Think of keeping your grass green much the same way as having a healthy smile. Your dentist provides regular care along with advice on preventing problems and warning signs to watch for. In between visits, you floss, brush and follow recommendations for any special care.
You want that same kind of relationship with yourlawn service. Regular weedkiller treatments and fertilizationalone won’t guarantee a yard you’re proud of. For best results, you need to work with someone who is knowledgeable in what they do, can explain what you need to do, such as how to water your lawn properly, and can help you recognize threats to your yard from pests and diseases.
So, how do you find a lawn service that fits the bill? At First Response Lawn Care we can provide all the services you are likely to require, and here are five key things where we shine.
Compare standard lawn treatments
Compare treatment programs from lawn company to company. Do they provide both turf care and ornamental tree and shrub care like we do? Are lawn care treatments tailored to specific types of turf? What makes your neighbor’s warm-season grass thrive won’t necessarily be what your cool-season grass needs.
Go beyond yard maintenance
The needs of your yard can change from season to season, year to year. Just like you wouldn’t go to a dentist who only does cleanings, you want to hire a lawn care company that can provide additional services when you need them.
At a minimum, these should include diagnosis and treatment of diseases and pests, and service calls between regular lawn treatments if you notice a problem. Other common yard services to look for include aeration, overseeding andlawn pest control.
Know who is treating your lawn
When it comes to lawn care technician training, the more the better. This goes for not just knowing how to apply grass treatments properly and safely. They should also be able and willing to answer questions you have about your treatments, your yard’s basic needs and how you can meet them, and alert you to anything you need to keep an eye on.
Look for preventative lawn care service
There are certain pests, lawn diseases, and other problems that can crop up with lawns, trees, and shrubs in North Texas. When you know what to watch for, you’re able to contact your lawn care provider for a service call so the problem can be diagnosed and treated before damage is done.
Customer satisfaction
We care about our customers and their lawn. That’s what we do. Call First Response Lawn Care today at (214) 701-7622 for all your lawn care needs! We’ll be happy to answer your questions and provide you with top notch service!
Now is the time to start paying attention to the summer guide
to North Texas lawn care to ensure that the Texas heat doesn’t inflict its
damage on your yard. With the heat rising and the outdoor season starting in
earnest, the summer guide to North Texas lawn care will let you start off the
season right!
Watering Habits
When and how you water your lawn is the most important factor in the quality of your lawn and plant life. The industry standard for the amount of water your lawn needs is roughly an inch of water per week or 1/2 an inch twice per week, whether the yard gets water manually or from rainfall. The best time to water the yard is early in the morning before the sun starts beating down on it. This will allow the water to soak into the dirt and to the roots.
Watering restrictions in your community during periods of drought will affect when you can water your lawn. Try to stay diligent to the one inch per week of water guideline. Too much water can be wasteful and damage harmful to the life span of the grass. Having your irrigation system checked and maintained during this time will ensure that water usage is appropriate for the needs of your yard.
The grass should be taller during the summer months, which
will allow for deeper root growth and cover from the sun. The insulation also
allows for the soil to maintain its moisture better. The general rule of thumb
is to keep the grass roughly about 1 ¾ inches to 2 ½ inches for most turf
types.
It is also important not to let the grass get too long. and removing more than 1/3 or the leaf blade height at when mown can do damage to the grass. Different mowing and watering strategies are required depending on the type of grass. It is prudent to check the type of grass in your yard before taking any serious steps.
Preventative Care
The actions you take now will be seen a month from now. One key preventative measure is fertilization and aeration of the lawn. But not all fertilizers are created equal when it comes to summer lawn maintenance. Call us today at (214) 701-7622 to discuss your lawn care needs and we will be happy to help!
it’s critical to take care of weed problems during the summer before they’re able to germinate and seed in the fall. It is also recommended to apply weed treatment while the temperature is less than 85 degrees to prevent harming the grass. Aerating and loosening the soil is another pivotal step in the process. This act ensures that the dirt retains its moisture. Tight, compact soil typically leads to quicker evaporation. Keeping the soil less compact allows for greater water penetration down to the roots.
