=\"Fairy Rings\">Fairy Rings<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":["8","4","3","1","7"],"featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/brown-patch-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 14:00:00","excerpt":"<p>Brown patch lawn disease is one of the most destructive of all turf grass diseases. It sneaks up on you and destroys large areas of turf virtually overnight.<\/p>","slug":"brown-patch-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"","meta_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Dealing with brown patch disease in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers about what it is and how to treat it!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-patch-lawn-disease"],"url_override":"Brown Patch Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide"},{"id":37,"title":"Snow Mold","description":"<h3><strong>The First Disease of the Year<\/strong><\/h3><p>Your lawn was perfect last fall. You spent all summer tenderly caring for your grass. You faithfully watered it during the hot, dry periods. You mowed at the right height, making sure you never removed more than 1\/3 of the grass blade when you cut it. You contracted with a reputable&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a> company to apply the right fertilizers and weed control products to make your lawn healthy and beautiful. You had the best lawn in the neighborhood and were darn proud of it. As fall came, you made sure the leaves were removed as soon as possible, and you even invested in&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">lawn aeration<\/a> to improve rooting and keep the thatch layer at bay. When the first snows came, you were confident that your lawn was strong enough to survive the tortures of winter. The snow came, as it usually does, and turned your lawn white. You were not worried, as you knew you did everything you could possibly have done so that your lawn will be as green and lush in the spring as it was the previous fall. But, when spring arrives you look through your window at your grass and your're mortified at the sight of your lawn. There are large patches of blighted, straw-colored grass covering half of it and areas of the grass seem matted. This is Snow Mold lawn disease!<\/p><h2>What is Snow Mold Lawn Disease?<\/h2><p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover. It is often the first disease of the year and may cause your lawn to have an unsightly appearance, especially after the snow melts. Snow Mold can even develop without snow cover. If it is cool, rainy, and overcast, then the disease can become active and affect the lawn.<\/p><h2>Types of Snow Mold<\/h2><p>There are two types of Snow Mold. One is Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight, and the other is Pink Snow Mold or Microdochium Patch. They have similar visual symptoms, but each affects the lawn in a different way. The control of either lawn disease may require a combination of methods. In severe, recurring cases, a combination of chemical, cultural, and biological controls may be required. In less severe cases, a light raking of the affected area may be the best answer.<\/p><h2>Controlling Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Controlling either of the grass diseases is easy if the infection is not severe. A light raking of the matted area will loosen the grass and allow the new plants to grow. Be sure to rake lightly, as the ground is usually very wet and the existing grass can be easily raked up. In severe infestation, raking is also recommended, but on a larger scale. It is not advisable to use a power rake as it may also damage the existing grass.<\/p><h2>Preventing Snow Mold Disease<\/h2><p>Preventive maintenance before lawn repair is needed&nbsp;is usually the best answer when dealing with most diseases. This is true for Snow Mold. Follow a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year. Thatch management is another important key in Snow Mold prevention. Practice core aeration of your lawn at least once a year to keep thatch levels below 1\/2\". Another important factor is mowing the grass short before winter. Cut the lawn to 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d at the last mowing. This should be a gradual process and not a one-time exercise. Lower the height a notch a week until the mower is set at 1-1\/2 to 2\u201d. This will prevent the turf from laying over on itself,&nbsp;increasing the chance of Snow Mold.<\/p><h2>If You Have Snow Mold<\/h2><p>If you do have an outbreak of Snow Mold, it is a good idea to reduce any piles of snow that may remain, especially in shady areas. The longer the snow remains the more moisture and cool temperatures are present. Applying a chemical disease control material to grass already damaged by Snow Mold will do little to change the severity or need for lawn renovation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact your local lawn care professional at Spring Green<\/a> to begin a fertilizer program and schedule core aeration for a healthy lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring Dead Spot&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch Disease Control\">Brown Patch Treatments&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/common-patch-ring-lawn-diseases\/\" title=\"Common Patch and Ring Lawn Diseases\">Lawn Patch Ring Disease<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/snow-mold-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:46","excerpt":"<p>Snow Mold lawn disease can infect most all types of grasses that must endure a period of freezing temperatures and snow cover.<\/p>","slug":"snow-mold-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","meta_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Snow Mold Grass Diseases: Spring Green Lawn Repair & Renovation","social_description":"What are the risk factors for Snow Mold grass diseases? Learn more about preventing the need for lawn repair or renovation services on Spring-Green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["snow-mold-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease","description":"<p>The Colorful Cool Season Culprit Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration. Especially serious in the&nbsp;<a href=\"\/franchise-region\/northwest\/\">Pacific Northwest<\/a>, red thread also appears in stands of cool season grasses over a wide region when weather conditions are right.<\/p><h3><strong>When Green Lawns Turn 'Red'<\/strong><\/h3><p>Red thread lawn disease grows most aggressively when temperatures are in the 68 to 75 degree range and during extended periods of wet or very humid weather. Even though this may seem like a narrow \"window\" or set of circumstances for disease activity, red thread can overtake a turf area fast. Besides temperature, red thread gets a helping hand from certain nutritional imbalances, too. This&nbsp;lawn disease takes off much faster when there's a lack of nitrogen, for instance. Low levels of calcium (or lime) also affect some grass types.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Red Thread Looks Like And Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The symptoms of red thread lawn disease first appear as \"water soaked\" darkened irregular areas from just a few inches to several feet across. These areas gradually become bleached or tan colored. Healthy plants are usually interspersed with diseased plants, giving the lawn an over-all ragged look. As the red thread becomes well developed, light pink to red fungus strands (or threads) 1\/4'' or more in length begin to grow from the tips of the blades and the leaf sheaths \u2014 these threads are the reason for the disease's common name. The wind moves bits of these threads to non-infected plants to spread the disease. The threads can also touch nearby blades to spread the infection. Red thread lawn disease very seldom wipes out an entire stand of turf, and so infected lawns will often have an uneven or patchy appearance.<\/p><h3><strong>Cultural Management: You Can't Change The Weather<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like most <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a>, red thread is very much weather related. When conditions are right for development, management of red thread is limited to checking and correcting any nutritional deficiencies or direct treatment with a fungicide material. Lawn treatments with fungicides are usually effective, and one or two maintenance applications in the spring and again in the fall are adequate in most situations for control. If you have seen signs of red thread on your turf, please <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We\u2019re always ready to help with managing disease diseases, so you can have the best lawn possible.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-dead-spot\/\" title=\"Spring Dead Spot\">Dead Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/red-thread-lawn-disease-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:58:58","excerpt":"<p>Red thread (also known as pink patch) is one of the easiest lawn diseases to spot because it sports a distinctive pinkish red coloration.<\/p>","slug":"red-thread-lawn-disease","description2":"","seo_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Red Thread Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing red threat lawn disease in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["red-thread-lawn-disease"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"Pythium","description":"<h3><strong>The Deadly Disease With Many Names<\/strong><\/h3><p>Pythium blight, grease spot, spot blight, root rot, cottony blight, and snow blight are the \u201cattractive\u201d names given to this lawn disease. Each name describes a different phase of the disease life-cycle and none of them are a pretty sight.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms: What Pythium Does<\/strong><\/h3><p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color. When the blades of grass in these areas are handled, they have a greasy or slimy feel. That's where the name grease spot comes from. These infected grass blades become light tan and shriveled, thus the name spot blight. When a lot of these infected areas appear, they begin to grow together and overlap. Pythium lawn disease infections usually concentrate in low, wet areas or along the natural course of drainage across the turf. When humidity remains high, the shriveled and collapsed leaves become matted and covered with a fluffy mass of white fungal threads or mycelium. This is sometimes called cottony blight. The most serious and severe damage occurs during hot, humid weather, when the disease can spread so quickly that an entire stand of turf can be destroyed in just one day. Pythium survives, as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands), in and on diseased turf tissue, as well as in organic material like thatch. Wet turf grass is always required, before Pythium can cause&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a>. Periods of wet grass and thatch, along with high relative humidity, present especially favorable conditions for the disease to grow. This lawn disease is most dramatic when it suddenly appears during very hot and humid weather, when the nights remain very warm and muggy.<\/p><h3><strong>Making Your Lawn An Anti-Pythium Environment<\/strong><\/h3><p>Since Pythium is almost always associated with wet turf, identifying any poorly draining areas where water tends to pool or stand can help prevent this type of lawn disease. Correct the drainage to promote rapid drying of grass plants. Attempt to water early in the day, so that the turf can dry before evening, and water as deeply but infrequently as possible. Controlling thatch is strongly suggested, by vertical mowing or regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">lawn&nbsp;aeration<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Using a properly balanced fertilizer for your grass care helps avoid nutrient imbalances that can stimulate grass diseases. It can also help to increase air movement by selectively pruning lower tree branches to eliminate pockets of still humid air. And finally, don't mow when the grass is wet, as this tends to spread the disease. Fungicides can also be effective in suppressing Pythium, but prevention is a much better and more economical turf care solution.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Under ideal conditions, Pythium can destroy an entire lawn in a single day.<\/li><li>Areas where turf remains wet tend to be more affected by this lawn disease.<\/li><li>Look for Pythium when temperatures and humidity are both very high.<\/li><li>Water deeply, but not too often, and water so that grass blades dry quickly (like in the morning.)<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green with any lawn question you have. We've got the answers you need.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/red-thread-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Red Thread Lawn Disease\">Red Thread<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/rust-lawn-disease\/\" title=\"Rust Lawn Disease\">Rust Lawn Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/snow-mold\/\" title=\"Snow Mold\">Snow Mold<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/pythium-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:56:56","excerpt":"<p>The first signs of Pythium lawn disease are usually small patches of turf that look water-soaked and dark or purplish in color.<\/p>","slug":"pythium","description2":"","seo_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Control Pythium with Lawn Aeration & Fertilization | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"What are the signs of Pythium lawn disease, and how can it be prevented? Learn more about the benefits of lawn aeration and fertilization at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pythium"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Leaf Spot","description":"<h3><strong>The Double Whammy Lawn Disease:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3><p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi. Helminthosporium (now that's a mouthful!) contains a large number of individual disease-causing organisms. What's similar in the grass diseases of this family is that they give your lawn a real one-two punch by creating the leaf spot phase in the spring and fall but changing gears into a sheath and root rot phase during the heat of summer.<\/p><h3><strong>When Can You Expect To See Spots?<\/strong><\/h3><p>The lawn disease fungi survive the winter as spores (fungus seeds) and as mycelium (fungus strands) in and on diseased turf tissue. When spring temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees and there is a lot of moisture from rain or dew, the fungus begins to grow and spreads its spores by wind and water. As the weather warms, the disease moves into the second phase of melting out.<\/p><h3><strong>Damage Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3><p>During the leaf spot phase of this lawn disease (spring or fall), individual grass blades will have large numbers of lesions (or infection marks) that appear a little like a cigarette burn, a dark circle with a tan spot in the center. During this part of the leaf spot lawn disease, the grass takes on a brown under cast making it appear underfed or dried out. Even though leaf spot does not do significant damage to the turf during this phase, it sets the stage for the much more serious melting-out phase. The melting-out phase begins during hot, dry weather and causes large irregular areas to appear dried out. There may not be any distinctly visible lawn disease symptoms during the melting out phase, as the damaged areas may appear very similar to the effects of dry weather or insect injury.<\/p><h3><strong>Early Action Needed: Don't Snooze, You Might Lose<\/strong><\/h3><p>As with all&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn diseases<\/a>, how the turf is watered, fed and mowed makes a huge difference. It\u2019s best to be sure the grass does not stay continuously wet or become excessively dry. Water no more than once per week and soak the soil to a depth of 6''. Water in the morning so the grass will not remain wet for long periods. Open the area around the grass crowns (where the plant goes through the thatch and into the soil) with core aeration. Regular lawn&nbsp;<a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizing<\/a> and aeration can go far towards disease prevention. Collecting the clippings during the spring and fall (leaf spot stage) will help reduce the spread of disease as well. Lawn treatment services, if needed, should begin early. Spring and early summer applications of fungicide can be effective, but little can be done to reverse lawn disease once the melting-out phase begins.<\/p><h3><strong>Remember:<\/strong><\/h3><ul><li>Leaf spot makes turf look sick, but does little permanent damage. However, it sets the stage for the more serious melting-out phase of the disease.<\/li><li>Water in the morning so turf can dry out quickly. This helps prevent the spread of leaf spot spores.<\/li><li>Melting out occurs in hot weather and can be easily confused with drought stress or insect damage.<\/li><li>Frequent lawn <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">aeration<\/a> and thatch management help keep turf crowns open and reduces disease activity.<\/li><\/ul><p>Whenever you have a question on leaf spot (or any other lawn disease) <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We've got the answers!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mowing-watering\/\" title=\"Mowing and Watering\">Mowing and Watering<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushroom<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/necrotic-ring-spot\/\" title=\"Necrotic Ring Spot\">Necrotic Ring Spot<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/leaf-spot-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:53:46","excerpt":"<p>Leaf spot and melting-out are the common names given to a large number of lawn diseases caused by the same family of fungi.<\/p>","slug":"leaf-spot-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Leaf Spot Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and treating lead spot lawn disease? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["leaf-spot-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"Fairy Rings","description":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. Little fairies will dance the night away in a circle, resting on toadstool chairs until the next dance begins. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, dancing is often the last thought on their minds. Mushrooms are a common sight in many lawns, especially during wet, warm periods. They are usually the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are breaking down organic material in the soil or thatch. Normally, they can be mowed or kicked off and are controlled. If they reoccur in the same spot every year, then it may indicate the location of an old tree stump or other decaying organic material. If the mushrooms are arranged in an arc or circle, it may indicate the beginning of Fairy Ring. No one knows for sure how this kind of&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">lawn disease<\/a> becomes established or what conditions favor their development. They seem to be more prevalent on soils that are sandy, under-watered, or are poorly fertilized. Like most other types of grass diseases, Fairy Rings usually don't develop as often in highly maintained lawns.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring - Expert Lawn Care Tips<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r2KLXyVgJyE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Types of Fairy Ring Diseases<\/h2><p>Several types of lawn disease fungi are associated with Fairy Rings. These types of fungi have been causing problems for a long time. It is estimated that some Fairy Rings have survived for several hundred years. They can develop in lawns, parks, golf courses, or in pastures. Mushrooms are often the first outwardly visible sign of their presence. In fact, the fungi may have been present in the soil for two or three years prior to the development of the mushrooms. The fungi develop outwards from the center of the ring. The inner most part of the ring dies. As it is decomposing, it releases nitrogen into the soil, which will stimulate the grass above and turn it a dark green. The fungi produce a mass of cotton-like webbing called mycelium. As the mycelium dies, it may harden to a point where water will not be able to penetrate through it. This results in the death of the grass above it.<\/p><h2>Fairy Ring Characteristics<\/h2><p>The rings or arcs can range in diameter from 3 feet to as large as 20 feet. If the ring encounters a sidewalk or cultivated flowerbed, its growth often stops at that point. When two or more rings meet, they may continue to get larger. In some cases, the two rings seem to disappear when they come together. These common lawn disease symptoms may also seem to disappear for several years, and then show up again.<\/p><h2>Controlling Fairy Rings<\/h2><p>Controlling Fairy Rings can prove to be a difficult task. There has been some reduction in activity using commercial lawn and grass disease control materials, but the results have been inconsistent. The dark green rings can be 'masked' by applying <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">fertilizer<\/a> to the area to even the color. In the areas where the grass has died, water penetration needs to be improved. Make holes in the ring with a garden fork to a depth of 12 to 24\u201d and then thoroughly water the area for 4 to 6 weeks. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> is also advisable for better water penetration. If the rings are severe, it may be necessary to remove the sod and repeatedly cultivate the area for several weeks before resodding or seeding a lawn. Mixing the soils of two opposing rings seems to cause them to cancel out each other. Regardless of the method used, it will be a difficult task to get the rings under control. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against many lawn diseases and insect problems. This is especially true when considering the problems associated with Fairy Ring. As they say, \"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-prevention\/\" title=\"Lawn Disease Prevention\">Prevention of Disease<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Lawn Disease Solutions<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/fairy-rings-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 13:57:18","excerpt":"<p>It has been said that Fairy Rings are the sign of good luck and fortune. To the homeowner who has been plagued with the Fairy Ring lawn disease, however, their good luck is often the last thought on their minds.<\/p>","slug":"fairy-rings","description2":"","seo_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Fairy Ring Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about fairy ring lawn disease and the best way to treat it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fairy-rings"],"url_override":""},{"id":17,"title":"Lawn Disease Prevention","description":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn. And since treatment of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">grass diseases<\/a> themselves is both difficult and fairly costly, prevention of fungus disease is very important. Keeping your lawn as healthy as possible is the best way to protect it from lawn disease-causing agents (or pathogens) that are all around. So, when we find something that works well to keep your lawn strong we want to make sure you know about it.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGq_gBe6rC0?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h3><strong>&nbsp;Eat Right, Breathe Right for Better Lawn Health<\/strong><\/h3><p>There's a kind of give-and-take to your lawn\u2019s health. The right kind of <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilization<\/a> at the right time gives your grass the nutrients it needs, while lawn aeration takes, or removes, compacted soil and thatch to give water, air and nutrients an easy way to reach your turf's roots so they can breathe. Together, regular <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and the right kind of fertilizing lawn care are the two most important things we can do for your lawn to help it fight off grass diseases.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Fertilization: Keeping The Lawn Off Of Junk Food<\/strong><\/h3><p>Just like grandparents love to give kids a special candy treat, a lot of folks like to give their lawn junk food fertilizers of fast-release nitrogen for a super quick green. This kind of lawn fertilizing seems to make the grass happy, but can really bring on all kinds of lawn diseases and other problems. The Spring Green program provides balanced fertilizing lawn care, a meat and potatoes diet, instead of just dessert. Your turf is better able to outgrow disease, develop stronger roots and directly fight disease. Your grass keeps growing at a strong, steady rate, without the kind of quick growth that can invite lawn diseases. But it\u2019s not enough to provide these elements, if they can\u2019t reach their destination.<\/p><h3><strong>Lawn Aeration: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention<\/strong><\/h3><p>Watering, walking across our lawns, and rainfall help pack down the top layers of soil. This compacted soil makes it hard for water and other nourishment to get through to the roots. Thatch, the spongy layer of partially decomposed material between your grass and the soil, can also block water and fertilizer if it becomes thicker than a 1\/2\". Thick thatch and compacted soil contribute significantly to the development of lawn diseases. Core aeration helps both reduce thatch and break up soil. By pulling out thousands of plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, lawn aeration creates room for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots. A single lawn aeration will remove about 10% of the thatch from a lawn. Most lawns should be aerated at least once a year, when roots are actively growing in fall or spring. At Spring Green we want to keep your lawn healthy through good preventive medicine.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional with any questions you may have.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/leaf-spot\/\" title=\"Leaf Spot\">Leaf Spot<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/mushrooms\/\" title=\"Mushrooms\">Mushrooms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["6"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-10-10 20:20:06","excerpt":"<p>If you've ever seen a lawn nearly destroyed by disease, you know how devastating these unfriendly parasites can be to a beautiful lawn.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-disease-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Lawn Disease | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and preventing various lawn diseases? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-disease-prevention"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-03-13 14:26:29","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Lawn Damaging Disease Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Heartier, disease-resistant lawn&nbsp;<\/li><li>Thicker, greener lawn&nbsp;<\/li><li>More attractive lawn<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Lawn Damaging Disease Control Work?<\/h2><p>Your trained and licensed local lawn care professional will carefully assess your lawn to determine what type of disease your grass is carrying and recommend the right course of action.<\/p><h2>What Causes Lawn Damaging Diseases?<\/h2><p>A common question and one that can be difficult to explain. There are hundreds of disease spores in your lawn at any given time, but most are harmless or can even be beneficial to the health of your lawn. The few that are harmful can spread quickly and damage sections of a lawn.<\/p><h3>Grass Types<\/h3><p>In order for a disease to become active, it has to have the right environment. There are diseases that can grow in just about every weather condition. Cool weather diseases include Snow Mold and Leaf Spot. Warm weather diseases include Red Thread and Dollar Spot and hot weather include Brown Patch, Summer Patch and Necrotic Ring Spot.&nbsp;<\/p><h3>Watering and Mowing Practices<\/h3><p>While some diseases require a control application to prevent development or stop growth, many diseases can be controlled by adjusting cultural practices like mowing higher or changing watering times.<br>Best practices for reducing the risk of lawn damaging diseases:<\/p><ul><li>Water your lawn during the morning, never at night&nbsp;<\/li><li>Mow your grass at a high setting like 3.5 inches - 4 inches&nbsp;<\/li><li>Aerate and overseed your lawn in the fall<\/li><\/ul><p><br><\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-lawn-damaging-diseases02-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Lawn Damaging Disease Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Lawn Damaging Disease Control service can eliminate harmful diseases from your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Damaging Disease Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Lawn Damaging Disease Control service can eliminate harmful diseases from your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-damaging-diseases"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Brown Patch Disease Control","Core Aeration","Economy Lawn Care Program","Grassy Weed Control","Grub Control","Lime Treatments","Moss Control","Preferred Lawn Care Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":42,"name":"Preferred Lawn Care Program","description":"<p>This is our most popular program. It gives you the results you expect from a professional lawn care provider.