Tips & FAQs

  1. Home       
  2. Tips & FAQs

Care & Tips,
Download our Guide

Mowing

Here are some proper mowing tips:

  1. Mow frequently.
  2. Keep your blade sharp.
  3. Remove no more than 1/3 of the plant at each mowing.
  4. Water-in application prior to mowing your lawn.

Water or Rain

During dry periods a lawn may require as much a 1 1/2" of water per week. Best results are attained when the soil is damp to the depth of 4 to 6 inches after watering. Water in the morning thoroughly as needed to meet your lawn moisture requirements.*

See our Greenturf Water Guide*

Timing

We know the growing needs of your lawn. By developing a annual timetable for nutrition, we provide your lawn with balanced slow release fertilizations with micro nutrients.

Safety

Please keep your children and pets off the lawn for 24 hours following each service and thoroughly water-in prior to re-entry.

*Please remove posted signs in 24 hours*

It's All About the Water

ALL Lawn Care results are 100% Dependent on proper water conditions from Mother Nature and from irrigation systems.

Too much rain, too little rain, constant drizzle and fog. Severe drought Shallow and frequent irrigation, constant daily irrigation, broken heads, malfunctioning rain sensors and watering the same in sun and shade ALL CONTRIBUTE TO POOR RESULTS.

Too much water leads to fungus problems and rotting of plants. Too little water leads to drought stress, drought damage and disease prone plants.

We can't control Mother Nature but we can control our irrigation systems. They should be adjusted regularly to match what the weather is doing. You CAN NOT "SET IT AND FORGET IT"

For best results follow our GREENTURF WATER GUIDE. This guide is a baseline for average conditions and must be adjusted according to local soil conditions and weather.



Always water each area (zone) for 1 hour    |    Early morning waterings are best    |    Avoid afternoon and evening when possible

Adjust Your Daily Watering Intervals As Follows

TEMPERATURE RANGE
INTERVAL
55° - 65° water every 4th day
65° - 75° water every 3rd day
75° - 85° water every 2nd day
85° - 95° water every day


Dense Shade Areas Skip A Day In The Cycle
Abundant Rainfall Skip A Day In The Cycle
Severe Drouht Add A Day To The Cycle
Misty Weather Water As Usual


Blow Out Automatic Systems After October 15th

Snow mold fungus is prevalent in the early spring when preceded by heavy snow covers. As your lawn awakens, patches can appear to be matted with a pinkish hew to them. Simply use a leaf rake to rake out the affected areas and the patches should recover within several weeks.

Red thread appears as reddish irregular patches in mid spring. The fungus is caused by damp and drizzly weather in the 60° to 70° degree temperature range. Often as dry warmer weather approached red thread will grow out on its own with no permanent damage. Occasionally supplemental feeding or fertilizer may be needed and on rare occasions a fungicide must be applied. Please follow you GREENTURF water guide and avoid afternoon and evening waterings. If you have any questions, please call and we will be glad to advise you accordingly.

Dollar spot fungus is cause by too much surface moisture in the 75° to 80° degree temperature range. This can be caused by constant damp conditions either from frequent rain or incorrect watering habits. Occasionally a supplemental feeding of fertilizer ay be needed to help alleviate this condition. Please follow your GREENTURF water guide and avoid afternoon and evening waterings. If you have any questions, please call and we will be glad to advice you accordingly.

HEAT STRESS,
Download our Guide

Northern grasses perform best between 50° - 70°. When temperatures rise into the 80’s and above, heat stress may occur. With temperatures over 80°, grasses may appear to be wilted, may brown, and may even collapse during prolonged and extreme conditions. Follow your GREENTURF water guide. Although this will not prevent heat stress, it will help your lawn to recover as soon as possible when temperatures subside.

DROUGHT STRESS,
Download our Guide

Drought stress occurs when soils dry and don’t provide adequate moisture levels to the plants. First signs are greyish wilting followed by browning. If caught early enough, wilted turf can recover in one or two days. If browning occurs (after two to three days of wilting), 2 - 3 weeks of regular watering will be needed for recovery. Lawns rarely dry out uniformly leaving tan colored blotches which often mimic fungus and insect damage. Repeated drought stress caused by poor watering habits and extreme conditions, can lead to damage, in need of reseeding. Please follow your GREENTURF water guide.

GRUBS,
Download our Guide

Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles and can cause damage to the roots of your lawn primarily in the early fall. Although they can be found in the soils while spring planting, damage rarely occurs. All turf will have some grub population in the fall, generally below 10 grubs per square foot and this will not cause damage. When populations rise above this level, turf may come loose like freshly laid sod. When this happens, an application of grub killer will be needed, along with additional watering. (1 hour per day for 2 - 3 weeks) for complete recovery. For lawns with a chronic history of grub damage, a preventative (Merit) may be recommended.

MOLES,
Download our Guide

Moles will tunnel through properties often along foundations, curbs, and walkways looking for grubs, crickets and earth worms as well as various sources of food. There is no effective chemical control for moles. Applying grub killer is ineffective and inappropriate use for the environment as moles will hunt for food live or dead. Mechanical traps can be purchased at hardware stores and garden centers and are the most effective measures available. The tunnels from the moles will eventually settle back down from rainfall, irrigation and traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you offer shrub fertilization?

Yes, we offer it in the spring. This is a 5 - 6 month slow released, balanced topical feeding. Some plants may require a second feeding in the fall.

How often should we have our lawn limed?

We apply a maintenance level of lime annually, however sometimes a corrective application of lime at 50lb per 1000 sq./ft. maybe needed.

Do you treat for fleas and ticks?

Yes, our late spring service contains Talstar insecticide which controls fleas and ticks in all turf areas.

Should I mulch when I cut?

By all means mulch as often as possible provided you are not leaving clumps of grass on the lawn. This may require you to double cut or to cut more often. This does not add to your thatch layer and will keep your lawn greener longer.

When should I Core-aerate and seed?

This procedure should be done in the fall from about Labor Day through late October. Core-aeration relieves compaction, manages thatch, improves root grown and prepares the turf for over seeding. Fall is the best time to seed with warm days and cool nights and regular rainfall, results are far better than in the spring.

My lawn was cut today after your application, will this ruin my treatment?

No, it is not possible for even commercial mowers to remove enough product to affect their performance. If ever there is not enough color or response as a result of this, service calls are always free.

It rained after your service today, will this affect my treatment?

Rain will not affect granular treatments as they need to be watered in for effectiveness anyway. As for liquid weed sprays, as long as they have 1 hour of drying time, they should be fully effective.

Will snow or leaves affect my treatment?

No, when the snow melts it will have the same result as rain. Light to moderate leaf coverings will not affect your applications performance, however, they should be removed as often as possible before damage to the turf occurs from lack of light and air.

Why do I have so many mushrooms?

Mushrooms are caused by decaying organic matter in the soil, coupled with high moisture and high humidity levels at night. As weather conditions change, mushroom activity subsides. No chemicals are needed and the mushrooms are harmless to your turf. Please follow our GREENTURF WATER GUIDE and water as normal. DO NOT STOP WATERING.

Why is my grass thin in the shade?

All plants need sunlight to grow and survive. Shade lawns are always thinner. Even though there are shade varieties of grass seed available, they don’t perform as well as full sun varieties. Try pruning up plants and trees as much as possible to improve sunlight and air movement. Over seeding may be needed annually or every other year to help maintain density.

Can I cancel my contract at any time?

Absolutely, the contract is non binding and your services can be discontinued at any time. Simply call or write our office to notify us of your intentions.