Myth #1: I do not need to Core Aerate my lawn every fall. 

• This all depends on your lawn. If your lawn has a high clay content, we recommend a yearly Core Aeration service. Clay soil will compact when dry.  High traffic areas will also compact more and need aeration.  If you have a healthy, well maintained lawn, you only need Core Aeration services every other year.
  • Why Does My Lawn Need Core Aeration? [Explained]

We have had a ton of rain in the Northeast this July and we are seeing a LOT of disease issues this year because of it.  

Pythium Blight is one in particular that we are seeing a lot of this summer. There are many different strategies for treating Pythium.  The one that we’d like to dive into a bit more today is using Phosphites. 

A lot of people when they hear Phosphite, think Phosphate.  These are not to be confused.  Phosphate fertilizers have become banned in lawn care use in CT.  Phosphorus is a naturally occurring and essential nutrient for plants but increased levels of these nutrients can jeopardize water quality in its run-off.

Pythium is a destructive fungal disease that can spread very quickly in a lawn.  It does the worst of its damage in hot and humid conditions. Pythium, like many other lawn diseases, can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time and is easier prevented than cured. 

Some customers ask us why they have weeds in the Summer if we have already treated their lawns for weeds in the Spring. Treating weeds is an ongoing process. Why? Because there are different generations of annual weeds. 

Summer annual weeds can be difficult to manage in the Northeast because they are suited to thrive in many of the same conditions that cool season grasses thrive in. 

A tick’s life cycle occurs over the span of the year. Our goal? To disrupt it. When we treat for ticks, whether it’s a DIY method or a commercial application, our goal is to understand their life cycle so we know how to disrupt it. 

Coming into Spring, soil temperature dictates just about everything we do in lawn care - especially in the Northeast where we have a lot of cool season grasses.  

What temperature does my soil need to be for seeds to germinate?

Spring seeding and dormant seedings won't germinate until soil temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  A range of 50-65 degrees is optimal (measured at a depth of 2 inches).  Once we reach this soil temperature, the process of germination will begin. 

Choosing the right irrigation system will depend on a several factors such as cost, efficiency, water conservation, the size of your lawn, which types of grass you have, etc.

Having an irrigation system will improve the overall health of your lawn by building its resistance to fungi, diseases and weeds.  Which type of irrigation you choose, however,  will have to depend on what's best for both you as a homeowner, and your lawn. 

Below we'll go over both the pros and cons of above ground and under ground sprinkler systems:

While these two sound similar, they couldn't be more different.  They are both types of bluegrass. One is desirable and one is not. 

Kentucky Blue Grass yields a beautiful, lush, dark green lawn while Poa Annua (annual blue grass) spreads rapidly and dies quickly, often leaving you with a patchy lawn. 

Fun fact: Many homeowners find Poa Annua undesirable but some golf courses find it very desirable.  It grows low and is easier to maintain in this environment.

Moles can expand their runways at a rate of about 100 feet per day - for this reason, many people think they have multiple moles when it really just might be one.  If you have had a mole in your yard before, you know how destructive their digging can be. 

Assuming you have gotten rid of your moles and they are no longer an active threat, now it’s time to follow the steps below to fix the damage. 

If you have not yet gotten rid of the moles in your lawn, read this article below:

• How To Get Rid of Moles in My Lawn?

Will Ants Kill my Grass?

If you live in the Northeast, ants will not kill grass. In fact, they won’t even feed on grass. What they will feed on is anything sugary or protein-filled.  This can range anywhere from a cookie dropped in the lawn by your toddler to the carcasses of other dead insects around your yard.