&nbsp;<\/p>","slug":"preferred-lawn-care-program","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"3","excerpt":"<p>Our most popular lawn care program! Fertilization and weed control services are tailored to fit your needs. It provides the results you expect from a professional lawn care provider.<\/p><ul><li>High-Quality Fertilizer<\/li><li>Targeted Weed Control<\/li><li>Free Lawn and Landscape Evaluation<\/li><li>Lawn Care and Maintenance Tips<\/li><li>Free Service Calls<\/li><li>Spring Green Guarantee<\/li><\/ul>","omni_service_id":"2","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_lawn_care_guides":[[{"id":55,"title":"Grass and Lawn Diseases","description":"<p>Have you ever wondered why your lawn has developed a certain disease, or insect problem, and your neighbor's lawn doesn't seem to have the same problem? It may seem logical that if your yard has a lawn disease problem, or an insect invasion, then, the lawns next to you should have the same thing. The only answer for this question is that each lawn has its own environment. The growing and maintenance practices on each lawn vary. A good analogy would be that, although, everyone in a family may eat the same food and live in the same house, sometimes only one person may end up sick at some time during the year. Learn more about what you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green.<\/p><h2>Total Lawn Insect Control<\/h2><p>Insect activity and incidence is dependent on many factors. The type of grass, along with the cultural practices of <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">proper lawn fertilization<\/a>, <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">thatch control<\/a>, often dictate the amount of damage that may occur. A weak lawn will show more damage than a strong, healthy lawn. On the other hand, a well-maintained lawn may attract more insects. Momma insect wants to lay eggs in the area that will supply the most and best food for the young. Does this mean that if you don't take care of your lawn it will not have insect problems? Of course not, but it does mean that the healthy, well-maintained lawn will recover faster from an insect invasion than a unhealthy, or poorly, maintained lawn.<\/p><h2>Grass Diseases<\/h2><p>The same is true of <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-disease-solutions\/lawn-disease-infog-one-page.pdf\">lawn and grass disease<\/a> problems. It is possible to find just about every imaginable disease spore present in any lawn. Three factors need to interact in order for grass diseases to develop. The factors are the host plant, the pathogen, and the environment. It is often called the disease triangle. The pathogen (the disease-causing organism) will infect the host plant (your grass) if the environment that favors the lawn disease to grow is present. A fourth factor ties everything together. The environment has to exist for a long enough time for the pathogen to develop and infect the host plant. If this occurs, then the lawn disease can cause damage to the plant.<\/p><h2>Lawn Watering<\/h2><p>The environment includes the cultural practices that the lawn receives. The amount of water and the time of day when the lawn receives water are critical. Avoid watering in the late afternoon, or evening, as this promotes the conditions for many lawn diseases to develop: cool, dark, and moist. Light, frequent waterings will promote a shallow root system. It is better to water one or two times per week, but leave the sprinkler in one location for an hour. This will wet the soil to a depth of 4\" to 6\u201d and the roots will go deeper in search of more water.<\/p><h2>Proper Mowing<\/h2><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> at the proper height and supplying the proper amount of fertilizer on a regular basis is also important. It is difficult to provide a standard yard care recommendation for these two practices as it will vary based on the type of grass and the geographic location of the lawn. In regards to grass varieties, some are more, or less, susceptible to lawn disease or insect infestation. Your local Spring-Green yard care professional, or county extension office, can provide you with the proper recommendations for mowing and &nbsp;fertilizing grass varieties for your area.<\/p><h2>Effective Thatch Control<\/h2><p>The last cultural practice is thatch control. Thatch, an intermingled layer of leaves, roots, stems, and other organic material that may build up at the soil line, can increase the incidence of disease and insect activity. If the level exceeds a 1\/2\", then it can act as an incubation chamber for many diseases and insects. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a>, power raking, and slicing are all methods used to control thatch build-up. As with lawn fertilization and mowing, recommendations for thatch reduction are based on grass variety and geographic location, so contact a knowledgeable source for your area. Next time you wonder why the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, find out about the care given to that lawn. Better yet, get the proper information from your local Spring Green professional. If you get sick, you see a doctor. If your lawn gets sick, it will need the right diagnosis from someone who is knowledgeable about lawn diseases. It will save you time and money in the end, and provide you with a better environment for growing healthy grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/grass-lawn-diseases-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-09-25 21:29:03","excerpt":"<p>Why do some yards in a neighborhood look terrible, when others look great? The reason could be a lawn disease. Learn more about the ways to prevent this problem.<\/p>","slug":"grass-lawn-diseases","description2":"","seo_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grass & Lawn Diseases | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about different grass and lawn diseases that could be infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["grass-lawn-diseases"],"url_override":""},{"id":2,"title":"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care","description":"<p>Over the years since Spring-Green began caring for home lawns, we've seen the expectations of homeowners change. Back in the early days, a proper <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> program and feeding the starving turf was a big improvement when it came to growing grass. Well, lawn care has moved a long way since then. In fact, home lawns today are looking more and more like well-tended golf course fairways.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rc71jXV8d-I?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong><em>All-Season Lawns Take All-Season Care<\/em><\/strong> The effect is dramatic and beautiful. Home lawns and entire neighborhoods are more attractive, useful, and valuable today than they were 20 years ago, thanks in part to <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care services<\/a>. From early spring until late into fall, home lawns are staying thicker, more weed-free and keeping better color than ever before. Many golf courses maintain huge staffs to tend to their turf every single day - 7 days a week! Superintendents know from years of experience that if they begin to let things \"slip\" a little, the quality of the turf changes fast. That's why they have careful timetables for everything from lawn fertilization and weed control to <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\">mowing<\/a>. By following a professional lawn care plan, they're able to provide golfers with dependably high quality turf to use and enjoy. The same is true for your home lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our job at Spring Green is to provide you with high quality turf all season long. And we can do just that (with your help of course). Our programs are carefully laid out to give your lawn just the right treatments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Healthy-Lawn-Benefits-Infographic.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthy, growing grass<\/a> at just the right times. Our <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">pest controls<\/a> are changed and adjusted to each season, from early spring through late fall. And when any part of the yard care program begins to \"slip\", or is missed, there's almost always a change (for the worse) in lawn quality. So work with \u2014 and trust \u2014 your Spring Green professionals. By using our all-season lawn care service program and following our suggestions, you'll have an all-season lawn you'll be proud to enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Aerating Your Lawn&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals\/\" title=\"How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals\">Animal Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:23","excerpt":"<p>Learn how lawn fertilization, weed control, core aeration and other lawn care services make your lawn the best it can be.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-consistent-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Consistent Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to provide your yard with consistent lawn care? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-consistent-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":56,"title":"5 Mowing Tips That Will Get Your Lawn In Shape","description":"<p>A beautiful lawn is never an accident. And among all of the strategies for grass care that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Keeping your lawn a cut above the rest is really very simple. Just remember these <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/mowing-best-practices-infographic.jpg\">mowing techniques<\/a>, and you'll be well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: \"Grasscycling\" Helps Fertilize Your Lawn<\/h2><p><em>\"Should I catch my clippings when I mow?\"<\/em> No! It's almost never a good idea to collect clippings from your lawn for several good reasons. Clippings return a lot of nutrients to the lawn and help with fertilizing. They do not add to thatch, and there's no more room for them in landfills anyway. Clippings \"recycle\" as much as 15% of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied. This means a lawn that \"grasscycles\" can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting your clippings lie will tap into the natural cycle of nature, and save you time and effort during routine lawn mowing.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Make Sure You're Controlling Thatch Build-Up<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of living and dead roots and stems that form on top of the soil. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when thatch builds up faster than the soil can break it down, all sorts of lawn maintenance problems start to crop up. The misunderstanding is that grass clippings add to this thatch. This just isn't true. Thatch is made up mostly of roots and stems, not grass blades. Bagging the clippings does not reduce thatch build-up. <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">Core aeration<\/a> will help control thatch more than bagging grass clippings.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Mow Your Grass High<\/h2><p>The first guideline for growing grass is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">weed control<\/a>, conserves water by shading the soil, and has more food producing ability. Weed and crabgrass seeds need plenty of sun and heat to sprout. Because of this, taller grass is one of the best methods of weed prevention you can use. Shading the soil by mowing higher also reduces water loss from evaporation. Cutting too short or too much off at once is <em>Scalping.&nbsp;<\/em>When you set the blade too low, you may remove most of the food producing parts of the plant. The result is a brown lawn that takes weeks and weeks to recover.<\/p><h3>Recommended Mowing Heights:<\/h3><p>\u2013 Bermuda Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Zoysia Grass 1\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 Centipede Grass 1\u00bd\u201d to 2\u201d \u2013 St Augustine Grass 3\u00bd\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Tall Fescue Grass 3\u201d to 4\u201d \u2013 Bluegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Perennial Ryegrass 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u201d \u2013 Fine Fescue 2\u00bd\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d<\/p><h2>Tip #4: Don't Mow Too Much - But Make Sure You're Mowing Enough<\/h2><p>Mowing at the right frequency is the second grass care rule to keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season. Turf grass produces more top growth during the spring and fall, and your mowing schedule should match the growth of your lawn. During periods of heavy growth, once a week may not be enough, while every ten days might be fine during the summer. The key to mowing frequency is to <em>never remove more than 1\/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing<\/em>.<\/p><h2>Tip #5: Maintain a healthy lawn by sharpening and balancing your mower blade<\/h2><p>We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. Having the blade sharpened and balanced once per year is usually not enough, especially on larger properties. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened 2 to 3 times per year. Remember<em>:<\/em> always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area. By following these easy grass and lawn care rules, you'll always keep your lawn on the cutting edge.<\/p><h2>Things to remember when cutting grass:<\/h2><ul><li>The common perception that clippings add to thatch has been disproved by university research.<\/li><li>Grass clippings left on the lawn return up to 15% of the nutrients applied in lawn fertilizer.<\/li><li>Up to 10% of landfill space has been used by grass clippings, and we're running out of space.<\/li><li>Mow the turf high. Set the mower on one of the highest settings. Never remove more than 1\/3 of the blade height at a time.<\/li><li>Mow more often during periods of heavy grass growth.<\/li><li>Keep the blade sharp for a clean cut.<\/li><li>Never handle the blade without disconnecting the spark plug wire first.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-mowing-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-11 16:41:29","excerpt":"<p>How short is too short for you mow your lawn? Should you gather up those clippings after you've cut the grass? We have the answers. Read through our lawn mowing tips.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-mowing-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Mowing Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about best practices for mowing your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-mowing-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":66,"title":"Summer Lovin' for Your Lawn","description":"<p>Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year, or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: They work at it! \"This is the time of year people are enjoying their outdoor spaces the most, so it\u2019s necessary these areas are in tip-top shape,\" says Harold Enger, Certified Turfgrass Professional and Certified Ornamental Landscape Professional. \"Keeping lawns healthy now will make preparation for the cooler weather much easier when the time comes.\" Here are some tips from Enger to keep lawns and trees looking their best from the beginning of the summer to the end.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>1. Address Pests:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape, but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keeping an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails, or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. Insects that bore into the trunk, or develop in the tips of pine trees, however, can be harder to locate. If you see a D-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree, that is an indication of a flat-head borer like the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, putting many other states at risk for sporadic outbreaks. Enger says to <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> a lawn care professional, or county extension office, immediately if your Ash is beginning to die at the top, as it could be an indication of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects. The most obvious sign of surface-feeding insects in turf is thinning or loss of color. If you notice pencil-sized holes, it\u2019s possible your lawn has Sod Webworm. Enger says <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a> professionals like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care are trained to inspect and treat lawns for insect damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>2. Beware the Brown Patch:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>While <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/brown-patch\/\" title=\"Brown Patch\">Brown Patch<\/a> can occur with any turf type, Tall Fescue lawns are extremely susceptible to the deadly disease. It is often mistaken for heat or drought stress, but it is quite different. Warning signs include extended periods of hot, humid weather; infected turf areas taking on a purple-green cast; irregular, watersoaked and sometimes brown-rimmed spots on leaves; and areas that look \u2018drought-stressed\u2019 or \u2018under-watered\u2019. St. Augustine Grass lawns can be susceptible to Brown Patch in the fall in the deep south. Since Brown Patch is a soil-borne disease, it will most likely keep coming back, but to minimize risk and susceptibility, Enger says to water only in the early morning hours and never at night, cut your lawn three inches high to ensure no more than 1\/3 of the grass blade is removed, and never apply fertilizer to the affected areas.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>3. Watch Your Water:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>When Mother Nature doesn\u2019t supply enough rainfall, supplemental <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">watering<\/a> is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn. Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn\u2019s lifespan, too little water can lead to turf that\u2019s more susceptible to disease, insect, and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing. Instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system to come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone -- a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface. Enger says you can use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best. Watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark, and moist for an extended period of time. If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant- the turf\u2019s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type, says Enger. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>4. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing<\/a> is a simple process, but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by determining what type of grass you have. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass, usually only found in the south, can handle shorter cutting heights between 1 \u00bd &nbsp;and 2 inches. Other southern turfs like St. Augustine Grass and Centipede Grass, along with all northern turfgrasses like Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue should be cut higher at 2 \u00bd to 3 \u00bd inches. Start by setting your mower deck to 2\u00bd to 3\u00bd inches -- Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height -- and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth. Running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help. Since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it\u2019s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried, or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, Enger says that because grass is between 80- and 90-percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>5. Fight Back Against Weeds:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer, and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating process. Enger says the weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed, and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand, because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective. The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed, and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, Enger says you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Visit our <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">Individual Services<\/a> page to learn more about Spring Green lawn care services.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our Best Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control-prevention\/\" title=\"Weed Control and Prevention\">Managing yard weeds&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/summer-lovin-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:21","excerpt":"<p>Tips to get your lawn the envy of the neighborhood!<\/p>","slug":"summer-lovin-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Summer Lawn Care | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to properly care for your lawn throughout the summer? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["summer-lovin-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":63,"title":"Seeding Your Lawn","description":"<p>Winter takes a toll on your lawn, leaving thin and weak areas. We know that we have to wait as the other plants follow their normal growth habits, but our lawn is another story. We are able to control the growth of our lawn. We are the\"'master of the lawn\". We have the tools, we have the lawn care technology, and we have the satisfaction of knowing everything about growing grass. How difficult can <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\">seeding a lawn<\/a> be? You throw some fertilizer on it, throw some seed on it, water it a little and, viola, a picture perfect lawn. Right? - Wrong.<\/p><h2>Feed The Grass - Not The Birds<\/h2><p>Take some grass seed, spread it around the lawn, and it is finished. If your goal is to feed the birds, then follow that process.<\/p><p>If it was as easy as all that, then a multi-million dollar lawn service industry built around caring for home lawns would not exist. Most homeowners do not have the experience or expertise to provide the correct amounts of fertilizers and pest control products to sustain a healthy lawn. Most do not even mow or water properly. This is why <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>, such as those provided by Spring-Green, are so important to homeowners. Of all the practices of good turf maintenance, seeding a lawn is probably one of the most misunderstood. Before you begin seeding your lawn, make sure to ask yourself these questions:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><strong>\"Why Am I Reseeding?\"<\/strong>This is the first question you should ask.<ul><li>Are there bare spots that require new lawn care?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin and weak due to shady conditions?<\/li><li>Is there damage that needs lawn repair from past insect or disease activity?<\/li><li>Are there areas that are thin due to repeated foot traffic or pet activity?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><p>You need to assess the need for new lawn seeding before you proceed. Spots, smaller than a salad plate, will generally fill-in, assuming the lawn receives the recommended <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">fertilization<\/a> application that type of grass requires. Larger areas will need lawn repair in some fashion.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>\"Should Lawn Seeding Be Done In The Spring, Summer, or Fall?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Seeding a lawn should almost always be performed in the fall, regardless of your location. New grass is very tender and will succumb to the heat of summer. Special conditions occur that may necessitate seeding in spring. If the previous damage is extensive or the area is very shady, it is better to seed in the spring. Wait until the weather warms up and the chance of frost has passed before seeding a lawn, however. Seed shady areas before the leaves open in the spring to allow sunlight to penetrate to the seeded area. It may require more water to keep the tender plants alive.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>\"What Type Of Grass Do I Have?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Many times, homeowners will buy an inexpensive seed they find at a lawn and garden center or discount store. It may or may not be the same type of grass that is in their lawn. If it is not, then the result is a 'patchwork' look of different grasses growing throughout the lawn. If you do not know, find out. Cut out a 3-to-4\u201d patch of grass and take it to a reputable garden center or to your local county extension service for identification. If you have a lawn service, ask them to come out to identify the type of grass in your lawn. Many lawn care services offer seeding as an optional service. They can advise you on the procedures and costs of seeding your lawn. Once you have identified the type of grass in your lawn, purchase a good blend of grasses. It is a good idea to invest in good quality seed. Use more than one variety in the blend. For example, if your lawn is a bluegrass\/ryegrass blend, then purchase a lawn seeding mix that is about 70% bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass. Try to find a mix that has three or more types of bluegrass and two or more types of perennial ryegrass. The purpose behind this is that if one type of bluegrass becomes susceptible to a lawn disease and the others are not, then they will be able to take its place in the lawn.<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong>\"How Much Seed Do I Need?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>One of the causes for the failure of seed to grow well is planting too much seed in too small an area. When too much seed is placed in a small area, the competition for space is intense. Several naturally occurring seedling blights can kill new plants. If the seed is growing too close together, these seedling blights can kill a newly seeded area overnight. There are different recommendations for each variety of seed, so check with the place where you purchase the seed for the recommended amount to use when seeding a lawn. Several small spots may require a pound or less, whereas a large area of one thousand square feet may require three or more pounds of seed. This may not seem like a lot of seed, but a pound of Kentucky Bluegrass seed has over a million seeds.<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong>\"How Do I Prepare The Area?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>If you are lawn seeding small spots or areas, remove the dead grass by raking it. You do not have to remove every single plant. If possible, break up the ground to loosen it. Breaking up the soil will provide a better site for the seed to grow. Sprinkle a small amount of seed into the spot. Lightly step on the area to affix the seed to the soil. You may wish to sprinkle a little peat moss on the area to hold in moisture. You may, also, add some bagged topsoil on the spot before seeding a lawn, but this can add unknown weed seeds into the area. Larger areas require preparation that is more extensive. Unless you have past experience using machines such as a slit-seeder, core aerator, power rake, or rototiller, it is best to hire an outside service to do the work.<\/p><ol start=\"6\"><li><strong>\"How Often Do I Water The Spots?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Keep the seeded areas moist for 14 to 21 days to ensure good germination. It is better to water the areas in the morning or early afternoon. Light, frequent watering is better than infrequent, heavy watering. Once the seed starts to come up, continue watering until the area has been mown two or three times. Follow normal <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\">watering practices<\/a> after that point.<\/p><ol start=\"7\"><li><strong>&nbsp;\"When Can I Mow The Areas?\"<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Mow the lawn as you normally do. It will not hurt the new plants. Keep foot traffic to a minimum, but an occasional step or two on the new grass will not hurt it. <strong>Sod Is A Viable Alternative<\/strong> When faced with repairing large areas of lawn, sod is an option to consider; however, there are different procedures to follow. We hope this information will help you with your plans on reseeding. As we mentioned earlier, large scale new lawn care and seeding is best left to the professionals. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green to learn more.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-slime-mold-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Slime Mold Challenges&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/shaping-spring\/\" title=\"Shaping Up for Spring\">Cleaning up in Spring&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">Summer Lawns<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/seeding-lawn-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:05:49","excerpt":"<p>Feed your grass, not the birds! Steps on how to properly seed your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"seeding-lawn","description2":"","seo_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"How to Seed Your Lawn | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best way to seed your lawn throughout the year? