Monthly Archives: April 2018

When to Worry About Ticks and Mosquitoes

Mosquito illnesses, Tick Diseases

Every summer we hear the warnings about disease-spreading pests like ticks and mosquitoes. If you are like most people, you probably don’t start worrying about these pests until you find a tick crawling on you or you get bit by a mosquito. We are here to remind you that these pests are not just annoying, but can carry disease and should be taken seriously. While most of us equate these pests with the heat of summer, they can, and do, emerge in the early spring months.

When to Worry About Ticks and Mosquitoes

Don’t be lulled into complacency when it comes to protecting yourself from these pests. Early May is usually when New Englanders begin noticing mosquitoes exposing themselves at dawn and dusk, and then eventually all day long. As for ticks, April to September are the most active time for them to emerge and become problematic. However, many ticks emerge as early as March when a quick warm up occurs.

What To Do

Just as you would during the peak of tick and mosquito months, take some simple precautions to avoid these biting pests.

  • Apply proper insect repellant to clothes and skin when necessary. Just because it is spring doesn’t mean that they are not carrying disease.
  • Take precautions like wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when heading into the woods.
  • Avoid being out during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are at their worst.
  • Keep standing water away from your property where mosquitoes reproduce.
  • Check everyone for ticks after spending time outside. Take a shower to attempt to wash away ticks that have not bitten you yet.
  • Put dry clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.

Visit our blog again in the coming months as we will keep you updated on tick- and mosquito-borne disease and how you can prevent them. Call Pro-Tech Lawn Care at (603) 382-9644 or Toll Free: (800) 313-4733, or visit our website.

 

Mow the Right Way

Lawn and Tree Pests, Lawn Care

Every Saturday and Sunday we see our neighbors going at it, mowing and trimming their lawns. They all seem to be doing it pretty much the same way. Why is it, then, that some lawns look picture-perfect while others just don’t. Is there some magical secret that some people follow when mowing? Probably not, since lawns are dependent on many factors including: sunlight, water, nutrients, aeration, fertilization, oxygenation, and the list goes on. Mowing is another factor that can help make a property look its best. Here are some ideas to help you Mow the Right Way and get your lawn looking amazing.

  • Keep your Equipment Running Well – It is hard to do a great job caring for your lawn if your trimmers, mower, and lawn tools are not at their best. Get a check up at a local hardware store where they can examine spark plugs, oil, blade sharpness, and general running of the motor. A healthy mower can only help you during the growing season.
  • Mow when it is time. This means that several things should be taken into account. For example: don’t mow when the grass is wet. Mow when the grass is dry. The blades will be upright and less likely to clump when cut. Also avoid mowing in the heat of the day to prevent heat stress on your grass and yourself.
  • Change the mowing patterns regularly. This keeps the grass from bending too much the in direction that you mow. Instead switch it up a bit each time to avoid grass bending and ruts in the lawn where you commonly mow.
  • Stick to the ⅓ Rule of mowing. Never cut off more than one third of the grass at one time to reduce injury to the crown and generate new growth.
  • Consider not bagging the clippings when you mow. The clippings can serve as a great organic addition to your lawn.

 

Is your lawn still not as green, lush, or beautiful as your neighbors’ lawns? Find out why by calling Pro-Tech Lawn Care at (603) 382-9644 or Toll Free: (800) 313-4733, or visit our website.

 

3 Common Lawn Care Mistakes – Spring Edition

Lawn and Tree Pests, Lawn Care

Let’s face it, we all make mistakes. Caring for our lawns is one such area where mistakes are made. The spring is an especially vulnerable time for lawns as they are emerging from dormancy and trying to re-establish itself while battling spring weather, pests, and human traffic. Here are some common springtime lawn care mistakes that you will want to avoid this year.

  • Ignoring Pest Control – Many homeowners have a wait-and-see attitude about their lawns, especially in the spring. Unfortunately, those brown marks, mushrooms, or critters are not going away without assistance. Don’t be fooled into thinking your lawn will get better once the weather gets better. Take action as soon as you recognize a pest problem. Better yet, schedule regular lawn care checks to be proactive and prevent a pest problem.
  • Not Caring for Equipment – It has been a long winter and those tools and your lawn care equipment probably need some TLC. Don’t jump into trimming and mowing without having a check up performed on your gear. Blades on mowers should be sharpened and oil and spark plugs changed out regularly.
  • Not Testing the Soil – The spring is a great time for a soil check up. Find out the pH and soil needs before you start applying fertilizer, seeds, or even watering. You need to know a starting point and a soil test can help you do that. Grass thrives in soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. Send a soil sample to your local extension service for testing and they’ll tell you what your soil needs to make your grass healthy.

