SPRING SHOWERS Spring showers are responsible for the vibrant explosion of plant life that makes this time of the year unique. At times, these showers can give us more rain than we asked for, and more than our lawns know what to do with. When it collects, excess rainwater can turn your lawn into a muddy swamp. Wet lawns can delay your time you want to get out and play in spring. While all plants need water, too much water can rot root systems and eventually kill off valuable pieces of your landscaping. STANDING WATER Standing water is also an ideal breeding ground for troublesome mosquitoes. W ..read more

WHAT IS CRABGRASS? Crabgrass is an intrusive weed that seeks to establish itself throughout your lawn at the expense of your turfgrass. Although technically a grass, crabgrass is far from the rich soft carpet you want your lawn to have. Originating in Africa, crabgrass (scientifically known as digitaria) has coarse, thick blades that grow in clumps. The fact that this hearty plant thrives in hot, rugged conditions at one time made it a great food for livestock. Unfortunately, these once valuable traits now make crabgrass a ruthless adversary to your lawn. TREATMENT OPTIONS. Fighting such an en ..read more

REFERRAL PROGRAM 2017 Lakeland Lawn Care is so excited to launch our brand new Referral Program for 2017. The best source we have to attract new customers is YOU! That’s right. We depend on satisfied customers to spread the work to their neighbors, co-workers and friends. And when you do, we want to reward and thank you! THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. All you have to do is simply spread the word about our great service and savings. When your referral calls our office or requests a free estimate on our website tell them to mention that you referred them. For your convenience you can access Yo ..read more

Here’s how to do it, watering made simple There’s no magic to watering properly. It’s just a matter of ensuring that the water you do supply to your lawn is used efficiently. During the hotter summer months, your lawn will need from 1″ to 1-1/2″ of water per week. Either by rainfall or sprinkling. You can use a rain gauge to determine how much extra water will be needed each week. By soaking your soil to a depth of 6″, you’ll help your turf’s roots to grow deeper and stronger. Deeper and stronger roots will help your lawn be able to survive easier in times of drought and harsh winters. Your tr ..read more

Raking: It’s Not Just For Fall Anymore Raking lawns to air out dead spots after winter is over Rakes can be used for more than just leaf removal. In fact, raking your lawn this spring will encourage better early-season green-up and improved growth throughout the summer. Over the winter, snow mold disease, foot traffic on frozen turf, heavy snow accumulation and even salt used for melting snow can lead to dead, matted patches of turf throughout your lawn. These patches become obvious once the lawn comes out of dormancy in the spring. The problem with these dead, matted patches is that new grass ..read more

Perimeter Pest Control What is it? Perimeter Pest Control is a series of up to 4 applications beginning in late Spring, and repeating about every 30 days. This treatment is designed to establishes an insect shield around your home. This shield drastically reduces the number of insects that can get to or in your home. Ants, fleas, ticks, spiders are just a few. We treat the foundation of your home and out 3 ft in all directions targeting plant beds, and cracks in your foundation where insects like to lurk or sneak into your home. Here are just a few reasons why we recommend a Perimeter Pest Con ..read more

Just as a reminder, here are a few quick Fall Clean Up Tips. Earlier in the year we explained how the right cutting height of your lawn is very important. Did you know THE HEIGHT CHANGES? Late in the cutting season you should start to adjust your mower down a notch and by your last cutting , the lawn should be as short as you can cut it without scalping it. This is very important for the survivability of your lawn during the winter months. The shorter the better because: A. Field mice and voles are not attracted to short grass. B. Your lawn will have a better chance to avoid winter damage such ..read more

Lawns may deteriorate over time due to excess thatch, soil compaction, or a combination of the two. Aeration helps to manage thatch buildup and reduce problems arising from soil compaction. Proper aeration can help build a thicker, healthier turf with superior resistance to weeds, diseases, and insects. Most lawns will benefit from being aerated every 1-3 years with the frequency determined by the rate of thatch production and soil compaction. Compacted or thatchy sites will need more frequent aeration to correct the existing problem, up to twice a year for 1 or more years. Why do I need aerat ..read more

Seeing that spring is here, even though it still doesn’t feel like it, it is time to get some spring cleaning issues out of the way. Here are a few things to be sure and get done this spring! 1. Sharpen mower blades. Dull blades can tear the grass blades and leave it a brown, burnt color. 2. Lower your mower to shorten your grass (2”). Shorter grass will allow the ground to warm faster and get growing sooner. This will also get the lawn to fill in quicker before the heat of summer. Just be careful not to scalp the lawn! Do this only for the first few mowings or for your spring clean up. Then b ..read more

Spring is almost here; well at least we are letting ourselves think so. When spring comes and the snow leaves we want to see green grass and flowers starting to perk up. Do you ever wonder why there are areas in your lawn not green after the snow leaves? Below are a few problems we face every year, I like to refer to them as “spring time surprises”. Salt Damage Salt is a nice substance to use to keep your hard surfaces from being too dangerous throughout the winter months. But as much good as it does, it can damage the lawn in areas it comes into contact with. In spring, thoroughly watering th ..read more