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["seeding-lawn"],"url_override":""},{"id":58,"title":"How to Control Lawn Thatch","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">The average lawn contains over 8,000,000 individual grass plants. These plants are always forming new parts and losing old ones. Thatch is the matted layer of dead and living stems, roots, and organic matter that forms in most lawns above the soil. Thatch is a natural part of growing grass, and a small amount is actually healthy. It conserves moisture and provides a source of new humus as it decomposes. Spring-Green helps you with thatch control through <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration\/\" title=\"Core Aeration\">core aeration<\/a> and other services.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">So Why Do We Hear So Much About The Dangers Of A Thatchy Lawn?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">When the soil in your lawn can't break down thatch as fast as it builds up, a lot of problems can result. Thatch over 1\/2'' thick becomes a breeding place for both insects and lawn diseases. Heavy thatch also encourages turf roots to stay in the thatch layer instead of pushing into the soil. Another big problem with matted thatch is how it sheds water. The principle is the same as the thatched roofs used on old-style cottages. By being thick and heavily matted, the surface keeps water out. That\u2019s fine on a house, but not on a lawn. For all these reasons, it\u2019s important to manage thatch levels as part of a good turf care program.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soil And Grass Type Affect Thatch Levels<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Some soils are able to break down thatch very quickly. Soils that are high in microbial activity can keep up with thatch naturally, eliminating the need for other management practices. Loam soils tend to handle thatch much better than either clay or sand. The variety of grass being grown makes a big difference, too. Some turfs are prone to rapid thatch accumulation (zoysia and fine fescue for example), while others develop little or no thatch (like tall and improved tall fescues). Conditioning the soil before lawn seeding and then, choosing a thatch resistant variety, are two of the best thatch preventive measures.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Once You Have It, How Do You Fix It?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">In severe cases (1'' or more of thatch), stripping the entire lawn or complete tilling and reseeding may be the only solution for your lawn repair. Dethatching using a power rake removes a lot of thatch, but also disrupts the good turf. Slicing is another alternative, but it works best only with a few grass varieties. Of all the choices for thatch control, <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> (or cultivation) is the best way to reduce and control thatch. Core aeration is simple, economical, and doesn't tear up the entire lawn (unlike other alternatives for lawn renovation). Regular core cultivation benefits the entire lawn while solving moderate thatch problems. Core aeration also keeps thatch from becoming a serious problem by speeding up the decomposition process and punching through the thatched roof over your soil.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Remember:<\/span><\/h3><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">A little thatch is good, a lot of thatch isn't.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Good lawn management keeps thatch under 1\/2''.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Reseed with thatch resistant turf types.<\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\">Practice regular core aeration to avoid more costly and severe solutions.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you have a thatch problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional for more information about our lawn repair services. We'll be happy to take a closer look.<\/p><p>&nbsp;Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-thatch-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:07:26","excerpt":"<p>A healthy thatch level is crucial to the wellness of your lawn. Learn what causes thatch build up and how to prevent it.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-thatch-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Thatch Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about thatch infesting your lawn and how to treat and control it? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-thatch-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":61,"title":"More Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p>Watering is an important aspect of good plant and lawn maintenance. Most home landscapes and lawns are not grown in a \"natural\" state. They are growing in an artificial environment, need to be supplemented with nutrients and water, as well as other cultural practices, to maintain good conditions for growing grass. Watering is one of the more misunderstood practices. In general, turf or ornamental plants do not need an abundance of supplemental water if the other cultural practices of mowing, mulching and lawn fertilizing are followed. Too much water can waterlog soils and deprive the plants of oxygen. Improper watering can lead to lawn disease development, &nbsp;and make weed control difficult. There are a few general rules that apply to any watering situation.<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVkryiUngzw?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p><strong>Rule #1:&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Find out how much water is required for your grass, plants, or other landscape elements - do not overwater them.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learning how to control your <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> and how much water is required for grass (<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">read more<\/a> in our original watering article) is critical to a responsible, healthy watering plan. As you're developing a watering plan, remember:<\/p><ul><li>Light, frequent water encourages a shallow root system. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 6\u201d. For proper grass care, this generally means leaving a sprinkler in one location for at least one hour, depending upon water pressure and the sprinkler style and output.<\/li><li>Annual plants and vegetables need extra water during their early growth period. This is especially true of transplants. Once established, these plants need water when they begin to show signs of wilting.<\/li><li>For perennial or woody ornamental plants, it is usually a feast or famine situation. The goal is the same, though. Wetting the soil to a depth of 6\u201d is generally adequate for these types of plants.<\/li><li>The use of mulch is an excellent way to retard water losses from the soil.<\/li><li>Large, established trees and shrubs usually do not require supplemental water, except during extreme drought conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Rule #2: Do not water your lawn and plants at night.<\/strong> The second rule of grass and lawn care is to avoid watering at night if possible. Lawn disease activity will increase if there is available moisture on the leaf or stem surface when it gets dark. If it is cool, dark, and moist, then grass diseases will develop on the plant. Allow enough time for the plants to dry before evening sets in. Watering during the heat of the day will not 'burn' plants. It is usually not the most efficient or convenient time of day to water, but it will not hurt the plants. This is especially true for turf grass care. Many people believe if you water your lawn during the heat of the day, the grass will burn. Grass grows upright, so water will roll off it. The only time there is a risk of this happening is when so much water is supplied that it puddles or pools on the lawn. This may scald the grass, but it is a rare occurrence. Space and time do not allow for a complete list of all the watering recommendations for all the plant and grass growing conditions that exist. The best source for the proper watering amounts is your local Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">professional lawn care service<\/a> or your local county cooperative extension service. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> to Spring Green location nearest you today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/spring-green\/\" title=\"Spring Green-up\">Cleaning up in Spring<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-2-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:34:39","excerpt":"<p>All living things need water. Find out some extra tips for proper watering.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips-2","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","meta_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn & Grass Care Tips: Good Watering Advice for Growing Grass","social_description":"How can proper watering provide optimum conditions for growing grass? Find more helpful lawn and grass care tips online from the professionals at Spring-Green.com","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips-2"],"url_override":""},{"id":69,"title":"The Best Lawn Care","description":"<h2>Traditional vs. Organic vs. Hybrid: Which Is Best?<\/h2><p>Whether one drives a hybrid car, buys locally-grown produce, or simply separates their recyclables from the rest of their garbage, going green is on everyone\u2019s mind. When dealing with <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> and landscaping, that mentality has held true in a different way over the years as homeowners work to achieve great looking lawns. As the green revolution continues to pick up steam, however, homeowners are reevaluating their past lawn care methods and opting to pursue more eco-friendly avenues. The number of organic products available is increasing every year, but one has to wonder how they stack up to traditional methods.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OCdYj-MOX8o?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p>One hundred-percent organic programs take a more holistic approach to lawn care by using only products derived from natural sources and minerals to feed the soil. While this is a green approach, it can take much longer to produce results. This is where many consumers find themselves at a crossroads \u2013 they want to go green, but they also want rapid results \u2013 which is why many have turned to hybrid programs which combine natural organic materials and synthetic chemicals. As the demand for greener practices continues to grow, lawn care providers like Spring Green are offering organic-based hybrid programs to their clients with more regularity.<\/p><blockquote>\u201cIf our clients want organic care for their lawn, we\u2019re going to provide it to them in the most effective way possible. Our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/organic-based-fertilizer\/\" title=\"Organic-Based Fertilizer\">organic-based fertlizer<\/a> option is the perfect blend of what our clients want and need,\u201d said Harold Enger, Spring Green\u2019s director of education.<\/blockquote><p>By using traditional lawn care method, as well as organic-based materials, our clients get the results they have grown accustomed to from Spring-Green.\u201d Since organic products alone can take longer to produce results, hybrid methods like Spring-Green\u2019s expedite the greening process. Not long after the first application, soil structure will show a marked improvement as the organic amendments promote microbial activity, increase root growth, and build drought resistance to reduce a lawn\u2019s susceptibility to disease. And for issues like weeds, hybrid programs spot-treat the individual plants instead of spraying the entire lawn. \u201cUsing organic materials alone can prove to be cost prohibitive, but hybrid programs are among the most cost-effective options out there for individuals wanting to introduce an organic element into their lawn care routine,\u201d said Enger. \u201cIf a client wants peace of mind, as well as measurable results, this method is definitely the way to attain both.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-professional-lawn-care-podcast-transcript\/\" title=\"Core Aeration \u2013 Lawn Talk Podcast\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/best-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:06:39","excerpt":"<p>Traditional vs. organic vs. hybrid lawn care? Learn the facts.<\/p>","slug":"best-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","meta_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Traditional or Organic Lawn Care | Spring Green Guide","social_description":"What lawn care strategy is right for you\u2014traditional, organic or a hybrid of the two? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["best-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":72,"title":"Getting to Crabgrass Before it Gets to You","description":"<p>One of the most beautiful parts of any really great lawn is what isn\u2019t there. That\u2019s right\u2026the things that are missing can give your lawn the smooth, even color, and texture that makes the yard look like it\u2019s covered with a deep green carpet. The absence of crabgrass is what we\u2019re talking about. That infamous invader of otherwise manicured lawns. Sprouting quietly from seed each year, crabgrass quickly develops into unsightly clumps of stalky stems and light green, broad blades that go to work smothering your good grass. Left to itself, crabgrass dies at the end of the season, leaving dead patches throughout the lawn, but only after producing and dropping as many as 4,000 seeds into the soil \u2013 per plant! Because of the aggressive way crabgrass grows and spreads in a lawn, it\u2019s especially true that prevention is better than cure. That\u2019s what pre-emergent weed control does. It stops these bad guys, by literally, nipping them in the bud. &nbsp;Forming a barrier zone in the top inch, or so, of the soil, pre-emergents put crabgrass and other seeds out of business as soon as they begin to sprout.<\/p><h2>Dealing With Crabgrass - Expert Lawn Care Advice<\/h2><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlTrlQOhH_A?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><br><\/p><h2>Controlling Crabgrass Takes Continued Care<\/h2><p>Remember, getting crabgrass out of your lawn is not a once and for all kind of thing, it takes continued care. &nbsp;In addition to pre-emergent weed control, here are a few cultural practices to remember for the very best control.<\/p><ul><li>Don\u2019t let soil dry out so much that cracks appear. This breaks the pre-emergent barrier and allows crabgrass to sprout.<\/li><li>Keep grass mowed high.&nbsp;Scalping the lawn sets the grass back several weeks and lets more sun and warmth reach the soil surface.<\/li><li>Give extra water to the lawn along pavement.&nbsp;The concrete or blacktop heats up causing quicker crabgrass germination.<\/li><li>Remember that edging your walks and drives breaks up the crabgrass barrier. You may have more crabgrass in these areas if you edge regularly.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/getting-crabgrass-gets-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:55","excerpt":"<p>A lawn without crabgrass is a dream come true. Learn how you can make that dream a reality.<\/p>","slug":"getting-crabgrass-gets","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Crab Grass | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about treating and preventing crabgrass from infecting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["getting-crabgrass-gets"],"url_override":""},{"id":68,"title":"Learn the 101 On Weed Control and Prevention","description":"<p>Weeds. These are the bushy, creeping, or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a \"weed\" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. With our <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">weed control services<\/a>, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important aspect of weed control is distinguishing between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).<\/p><h2>Combining Weed Prevention And Cure<\/h2><p>Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes, and are dropped by birds. For effective lawn weed control, it's important to have both a defense and offense planned. This means combining both good cultural and weed prevention practices with properly timed treatments. The best method of weed prevention is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf, also, helps with weed control by denying weeds the water and sunshine they need to gain a foothold.<\/p><h2>How Weed Control Works<\/h2><p>Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed, moved through the leaves, and into the roots. This is called translocation. Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed control systems actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a lawn treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular lawn weed control treatments are required.<\/p><h2>What To Do&nbsp;And What To Expect<\/h2><p>Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, mowing and watering should be avoided immediately after a lawn treatment. Wait 2 hours before watering and 24 hours before mowing after weed control applications. These practices will actually speed up the level of weed control you get. At Spring Green, our focus is on weed prevention and control - not permanent eradication. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately \u2014 or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Questions on good weed control? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green. We're your neighborhood lawn care professional!<\/p><p><br><\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PO5Zu5Se_fc?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/core-aeration-benefits\/\" title=\"Core Aeration Benefits\">Aerating a lawn<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/weed-control-prevention-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:34","excerpt":"<p>What is the most common complaint in lawn care? Weeds! Learn everything you need to know about prevention and treatment.<\/p>","slug":"weed-control-prevention","description2":"","seo_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Weed Control & Prevention | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing weeds from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["weed-control-prevention"],"url_override":""},{"id":65,"title":"Spring Cleanup Tips for Your Yard","description":"<p>Spring has sprung early this year. You may have thought that all the yard care work you did last fall would pay off this spring. You got all the leaves raked and the roses covered. All you thought you\u2019d need to do is some minor lawn care and everything would be all set and ready to go. If you really thought that, then it is probably the first time you have ever owned a home with a lawn and landscape to care for. There is always cleanup work to do in the spring.<\/p><h2>Tip #1: Assess your lawn damage.<\/h2><p>The first thing you should do is to take a walk round your lawn and survey the effects the winter had on your property. If you have a dog, you may have to clean up their winter \"activity\". There is no quick cure for dog damage except lots of water to wash the salts from the urine into the soil. In most cases, the grass will recover. If the damage is severe, re-sodding, or new lawn seeding of the areas may be necessary.<\/p><h2>Tip #2: Check your grass for Snow Mold.<\/h2><p>Check your grass for matted patches that could signal the development of Snow Mold. This lawn disease <em>glues<\/em> the grass blades together, which may inhibit the new grass from growing through the mat. A <em>light<\/em> raking to break up the matted grass will remedy this situation. If the grass was left too long last fall, an early mowing at 1 1\/2 to 2\u201d is advisable. This will remove much of the dead grass from last year\u2019s growth and allow the new growth to come through easier. A light raking of the entire lawn is beneficial. This is especially true if there are leaves still scattered across the lawn. <em>Note:&nbsp;<\/em>Be careful if the ground is wet when you are raking. Vigorous raking can uproot the grass plants.<\/p><h2>Tip #3: Wait to uncover your garden's roses.<\/h2><p>Do not uncover your roses until the danger of a heavy frost is over. When you do uncover them, clean away any soil or other organic material that was used to seal them in for the winter. This material can carry disease spores that can infect your plants. While the plants are still dormant, you can improve their health and vigor with&nbsp;these selective pruning steps:<\/p><ul><li>Remove any dead, blackened, or damaged wood.<\/li><li>Prune the cane down to healthy wood, just before a leaf bud.<\/li><li>Remove any branches that may be crossing, that are twiggy, or are growing out of the side of a cane.<\/li><li>Remove old canes at the bud union and leave 3 to 5 good ones that are evenly distributed.<\/li><li>Delay mulching around the plants as this will keep the soil cold and delay the growth of the bushes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Tip #4: Check the remaining aspects of your landscape for damage, growth progress, and needed improvements.<\/h2><p>Check your woody landscape plants for injury \u2014 particularly the evergreens. Do not be too alarmed if you do not see new growth. Wait until the buds have opened before removing any dead branches, unless they are broken. Take the same \"wait and see\" approach with perennial plants. Remove any mulch that was placed there to protect them. Some plants take a longer time to come out of winter dormancy than others do. If scale insects or tent caterpillars bothered your landscape plants last year, then you should consider spraying with dormant oil before the buds open. This material will smother the egg cases or over-wintering adults. Spring is a time of rebirth and reawakening from a long winter\u2019s nap. It is a time to set up your yard for a successful <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/summer-lovin-lawn\/\" title=\"Summer Lovin\u2019 for Your Lawn\">summer<\/a>. Getting out into the fresh air of spring can do much to revitalize you as well as your plants. Spend a couple of hours doing some&nbsp;proactive turf care and you will be rewarded with a healthier and more vigorous landscape. It will do wonders for you, as well.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/spring-cleanup-tips-yard-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:00:18","excerpt":"<p>Summer is on it's way! Get your lawn ready for the heat with these great spring clean up ideas.<\/p>","slug":"spring-cleanup-tips-yard","description2":"","seo_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Springtime Yard Cleanup | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to best prepare your lawn and yard for the spring? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spring-cleanup-tips-yard"],"url_override":""},{"id":70,"title":"How to Deal with Grass Not Growing in a Shady Area","description":"<p>There are certain situations where growing grass is impossible- for example, the area under a tree that has a large, dense canopy, on the north side of a house, or other structure that doesn't let in enough light for the grass to grow. In these situations, your only alternatives are to remove what grass might still be remaining and switch to a ground cover that can withstand dense shade, use mulch, or a combination of the two.<\/p><h2>Add Ground Covers to the Shady Area<\/h2><p>There are many groundcovers that are shade tolerant. The evergreen varieties are Vinca, Pachysandra, Liriope, Wintercreeper, English Ivy, and Ajuga. If you prefer non-evergreen plants, you can use hostas, goutweed, wild ginger, violets, and lily-of-the-valley. You may be able to find other types of shade tolerant plants by visiting your local garden center. There are a couple different factors that you have to take into account when deciding to plant a ground cover underneath a tree or similar type of densely shaded area. Depending upon the type of soil you have in an area, or the type of tree that is growing in the area, there may be roots that will compete for space and moisture with the ground cover. The area may need to be watered more often than other parts of the lawn or landscape. Adding quality mulch to the area prior to planting will help hold in moisture and make the area more attractive. Make sure that the mulch does not cover the base of the tree, resulting in what is often called a \"mulch volcano.\"<\/p><h2>Remove Excess Leaves<\/h2><p>Another important factor to take into consideration are the leaves that may fall from a tree. It is not a good idea to completely cover evergreen ground covers with leaves. Leaving a thin layer of leaves is fine, but do not cover the entire plant. Large leaves, such as from a maple tree, will have a tendency to matt down during the winter months. Use a leaf blower, or lightly rake, the excess leaves off of the plants.<\/p><h2>How Many Ground Cover Plants Should I Use?<\/h2><p>Many people wonder how many plants they should put in an area. That really depends upon the type of plant that is being used and amount of area that you want to cover. As a general rule of thumb, a quick cover can be achieved by placing plants six inches apart. The easiest way to do this is to determine the area in inches and divide it by six. That will give you an idea of how many plants you're going to need to fill in the area. In some cases, tree roots may make it difficult to plant across the entire area. In these types of situations it may be better to plant the ground covers in sections to allow them to fill in overtime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Even shade tolerant plants may not prosper if some sunlight does not filter down to the area. In these situations, it may be better to put in mulch or decorative stones. It may not be as attractive as an area filled in with living plants, but at least you can keep the soil from eroding and prevent weeds from growing in the area. If you still have questions, or you need some help choosing the right ground cover plant for your landscape, leave it up to the experts.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green professional for help with maintaining your lawn and landscape. Spring Green has a variety of other <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/\">lawn care tips<\/a> to help you keep your lawn looking the way you want it.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/maintaining-sprinkler-system\/\" title=\"Maintaining Your Sprinkler System\">How to Install &amp; Maintain Automatic Sprinklers<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">How to Protect Your Lawn from Grass &amp; Lawn Diseases&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Lawn Watering Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">How to Control &amp; Prevent Weeds<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/deal-grass-growing-shady-area-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:02:45","excerpt":"<p>Sometimes grasses have a difficult time growing in shady areas. Here are some tips to keep your shady spots green.<\/p>","slug":"deal-grass-growing-shady-area","description2":"","seo_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Grow Grass in Shady Areas | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to grow grass in shady areas of your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["deal-grass-growing-shady-area"],"url_override":""},{"id":67,"title":"Total Lawn Care","description":"<p>Why is it necessary to care for your lawn or hire a professional lawn care service company to do the work for you, when grass has been growing on its own for thousands of years without any human help? Have you ever asked yourself this question, especially after spending several hours on a Saturday morning mowing, trimming, weeding, and watering a bunch of grass? If you have a <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service,<\/a> they are probably advising you to mow it higher, water it more often, and to spend more and more of your money and time on growing grass that has already been doing just fine without much effort from you.<\/p><h2>What Is A Lawn?<\/h2><p>The best way to answer this question is to explain that grass, grown as a lawn, is not a natural system. The concept of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> is relatively new. Keeping the grass cut used to be a job for sheep. Lawn mowers have only been around for the last hundred years or so, and power mowers for much less time than that. Someone decided that a nice manicured lawn looked good around a house. From that point, it just blossomed into a \"keeping up with the neighborhood\" situation. Keeping the grass cut makes sense. It is easier to find the front door if you do not have to trudge through waist-high grass. Many little creatures make their home in the tall grass. A few of these could easily find their way into the house. Mice, snakes, and dozens of insects find the tall grass a great place to live and breed. Investing in quality grass care will provide a less desirable habitat for these creatures. At one time, only the wealthy could afford to maintain a nice lawn. With the advances in weed prevention, lawn fertilization and the availability of many pest control products, lawn care has become something that anyone can do, or can have done for them.