Pest and Insect Control
The summer months are also a time when you’re likely to see
more pests and insects in your lawn as tiny creatures search out for water.
Many beetles and other insects lay their eggs in the grass during the early
parts of the summer, which hatch into grubs during the middle of the season
that will eat at your grass.
A healthy lawn will help prevent insect infestations. Dry stressed, or dormant lawns are more likely to be home to insects. Aphids, Caterpillars, Fleas, Fire Ants, Chinch Bugs,Grubs, Mosquitoes, Spider Mites, Snails, Slugs and Beetles are just some of the pests can provide services for. Call First Response Lawn Care today at (214) 701-7622! For all your lawn care needs!
Spring Lawn Care Tips From First Response Lawn Care
We thought we would share some Spring lawn care tips to help you prepare for the season. A great lawn in the heat of Texas takes commitment. Here a few ways to make sure you have a greener springtime!
Pre-emergent Weed Control
It is essential to start the season off right. Managing the growth of weeds early this season will help your lawn flourish and grow. Pre-emergent treatment is the best way to handle early weeds and undesirable additions to your lawn as opposed to pulling them after they appear.
Our fertilizing program uses a 7 step program to ensure your yard is healthy and the best in the neighborhood. We are licensed with the Texas Department of Agriculture Lic #450863. to assure you that we are the best at what we do.
Thatch
Depending on your grass type, your thatch level in your lawn should be between ¼” to ½” in depth. If you have more than that, you will be susceptible to disease. When the thatch reaches a higher level than what’s right for it, then you will either have to invest in replacing the lawn or power raking the whole thing. To avoid over-enthusiastic thatch production, don’t over-fertilize, over water, underwater or cut your lawn too short. If de-thatching is necessary for your lawn, we offer services to help your grass recover this Spring.
Water
You will need to supplement your lawn with watering. The best method is if you use an underground irrigation system. Since the average lawn will need about 45″ to 50″ of water during the year, a sprinkler will alleviate the need to water by hose. Using a properly maintained sprinkler system will be sure that your lawn is adequately watered. We encourage you to become familiar with any watering restrictions in your area and plan your watering schedule accordingly.
Aerate
Core aeration is something that is overlooked by many homeowners. When we aerate your soil, it can pay for itself in the water savings alone. There are four reasons for aerating your lawn.
Aeration fights soil compacting
Aeration allows air to the grasses roots
Aeration helps to control the thatch levels
Aeration promotes new grass root growth in the area of the core hole
Fertilize
Grass needs nutrients to grow, to help maintain a root system which is healthy and tolerant to stress when the weather is hot. Fertilizing your lawn is also essential to keep diseases at bay and your grass stress-free. Because your lawn is an artificial environment not meant for the area you live in, it won’t survive without help. This is why the application of fertilizer with crucial nutrients is essential.
Mow
Depending on your grass type, the grass can grow faster or slower in Texas weather conditions. Mowing on a weekly schedule is important to keep the lawn healthy and maintained. Mowing every two to three weeks, for instance, will allow the turf to become stressed and start to thin out. This will increase the need to water and to fertilize.
Watering your lawn correctly and keeping it maintained is essential for a healthy, great looking lawn.
If you want a healthy, lush lawn all year, let’s get started! Call our Lawn Care experts at (214) 701-7622!
Seeing brown spots in your yard? We Texans live in a region with hot temperatures and high humidity, so you bet you may find your lawn infected with Brown Patch lawn disease.
Read below for some frequently asked questions regarding the lawn intruder and tips to get your lawn healthy again.
So, what is this disease? Brown Patch lawn disease is a common and widespread problem caused by Rhizoctonia solani fungus. The disease can infect a variety of common turfgrasses but the most susceptible grass species include perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and the bentgrasses.
Brown Patch can also become a problem to Kentucky bluegrasses in mid-to-late summer during extended periods of high temperature and humidity.
How do I know if my lawn has this disease?
The first step to identifying: Do you see spotting on your leaf blades? If you see spotting on your leaf blades—which can eventually bleed together to turn the entire leaf brown—suspect Brown Patch is invading your lawn.
