Category: free lawn care help

Poison ivy is growing more dangerous because of global warming.. Protect yourself.

Posted on May 15, 2012 in free lawn care help

I read an article today – I recently got a bad case of the poison ivy rash, stumbled upon this article and found it interesting.

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing the plants to grow bigger and produce more urushiol, the oil that causes an immune reaction in human skin.

Self Defenses from Poison Ivy?Poison Ivy When in areas where poison ivy grows, use a barrier cream such as Ivy Block to prevent urushiol from getting on our skin. Wear heavy protective gloves and clothing. Also use gloves to bathe your pet if you think that the animal has been exposed to poison ivy.


If you think you have been exposed:
Wear clean gloves when removing clothing and shoes that have come in contact with the plant. Thoroughly scrub exposed skin with lots of soap and lukewarm water within 5 to 10 minutes of touching the plant.

Caution:
Never burn poison ivy plants. Doing so releases urushiol, which can cause severe lung damage if inhaled.

 

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Getting your lawn mower ready for spring.. What you should consider.

Posted on February 16, 2012 in Equipment Tips, free lawn care help

Honestly, most of these should be completed at the end of the mowing season – if not during it. But if you are behind on the schedule, follow these tips to keep your equipment tip-top.

Remove the spark plug

First thing is first, for safety reasons you are going to need to remove the spark plug. This prevents the mower from turning on and stops anyone from loosing any fingers. It is better to be safe than sorry, so do not skip this step.

Change the oil

Changing your machines oil is critical to the upkeep of your mower. Consider it a car – would you keep driving for over an entire year before changing the oil? Don’t neglect the mower, change the oil. It is pretty inexpensive and it keeps things moving at there best. Some Troy Bilt tune up kits cost as low as $10.00 at Lowe’s.

Clean the deck of your mower

Cleaning under the deck of your mower helps prevent uneven cuts, strain on your equipment, and gives you a chance to check the condition of the blades. All season long you should clean grass clippings from your machinery – grass clippings contain moisture, moisture creates rust, rust destroys metal. Keep your equipment longer and clean it out. Most mowers come with an hose attachment these days for easy lower deck cleaning.

Sharpen the blades

Getting the blades sharpened is essential. Dull blades will cause dead grass, it’s a fact. Sharp blades cut the grass smoothly and evenly. Dull blades rip and generate uneven cuts. Ripped grass blades results in brown patches and an ugly lawn. Sharpening can be done yourself, but it is recommended to have a professional sharpen the blades for you. If they are too damaged and nicked, consider replacing them altogether. Sharp blades are the number 1 factor in having a beautiful lawn. Don’t cheat and use the same dull blade.

Lubricate the mowing parts

Keep everything moving smooth. Oil the bearings ant all over rotating parts on your mower. Lubricated machines last longer and run better. Take a simple glance at your owners manual to see what the manufacturer recommends as far as lubricants – sometimes things are over looked.

Why?

Cared for machines last longer and perform better. We have had a John Deere mower for over 12 years – runs like new. The key: we take the time to care for it. We all know outdoor equipment is not cheap – put the time into your investment and it will last until you are ready for a new one.

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Need to get your lawn ready for spring? Follow these steps..

Posted on February 16, 2012 in free lawn care help, Lawn Care Tips

FOR YOUR LAWN:

Rake

Rake away all the thatch, leaves, and whatever else may have accumulated on your lawn during the fall/winter months. Thatch, for those who are unsure, is dried up grass and weeds that gets mixed in with the living grass. If you do not remove the thatch it acts as a shield against water, oxygen, and other nutrients. Get it out of there.

Fertilize

Early spring is a great time to start spreading organic fertilizers or weed and feed applications. Corn gluten and Scott’s Weed and Feed are two of our favorites. This ensures that your lawn has the proper nutrients to start a healthy growing season. If you are unsure which fertilizer to apply, you can contact us or perform your own soil pH test. Soil pH tests will provide tons of valuable information that gives you great insight into what your lawn is craving.

Consider Aerating

Aeration will ensure the penetration of oxygen into your soil. Oxygen rich soil, as I am sure you know, returns the absolute best lawn growth.