<\/p><h2>Environmental Benefits Of Lawn Maintenance<\/h2><p>As mentioned earlier, lawns are not a natural system, and need human intervention to keep them healthy for growing grass. It is the same with a farmer's crop. Wheat, corn, soy beans, or any of the other cash crops will all grow by themselves, but will not produce the desired yields without the help of the farmer. Grass will grow on its own, but without a proper program for grass care, you won't get the pleasing aesthetic appearance to a home that consistent turf care provides.&nbsp;It has been estimated that a pleasing landscape and well-maintained lawn will increase the value of a home by about 15%. A healthy lawn has environmental advantages as well. The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, cites several environmental advantages of healthy lawns at their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org\/\">http:\/\/www.landcarenetwork.org<\/a>. A healthy lawn will aid or benefit the following areas:<\/p><ul><li>Oxygen production<\/li><li>Temperature modification<\/li><li>Allergy control<\/li><li>Pollutant absorption<\/li><li>Particulate entrapment<\/li><li>Fire retardation<\/li><li>Water quality<\/li><\/ul><p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EPA<\/a>'s publication <em>Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment<\/em>, \"Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is, also, highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.\"<\/p><h2>Proper Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Therefore, the next time you go out to mow or <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">water<\/a>, remember that your lawn plays a significant role in the welfare of our environment. We, at Spring Green, encourage you to visit these websites and learn more about the benefits of a healthy lawn and landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">Dealing with Voles&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/total-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 15:59:04","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking into lawn care but not really sure of the benefits? Learn everything you need to know.<\/p>","slug":"total-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","meta_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Lawn Care & Weed Prevention Service: Spring Green Benefits","social_description":"How can a total lawn care service make growing grass easier and help the environment at the same time? Learn more about the benefits of Spring Green yard services today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-lawn-care"],"url_override":""},{"id":57,"title":"Lawn Seeding Tips","description":"<p>Even in well maintained lawns, spot or general lawn seeding is sometimes needed. Lawns can thin because of weather, a result of damage caused by insects, or grass diseases. Some badly damaged lawns need to be completely \"rebuilt\" before regular maintenance can do much good. There are three general categories of seeding: spot seeding, lawn renovation and overseeding a lawn, and renovation. What type is right for growing grass on your lawn depends on the condition of your turf. Spring Green professionals can help with all of your <a href=\"\/service\/aeration-and-overseeding\/\" title=\"Aeration &amp; Overseeding\">lawn seeding<\/a> questions and needs. Whatever type of seeding is done, there are three important rules to follow when seeding a lawn:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li>High quality seed should always be used<\/li><li>The seed has to make good contact with the soil<\/li><li>Enough water has to be supplied to assure germination and establishment.<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Tip #1:&nbsp;<\/strong>Choose the lawn seeding system that's right for you and your turf. Spot seeding is a quick and easy way to repair things like ruts along driveways, areas worn by foot traffic, and small areas that have died for any reason. When spot seeding a lawn, use a stiff rake or potato hoe to cultivate the soil and break open the surface. Apply seed to the open seedbed and gently tamp down.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/overseeding\/\"><strong>Overseeding a lawn<\/strong><\/a> broadcasts the seed over a large area. This works well when the lawn just needs a general \"thickening up.\" Overseeding can be done along with lawn aeration or by itself, but doesn't work too well when there is a heavy thatch layer.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lawn renovation<\/strong> is for lawns that have excessive thatch, or are so thin, that only a complete rebuild will get the lawn back on its feet. Lawn renovation can be done several ways: old sod can be removed with a sod cutter; the lawn can be de-thatched and seeded; or slice-seeding can be used. Slice-seeding (or verticut seeding) is probably the best for growing grass because it \"drills\" the seed into the soil without having to remove a large amount of thatch.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2:<\/strong> Before you begin seeding a lawn, consider the current season. It's true that seeding can be successful any time of year, but spring and summer lawn seeding require more care and water, and weeds and crabgrass cause a lot more competition. Seeding a lawn in late summer or fall is ideal. Early fall is preferred because seeds can germinate faster in the warm soil and continue to establish itself through the cooler weather of fall and winter. There's also more natural water in the fall so less sprinkling is needed.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong> Whatever time of year you choose for seeding your lawn, remember to keep the seed moist until you have good germination.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #4:&nbsp;<\/strong>Sprinkle lightly several times a day during hot weather until the grass is 1'' tall.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #5:<\/strong> Avoid any type of weed control until the new grass has been mowed 4 or 5 times. Check with Spring-Green before lawn seeding. We can advise you regarding the best time to seed, the type of seed, and watering for complete success.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about... <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-seeding-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-07-31 16:36:48","excerpt":"<p>What should you keep in mind when seeding your lawn? Here are some great tips to get you started.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-seeding-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Seeding Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about when and how to properly seed your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-seeding-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":53,"title":"Core Aeration Benefits","description":"<p>Of all the things that build a healthy, thick lawn, core aeration is second only to <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">lawn fertilizing<\/a>. Core aeration (also known as cultivation) reduces thatch in your lawn while it opens the way for air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root zone of the turf. Lawn aeration is the secret to getting the most out of your other <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HiLrchd0f50?rel=0\" width=\"460\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><h2>Keeping Thatch Under Control<\/h2><p>Thatch is the layer of dead and living stems, blades and roots, that builds up on any well-maintained lawn. A small amount of thatch is a good thing, but when it gets over about a 1\/2'', it becomes a problem. Thatch harbors insects and is a breeding place for lawn disease, too. Lawn aeration removes thousands of plugs of soil from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch. As the plugs begin to \u201cmelt\u201d back into the lawn, the soil mixes with the thatch and speeds up the natural process of decomposition. By practicing regular lawn care aeration, thatch is managed and seldom becomes a serious (and expensive) problem.<\/p><h2>Everyone Loves a Free Meal<\/h2><p>Free food always brings in a crowd. It\u2019s true of your lawn, too. The growth pockets that are created when lawn aeration cores are removed put food and water in easy reach of the turf roots. The root system of the lawn actually grows toward these pockets and becomes deeper and stronger. Better roots mean a thicker and healthier lawn.<\/p><h2>\"Softer\" Soil<\/h2><p>Heavy clay soils become very compacted over time. Clay soil particles are small and tightly packed with little space for water, air, and root movement. We\u2019ve all felt this kind of \"hard\" soil underfoot, and turf grass has a tough time growing deep roots when it has to fight so hard for room to grow. <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">Core aeration services<\/a> allow the soil to \"relax\", or expand, which means roots can penetrate deeper and further. Over a period of time, this results in soil that is softer and more open. Lawn aeration\/core cultivation is one of the best things you can do to improve and grow your lawn. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring-Green with questions about lawn aeration, or any other best practices, for growing grass.<\/p><h2>Remember:<\/h2><ul><li>Core aeration helps keep thatch under control, which reduces the need for expensive renovation.<\/li><li>Growth zones capture air, water, and fertilizer, putting \u201cdinner\u201d within easy reach of the turf roots.<\/li><li>Soil compaction forces lawns to thin. Lawn aeration helps open the soil for better growth.<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p>&nbsp;<a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\" title=\"Fall Lawn Care Tips\">Fall Care Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">Common Disease Problems<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/lawn-disease-solutions\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">Animal Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/core-aeration-benefits-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:01:56","excerpt":"<p>Second to fertilizing, what is the most helpful thing you could do for your lawn? Core Aeration! Learn more about the benefits of this practice.<\/p>","slug":"core-aeration-benefits","description2":"","seo_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Core Aeration Benefits | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the benefits that core aeration can provide for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["core-aeration-benefits"],"url_override":""},{"id":62,"title":"Moss Control","description":"<p>Moss is one of nature's ways of telling us that the growing conditions are not right for your grass. Moss does not drive out grass, it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn't able to grow. <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">Lawn fertilization services<\/a> from Spring Green can help you set the stage for a moss-free yard. There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. Cool, moist shade isn't the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is suppose to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:<\/p><aside><br><\/aside><p>\u2022 <strong>Poor drainage<\/strong> - Soil that is always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning the roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Too much shade<\/strong> - Moss takes off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for grass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Not enough air circulation<\/strong> - Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Low soil fertility<\/strong> - Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it's hard for many grasses to grow. Regular fertilization is a good first step in solving this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Compact soil<\/strong> - When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can't penetrate and have trouble getting established. Aeration or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.<\/p><p>\u2022 <strong>Acidic soil<\/strong> - Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply moss and <a href=\"\/service-category\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\">weed control<\/a> products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care professional today!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">Watering Tips<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moss-control-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:33","excerpt":"<p>Having moss in your lawn is a result of the environment not being suitable for your grass to grow. Find out the steps that you can take to get your lawn back in shape.<\/p>","slug":"moss-control","description2":"","seo_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Moss Control | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control moss in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moss-control"],"url_override":""},{"id":59,"title":"Lawn Watering Tips","description":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there\u2019s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning from lack of grass care. Dragging that hose around, or turning on the irrigation system, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy environment for growing grass, and to ensure you get the most from your investment in Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care services<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">What Happens To The Water You Put On The Lawn?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf \u201cwaste material\u201d (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapor into the air. It\u2019s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four. Learn&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-facts-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">watering facts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/watering-best-practices-infographic.jpg\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;for your lawn and landscape.<\/span><\/p><aside><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9V_clvJH-v8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/aside><h2><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soils Make a Big Difference<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. The average lawn consumes about 1'' of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn\u2019t enough rain to meet the need, watering grass care is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6'' (that\u2019s about 1'' of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1'' of water at one time. Read tips from our experts to learn about using an <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">automatic sprinkler system<\/a> to help you control watering. Follow the 1'' rule, and you\u2019ll make a \u201cdeep impression\u201d on your lawn. Need help setting up a good watering program? <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care service<\/a>. &nbsp;We\u2019re your neighborhood grass and lawn care team.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Remember<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ul type=\"disc\"><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf \u201cuses up\u201d much more water in hot weather.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce nutrients.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Adjust your watering schedule for grass care to your specific type of soil.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6'' forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moles-lawn-care\/\" title=\"Moles and Lawn Care\">Moles<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/learn\/lawn-care-guides\/lawn-watering-tips-2\" title=\"Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">Damage by Salt<\/span><\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/lawn-watering-tips-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-10 21:26:50","excerpt":"<p>Are your watering practices establishing a healthy lawn and landscape? Learn about proper watering techniques.<\/p>","slug":"lawn-watering-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Watering Tips | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best practices for watering your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["lawn-watering-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":71,"title":"The Benefits of Core Aeration","description":"<h3>Keeping your Lawn Thick, Green and Healthy<\/h3><p>Most everyone understands the need for regular feeding, weed control, proper mowing, and watering when maintaining a thick green beautiful lawn. &nbsp;But did you know that aeration is just as important as any of these? &nbsp;The benefits of aeration aren't just here today and gone tomorrow. &nbsp;They continue for months after being performed and work together with all the other services your lawn receives throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The best way to understand aeration is to think of it as a re-arrangement of your soil without damage to your turf. &nbsp;Aeration removes thousands of soil cores from your lawn and deposits them above the thatch layer. &nbsp;The cores are about a half inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. &nbsp;<\/p><p>It sounds simple, but as soon as aeration is completed, a lot of good things begin to happen to your lawn and continue for months afterwards. The first immediate benefit is the creation of tiny pockets in your lawn to catch and hold water and fertilizer. &nbsp;This is especially important in heavy soils that tend to be compacted and shed water rather than absorbing it. &nbsp;You will notice the soil cores begin to dissolve during rainfall and irrigation. &nbsp;This soil is mixing with the thatch layer, helping it to decompose, and preventing a thick solid blanket of thatch from forming over the lawn. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Then, because the holes are catching water and fertilizer, the grass roots begin to grow more rapidly, getting fuller and thicker on the way. And since there\u2019s extra space, the compacted soil of your lawn begins to loosen and that means more oxygen reaches the roots so they can grow deeper without hitting hard soil. &nbsp;<\/p><p>The important final result of all these steps is the lawn will be thicker, greener, have less thatch, and hold up to hot and dry weather better than before. Consider including <a href=\"\/service\/core-aeration\/\">core aeration<\/a> in you annual lawn care program. &nbsp;It\u2019s a wise decision that will continue to pay dividends at the \u201cgrass roots\u201d level long after the aerator is gone.<\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/benefits-core-aeration-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:04:06","excerpt":"<p>Interested in having a lawn that is thicker and greener? Then you should consider core aeration. Learn more.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-core-aeration","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","meta_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Aeration: Total Lawn Care Tips from Spring Green","social_description":"Core aeration is as important as regular lawn fertilization and weed control. Learn more about total lawn care at https:\/\/www.spring-green.com.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-core-aeration"],"url_override":""},{"id":60,"title":"Moles and Lawn Care","description":"<h3>Is It Really Necessary To Control Moles?<\/h3><p>In order to answer this lawn and grass care question, it is important to understand a few things about moles. There are seven different types of moles found across the United States. Some are true moles and some are shrew-moles, a close relative. There are four species found on the West Coast, and the other three are found on the East Coast. They are, generally, not found in the arid, rocky areas of the country. The reason for this is that they require moist, loose soil in which to burrow. Their main diet is comprised of insects. In fact, they are classified as insectivores since they mainly eat grubs, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders. They may consume a small amount of vegetable matter, especially if it has been softened by water, but they cannot live on vegetation alone. They will end up starving to death on a vegetarian diet. Moles are often blamed for plant damage from the feeding habits of gophers, which are mainly vegetarians. Gophers will eat bulbs, roots, tubers, and other vegetative matter.<\/p><h3>Lifestyle Of A Mole<\/h3><p>The mole is especially adapted to live underground. It has a streamlined body and is covered with a velvety fur. It can point forward, as well as backward, to allow for easy movement through their tunnels. They have strong front claws that point outward from their body. The front legs are well suited to 'swimming' through the soft soil in search of its next meal. The mole has a very delicate skull and does not use it for digging. It is so fragile that a mole can easily be stunned or killed by slapping a shovel against a tunnel where it is active. The eyes are virtually useless, and may only be used to detect light from dark. They do have acute hearing and are able to detect and locate its prey through several inches of soil. It, also, has a great sense of smell. The star-nosed mole has a ring of 22 fleshy appendages at the end of its snout. These are used for feeling its surroundings as it spends more time above than below the ground.<\/p><h3>Mole Behavior<\/h3><p>Moles do make tunnels as they search for food. They will push the soil upwards as they tunnel through. These tunnels are usually temporary and can easily be pushed back with your feet. They may make deeper tunnels that are permanent. These tunnels are one to two feet below the surface and contain the nest or den for the mole. The temporary surface tunnels are connected to the permanent tunnel. A good way to tell whether you have gophers or moles is the shape of the tunnel entrance. Moles will make a tunnel entrance, or molehill, that is shaped like a volcano. As the mole digs, they will push the excavated soil back to the surface. The gopher, on the other hand, will make an entrance that resembles a mine dump with the soil pushed to one side of the hole. If you suspect voles, we also have handy tips on <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-voles\/\" title=\"Controlling Voles\">controlling and preventing voles<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p><h3>Mole Tunnels<\/h3><p>The biggest problem with moles is the tunnels and molehills they create. They are objectionable to most people and can make it difficult to mow or walk across a lawn. You can determine which tunnels are active by pressing down the soil. Moles quickly rebuild their active tunnels, so watch for ones that are rebuilt. The deeper tunnels can be more difficult to locate, so look for the molehills and trace the trails from those points.<\/p><h3>Controlling Moles<\/h3><p>Controlling moles as part of your grass and lawn care is more a matter of aesthetics than necessity. Remember, moles eat a great number of insects. If your lawn has had a recurring problem with grubs, then a good way to control mole activity is to control the grubs. You can construct barriers of stone or concrete around smaller areas. These barriers should extend two feet below the surface and should be about 6\u201d wide. Another method is to use water to flood the tunnels. The adults may escape, but the young will be controlled. Buried fencing is another method of preventive turf care. It should extend two feet below and extend slightly above the ground. Live trapping is possible by excavating down into an active molehill and burying a coffee can at the base of the tunnel. Cover it with cardboard or wood to keep out light. The moles will fall into the can and cannot climb out. Be sure to check the can on a regular basis, as they cannot survive much more than a day without eating. In case of severe infestations, you may wish to use a commercially made mole trap. There are several on the market, and their success will depend on the operator's knowledge of the mole's habits and of the trap.<\/p><h3>Home Mole Remedies<\/h3><p>There are numerous, unproven home turf care remedies. These range from Juicy Fruit gum, castor oil, castor bean plants, to electronic sonic devices. Regardless of the method, base the need on the extent of the damage. Moles can be beneficial and will aid in the overall health of your lawn. Deterring them is usually better than eradicating them. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> Spring Green in your neighborhood to talk with one of our local experts about how moles may impact your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a> efforts.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-watering-tips-2\/\" title=\"More Lawn Watering Tips\">More Watering Tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/reseeding\/\" title=\"Reseeding\">Reseeding Grass<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/preventing-salt-damage\/\" title=\"Preventing Salt Damage\">Damage by Salt&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/slime-mold\/\" title=\"Slime Mold\">Slime Mold Challenges<\/a><\/p>","topic":["1"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/lawn-care-guide\/turf-care\/moles-lawn-care-600x600.webp","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:03:18","excerpt":"<p>Is it really necessary to control moles? Find out the facts.<\/p>","slug":"moles-lawn-care","description2":"","seo_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Dealing With Moles | Spring Green Lawn Care Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control and prevent moles from damaging your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Lawn Care Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["moles-lawn-care"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2022-05-10 16:12:45","updated_at":"2025-03-31 21:50:17","description2":"<h2><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n37a4hExfXc?si=xQkg3e2NqqZs6HDR\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><br>What&nbsp;to&nbsp;Expect&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Preferred&nbsp;Lawn&nbsp;Care&nbsp;Program<\/h2><ul><li>High-Quality&nbsp;Fertilizer<\/li><li>Targeted&nbsp;Weed&nbsp;Control<\/li><li>Free&nbsp;Lawn&nbsp;and&nbsp;Landscape&nbsp;Evaluation<\/li><li>Lawn&nbsp;Care&nbsp;and&nbsp;Maintenance&nbsp;Tips<\/li><li>Free&nbsp;Service&nbsp;Calls<\/li><li>Spring&nbsp;Green&nbsp;Guarantee<\/li><li>Neighborhood&nbsp;Discount&nbsp;and&nbsp;Prepay&nbsp;Discount<\/li><\/ul>","featured_image":"\/services\/lawn-care\/service-lawn-care-preferred-program-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Preferred Lawn Care Program | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Preferred Lawn Care Program includes lawn fertilization and weed control services tailored for your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preferred Lawn Care Program | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Preferred Lawn Care Program includes lawn fertilization and weed control services tailored for your lawn. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["preferred-lawn-care-program"],"connected_guides_type":"lawn_care","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"","related_services":["Aeration & Overseeding","Core Aeration","Grassy Weed Control","Lawn Damaging Disease Control","Lime Treatments","Liquid Aeration","Moss Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"green","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":2,"name":"Perimeter Pest Control","description":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">The perfect place for&nbsp;an&nbsp;insect to nest is the foundation of your home.&nbsp;While bugs love to live in plants, shrubs,&nbsp;mulch&nbsp;and other features around your home, they&nbsp;enjoy the inside of your house even more because it provides food, water, warmth and protection.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-US\">If you commonly find ants, spiders, stinkbugs, silverfish, earwigs and other insects in your home, our Perimeter Pest Control will provide you season-long protection by eliminating any pests that try to enter.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>","slug":"perimeter-pest-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zV8ZarrEnAs?si=y7rczlzqWRYrmddV\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"6","excerpt":"<p>Get season-long protection from insects trying to enter your home. We create a barrier around the outside of your home that eliminates pests, on contact, that attempt to cross it.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"18","icon_class_name":"perimeter-pest","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-04-02 20:37:42","description2":"<h2>What are the Benefits of Perimeter Pest Control?<\/h2><ul><li>Keep insects out of your home&nbsp;<\/li><li>Season-long insect control<\/li><\/ul><h2>How Does Perimeter Pest Control Work?<\/h2><p>Our Perimeter Pest Control is designed to create a barrier around the outside of your house to repel insects from infiltrating your home. This method of pest control includes an outdoor-only insect spray that is odorless and harmless to grass, plants and soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Our trained and licensed field service professionals will apply the appropriate amount of pest control product to the perimeter of your house. After it\u2019s applied, it will eliminate any pests on contact that attempt to cross it, so you can enjoy the inside of your home pest-free and without worry.