Organic Lawn Care

  What is Armyworm?   Fall armyworms are generally a more prevalent pest in the southern areas of the United States and can dramatically invade a lawn in a matter of hours. The larvae of flying moths, armyworms are active in early morning or early evening, consuming blades of grass and other low vegetation. Storm fronts and periods of heavy rain and wind can drive armyworm populations north, spreading damage to wider areas. What Do Armyworms Look Like?   Armyworm larvae are generally one quarter inch to one inch in length and can vary in color, including pinkish green, light tan, green, or nearly black with stripes running the length of the body. Excessively high populations of armyworm can give a lawn the appearance of movement. Birds feeding on the lawn can strongly indicate armyworm activity during late summer and early fall. What is the Armyworm Life Cycle?   Adult armyworms lay eggs on grass. The larvae begin feeding on the blades as soon as they hatch. Larvae c...

  Even the most diligent lawn caretaker doesn’t have all the answers. Whether it’s mowing, watering, or other cultural practices, it is important to appropriately care for your lawn to ensure fertilization treatments have an ideal growing environment. Should I be watering my lawn at night? At night, temperatures drop and the lack of sunlight prevents water from evaporating off of grass blades. Moisture is retained on soil and grass, encouraging rot, disease, and fungus to proliferate. Lawns prefer to drink deeply but infrequently, and sustained, excessive dampness is counterproductive to healthy growth. While there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to proper lawn maintenance, watering a lawn at night is typically not recommended. For lawns with areas of deep shade, it is especially important to not water at night, as decreased sunlight during the day leaves moisture on turf even longer. Instead, early morning is typically the best time to water your lawn. Cooler temperatures pr...

  Maintaining a beautiful lawn means that you have to take the right steps during the right seasons. Staying on top of seasonal changes, such as snowfall and heat, can mean the difference between a beautiful lawn that looks great all year long, or an ugly brown mess by the middle of September.  The first step to lawn maintenance is to understand how the seasons affect your lawn. After that, it is vital to have an accurate schedule as a guideline even though the weather circumstances may change it slightly. There are also several things to consider when keeping this schedule. To Fertilize or Not to Fertilize First, consider fertilization. Fertilization should occur near the beginning of spring or late summer. Different types of fertilization are suited for different lawn characteristics. When to fertilize lawns depends largely on the type of grass that you have grown in your area. Different grass types will need different amounts of nutrients in order to grow. If you are unsure...