FOR YOUR TREES AND SHRUBS:

Prune

Walk around your yard and trim off all the dead / excess branches that you find. Removing dead / dying branches before they have a chance to effect the rest of the tree/bush is essential to its health, not just the beauty. Dying branches can indicate a disease problem. Removing the branch is the sure way to prevent it from spreading.

Mulch

Applying a layer around 3 inches in depth of mulch around the bases of your bushes and trees provides a few different benefits. Two of the most notable reasons are that it guards the roots from the weather elements, and it provides nutrients for the plant. Remember to keep the mulch at-least an inch away from the trunk of tree/bush to prevent rot.

FOR THE WEEDS:

As soon as you see them, get rid of them

Early spring is the best time to remove the weeds before they have a chance to flower and spreed seeds. Once the seeds spread, even with spraying, they are hard to destroy. Also keep in mind that when the soil is wet/damp, the weeds are easier to pull.

These are just a few common ways you can begin to get your lawn ready for spring, of course there are more, but we think you get the idea!

For a list of the services we can help you with, visit blaircountylawnservice.com/services/

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Don’t start paying attention to your gardens and lawns quite just yet..

Posted on February 9, 2012 in free lawn care help, Garden Tips, Lawn Care Tips

The weather doesn’t seem to resemble winter too much, and at times the temperatures remind us of an early Spring. But don’t get the Spring mindset just yet.

Some are starting to perform yard work that should not be started yet!

Don’t let the weather fool you, starting now could cause more harm then good once the lawn is actually ready to wake up. Allowing your lawn and garden to wake up on its own – gradually, is the best thing for it. Starting to soon can end up killing new shoots, cause flowers to bloom to soon (leaving them dead when you want them most!) and opening the door up to fungus and diseases.

When should you consider starting your lawn work?

Normally April-May are the best months for our area. It differs though from year to year – February is definitely way to early to start lawn maintenance.

What should I start with when it is time?

Raking. Clear out the left over leaves from Fall, give the lawn a good raking. This will provide a small amount of de-thatching and help new blades get oxygen & sunlight. You may want to consider a sprint aeration service or professional de-thatching service as well.

Get your soil pH tested.

The second step I would recommend is to get a soil pH test from a local garden center / home improvement store. They normally cost around $8.00 – $10.00 and give you valuable information regarding the condition of your soil. Poor soil returns poor lawn grass, so don’t under estimate this step. We also provide soil testing services that get returned with documents that explain all recommended fertilizer applications – which really helps put you a step ahead for spring maintenance.

View a complete list of our available services at www.blaircountylawnservice.com/services/

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Tips to survive a drought.

Posted on July 21, 2011 in free lawn care help, Lawn Care Tips, Organic Lawn Care

Drought Riddled Lawn

The weather is scorching and rain is not falling in central Pennsylvania. With high temperatures and little water your lawn and garden is facing a really stressful situation. If you are not careful, it could end up dead.

The following tips will help you prepare your lawn for drought conditions

Watering your lawn

Wait for your lawn to turn a blueish-gray color before watering. Water deeply and infrequently instead of daily with a little bit of water. The intention for this is to build a strong deep root system. Try to water between 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM, try to pass up watering in windy conditions. You would like the water to soak in, not evaporate.

Mowing your lawn during a drought

Be cautious while mowing your lawn in harsh conditions. You should keep the mower deck 3″ and above all season long, but do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass during the dry period. Make sure your blades are sharp. Dull blades will only add to the strain level on your grass.

Fertilizing during a drought

Do not apply fertilizers through out a drought period. The salt in synthetic fertilizers will absorb what little moisture the grass and soil does have. Fertilizing during a drought will cause more stress then positive effects.

Compost during a drought

Apply a light layer of compost, not to much. Don’t smother your lawn. A rich compost will add minerals and nutrients, along with extra moisture for the soil and grasses.

Aerating and Dethatching during a drought

If your soil is compacted or you have a thatch build-up, aerating and dethatching will help build stronger root systems and allow more oxygen into your soil.

Watch where you step

You would be surprised how a much a little bit of foot traffic will stress out your lawn during a drought period.

Herbicides and Fungicides during a drought?

Do not apply either one of these products during a drought. They will cause way more harm then they will good.

Still having problems with your lawn this summer? Ask us a question at www.blaircountylawnservice.com/questions/

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