<\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-perimieter-pest-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Perimeter Pest Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Spring Green's Perimeter Pest Control service establishes a barrier around the outside of your home to keep pests out. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Perimeter Pest Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Spring Green's Perimeter Pest Control service establishes a barrier around the outside of your home to keep pests out. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["perimeter-pest-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":32,"name":"Total Home Pest Plus Rodent & Vole Control","description":"<p>The Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control Program provides a pest, rodent and vole-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-round pest protection from over 30 types of insect pests plus voles and rodents<\/li><li>Highly effective Exterior Rodent Reduction System<\/li><li>All-natural vole repellent treatments<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify pests' points of entry<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal pest activity<\/li><li>Interior trapping and removal of mice and rats as needed<\/li><li>Licensed and Trained Pest Service Professionals<\/li><li>Environmentally conscientious approach<\/li><li>Free service calls between visits<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of AR, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","slug":"total-home-pest-plus-rodent-and-vole-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"","service_category":"1","excerpt":"<p>Includes the same great service as our Total Home Pest Control PLUS rodent and vole control. The Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control Program provides a pest, rodent and vole-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-round pest protection from over 30 types of insect pests plus voles and rodents<\/li><li>All-natural vole repellent treatments<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify pests' points of entry<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of KS, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"37","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2022-05-04 01:17:26","updated_at":"2025-10-06 20:44:12","description2":"<h2>How Does The Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control Program Work?<\/h2><p>Our Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control Program is designed to keep your home free from pests, rodents and voles all year long. Coverage includes routine, automatic visits strategically spaced throughout the year along with access to unlimited, free service calls as needed upon request.<\/p><h3>Inspection<\/h3><p>Each visit includes a comprehensive exterior inspection by one of our trained and licensed pest professionals who will identify pest, rodent and vole presence, assess activity levels, locate vole runways and potential points of pest or rodent entry, and implement a customized pest control treatment approach.<\/p><h3>Tailored Plan<\/h3><p>Our team will develop and execute a tailored pest, rodent and vole control plan designed to establish and maintain a pest and rodent-free environment outside your home so that insects, rats and mice never become a nuisance inside your home and vole populations are eliminated from your yard.<\/p><h3>Well Timed Visits<\/h3><p>Visits are strategically spaced for seasonal pest activity. Each visit includes a multi-step application inspection and treatment process that targets established pest, rodent or vole populations and prevents new ones from arising.<\/p><h3>Service Calls<\/h3><p>In the unlikely event covered pests persist between routine visits, we will come back to diagnose the problem and re-treat as necessary. Your coverage includes unlimited additional service calls at no additional cost.<\/p><h2>What Pests Will Be Eliminated?<\/h2><p>Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control Program provides protection against a broad spectrum of common household pests.<\/p><ul><li>Voles<\/li><li>Mice<\/li><li>Rats<\/li><li>Ants<\/li><li>Carpenter Ants<\/li><li>Spiders<\/li><li>German cockroaches<\/li><li>Brown banded cockroaches<\/li><li>Centipedes<\/li><li>Millipedes<\/li><li>Pillbugs<\/li><li>Crickets<\/li><li>Earwigs<\/li><li>Booklice<\/li><li>Beetles<\/li><li>Weevils<\/li><li>Flies<\/li><li>Drain Flies<\/li><li>Fruit Flies<\/li><li>Moths<\/li><li>Hornets<\/li><li>Wasps<\/li><li>Stink Bugs<\/li><li>Carpenter Bees<\/li><li>Boxelder Bugs<\/li><\/ul>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-total-home-pest-plus-rodent-and-vole-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Your Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control program provides year-round pest, rodent and vole protection inside and outside your home against 30+ insect pests and control of rats, mice and voles. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Your Total Home Pest Plus Rodent and Vole Control program provides year-round pest, rodent and vole protection inside and outside your home against 30+ insect pests and control of rats, mice and voles. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-home-pest-plus-rodent-and-vole-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":23,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs","description":"<p>Grubs \u2014 these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9GIz00PmUI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"299\" height=\"229\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn \u2014 making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as \"baby grubs\" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they \"pupate\" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not \"damaging\" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn treatment services<\/a> to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard <a href=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/grub-infographic-onepage.pdf\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are lawn grubs making a meal of your turf? Find out how to fix the problem before complete lawn repair is required.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Grubs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control and prevent grubs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2023-07-18 20:56:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs"],"url_override":""},{"id":31,"title":"Controlling Ants of North America","description":"<p><strong>Ants of North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many more beneficial insects than there are destructive or injurious ones. There are predacious insects, insects that act as plant pollinators, insects that provide medicinal benefits, insects that feed on dead organic material, and insects that provide aesthetic benefits. Many insects may be pests at times, but they can also provide numerous benefits. A prime example is a spider in a house. Seeing a spider causes many people to reach for a shoe or newspaper to dispose of it quickly. Spiders are more likely to capture and devour many more injurious insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, and flies, than cause a threat to humans. Another greatly feared insect is the ant. The Argentine Ant is a notorious home invader in the west and south. They feed on many other pests, such as subterranean termites, in and around the &nbsp;house. They recycle dead organic material to the soil, providing assistance with lawn fertilization. On one hand they can be a nuisance, but on the other, a great benefit.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Over 400 species of ants inhabit North America<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>All ants are social creatures, meaning they live in colonies with a queen, workers, and males. Some species, also, have soldiers to guard and protect the others. It is estimated that there are 12,000 to 14,000 species of ants, but only about half have been identified. In round numbers, it is estimated that over a quadrillion ants exist on the planet. An even more interesting estimate about the insect world, is that the number of ants comprises only about 0.1% of the total insect population. Out of all the species on the planet, ants are one of the dominant forms of life in our lawns and homes. There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. Some are parasitic to other insects including other ants, and some are plant eaters. Many others are omnivores and feed on both plants and flesh of vertebrates and invertebrates. Their food source may be alive or dead.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Most of the species do not cause direct harm to humans, but a few can cause a painful sting, such as the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. There are some that do bite and inject a secretion into the wound. Many of the home invaders are mainly a nuisance and generally do not cause excessive damage, except for carpenter ants. They may enter a home through cracks or holes in the foundation, or around unsealed openings of an outside water spigot or air conditioning line. The best defense against ants is usually prevention. Seal food containers and do not leave food out, uncovered. Seal cracks and outside openings that may allow them to enter. Ant control can be as easy as wiping them up with a damp sponge, or as extensive as hiring an exterminator.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>One of the species that are found in lawns is the Little Black Ant that makes a crater of very fine soil around their nest opening. They rarely enter homes. The damage they may cause to a lawn is minor and usually not worth worrying about. Occasionally, their nest can get large and may cause some aesthetic damage to the lawn. If the area is flooded with water, it will often reduce the populations and the grass will recover. In extreme cases, a chemical insect control can be applied. It is best to consult the local county extension service for regional recommendations. The other species that concerns many homeowners in the warmer climates of the south is the <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ant<\/a>. Insects are part of our natural world. They cause more psychological discomfort than physical problems. Ants are mainly beneficial to our well-being, even though they can be a nuisance. It is better to try managing their populations, rather than eliminating them entirely. The <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn service<\/a> experts at your local Spring Green can help advise you on the best strategies for effectively managing ant populations in your lawn.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">ottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies\">Crane Flies<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are over 400 species of ants that inhabit North America. These pests are often seen as a nuisance but they also provide benefits to our environment. Learn more about them and how to best control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-ants-north-america","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants can be a big problem for your lawn. Have questions about the best ways to deal with them? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:36","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-ants-north-america"],"url_override":""},{"id":32,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes","description":"<p><strong>Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Millipedes and centipedes are often confused for each other. Millipedes are usually dark colored and have two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes, on the other hand, come in many colors and sizes and have only one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes are, generally, slow moving creatures that break down dead plant material. They are beneficial to your garden as they feed on the dead plant material and return <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> nutrients to the soil.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Varieties of Millipedes and Centipedes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Centipedes are predacious, feeding on many harmful insects that can damage your landscape plants. They are very fast runners. The fastest are the ones with the fewest number of legs. They will rise up as they run and settle back down when they stop. There are about 3,000 centipede species throughout the world. They all possess a poison gland that opens through their jaws. None of the species are known to be very dangerous, although, there are species in the southwestern U.S. that can cause a temporarily painful bite.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Both millipedes and centipedes can be found hiding in the damp soil under rocks or boards. They often emerge from compost that is turned over, or when digging in the soil. Sometimes you may find a centipede in your house. This is normally a species known as the house centipede. They, also, exist outdoors and can be found across the U.S. as well as Europe.&nbsp;<\/p><p>They have 15 pairs of legs, are about one 1\u201d long, and are often found running across the floor or walls. They hunt many insects that may already be in the house, such as flies. They don't bite and will help to rid the house of other insect pests. Before you decide to swat a centipede or millipede with a newspaper, or crush it under your foot, remember they are very beneficial to the overall well-being of your lawn and garden. They are not attractive and do look menacing, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets\/\" title=\"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets\">Mole Crickets&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Are millipedes and centipedes bad for your lawn care? They actually help return lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Find out more.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes & Centipedes | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling millipedes and centipedes in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:13","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":33,"title":"Controlling Fire Ants","description":"<p><strong>Fire Ant Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color and small size (1\/8 to 1\/4\u201c long). Most people identify them by their fiery sting that will result in a small bump or pustule on the skin. They will rapidly swarm around the mound if it is disturbed in an effort to protect their queen. Besides their fiery sting, Fire Ants will cause other problems. They will construct a mound that can be up to 3 feet tall or larger. These mounds can disrupt mowing or other types of maintenance practices.<\/p><aside><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yi5jFUb1jmQ?feature=player_embedded\" height=\"229\" width=\"299\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><br><\/p><p>Controlling Fire Ants is often a larger task than most homeowners can handle. This is especially true when the infestation is extensive. Fire Ants are a pest problem that has become a part of life in many southern states. Complete eradication is impossible. The goal is to manage their activity and reduce the problems and annoyances associated with their foraging and nest-building. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply fire ant control products.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Check out our other videos:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tFGxi7KBpc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"How to Control Fire Ants - Expert Lawn Care Tips \">How to Control Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-fire-ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Fire Ants can be identified by their reddish color, small size and fiery sting. Learn more about these insects and how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-fire-ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Fire Ants | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control a fire ant problem in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:51:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-fire-ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":34,"title":"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale","description":"<p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Have you ever looked up into one of your trees and it appears that someone has glued popcorn to the branches? Worse yet, have you ever parked your car in the shade and come back to find sticky sap covers it? The same may be true of your lawn furniture, or deck, if they are located under shade trees. The cause of this annoyance is a tiny insect known as Cottony Maple Scale. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Types of Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are many types of scale insects and several of those produce a white cotton-like mass. Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. The female passes the winter as a small, brown scale less than 1\/8\u201d long. They attach themselves to the bark of small branches and twigs. In the spring, as soon as the sap of the tree starts to flow, the female grows rapidly and begins to deposit her eggs in the cottony mass of wax that she secretes under her protective scale cover. So much wax is secreted that the scale will rise off the branch and the female will be pushed from her protective shell.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Cottony Maple Scale Characteristics<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The cottony mass resembles popcorn and, if the population is high, the \u2018kernels\u2019 will line up along the branches and twigs. The female will deposit 1,500 to 3,000 eggs before she dies. The eggs hatch in June and July. The tree may become weak if the infestation is severe and repeats for several years. The weakened tree is more susceptible to attacks from bark beetles or other boring insects. Mating occurs when the crawlers mature in August or September. The males emerge as small winged individuals that have non-feeding mouthparts. They will mate and die within one or two days. After mating, the females will crawl back to the branches and twigs of the tree where they will spend the winter. They will produce a hard shell to protect themselves during that time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Cottony Maple Scale<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>A <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> application of dormant oil in the late winter\/early spring will help to control the over-wintering females.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Damage may result on certain plants when sprayed with dormant oil, so it is important to read and follow all label directions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several predacious insects feed on different stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. Many wasp and fly parasites are known to feed on the mature females. The Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle (named for the two striking red spots against a jet black shell) is a major predator of all stages of the Cottony Maple Scale. The female will adjust her egg production to the population of the Cottony Maple Scale. Since the Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle is so efficient in controlling the scale population, it is usually not necessary to spray for the crawlers. Many tree maintenance products that are used to control the crawlers will, also, control the predators that feed on them. Dormant oil applications are the best defense against future outbreaks of the Cottony Maple Scale. Once again, <strong><em>please read and follow all label directions of any lawn and tree care product that you use<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional to receive the proper advice, products, knowledge, and timing to control Cottony Maple Scale or many other landscape problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/tree-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Maple Scale insects are identified by a hard shell that protects them from predators and the weather. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-cottony-maple-scale","description2":"","seo_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","meta_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Cottony Maple Scale | Spring Green Tree Care Guide","social_description":"If you have a cotton-like mass in your trees, you've got a Cottony Maple Scale problem. Consult Spring Green's Tree Care Guide to eliminate these insects!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:06:56","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-cottony-maple-scale"],"url_override":""},{"id":29,"title":"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks","description":"<p><strong>Flea &amp; Tick Control<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are an estimated 1,600 species of fleas. Fleas are blood-sucking insects which cause great pain, discomfort, and they are carriers of disease. Ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals including humans. Ticks can drain away the vitality and vigor of the animal they attack and they are known to spread and carry serious diseases.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fleas and ticks can be controlled with proper treatment. If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. With heavy infestation, it is recommended that on the same day your lawn is treated initially, you should have your pets sprayed, dusted, or dipped, as well as, have your house treated indoors.&nbsp;<\/p><p>We offer an outdoor flea and tick control treatment. For best results, two treatments spaced two or four weeks apart are recommended. Your Spring Green professional is trained and licensed to apply outdoor flea and tick control products.&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional today.<\/p><aside><iframe width=\"460\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/55ZBOfG_0fE?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/aside><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Grubs&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identifying-controlling-millipedes-centipedes\/\" title=\"Identifying and Controlling Millipedes and Centipedes\">Millipedes and Centipedes<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>If you have a heavy infestation of fleas and\/or ticks, ridding your pets and property of these irritating insects is a little more complex than a treatment of your lawn. Learn more about the steps to rid your home of these insects.<\/p>","slug":"treating-lawn-fleas-ticks","description2":"","seo_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Flea & Tick Lawn Care | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and eliminating flea and tick problems in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:49:19","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["treating-lawn-fleas-ticks"],"url_override":""},{"id":28,"title":"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape","description":"<p><strong>Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world. If earwigs have a bad reputation, it's unjust and unearned. It may have started in Europe, their place of origin. The unconfirmed tale is that an earwig would enter the ear of a sleeping person and bore its way into the unsuspecting person\u2019s brain. Hollywood movies have added to the yarn by using a similar type of creature for the purpose of torture and horror. There is absolutely no truth to the tale.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Benefits of Earwigs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs are, although ugly, more beneficial than they are destructive to your <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard care program<\/a>. While some species will feed on plants or ripe fruit, they mostly feed on other insects or decaying vegetation. Their appearance is made threatening by the long pinchers on their posterior. These are, actually, used to defend against predators. The pinchers may look menacing, but they will not harm people. The female lays her eggs in the top couple of inches of soil. She is one of the few insects that tend to her eggs, gathering them up if they get scattered. She defends her young for the first couple of weeks of their life. Babies only a mother could love.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Home<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Earwigs may enter homes looking for food or a place to hide.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>They may be a pest, but they are not a threat<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you do find them, use a vacuum to suck them up. To keep them from entering your home, seal any cracks or crevices. Maintain a dry border around the house by removing any excess mulch or other organic material that lies against the house. It is a good idea to prune any branches that may be touching the house. This is a good idea not just for earwigs, but termites, ants, and numerous other pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Earwigs in the Garden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If there are large numbers in your garden, trapping them is a better alternative than using a chemical control. Earwigs are night foraging insects so you need to go out at night to determine who is causing the damage. Earwigs are often blamed for damage caused by other night feeders. Earwigs <em>will<\/em> feed on plants when there is no other source of food, so good organic mulch around your plants will supply food for the earwigs and be good for your plants to boot. If earwigs are feeding on your plants, place rolled or crumpled newspaper in the area at sunset. They will creep into the folds and crevices of the paper to hide from the daylight and their natural enemies. Referring back to the information provided by \"<em>Common-Sense Approaches to Pest Control<\/em>,\" the authors suggest you then shake the newspaper into a bucket of soapy water and they will drown. As I mentioned, there are natural enemies of the earwig. These include Yellow Jackets and a tachinid fly that relies on the earwig for food. Unless levels become intolerable, however, advanced <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">yard control<\/a> measures are usually not required.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs make up a beneficial part of the garden environment, but have received a \u2018bum\u2019 rap because of some old folk tales. Here's how they received their name, and the advantages of this member of the insect world.<\/p>","slug":"benefits-earwigs-landscape","description2":"","seo_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Lawn Benefits of Earwigs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Not all bugs are bad for your yard. Earwigs can be beneficial to your lawn. Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide to learn how!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:48:31","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["benefits-earwigs-landscape"],"url_override":""},{"id":22,"title":"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage","description":"<p>Lawn moths are the flying adults of the sod webworm. If you've got a beautiful, thick lawn, you may get singled out to host a population of these lawn killers. The adults can (and do) fly to the lawns of their choice. They actually pick the better lawns in which to lay their eggs. Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The early warning of a possible sod webworm problem comes when you see small, brownish-gray moths flying in a jerky, zigzag pattern over the lawn in the early evening. These adults don't damage the lawn, but during these evening flights the moths are laying the eggs that soon hatch into the larvae (or worms) that actually feed on the turf. Damage almost never appears in heavily shaded areas. On the other hand, hot and dry areas are favored by webworms.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify that it's webworm damage your lawn is suffering from.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Damage first appears as dead patches scattered through the healthy grass. By the middle of the season, large parts of the lawn may be dead. Sod webworm scattered through the healthy grass are often confused with drought stress by the casual observer. Sod webworms chew the grass blades off very near the thatch layer and drag them into tunnels they build in or above the thatch. The result is patches that look like they've been scalped. Most severe damage shows up in July and August during hot weather.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know what you're dealing with before you begin sod webworm treatments.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Winter is spent as partially grown larvae several inches deep in the soil. After the first generation of adult moths have laid their eggs, the resulting worms feed for several weeks before going into the resting, or pupil stage, prior to emerging as new adult moths. There can be two, and as many as three, generations of sod webworms per season.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Locate where the webworms are in your lawn.