More obvious signs are circular areas of brown and dead grass surrounded by a narrow, dark ring. Patches are typically irregular and can be quite large, as this disease can spread fast.
This spotting can take on different appearances depending on the characteristics of the grass it infects:
Closely mown grasses: Any grass you should cut short, like some Zoysias, will show circular rings of brown patches and an expanding gray ring on the outer edge—most noticeable when the grass is damp, especially in the early morning hours.
High-cut grasses: Grasses that are kept taller often exhibit circular or nearly circular brown areas, but without the visible details of gray exterior.
Tall fescue: Tall fescue varieties often don’t exhibit the characteristic circular patterns. Rather, the fungus will appear on scattered blades of grass, so that the whole lawn may seem a little “off,” with a tannish cast rather than the vibrant green you want to see.
Why is this showing up now?
Brown Patch thrives when hot weather and high humidity settle in during the summer months. Your yard can (and if you have it, most likely did) become infected during a period of cooler temperatures. The disease can take hold and develop well below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but doesn’t spread and become apparent to the naked eye until temperatures and humidity levels rise. Dew, mist, or rain on leaf blades in these conditions can contribute to the rise of Brown Patch.
How can I get my lawn healthy again?
The fungus that causes Brown Patch lawn disease is present in many areas. Disease prevention is very difficult if the grass species is susceptible.
Proper watering in midday to prevent wet grass at night may be of some, but limited benefit. Proper mowing on a frequent basis to promote air movement and drying of the leaf blades may be of more benefit when battling Brown Patch.
Removing dew or guttation water that collects on the grass leaves each morning has proven effective as an aid in reducing brown patch. This removal can be achieved by mowing or by dragging a water hose across the area.
More tips for treating:
Use moderate amounts of nitrogenous fertilizer.
Fungicides can be effective if applied before the onset of the disease, but should only be used on high-value ryegrass or bentgrass turfs.
Don’t over- or under-fertilize your turf, as that can encourage Brown Patch.
Can I get help from a professional?
First Response Lawn Care specialists know exactly what your lawn needs and what changes you may need to make to achieve a lawn you’ll love. If you suspect your lawn is infected or you’re worried it may become so, give one of our specialists a call to set you up on a plan for a healthy lawn.
To schedule a consultation with one of our Lawn Treatment Specialists, call (214) 701-7622. You’ll be on your way to finding out how to remedy that sad, brown lawn, and rebuilding the healthy, green lawn you want.
First Response Lawn care Rockwall has your perfect concoction of chemical treatments for your lawn. We use effective and safe methods to eliminate grubs through long-lasting formulations. Our goal is not only termination, but also lawn pest prevention.
Grub control products are best applied in July, so they can impact grubs as soon as they hatch.
If you saw brown, dying patches in your lawn this Spring, chances are that you had white grubs. The cure for moving forward with a green lawn is a late-summer treatment.
The best time to treat for grubs is actually late summer, when grubs are small and more susceptible to insecticides.
White grubs are the larval stage of May or June beetles and masked chafers. Grubs are white, C-shaped with distinct, brown heads and three pairs of legs near the front end. They feed on dead organic matter and grass and plant roots. These are considered bad “bugs” since they feed on plant roots.
Adult May or June beetles are oblong, robust insects. There are many species in Texas, but most are shiny, reddish brown or dark brown, and three-quarters to 1 1/4 inches long. They are often incorrectly referred to as “Junebugs.”
Adult masked chafers resemble May beetles but are smaller and yellow brown in color. The Japanese beetle is often confused with June beetles, but Oklahoma does not have them as other states do.
May/June beetles have life cycles ranging from 1 to 3 years, but most in this area have a two-year life cycle. From April to September adults begin to emerge from the soil. Adults of most species are most common in May and June. They mate and the female lays 50 eggs in the soil.
Larvae hatch three to four weeks after eggs have been laid and feed on dead organic matter, later moving to the roots of plants. They move deeper into the soil in fall for winter. The following spring the larvae move back to the root area to feed.
Bottom line is that nobody wants grubs in their lawn feeding on their grass. Call First Response Lawn Care today and let’s get started on a lawn treatment that will eradicate those suckers!
