How To Choose A Lawn Care Company

I thought it was a good time to re-post this for those making lawn care decisions.  


Recently, someone asked me how one goes about choosing a lawn care company. 
My head started really spinning as this is very important for homeowners that are flooded with all sorts of options that all state they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Here are a few ideas that are important to verify with companies you are choosing from:

• Fertilizer--verify if the company uses a slow release, granular fertilizer for all of their fertilizer applications, only a couple of applications, or not at all.  
• Note, even if companies state they are using slow release fertilizers, they are not all equal.  For example, Weed Man Lawn Care uses only a 65% slow release fertilizer.  This lasts 7-10 weeks per application vs some that state they use a slow release fertilizer but don't mention that it is only say 15% and only lasts 3-5 weeks.
• Environmental Care--it is important to ensure that the company is doing their part to minimize the environmental footprint and enhance your turf quality
• Using slow release fertilizer all but eliminates any movement in the soil
• It also will help thicken the turf and reduce runoff compared to a malnourished lawn
• Using weed control to spot treat weeds only, if possible (using combo products for "weed and feed" usually over apply weed control that is not necessary)
• Make sure the company clears off all driveway and sidewalks of fertilizer
• Customer Service--make sure the companies you consider give free service calls within a 48 hour window
• There will be times when weeds pop between visits and you might want your company to re-apply and it should be free of charge
• Make sure they have a willingness to meet with you if necessary to address any concerns
• check into the background of the owners of the company to see how they are qualified to run the business
• At Weed Man, the owners have degrees in Soil Science and Agronomy and one is an ex-golf course superintendent
• Many companies over promise and under deliver.  Be leery if companies promise control of things like quack grass or tall fescue

I hope these tips help you make educated decision with your lawn care needs this season.
Look me up on    
or check out our website at madison.weedmanusa.com

Time to Control Your Weeds

I thought this was a great time to discuss a few things that are pertinent this time of year in regards to your home environment and weed control.  As you can see the weeds are really popping and during the day you are seeing that steady 'yellow' color on your drive to work or in your lawn.

Over the next 4-6 weeks will be the best time to start your weed control for the season.  One of the questions I consistently get asked every spring is, "Can you guys control creeping charlie and violets? We can never get that under control ourselves or using a service."

Well, let me give you some good news, they are manageable to control!  These tougher weeds grow with rhizomes (learn more here) that make it difficult to control.  However, the right approach is using the right products.   Proper fertilization with a very slow release fertilizer and continuing to spot treat the plants throughout the entire course of the season should suppress these difficult weeds quite well.  For example, at Weed Man we are able to guarantee control of 85%+ of creeping charlie and violets and 99%+ of the rest of the weeds by the end of the first season.

Click Here for more info on difficult to control weeds.

Notes for your Lawn...Early Spring

What happened to spring?  Summer seemed to have been spring to the punch!  It appears we will be shattering record highs for the next few days.  This being said it is important to note a couple of things coming out of winter.

Here in the upper Midwest areas of Milwaukee, Madison, Rockford and the Fox Valley area we see a wide variety of issues coming out of winter. 
The first things you may have noticed when your lawn reappeared from its white, wintery state are matted down, white or pinkish grass, vein-like runs throughout the lawn, debris scattered on your lawn near the road or driveway and possible salt damage.  Do not worry, much of these problems will take care of themselves with a little of your help. 

·         The white or pinkish patches of grass that are matted down are caused by a fungus called snow mold. 

o   You typically see this where heavy amounts of snow were piled up the longest.  Taking a plastic leaf rake and lightly raking these areas to help them breath will be all the turf needs to recover within a month or so. 

·         Sometimes you many notice vein-like runs of grass debris throughout your lawn that were not there in the fall. 

o   This is noticed most in lawns that are near green spaces, prairies, woods or have lots of ornamental beds surrounding the turf.  The damage is caused by a rodent called a “vole.” 

o   Voles are like field mice or “above ground moles” that you do not see in the summer because they stay close to fields, woods, prairies or other areas where they have cover to ensure they do not have encounters with hawks or other predators. 

o   Using a plastic leaf rake you will need to lightly rake through these areas to remove the dead grass that was chewed and tunneled through.  This grass will be removed very easily as it is not anchored to the root system anymore. 

o   Re-seeding these areas can be beneficial but with proper fertilization these areas should thicken in naturally by late spring. 

·         You can use the same leaf rake to help the turf breath in areas where there is debris scattered from snow plowing. 

o   By raking these areas, the debris will settle into the turf and become unnoticeable within a month or two.  There is no need for heavy raking in any of the events listed above.  

March...My Favorite Time of the Year

What can I say.  March.  What a great time of year!  Most people think of the dreary, cold and wet days of March.  I think of the moment I look at the newspaper and I notice the avg daily temperature rising.  It is one of my favorite moments of the year.  Next week we are expecting to see temps in the 50's!

http://madison.weedmanusa.com/lawn-care-service-tips.aspx

To me March means a lot of things.  It means trout fishing is open again here in WI (my favorite thing to do), it means that our lawn care season is really starting to gear up and it means the NCAA basketball tournament is fast approaching.  These three things mysteriously become fresh and seem to show a new birth every season just as mother nature does this time of year.  Every season brings a new excitement that one seems to forget or lose sight of during some of our long winter days.

Over the next few weeks the lawns will start to come out of dormancy and our spring rush will begin.  I will hold that precious brook trout that still has its 'dancing' colors from last fall's spawn.  Last second buzzer beaters will fill the air with electricity and create those 'magic moments' we love to reminisce for years to come.

Yes...March is here, my favorite time of year.



madison.weedmanusa.com

How to Choose a Lawn Care Company

I thought it would be a good time to re-post this for those making lawn care decisions right now.

I was asked by someone how one goes about choosing a lawn care company.
My head started really spinning as this is very important for homeowners that are flooded with all sorts of options that all state they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Here are a few ideas that are important to verify with companies you are choosing from:

• Fertilizer--verify if the company uses a slow release, granular fertilizer for all of their fertilizer applications, only a couple of applications, or not at all.  
• Note, even if companies state they are using slow release fertilizers, they are not all equal.  For example, Weed Man Lawn Care uses only a 65% slow release fertilizer.  This lasts 7-10 weeks per application vs some that state they use a slow release fertilizer but don't mention that it is only say 15% and only lasts 3-5 weeks.
• Environmental Care--it is important to ensure that the company is doing their part to minimize the environmental footprint and enhance your turf quality
• Using slow release fertilizer all but eliminates any movement in the soil
• It also will help thicken the turf and reduce runoff compared to a malnourished lawn
• Using weed control to spot treat weeds only, if possible (using combo products for "weed and feed" usually over apply weed control that is not necessary)
• Make sure the company clears off all driveway and sidewalks of fertilizer
• Customer Service--make sure the companies you consider give free service calls within a 48 hour window
• There will be times when weeds pop between visits and you might want your company to re-apply and it should be free of charge
• Make sure they have a willingness to meet with you if necessary to address any concerns
• check into the background of the owners of the company to see how they are qualified to run the business
• At Weed Man, the owners have degrees in Soil Science and Agronomy and one is an ex-golf course superintendent
• Many companies over promise and under deliver.  Be leery if companies promise control of things like quack grass or tall fescue

I hope these tips help you make educated decision with your lawn care needs this season.
Look me up on    
or check out our website at madison.weedmanusa.com