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The surest way to identify sod webworm damage is to locate the tiny green pellets they leave as excrement. On hands and knees, spread the grass between areas of healthy and dead grass (the insects work outward into the healthy grass) to find evidence. If pellets are located, the larvae are nearby. The worms themselves are 1\/4'' to 3\/4'' long and have a segmented body like a caterpillar that is brownish or dusty green. The segments of the body each have several dark spots with two or three stiff, spiny hairs protruding from each of the spots.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when repairing sod webworm damage:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Sod webworm adults are lawn moths that do no damage to the lawn, but lay eggs in the early evening.<\/li><li>The worms (or larvae) do their damage by chewing the grass blades off at the thatch line.<\/li><li>Worst damage occurs in July and August.<\/li><\/ul><p>&nbsp; If you think you might have sod webworms, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> to see if lawn renovation or repair services are needed. We'll be happy to do the dirty work of taking a closer look.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Sod webworms attack many varieties of grass, but are especially deadly on bluegrass lawns. Find out what you need to do to save your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage","description2":"","seo_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Sod Webworm Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about damage caused by sod webworm and how to repair it? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:58:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage"],"url_override":""},{"id":20,"title":"3 Tips On How to Fix and Prevent Lawn Damage from Small Animals","description":"<p>Have you ever put a pet dog out late at night only to have him come howling back to the door, saturated in skunk spray? How about taking an enjoyable walk around the yard only to discover huge slabs of turf peeled back by a raccoon? Or been surprised by the spreading tunnels being dug by your resident family of moles? In almost any suburban setting, one or more of these things can give any lawn owner fits, and be the cause of some valid turf care concerns.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Check your lawn for grubs - animals come for the food.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property is a free meal. Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don\u2019t have any concept of property lines, but they do seem able to find food pretty well, and if you\u2019ve got it, you can expect some late-night visitors to your \u201cmidnight buffet.\u201d Although all of these freeloaders will eat a pretty wide variety of food, one of their favorites is grubs. Because grubs stay close to the surface (just under the thatch), the larger animals like skunks and raccoons can strip away your turf grass to easily get at these gray, slimy \u201cdelicacies.\u201d Moles can dig tunnels only partly underground as they search for their next meal of grubs. So as soon as you see any of these signs of feeding, it\u2019s a good idea to check carefully for grubs. Chances are you\u2019ll find some. But don\u2019t just look in the torn up areas, pull up a little turf nearby. If you find grubs, you\u2019ll probably know the reason your lawn has been invaded.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #2: Control your mole population.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Moles can be a real nuisance, especially in a well-tended lawn. Their tunnels virtually destroy the turf, and create problems with mowing, too. There are restricted use chemical materials that can be inserted into the mole tunnels by a certified technician that will poison the moles. Several trips and applications are usually required for effective control. If you have grubs, another possible solution is to eliminate this food source with a <a href=\"\/service\/grub-control\/\" title=\"Grub Control\">grub control lawn treatment<\/a> application. Since moles feed on many types of insects, this is not a guaranteed fix to the problem, but it makes good sense as a first step to inviting your burrowing friends to leave. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Put a preventative lawn care process in place to get rid of your grubs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you have grubs, it\u2019s a good idea to control them before they do significant damage to your lawn. And if you remove the food source that attracted whatever critters you have in the first place, chances are pretty good that they\u2019ll start looking for \u201cgreener pastures\u201d elsewhere. Things to remember when fighting lawn damage from skunks, raccoons or other animals:<\/p><ul><li>Any animals tearing up your lawn are searching for food. Grubs are an easy catch and attract all kinds of intruders.<\/li><li>Always try the simplest and most economical turf care solutions to any problem first.<\/li><li>If grubs are present in the lawn, consider the season-long lawn <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/total-lawn-insect-control\/\" title=\"Total Lawn Insect Control\">insect control<\/a> services available from Spring-Green.<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your local Spring Green expert today.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/moss-control-3\/\" title=\"Moss\">Moss<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-mowing-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Mowing Tips\">Mowing Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-seeding-tips\/\" title=\"Lawn Seeding Tips\">Seeding Tips<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/lawn-thatch-control\/\" title=\"How to Control Lawn Thatch\">Thatch Control<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>What attracts any type of insect-eating varmint to your property? A free meal! Raccoons, skunks, moles and other rodents don't mind tearing up your lawn for a tasty treat. Learn ways to prevent and protect your lawn from damage.<\/p>","slug":"fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals","description2":"","seo_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Small Animal Lawn Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about preventing and fixing lawn damage caused by small animals? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["fix-prevent-lawn-damage-small-animals"],"url_override":""},{"id":26,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Armyworms","description":"<p><strong>Armyworms: Species, Habits &amp; Prevention<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. They are so named because of their habit of moving in large numbers from field to field as they exhaust their food supply. It can be very disconcerting to a homeowner, when they see their lawn being mowed down by an army of caterpillars that seem to appear overnight. There are two main species of Armyworms:<\/p><ul><li><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>True Armyworms can be found across the United States and in southern Canada. Fall Armyworms are mainly located east of the Rockies and can be a major insect pest for &nbsp;warm season grasses, especially Bermuda grass. Armyworms are the larval stage of an adult, dull colored moth. The adults do not cause damage to any plant material. The females lay anywhere from 1,000 to several thousand eggs during their lifetime. Depending on the location and species, there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>True Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult true Armyworm moth is pale brown to grayish brown with a wingspan of about an inch and a half. There is a small, distinct white spot in the center of each forewing. The larvae are grayish green to greenish brown in color and have two pale orange stripes along each side of the body. The head is covered with a net-like pattern. When disturbed, the larva will roll into a tight ball. The larvae cannot survive the cold winters in the northern part of the U.S. New populations arrive from adults that have flown up from warmer climates. In the southern states, the first generation can be seen as early as February. In the northern states, the first populations generally are not seen until May. True Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. Therefore, they are not usually seen as a major pest problem. Their feeding habits include skeletonizing leaf blades or chewing leaf edges.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Fall Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The adult fall armyworm moth is dull colored, and has white blotches on the wings, which are about an inch and a half in length. The larval will range in color from light green, to olive green, to nearly black and have longitudinal stripes along their sides. They look very similar to True Armyworms, but have an inverted Y on the head along with the net- like pattern. The favorite food of Fall Armyworms seems to be Bermuda grass. When populations are large, the larva will climb up onto the grass blades as if they were enjoying the sun. If disturbed, they will drop to the ground and roll up into a tight ball. They are very gregarious in their feeding habits and will quickly move across the lawn, chewing grass blades all the way down to the crown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing lawn damage from Armyworms<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If damage is seen by either of these two insects, an <a href=\"\/service\/insect-disease-control\/\">insect control application<\/a> is recommended. The larva can go from the egg stage to mature larva in as little as three days. Timing of the application is critical to get adequate control before a lawn is devoured. Spring Green offers <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-control-2\/\">insect control tips<\/a> for a variety of insects and common lawn pests.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about\u2026<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Controlling Ants of North America&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">Controlling European Sawfly Larvae&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Treating Your Lawn for Fleas &amp; Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-preventing-lawn-grubs\/\" title=\"Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs\">Controlling &amp; Preventing Lawn Grubs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-controlling-armyworms-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Armyworms are plump, careless, striped caterpillars that feed on grasses and grain crops. Find out more about how to identify these caterpillars and ways to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-controlling-armyworms","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Armyworms | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling and preventing armyworms from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:50:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-controlling-armyworms"],"url_override":""},{"id":21,"title":"Identifying Lawn Damage from Mole Crickets","description":"<p><strong>Mole Crickets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These large, mobile insects can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. By burrowing just below the soil surface, mole crickets dislodge plants and sprigs, which dry out and quickly die. Of the four varieties of mole crickets found in southern areas, only two are considered damaging: the Southern mole cricket and what is known as the Puerto Rican mole cricket (this variety is not really from Puerto Rico). The Southern variety is far more numerous.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>T<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>hey Really Dig Your Lawn<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Just one mole cricket can damage several square feet of turf grass in a single night. They feed on the roots of grass and on a number of other organic materials they find in the soil. Subsurface tunnels are very evident, especially in newly seeded or sprigged turf areas. Areas of soil will be thrown up above the turf. These areas scalp easily when mowed. The Southern mole cricket is active except during periods of extreme cold. When exposed, these guys immediately burrow into the soil. The Puerto Rican mole cricket, on the other hand, reacts very differently. Much less agitated at being discovered, they'll often lie still and play possum. Even though the nymphs are active night feeders from the time they hatch, heaviest lawn damage does not appear until the adults are nearly too large to respond to control.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Short Life But Full Of Action<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The mole cricket has a one year life cycle which begins with the female laying an average of 20 eggs in earthen cells. She places up to 5 eggs into each of these cells. Incubation of the eggs takes from 20 to 35 days, depending on the weather. Eggs hatch faster in warmer weather. The young are called nymphs and are simply smaller versions of the adults. The young go through as many as 8 or 10 transitions (or instars) as they mature, but feed and cause damage the whole time.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>You'll Know You've Got 'em, But Which Variety?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is usually easy to identify mole cricket presence from the visible damage they cause. The insects are about 1 1\/2'' long with short, strong forelegs and feet that look like shovels. The head and thorax area looks a lot like that of a crayfish. The bodies are covered with fine, velvety hairs. The Southern mole cricket is greenish-gray, while the Puerto Rican variety ranges from cream colored to dark brown.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong><em>Remember:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Mole crickets feed on and damage every type of warm season grass.<\/li><li>A major indication is the presence of raised mounds of soil.<\/li><li>Mole crickets complete their life cycle in one season.<\/li><li>If mole crickets are a problem, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><p>Total lawn care services from Spring Green can handle any of your lawn insect problems.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs\">Snail and Slug Damage<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Mole crickets can cause a lot of damage to your yard and lawn in virtually every type of warm season grass. Learn more about how to control these insects before they damage your lawn.<\/p>","slug":"identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Mole Crickets | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling mole crickets? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:55:54","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identifying-lawn-damage-mole-crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":24,"title":"How to Control Damage from Snails and Slugs","description":"<p><strong>Snail and Slug Damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Slugs and snails are closely related to the same group as clams\u2014mollusks. They may be easy to catch, but they are difficult to find during the day. Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Their feeding is identified by \"holes\" in the leaf tissue and silvery slime trails left on the leaves. Slugs and snails feed on citrus trees, hostas, marigolds and other flowers, dichondra, strawberries, and other vegetation. Once they have become established in an area, they can be very difficult to eradicate. It makes more sense to attempt a \"\u2018reduce and control\" approach, than to go for a complete \"wipe-out\" of the slimy little sliders.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>It is best to use a combination of control methods for your yard care. Slugs and snails need high humidity to survive. Reduce their population by trying to manage their living conditions. As you space the plants in your garden, leave enough room to allow good airflow between them. This will reduce the moisture in the area and reduce the slug and snail habitat. Selectively prune plants that are holding in moisture. Mulches and other organic materials are beneficial around plantings because it holds in moisture. If you are having a problem with slugs or snails though, you may wish to reduce or eliminate the mulch. It can increase humidity and provide daytime hiding places for the slugs and snails. You will have to be the judge of which is the bigger problem, plant damage from slugs and snails, or moisture loss from the soil because of a lack of mulch. It is a good idea to remove other forms of organic matter that can become a home for them. Over-ripe fruit, especially strawberries, or leaf clutter from falling leaves, are the perfect habitats for slugs and snails. Keep fruit picked and leaves cleaned up to avoid this situation.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Snail and Slug Control Products<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>There are several commercially available molluscicides. These are sold as Bug-Geta, Deadline, and Corry\u2019s Slug and Snail Death. The active ingredient, metaldehyde, is labeled for garden use. There is, also, a yard care product called Mesurol, but it is labeled for ornamental plantings and not for garden use. Metaldehyde is an irritant. When the slug or snail either has ingested or been exposed to the product, an intense irritation occurs. The natural reaction to the irritation by the slug or snail is to produce large amounts of mucus. It will eventually die from the loss of moisture. Take special care when using this, or any pest control product, in your yard and always read the label directions. Sunlight will rapidly breakdown metaldehyde, therefore it is best to apply it in the late afternoon or early evening. In addition, slugs and snails can recover from the effects of the material, so avoid watering before or after the treatment.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Natural Methods for Controlling Snails and Slugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Salt and wood ashes have some chilling effects on snails and slugs. Those yard care products really are not good for the garden, so it is not advisable to use them. Using copper strips as a barrier against snails and slugs is highly effective. The copper reacts with the mucus, creating an electrical charge, which gives them a \"hot belly.\" Other barriers, such as diatomaceous earth, are mildly effective. Home made traps of old fruit rinds or crumpled newspapers will attract many of the creatures as they seek refuge from the sunlight. Place the fruit rind or moistened crumpled newspaper in the area in the evening. The next morning, you can either throw the \"trap\" away, or you can shake it out on the ground and do the \"slimy slug stomp.\"&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/identify-repair-sod-webworm-lawn-damage\/\" title=\"How to Identify and Repair Sod Webworm Lawn Damage\">Sod Webworms&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-ants-north-america\/\" title=\"Controlling Ants of North America\">Ants&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-chinch-bugs\/\" title=\"How to Control Chinch Bugs\">Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-damage-snails-slugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Snails and slugs come out at night and feed on ornamental plants in your yard causing damage and making your landscape plants less attractive. Learn how you can save your landscape.<\/p>","slug":"control-damage-snails-slugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Treating Snail & Slug Damage | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to deal with lawn damage from snails and slugs? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:41:03","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-damage-snails-slugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":19,"title":"How to Control Squirrels: Squirrel Problems & Prevention Tips","description":"<p>Deer are primarily a problem in rural areas or near forest preserves. Squirrels, on the other hand, can be a problem in the city, suburbs, or the country. They have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">grass and lawn care<\/a>. They will dig up your bulbs, eat all the birdseed you put out, dig holes in your lawn, chew a hole into your attic, make a mess of your garden, harass your dog, and are generally a nuisance. They can also be very cute when they hold a piece of food in their little paws and delicately nibble at it.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Here are answers to some typical questions you may have when you're trying to control squirrels:<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>What are the common squirrels species I should look out for?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The most common squirrels are the gray and black species. They mainly inhabit trees and build their 'nests' in the crotch of large trees. They may be cute to watch, but they can be annoying and destructive in their search for food and shelter. Since they can cause a variety of problems, it is difficult to give one yard control method that will work in every situation. As with deer problems, it is often best to implement several different approaches instead of relying on one.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I prevent squirrels from hurting my home and landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The first thing to do is to try to prevent their access to the area they are disrupting. If they are getting into the attic or storage shed, try removing any over-hanging branches that may give them easy access to the structure. The same is true for any decorative trim that would also allow access. If they are gaining access across utility or phone lines, there are cone-shaped shields that can be attached to the wire. Some of the commercially-available squirrel repellent products leave a sticky residue on ledges to discourage their entry into an attic or other structure. Other products are placed inside the structure and aid in keeping the squirrels outside.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What do I do if squirrels are on the inside of my house or walls?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>If squirrels do gain access to an attic or other structure, they can do a lot of damage. They will rip up furniture, gnaw at windowsills, rip apart curtains, and generally make a mess of everything. They are most active in the early morning (4a.m. to 7a.m.) and late afternoon (5p.m. to 8p.m.). They can be heard scurrying about at these times, causing mischief and mayhem. It may require the use of a live trap in these situations. There are many animal removal services and they can assist in the removal process. Live traps may be rented from many rental companies or villages. Relocation should occur at least five miles away from the point of capture to prevent them from coming back. Be sure to release them in an area where they will not become a problem for another homeowner. Pick a forest preserve or natural area and release them there.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>How do I stop squirrels from eating birdseed from my birdfeeders?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Devouring all the birdseed that is put out for the birds is one of the biggest problems with squirrels. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. Prices are more than $75, and are usually purchased by serious bird lovers. Mixing pepper-based additives into the seed mix will act as a deterrent and not affect the birds. Be careful when adding the product as it is very hot, and will cause a burning sensation in the eyes or mouth.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Is there a way to make squirrels stop digging up my landscape?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Another problem with squirrels is digging up grass and feeding on landscape or vegetable gardens plants. Pepper sprays can be used in these situations. Some other sprays have a foul odor or taste, which will act as a deterrent. Check the labels of these yard care products to make sure they can be used on edible plants. Visual repellents are usually not very effective. Squirrels normally ignore them. To prevent them from digging up garden bulbs in your yard, place chicken wire over the area. Bury the fence about an inch underground. The plants will grow through the holes in the fence, but the squirrels cannot get through the netting. Be sure the holes are at least an inch in size to allow the plants to grow through it. Squirrels can be entertaining, but more often they are a nuisance. As was mentioned with deer, squirrels are part of the environment. It is impractical to attempt to eliminate them. Reducing the amount of the yard damage they cause and putting up with a certain amount of their lifestyle is the best scenario. And they are cute! For more information on controlling and preventing the squirrel population in your environment, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/care-indoor-plants-winter\/\" title=\"How to Care for Indoor Plants through the Winter\">Indoor Plant Care<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/winter-lawn-mower-maintenance\/\" title=\"Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance\">Winter Mower Maintenance<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/binomial-nomenclature-plant-identification\/\">Plant Identification<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Squirrels have adapted to city life very well, and can be a major annoyance in terms of grass and lawn care. Learn more about how to control these pesky creatures.<\/p>","slug":"control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips","description2":"","seo_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Squirrel Problems | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling squirrels and preventing the lawn problems they can cause? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:56:24","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-squirrels-squirrel-problems-prevention-tips"],"url_override":""},{"id":35,"title":"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae","description":"<p><strong>European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Several varieties of pine sawfly larvae feed on many types of conifers across the United States. The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. The larvae look like caterpillars, but they are the young of a non-stinging wasp. The female adult will lay her eggs into a group of needles that are next to each other. She has a saw-like organ that makes a small cut into the needle in order to deposit her eggs. The eggs generally hatch before the new growth \u2013 often called 'candles' \u2013 has started. Therefore, they will feed on the older needles on one branch before moving to another branch.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larvae will reach about 1\u201d in length, are dark green, and have a black head. In late May to early June, the larvae will drop to the ground and spin a cocoon. The adults emerge in early fall, mate, and lay eggs. The larvae are normally found in groups of about 30. They can quickly defoliate several branches on the tree. They generally do not feed on the newest growth, so the tree will survive, but in a weakened state.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Controlling European Sawfly Larvae<\/strong> Selective pruning can control minor infestations of European pine sawfly larvae. If the larvae are small (1\/8 to 1\/4\" in length), then summer horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can be used. Older larvae will need to be controlled using an insect control spray using carbaryl (Sevin), or similar type of material. Remember \u2013 always read and follow all label directions for responsible tree care. If damage had occurred the previous year, check for small brown spots from the egg-laying activities of the female on last year's growth. Inspect the tree for the tiny larvae in early spring (early to mid April).&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>European Sawfly Behavior<\/strong> The European pine sawfly larvae will rear-up in unison when disturbed. It is a fascinating sight to see the little green 'soldiers' all come to attention when one is threatened or touched. It is most likely a reaction to scare away a predator, such as a bird or parasitic insect. The quick response would appear to be threatening and would probably frighten most any attacker. It almost looks like the branch has come alive.<\/p><p><strong>Types of European Sawfly<\/strong> There are several other pine sawfly larvae that will do damage that is more extensive. The white pine sawfly hatches later in the year and will feed on both the new and old tree growth. It will feed on many of the same trees as the European pine sawfly. The white pine sawfly larvae are dark-colored and have rows of orange-yellow spots down its sides. It also has a black head. While the European pine sawfly has one generation, the white pine sawfly has two. The red-headed pine sawfly will feed on the same pines as the other two, but will attack the Larch and the Norway spruce. It has a yellow body, a red head, and six rows of black spots along the length of its body. These destructive feeders are active in mid- to late summer and have one generation per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Good scouting of your landscape plants and a common-sense approach to <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and pest control will help keep these pests from doing extensive damage. Take time to inspect the plants in your landscape to inspect for insect and disease activity. Look for damage from last year and anticipate the same tree and lawn care problems again this year. Be prepared and treat the problems early so your plants will not suffer from pine sawfly, or many of the other pests, that inhabit your landscape.