Have questions about how to care for your lawn this spring? Call Pro-Tech Lawn Care at (603) 382-9644 or Toll Free: (800) 313-4733, or visit our website.

Pet Protection and Caring for Your Lawn

pets and pests

If you are like us you love your fur-friend. In fact, sometimes I consider my dog my best friend. As lawn care experts, however, we also love our lawns and want to see them at their best too. How then, do pet lovers care for Fido while also caring for their lawn? Here are some ideas on both keeping your pets safe as well as ways to keep your lawn from being harmed by man’s best friend. 

Protect Your Lawn –

No one likes to see round brown spots from urine, holes from a digging episode, or high traffic marks from where their pet ran feverishly back and forth after a squirrel. Try these simple suggestions to protect your lawn from pet damage.

  • Talk to your vet about your dog’s urine. Ask about the nitrogen content (which, in high levels, is what kills grass) and whether there are any solutions that can dilute the high concentration in your dog’s pee.
  • Create a doggy waste area where you train your pet to relieve him/herself. Many homeowners find it helpful to create a segment of their property for their pet and cover it in mulch. After training your dog to go to the bathroom in a certain area, a benefit is no more brown spots and you will have a pretty good idea where to clean up after.
  • Use water as a diluter to the nitrogen in your dog’s urine. If your pet does “go” on the lawn, spray it down when you can with water to cut back on the nitrogen concentration.
  • Scoop the poop as soon as possible after nature calls. That may mean a daily walk around your yard to keep it from killing your tender grass.

Protect Your Pet –

Dogs, like humans, can get sick from chemicals, especially since their snouts are sniffing them while outside. Here are some tips to keep your dog safe.

  • Keep your pooch off the lawn after you fertilize or apply any pest control substance. Go for a walk or take him/her to a dog park to minimize the exposure. Check the packaging for directions when applying any weed or insect control; most recommend keeping pets off the lawn after application for a certain period of time.
  • Sweep up or clean up any product you have used on your lawn that gets on walkways, stairs, or hardscapes. Dogs have a tendency to taste first and ask questions later so don’t leave a pile of fertilizer on your walkway and expect your pup not to lick it up.
  • Store chemicals safely. If you keep your lawn care products around your property be sure they are sealed so that your pet does not accidentally ingest them.

Have questions about how to solve pet damage on your lawn or how to help keep your pup safe? Call Pro-Tech Lawn Care at (603) 382-9644 or Toll Free: (800) 313-4733, or visit our website.

 

Hydroseeding 101

hydroseeding

It’s that time of year when “green thumbs” and lawn novices alike are looking forward to the pleasing look of freshly mowed grass. But what if pests, weeds, and the harshness of the winter weather in New England has made your lawn look less-than-beautiful? There are several options to consider when thinking about repairing or replacing your lawn: sod, overseeding, and hydroseeding. At Pro-Tech Lawn Care we offer homeowners a fast, economical option of hydroseeding to jump start that lush look you are aiming for this spring. Here are some Hydroseeding 101 basics to help get you started.

 

What is Hydroseeding?

Hydroseeding is a process where a mixture or “slurry” of seeds, fertilizer, and mulch is sprayed on the ground to establish a lawn quickly and effectively. The slurry is transported in a truck and the application is fairly simple once the area has been prepared.

 

What are the Benefits of Hydroseeding?

Hydroseeding is an alternative to the time consuming, more traditional method of scattering or sowing dry seed into the ground. It is also a more cost effective choice than laying sod.

 

Hydroseeding:

  • Allows for better coverage in less time.
  • Liquid seeds are evenly spread across a broad area with a lot less effort.
  • Works great at erosion control.
  • Grass begins growing quickly – in as little as 5-7 days.
  • Provides better quality grass. Sod has had its roots cut off and handheld seeding can be unevenly distributed.

 

Find out more about hydroseeding for your lawn this spring. Call Pro-Tech Lawn Care at (603) 382-9644 or Toll Free: (800) 313-4733, or visit our website.