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department -<em>&nbsp;<\/em>Sawflies On The Internet<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>European Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2555.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><li>Redheaded Pine Sawfly - <a href=\"http:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/hyg-fact\/2000\/2554.html\">Ohio State Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/fire-ant-control\/\" title=\"Fire Ant Control\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/treating-lawn-fleas-ticks\/\" title=\"Treating your Lawn for Fleas and Ticks\">Fleas and Ticks<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/control-greenbug-aphids\/\" title=\"How to Control Greenbug Aphids\">Greenbug Aphids<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The European pine sawfly is one of the more common varieties. They feed on Scotch, Mugho, Red, Jack, and other pine trees in the eastern and southern U.S. Learn more about how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-european-sawfly-larvae","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Sawfly Larvae | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about controlling European Sawfly Larvae? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:51","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-european-sawfly-larvae"],"url_override":""},{"id":18,"title":"Controlling and Preventing Boxelder Bugs","description":"<p><strong>What's Black and Red and Really Stinks?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>You see them crawling all over your patio furniture. You see them congregating at the base of a tree. You find them crawling across the kitchen floor. If you step on them, they leave a telltale odor, and purplish stain on the floor. What are these ominous creatures that seem to be everywhere? Well, if they are about 1\/2\" long, have a black body, and three red lines crossing their back, then, they are Boxelder bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>What are Boxelder Bugs?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Boxelder bugs are more of a nuisance than a damaging insect in terms of <a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/tree-maintenance-tips\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tree maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/service-category\/individual-services\/\">lawn care<\/a>. They feed on many different plants, but their favorite source of food is the seedpods of the female Boxelder tree. They will feed on the sap of maples, ash, and other shade trees, but do not cause significant damage.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Boxelder Bug Seasonal Populations &amp; Habitats<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>They become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. The bugs are in the process of locating a hiding place for the winter. During this random search, they often end up inside of houses. They will gain entry through cracks in the foundation or siding, gaps along the windows, or any other small openings they find.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Preventing Boxelder Bugs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>Prevention seems to be the best defense against these annoying insects. If you have had a problem with Boxelder bugs in the past, now would be a good time to plug up the holes, and caulk any cracks. If they do get inside, most of the normal, ready-to-use home insect sprays may not kill them. It is best to use a vacuum to 'clean' them up. Outside, a soap solution of 5 tablespoons of liquid detergent in one gallon of water will effectively control them. You may need to spray a couple of times over several days if they are a major problem. You can spray a household insect control at the foundation to aid in prevention of their entry into the house. Be sure to read and follow <strong>all<\/strong> label directions before using any pest control product. When in doubt, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> professional lawn care service.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>More Than You Really Want To Know Department<\/strong> Boxelder Bug Control - <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag.ndsu.edu\/pubs\/plantsci\/pests\/e451w.htm\">North Dakota State University Extension Service<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in the late summer and early fall when they congregate on the south sides of buildings, rocks, or trees. Find out how to control these pesky insects.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Preventing Boxelder Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to prevent boxelder bugs from infesting your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:53:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-preventing-boxelder-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":27,"title":"Controlling Voles","description":"<h2>Voles and Lawn Care<\/h2><p>Voles, which are also known as Meadow Mice or Field Mice, are bigger than common house mice. They have a shorter tail and their head is more rounded than that of house mice. Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. The latter is especially true if there are prostrate evergreens or extensive groundcovers that provide a good hiding place. During the winter, Voles will tunnel under the snow; making winding trails about 2\u201d wide, as they feed on the grass.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Occasionally, the yard damage is severe enough that new lawn seeding will need to be done. In most cases, raking up the loose grass will take care of the problem. As long as the crown of the grass plant has not been damaged, it will come back on its own. Control is usually not recommended for voles. The damage is mainly cosmetic and the turf will recover.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/weed-control\/\" title=\"Weed Control\">Managing yard weeds<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/best-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Best Lawn Care\">Our best lawn tips&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/automatic-sprinklers\/\" title=\"Automatic Sprinklers\">Sprinkler Tips<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-consistent-lawn-care\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Consistent Lawn Care\">The best lawn results<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/controlling-voles-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Voles live in vacant fields that may surround some homes as well as under decks, storage sheds, concrete pads, and in landscape beds. Find out the best way to control these animals.<\/p>","slug":"controlling-voles","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Voles | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about how to control voles and the problems they create for your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:03","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:40:44","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["controlling-voles"],"url_override":""},{"id":25,"title":"How to Identify and Control Crane Flies","description":"<p><strong>Step #1: Identify the crane fly and try to eliminate them before new ones hatch.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. The adults, which resemble large mosquitoes, hatch in late summer, mate and lay their eggs in a short period of time. The larva, called Leatherjackets, hatch in late fall and feed well into spring. They can damage large sections of your lawn if left untreated.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Step #2: Hire a professional to apply crane fly treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p>You're going to want to let a lawn care professional handle this type of insect. Not only can the process be tricky, but the treatments should be applied by someone who has experience with the control product and crane flies in the past. Our lawn care experts in <a href=\"\/franchise-region\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> have dealt with crane flies since they first arrived on the scene, and have shared their knowledge with all our professionals. Your Spring-Green professional is trained to identify and licensed to apply crane fly control products. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">Contact<\/a> your neighborhood Spring Green professional today and stop crane flies from damaging your lawn! &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p><p>Learn more about...<\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">European Sawfly Larvae<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-european-sawfly-larvae\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling European Sawfly Larvae\">&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-fire-ants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Controlling Fire Ants\">Fire Ants<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/identify-control-crane-flies-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>The larva of adult crane flies feed on grass plants from late fall through spring. Find out the best way to control them.<\/p>","slug":"identify-control-crane-flies","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Crane Flies | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about identifying and controlling crane flies in your yard? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2022-08-04 16:54:26","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["identify-control-crane-flies"],"url_override":""},{"id":30,"title":"How to Control Chinch Bugs","description":"<p>One of the trickiest summer insects to catch before serious damage occurs is the chinch bug. Because chinch bugs favor the hot dry conditions of July and August, their damage is easily confused with drought stress or <a href=\"\/service\/lawn-fertilization-weed-control\/\" title=\"Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control\">lawn fertilizing<\/a> issues, especially on slopes and turf that is not getting regular irrigation. To catch these little creatures, you need to know how they work. Here are a couple tips to get you started:&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #1: Identify the area of your lawn with chinch bug damage<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>This insect is a small (1\/6'') sucking bug that causes brown patches of grass as a result of its feeding. &nbsp;<\/p><p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. When a lawn gets infected with chinch bugs, it looks like it is suffering from lack of fertilizer. There are usually a lot of brown grass blades mixed in with healthy ones. As more chinch bugs hatch out, the areas get larger and the brown patch areas expand. Turf in full sun and on slopes is usually hardest hit. Chinch bugs are not picky eaters. Almost any turf grass looks good to them and can be killed by this small, but active insect, including:<\/p><ul><li>Bluegrass<\/li><li>Fescues<\/li><li>Bentgrass<\/li><li>Zoysiagrass<\/li><li>St. Augustine<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Tip #2: Make sure you know how many chinch bugs you're dealing with<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>After spending the winter in protected areas, adult chinch bugs feed a little in spring and then mate. The first generation begins hatching in late May. The young (or nymphs) are only half the size of a pinhead. They are red with a white band across the back. As they mature, young chinch bugs shed their skin four times. By early August, nymphs of the second generation begin to appear from eggs laid in late July. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be either one or more generations per year.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Tip #3: Find the chinch bugs in your lawn<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p>These insects are sensitive to light, and will scurry when exposed to sun. To check for chinch bugs, go to an area suspected and simply part the turf with both hands to expose the surface of the thatch. Because the chinch bugs are so small, look for their movement as they burrow into the thatch. Check several areas to determine how serious the infestation is. Don't assume brown patches of grass in the summer are just from heat, dryness, or lack of lawn fertilization: you may actually be seeing the damage of chinch bugs.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Things to remember when looking into chinch bug control:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Chinch bugs are most damaging during July and August.<\/li><li>They suck sap from the cells of the grass eventually killing large areas of turf.<\/li><li>Chinch bug damage is easy to confuse with heat stress. It\u2019s important to check the lawn.<\/li><\/ul><p>If you think you're seeing signs of chinch bugs, <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" title=\"Contact Spring Green\">contact your neighborhood Spring Green<\/a> lawn care service. We'll be happy to take a closer look for you.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Learn more about...<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/controlling-cottony-maple-scale\/\" title=\"Controlling Cottony Maple Scale\">Cottony Maple Scale<\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/crane-flies\/\" title=\"Crane Flies\">Crane Flies&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"\/lawn-care-guide\/benefits-earwigs-landscape\/\" title=\"The Benefits of Earwigs in your Landscape\">Earwigs<\/a><\/p>","topic":["3"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-control-guide\/control-chinch-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Young chinch bugs do the worst damage by piercing the cells of the grass blades and sucking the sap. The blades that are attacked turn yellow, then brown, and then they die. Learn how to control them.<\/p>","slug":"control-chinch-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Controlling Chinch Bugs | Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Have questions about the best ways to control chinch bugs in your lawn? Consult Spring Green's Pest Control Guide for all the answers!","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:02","updated_at":"2025-01-23 21:13:52","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["control-chinch-bugs"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""},{"id":29,"name":"Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control","description":"<p>The Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control Program provides a pest and rodent-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-round pest and rodent protection from over 30 types of insect pests plus rats and mice<\/li><li>Highly effective Exterior Rodent Reduction System<\/li><li>Ongoing exterior control of rats and mice, with interior trapping and removal if needed<\/li><li>Exterior inspection to identify pests' points of entry<\/li><li>Visits timed with seasonal pest activity<\/li><li>Interior trapping and removal of mice and rats as needed<\/li><li>Licensed and Trained Pest Service Professionals<\/li><li>Environmentally conscientious approach<\/li><li>Free service calls between visits<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of AR, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","slug":"total-home-pest-plus-rodent-control","enabled":true,"service_youtube_video_1":"<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hv2qybwdLY8?si=3VLNYjY-4pvc6bTB\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>","service_youtube_video_2":"","organic_based_fertilizer":"<p>Our thorough, customized approach will help keep your home pest free. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\">Contact&nbsp;<\/a>your neighborhood Spring-Green pest control professional to check service availability and started today! Establishes a barrier inside and outside of your home. Our thorough, customized approach will help keep your home free of ants, roaches, spiders, earwigs and their friends. Includes the same great service as our Total Home Pest Control option <strong>PLUS<\/strong> rodent control, baiting and monitoring.<\/p><ul style=\"list-style: none;\"><li>\u2713 <strong>Integrated Pest Management<\/strong><\/li><li>\u2713 Highly Effective &amp; Environmentally Conscious<ul style=\"list-style: inside;\"><li>Full Home Inspection<\/li><li>Exterior Cobweb Removal<\/li><li>Caulk at pest entry points<\/li><li>Mesh over small exterior cracks<\/li><li>Treatment at all interior &amp; exterior points<\/li><li>Rotation of products to limit pest resistance<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>\u2713<strong>&nbsp;Rodent baiting &amp; monitoring<\/strong><\/li><li>\u2713 Full interior inspection performed yearly<\/li><li>\u2713 Exterior barrier reinforced quarterly<\/li><li>\u2713 Doors, windows &amp; eaves inspected quarterly<\/li><li>\u2713 Year round service &amp; support<\/li><li>\u2713 Free service calls inside &amp; out<\/li><li>\u2713 Service guaranteed<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><h4 class=\"text-m text-center\">What Pests Can Be Eliminated?<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"ss-col col-md-4\"><div class=\"circle-outline\"><h5 class=\"text-left\">Household Pests<\/h5><ul class=\"check-list text-left text-16\"><li>Ants<\/li><li>Spiders<\/li><li>German cockroaches<\/li><li>Brown banded cockroaches<\/li><li>Centipedes<\/li><li>Millipedes<\/li><li>Pillbugs<\/li><li>Crickets<\/li><li>Earwigs<\/li><li>Silverfish<\/li><li>Booklice<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ss-col col-md-4\"><div class=\"circle-outline\"><h5 class=\"text-left\">Outdoor Pests<\/h5><ul class=\"check-list text-left text-16\"><li>Ants<\/li><li>Spiders<\/li><li>Centipedes<\/li><li>Millipedes<\/li><li>Pillbugs<\/li><li>Paper Wasps<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ss-col col-md-4\"><div class=\"circle-outline\"><h5 class=\"text-left\">Rodents<\/h5><ul class=\"check-list text-left text-16\"><li>House Mice<\/li><li>Cotton Rats<\/li><li>Deer Mice<\/li><li>Norway Rats<\/li><li>Roof Rats<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><p>Got Pests? Don\u2019t know what it is? Check out our <a href=\"\/lawn-care-topic\/pest-library\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Insect Library<\/a> and see if you can match it with one of the common pests in the Midwest. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/THPC-Web-Ad_3easyWays.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"289\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14927 fr-fic fr-dii\"><\/p><div class=\"faqsection\"><p>Looking for more information about our services or guarantee? Read our frequently asked questions below or contact us for any other needs!<\/p><div class=\"accordion\"><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_1\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>Does Spring-Green require a service contract?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_1\">Yes. In order to provide optimum service and fully guarantee our work, we require a 12 month service contract.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_2\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>Does Spring-Green provide free estimates?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_2\">The application price and annual package is consistent for the majority of single family homes in our service area. The guaranteed service is designed to provide eradication of pests despite the level of infestation. For these reasons, our pricing is consistent across the board.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_3\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>How long will the service take?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_3\">Our 1st visit is typically longer than the subsequent visits. Spring-Green provides a thorough and complete inspection of the entire home as well as an extensive clean out of hot spots and potential infestation areas. <strong>For this reason, your first visit could last 45 mins \u2013 2 hours. All other visits typically last 20-30 minutes.<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_4\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What is the process for quarterly service?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_4\">The time between visits is approximately 90 days.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_5\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What is your current service area?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_5\">We currently service indoor pest control services to the greater Chicagoland Illinois area only. This includes, Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Oswego, Aurora, Wheaton, Romeoville, Montgomery, Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Joliet, Downers Grove, Tinley Park, Frankfort, and more. Give us a call for availability.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_6\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>Is it necessary to leave my home during the service? If so, for how long?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_6\">You are not required to leave the home unless certain medical conditions exist. We ask that anyone on oxygen or chronically asthmatic should remove themselves from the home long enough for the treatment to settle. We simply ask that you avoid treated areas during the time of service and up to 15 minutes after the treatment is completed.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_7\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>Will the stuff harm my children or pets?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_7\">Our products are used in accordance with label recommendations, and pose a minimal risk to people and pets.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_9\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>How long has Spring-Green worked in my local area?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_9\">Founded in Naperville, Illinois, in 1977, Spring-Green is a neighborhood-based service company. We take pride in serving our community. At home, at work, and at play, Spring-Green services affect people\u2019s lives in a positive way.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_10\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What is included in the Total Home Pest Control Program?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_10\">The Pest Control Professional will first perform a thorough interior inspection which includes baseboards, carpet, window sills, window treatments, entry ways, ceilings, corners, crown molding, sinks, under sinks, pantries, between appliances, closets, basement walls, crawl space walls. This comprehensive inspection is designed to identify specific pest problems, and eliminate established invaders. Spring-Green will clean out hot spots and establish internal and external barriers. Products will be rotated throughout the year to prevent resistance.<br><br>The second visit involves collecting data from your initial treatment, re-establishing a strong barrier, and disrupting pest life cycles.<br><br>The third and fourth visits are designed to strengthen the barrier. This is especially important when the weather begins to cool and remains cold, as invaders search for food, water, warmth, and shelter.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_11\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What certifications do Spring-Green pest control technicians have?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_11\">Spring-Green takes certification seriously and we make sure our <strong>Pest Control Professionals<\/strong> are properly trained and receive annual certification based on state regulations. All of our Team Members are required to complete an internal certification through Spring-Green University, our proprietary online Learning Management System.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_12\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What is Spring-Green's guarantee?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_12\">At Spring-Green, meeting your expectations is our number one goal.<br><br>As a Spring-Green Total Home Pest Control customer, we guarantee your reasonable satisfaction with our pest control services. Due to the habits and life cycles of certain insects, no service or treatment can expect to achieve 100% control of all target pests at all times. As such, there may be times when pests are present days or weeks after a service visit.<br><br>In the event that you are not satisfied with the services provided by your Spring-Green technician, please notify us by phone or email within 90 days after your service is performed and we will return to your home to diagnose the problem and re-treat as is necessary. Due to the habits and life cycles of certain insects, no service or treatment can expect to achieve 100% control of all target pests at all times. As such, there may be times when pests are present days or weeks after a service visit. We will continue to work with you until you are satisfied. If we are unable to meet your expectations, we may refund or credit the cost of the services. For one time applications we guarantee the results for up to 30 days.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_13\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What's the guarantee if I don\u2019t take the full program?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_13\">We offer a limited guarantee on anything less than our full program. We\u2019ll correct any problem, related to our originally scheduled visit, at no extra charge if notified within 14 days of that visit. However, if you take advantage of our full program, there is no 14-day limit with our guarantee.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_14\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>How and when do I pay?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_14\">You can prepay for the entire program up front. If you don\u2019t prepay, we\u2019ll give you an invoice at the time of service. If you are not home, we\u2019ll leave the invoice at your door for you to mail in a payment or pay online.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header closed\" data-item-id=\"acc_item_15\"><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_open\"><br><\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_header_icon accordion_item_header_icon_closed\"><br><\/div>What happens if I see bugs in my home in between visits?<\/div><div class=\"accordion_item_content\" id=\"acc_item_15\">If you notice persistent pests between service visits, call us; service calls are <strong>FREE<\/strong>. We\u2019ll come back to diagnose the problem and re-treat as is necessary, at no additional charge.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><p>*Not all Spring-Green services may be available in your area. <a href=\"\/about-us\/contact-spring-green\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Contact&nbsp;<\/a>your neighborhood Spring-Green pest control professional to check service availability.<\/p>","service_category":"1","excerpt":"<p>Includes the same great service as our Total Home Pest Control PLUS rodent control, baiting and monitoring. The Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control Program provides a pest and rodent-free environment in and around your home all year long.<\/p><ul><li>Year-round pest and rodent protection from over 30 types of insect pests plus rats and mice<\/li><li>Ongoing exterior control of rats and mice, with interior trapping and removal if needed<\/li><li>Interior trapping and removal of mice and rats as needed<\/li><li>Licensed and Trained Pest Service Professionals<\/li><\/ul><p>*This service is not available in the state of KS, MI, NC, TN, and TX.<\/p>","omni_service_id":"34","icon_class_name":"","benefit_results":[[]],"connected_services_from":"0","connected_services_to":"0","created_at":"2021-07-09 14:26:41","updated_at":"2025-10-06 20:45:02","description2":"<h2>How Does The Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control Program Work?<\/h2><p>Our Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control Program is designed to keep your home pest and rodent-free all year long. Coverage includes routine, automatic visits strategically spaced throughout the year along with access to unlimited, free service calls as needed upon request.<\/p><h3>Inspection<\/h3><p>Each visit includes a comprehensive exterior inspection by one of our trained and licensed pest professionals who will identify pest and rodent presence, assess pest and rodent activity levels, locate potential points of pest or rodent entry, and implement a customized pest control treatment approach.<\/p><h3>Tailored Plan<\/h3><p>Our team will develop and execute a tailored pest and rodent control plan designed to establish and maintain a pest and rodent-free environment outside your home so that insects, rats, and mice never become a nuisance inside your home.<\/p><h3>Well Timed Visits<\/h3><p>Visits are strategically spaced for seasonal pest activity. Each visit includes a multi-step &nbsp;inspection and treatment process that targets established pest or rodent populations and prevents new ones from arising.<\/p><h3>Service Calls<\/h3><p>In the unlikely event covered pests persist between routine visits, we will come back to diagnose the problem and re-treat as necessary. Your coverage includes unlimited additional service calls at no additional cost.<\/p><h2>What Pests Will Be Eliminated?<\/h2><p>Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control Program provides protection against a broad spectrum of common household pests.<\/p><ul><li>Mice<\/li><li>Rats<\/li><li>Ants<\/li><li>Carpenter Ants<\/li><li>Spiders<\/li><li>German cockroaches<\/li><li>Brown banded cockroaches<\/li><li>Centipedes<\/li><li>Millipedes<\/li><li>Pillbugs<\/li><li>Crickets<\/li><li>Earwigs<\/li><li>Booklice<\/li><li>Beetles<\/li><li>Weevils<\/li><li>Flies<\/li><li>Drain Flies<\/li><li>Fruit Flies<\/li><li>Moths<\/li><li>Hornets<\/li><li>Wasps<\/li><li>Stink Bugs<\/li><li>Carpenter Bees<\/li><li>Boxelder Bugs<\/li><\/ul><p><br><\/p>","featured_image":"\/services\/pest-control\/service-pest-control-total-home-pest-plus-rodent-600x600.webp","seo_title":"Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control | Spring Green","meta_description":"Your Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control program provides year-round pest and rodent protection inside and outside your home against 30+ insect pests and control of rats and mice. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control | Spring Green","social_description":"Your Total Home Pest Plus Rodent Control program provides year-round pest and rodent protection inside and outside your home against 30+ insect pests and control of rats and mice. Visit spring-green.com to learn more today.","social_image":"","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["total-home-pest-plus-rodent-control"],"connected_pest_control_guides":[[{"id":9,"title":"Paper Wasps","description":"<p class=\"text-m\">There are 22 species of paper wasps throughout the U.S. These insects can be up to 1.25\u201d long. They have dark brown, slender bodies, black wings and yellow markings. Paper wasps are sometimes confused with yellow jackets.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Paper wasps are considered beneficial insects as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people\u2014such as homes, garages and barns. Paper wasps keep harmful insects in check and pollinate various plants.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Paper wasps live in gray, paper-like nests found in trees, on door frames, windowsills and leaves. Wasps make their nests from their saliva and plant parts.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER PAPER WASPS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Paper wasps sting some people may even have severe allergic reactions to the wasps\u2019 venom. It\u2019s never wise to dismantle a paper wasp nest on your own. Instead, call your local pest control company to take it down for you.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/paper-wasps-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Paper wasps are considered beneficial insects as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people\u2014such as homes, garages and barns. Paper wasps keep harmful insects in check and pollinate various plants.<\/p>","slug":"paper-wasps","description2":"","seo_title":"Paper Wasps l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Paper wasps are considered beneficial as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it around your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Paper Wasps l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Paper wasps are considered beneficial as long as they don\u2019t make their nests near people. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it around your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2023-07-27 21:43:38","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["paper-wasps"],"url_override":""},{"id":11,"title":"Spiders","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14259 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/spiders-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-spiders\" width=\"708\" height=\"354\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">There are many different spider species throughout the world, but they all have these things in common.<\/p><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Spiders have 3-4 eyes even though the majority of them have poor vision<\/li><li>Spiders have eight legs<\/li><li>Spiders have two body regions<\/li><li>Spiders have no wings or antennae<\/li><li>All spiders are predators, and they come into your home looking for prey<\/li><\/ul><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Depending on the species, spiders make webs, live under cracks crevices or, tunnels. Webs vary by species too: funnel, orb-shaped, messy, neat and others are free-ranging.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">SPIDERS COME INTO YOUR HOME THROUGH:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Loose or open screens and doors<\/li><li>Cracks and gaps around doors and windows<\/li><li>Within items that you bring into your home or business<\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER SPIDERS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">If you have a spider infestation, call your local pest control professional to perform a thorough home inspection as well to create a comprehensive plan to get rid of them.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/spiders-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>There are many different spider species throughout the world, but they all have these things in common.<\/p>","slug":"spiders","description2":"","seo_title":"Spiders l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Depending on the species, spiders make webs and live under cracks, crevices, or, tunnels. Learn more about these 8-legged insects to prevent them in your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Spiders l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Depending on the species, spiders make webs and live under cracks, crevices, or, tunnels. Learn more about these 8-legged insects to prevent them in your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:43:49","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["spiders"],"url_override":""},{"id":5,"title":"Crickets","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14285 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-crickets.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-crickets\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">The common house cricket is a small insect that measures under one inch. They\u2019re brown and have larg back legs, long antennas and wings. Male crickets often sing at night when they\u2019re trying to find a mate.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Crickets live under rocks, logs and along a home\u2019s foundation. They\u2019re nocturnal insects and break down plant material for food that also helps renew the soil. Additionally, rodents, birds, lizards and turtles eat crickets as part of their diet.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER CRICKETS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">They are more of a nuisance with their loud chirping, but pose no real danger to humans.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/crickets-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Crickets live under rocks, logs and along a home\u2019s foundation. They\u2019re nocturnal insects and break down plant material for food that also helps renew the soil.<\/p>","slug":"crickets","description2":"","seo_title":"Crickets l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Crickets live under rocks, logs, and along a home\u2019s foundation. Learn more about this insect you may spot around your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Crickets l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Crickets live under rocks, logs, and along a home\u2019s foundation. Learn more about this insect you may spot around your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:00:30","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["crickets"],"url_override":""},{"id":4,"title":"Rodents","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14268 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/rodents-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-mouse\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">The two prime rodents that invade homes: rats and mice. Both rodents are fast breeders and are attracted to homes with trash and readily available food. Both mice and rats enter homes through cracks and holes in foundations, walls, windows and doors.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Mice and rats will live in holes, cardboard boxes, dryer vents, attics and burrows.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER RODENTS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Both mice and rats spread disease through their feces. Mice and rats will also bite humans.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Mice come into homes looking for warmth and food, and they contaminate more food than they consume. They pose a significant danger to people because mice will chew through electrical wiring that can cause a house fire. Mice and rats also cause overall structural damage to your home.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\"><br><\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/rodents-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Rodents pose a significant danger to people because mice will chew through electrical wiring that can cause a house fire. Mice and rats also cause overall structural damage to your home.<\/p>","slug":"rodents","description2":"","seo_title":"Rodents l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Mice come into homes looking for warmth and food, and they contaminate more food than they consume. Learn more about these critters to help prevent them.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Rodents l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Mice come into homes looking for warmth and food, and they contaminate more food than they consume. Learn more about these critters to help prevent them.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:46:17","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["rodents"],"url_override":""},{"id":8,"title":"Pill Bugs","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14276 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-pillbugs2.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-pillbugs\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d aren\u2019t real insects. Instead, they\u2019re crustaceans that live on land. In the U.S., the most common pill bug is the Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille).<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs are scavengers that prefer to live in high moisture areas. Since their bodies don\u2019t hold water, their bodies are more active at night than during the day. During the day, pill bugs live under wood edging found in landscapes and garden beds, mulch, flowerpots and trashcans.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs are scavengers. They eat decaying plant materials and sometimes they\u2019ll damage young plants. If they can find it, they will eat decaying animals.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Pill bugs find their way into homes through ground-level entrances, including sliding glass doors as well a garages and storage buildings.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER PILL BUGS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Except for destroying young plants, pill bugs don\u2019t pose a threat to people. Additionally, pill bugs won\u2019t deposit their eggs nor destroy household items.Indoor environment is too dry for them, and they die once they come inside.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/pill-bugs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d aren\u2019t real insects. Instead, they\u2019re crustaceans that live on land. Since their bodies don\u2019t hold water, their bodies are more active at night than during the day.<\/p>","slug":"pill-bugs","description2":"","seo_title":"Pill Bugs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d are crustaceans that live on land. Learn more about this insect you may spot in your home or outdoors.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Pill Bugs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Pill bugs, also known as \u201croly-polies,\u201d are crustaceans that live on land. Learn more about this insect you may spot in your home or outdoors.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:01:25","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["pill-bugs"],"url_override":""},{"id":14,"title":"Brown-Banded Cockroaches","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14265 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/brown-banded-cockroaches-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-brownbandedcockroaches\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">These roaches are the smallest of invasive cockroaches with adults measuring between 1\/4\u201d \u2013 2\/3\u201d. They have light brown\/tan bands that span across their backs and wings.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Brown-banded cockroaches prefer to live in warmer and drier conditions than their German cockroach cousins. Brown-banded roaches live in ceilings, attics, and appliance motors. While Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. They enjoy a high starch diet and prefer to eat wallpaper glue, book bindings and stamps.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER BROWN-BANDED COCKROACHES POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">These roaches\u2019 feces can trigger asthma and allergy attacks as well as stomach issues such as diarrhea and gastroenteritis.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/brown-banded-cockroaches-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. They enjoy a high starch diet and prefer to eat wallpaper glue, book bindings and stamps.<\/p>","slug":"brown-banded-cockroaches","description2":"","seo_title":"Brown-Banded Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. Learn more about these invasive roaches to help prevent them.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Brown-Banded Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Brown-banded roaches are mostly nocturnal, they can be seen during the day looking for food. Learn more about these invasive roaches to help prevent them.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:47:55","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["brown-banded-cockroaches"],"url_override":""},{"id":12,"title":"Earwigs","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14288 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-earwigs.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-earwigs\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Earwigs are small insects with reddish-brown bodies, long antennae and two pinchers at the end of their bodies. They are scary-looking but harmless.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Earwigs live outside and will migrate indoors when the weather gets cooler, looking for food. Earwigs prefer dark, humid places such as firewood piles, as well as under stones, logs, shrubs and bushes.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Earwigs are nocturnal and hide during the day. They eat plants and other insects. Since earwigs are attracted to light, they become a nuisance on porches and patios during the summer.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER EARWIGS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Other than their creepy look, earwigs are harmless to humans, and you can control their populations by moving their habitats away from your home\u2019s foundation. Also, your Spring-Green pest control technician will use a variety of products to get rid of earwigs.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/earwigs-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Earwigs are small insects with reddish-brown bodies, long antennae and two pinchers at the end of their bodies. They are scary-looking but harmless.<\/p>","slug":"earwigs","description2":"","seo_title":"Earwigs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Earwigs live outside and will migrate indoors when the weather gets cooler, looking for food. Learn more about this insect that lives in dark, humid places.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Earwigs l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Earwigs live outside and will migrate indoors when the weather gets cooler, looking for food. Learn more about this insect that lives in dark, humid places.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:02:25","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["earwigs"],"url_override":""},{"id":6,"title":"Ants","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14253 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-ants.jpg\" alt=\"Pest Library Ants\" width=\"672\" height=\"336\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Ants are tiny insects that enter your home or business through small cracks, windows, doors and other means of entry\u2014no matter how small. They\u2019re attracted to greasy and sweet food as well as water. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants into your home or business.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Ants live in colonies that range from 300,000 \u2013 500,000 ants. Colonies consist of workers and a queen. They can live in your property\u2019s foundation, walls, lawns and tree stumps. Worker ants can live up to seven years, and the queen can live up to 15 years. The most effective ant repellents destroy both the nest and ants.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER ANTS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Some ant species destroy fabrics and wood, while others may contaminate food, other species bite or sting.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/ants-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Ants are tiny insects that enter your home or business through small cracks, windows, doors. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants into your home.<\/p>","slug":"ants","description2":"","seo_title":"Ants l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Ants are tiny insects that enter your home through small cracks, windows, and doors. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Ants l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Ants are tiny insects that enter your home through small cracks, windows, and doors. It only takes one ant to leave a chemical trail that leads other ants.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:02:59","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["ants"],"url_override":""},{"id":10,"title":"Millipedes","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14282 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/millipedes-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-millipedes\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Millipedes are small, wormlike insects with many tiny legs. Millipedes eat dead leaves and decaying wood particles.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Typically, millipedes live outside in damp places. They thrive in flowerbeds, gardens, under mulch, dead leaves and grass clipping piles. Millipedes will also live under structures such as doghouses and storage sheds.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">In the fall when it gets cooler, or after heavy rains flood their habitats, millipedes will migrate into homes. They get into homes through:<\/p><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Porches and patios.<\/li><li>By climbing foundations and into entryways.<\/li><li>Basement doors and windows.<\/li><li>Crawlspace vents.<\/li><li>Garage doors.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"text-m\">Many homeowners find millipedes living in their basements that are damp and cold. Millipedes also thrive in crawlspaces. Stored boxes and wood provide prime habitats.Leaves that blow int crawl spaces provide an excellent food source for millipedes too.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER MILLIPEDES POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Millipedes aren\u2019t dangerous. Instead, they\u2019re annoying when found in large populations, and you can easily clean them up with a vacuum. If millipede populations explode, call your local pest control company to get rid of them.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/millipedes-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>In the fall when it gets cooler, or after heavy rains flood their habitats, millipedes will migrate into homes. Leaves that blow into crawl spaces provide an excellent food source for millipedes too.<\/p>","slug":"millipedes","description2":"","seo_title":"Millipedes l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Many homeowners find millipedes living in their basements that are damp and cold. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it in your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Millipedes l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Many homeowners find millipedes living in their basements that are damp and cold. Learn more about this insect to help prevent it in your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:47:04","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["millipedes"],"url_override":""},{"id":7,"title":"Silverfish","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14291 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/sgwebcms.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/media\/learn\/pest-library\/silverfish-600x600.webp\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-silverfish\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Silverfish are small, teardrop insects that are brown-gray or bluish-silver in color. Silverfish can range in size from just under a 1\/2\u201d to 3\/4\u201dinches.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Silverfish prefer a high carbohydrate diet such as shampoos, book glue, cellulose, linen, silk and dead insects. Silverfish sometimes live in unopened food packages.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Silverfish are nocturnal insects, but quickly move when disturbed. You may not notice silverfish\u2019s damage until the insect is well-established in your home.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER ANTS POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\"><strong>Silverfish destroy papers, clothing and wallpaper.<\/strong> You can prevent silverfish damage by controlling the humidity in your home along with caulking crawl spaces, open vents and baseboards. A clean house limits silverfish\u2019s food sources too.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/silverfish-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Silverfish are nocturnal insects, but quickly move when disturbed.<\/p>","slug":"silverfish","description2":"","seo_title":"Silverfish l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, and kitchens. Learn more about this insect to prevent it in your home.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Silverfish l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Silverfish live in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, bathrooms, and kitchens. Learn more about this insect to prevent it in your home.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2025-01-23 20:51:40","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["silverfish"],"url_override":""},{"id":13,"title":"Booklice","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14279 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-booklice.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-booklice\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Sometimes, people find booklice stored in food products where there was high humidity encouraging mold growth.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice are about 1\/16\u201d long and range in color from translucent white to gray or brown. During the summer, female booklice produce up to 60 eggs per day, but when the weather cools down they produce fewer eggs.<\/p><p class=\"text-m\"><strong>It takes less than a month for booklice to mature from egg through adulthood.<\/strong><\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice live in areas with high humidity such as under wallpaper, in furniture, along the sides of windows, in windowsills and around potted plants.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER BOOKLICE POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">Booklice aren\u2019t dangerous to people, structures or food. Instead, they\u2019re considered annoying when found in large numbers.<\/p>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/booklice-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Sometimes, people find booklice stored in food products where there was high humidity encouraging mold growth.<\/p>","slug":"booklice","description2":"","seo_title":"Booklice l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Learn more about this insect you may find in places where there is high humidity.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"Booklice l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"Booklice aren\u2019t actual lice, and they feed only on fungi and mold. Learn more about this insect you may find in places where there is high humidity.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:03:15","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["booklice"],"url_override":""},{"id":15,"title":"German Cockroaches","description":"<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14262 fr-fic fr-dii\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spring-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/pest-library-zoom-germancockroaches.jpg\" alt=\"pest-library-zoom-germancockroaches\" width=\"706\" height=\"353\"><\/p><p class=\"text-m\">German cockroaches are insects that enter your home or building through cardboard boxes, bags and in some cases, used appliances. German cockroaches have two particular dark lines on the area right behind their heads. These insects are tan or light-brown.<\/p><hr><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">HABITAT<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">German cockroaches live in warm, humid climates such as them in bathrooms and kitchens.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">GERMAN COCKROACHES ARE SCAVENGERS AND WILL EAT<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>Bookbinding<\/li><li>Crumbs<\/li><li>Food on dirty dishes left overnight<\/li><li>Soap<\/li><li>Toothpaste.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"text-m\">In an apartment building, they\u2019ll move between apartments using the plumbing and pipes as their highway system to get from one unit to the next.<\/p><h3 class=\"text-uppercase text-blue no-margin\">THE DANGER GERMAN COCKROACHES POSE TO HUMANS<\/h3><p class=\"text-m\">If you have a German cockroach infestation in your home or apartment building, contact your professional pest control company right away for an assessment and a comprehensive plan to get rid of them.<\/p><ul class=\"check-list text-m\"><li>German cockroaches can cause intestinal problems like diarrhea, food poisoning, as well as they spread other diseases because they also feed on human feces. (World Health Organization)<\/li><li>German cockroaches also spread their secretions, partially digested food and feces as they travel across your home or through apartment buildings. (World Health Organization)<\/li><li>Their feces can trigger asthma attacks.<\/li><\/ul>","topic":["2"],"enabled":true,"connected_services":"","featured_image":"\/learn\/pest-library\/german-cockroaches-600x600.webp","excerpt":"<p>German cockroaches are insects that enter your home or building through cardboard boxes, bags and in some cases, used appliances.<\/p>","slug":"german-cockroaches","description2":"","seo_title":"German Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","meta_description":"German cockroaches are insects that enter through cardboard boxes, bags, and sometimes, used appliances. Learn more about these insects to help prevent them.","meta_robots_index":"index","meta_robots_follow":"follow","social_title":"German Cockroaches l Spring Green Pest Control Guide","social_description":"German cockroaches are insects that enter through cardboard boxes, bags, and sometimes, used appliances. Learn more about these insects to help prevent them.","social_image":"","created_at":"2021-06-08 00:03:07","updated_at":"2022-08-08 14:03:50","albrightlabs_redirects_slug_history":["german-cockroaches"],"url_override":""}]],"connected_guides_type":"pest_control","feature_programs_text":"","feature_programs":"","add_on_services_text":"","add_on_services":"","upsell_services_text":"","upsell_services":"","related_services_text":"Related Services","related_services":["Crane Fly Control","Fire Ant Control","Flea & Tick Control","Grub Control","Mosquito Program","Mosquito Treatment","Perimeter Pest Control","Rodent Reduction Program","Sub-surface Damaging Insect Control","Total Home Pest Plus Rodent & Vole Control","Total Lawn Insect Control"],"service_color":"orange","url_override":"","whats_included":""}]