1 in 5 Americans have suffered lawn care accidents, survey finds  The Eastern Progress Online

Follow this link:
1 in 5 Americans have suffered lawn care accidents, survey finds - The Eastern Progress Online

Best and Essential Gardening Tools for Every Task  The Economic Times

Excerpt from:
Best and Essential Gardening Tools for Every Task - The Economic Times

Three types of killer lawn disease to watch out for - and how to treat them  The Mirror

See original here:
Three types of killer lawn disease to watch out for - and how to treat them - The Mirror

How to Know When It's Time to Stop Mowing Your Lawn for the Year  Martha Stewart

Read the original post:
How to Know When It's Time to Stop Mowing Your Lawn for the Year - Martha Stewart

Prep your garden in the fall with these eight picks  Fox News

View original post here:
Prep your garden in the fall with these eight picks - Fox News

5 Signs That Its High Time to Overseed Your Lawn  Money Talks News

Read the original:
5 Signs That Its High Time to Overseed Your Lawn - Money Talks News

Pre-emergent weed killers belong to a group of herbicides that dont kill unwanted plants. Instead, they stop seeds from sprouting in the first place. Various pre-emergent products are available for lawns, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. Knowing when to apply pre-emergent herbicide can mean the difference between having a lush, weed-free lawn, a yard riddled with dandelions and other unwanted plants, or no lawn or flowers at all.

Applying pre-emergent weed killers too soon can keep beneficial seeds from sprouting, and applying them too late wont do any good. The most effective pre-emergence herbicides are nonselective, says Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D., associate professor and turfgrass specialist at Oregon State University. They will prevent the germination of any plant establishing from seed, he says. Ahead, learn about when to use pre-emergent herbicides and when to wait.

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide will prevent seeds from sprouting, and since most weeds (like crabgrass, foxtail, and sandbur) germinate in late spring and emerge in summer, spring is usually the best time to act. Kowalewski suggests using the herbicides in spring if there were heavy weed populations on the property the previous summer. Just be sure not to combine seeding of any desired grass or plant with the application of pre-emergents. It is best to avoid their use altogether during the first year following seeding or sodding of a lawn.

A lawn might appear virtually weed-free going into fall, but then weeds suddenly appear. By this time, the pre-emergent applied in spring is no longer protecting the yard or beds, and a few invasive weed seed varieties, such as annual bluegrass, henbit, and chickweed, are lying in wait for cooler temps before sprouting.

A bonus fall application can also help control the next years summer weeds. After sprouting, hardy weeds will remain small, perhaps even unnoticeable, throughout the winter. But theyll revive in early spring and grow with a vengeance. By then, its too late to use a pre-emergenta post-emergent herbicide is necessary at that point. Break this cycle by controlling weeds before they have a chance to sprout.

Apply pre-emergents when the temperature is right.

For spring application, Some classic indicators for pre-emergence timing include atmospheric temperature that reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Kowalewski says. This will vary by region. For example, in southern USDA growing zones, such as Louisiana, appropriate temperatures typically hit around the first of March, while in North Dakota the temps will be more conducive to applying a pre-emergent in June.

A universal sign for when to apply pre-emergent herbicides is the blooming of forsythia shrubs, which Kowalewski says is a classic indicator that temperatures are getting close to summer annual germination.

In the fall, apply pre-emergent herbicides when daytime temperatures drop to about 70 degrees, since many winter/early spring weeds begin to germinate at temps below that.

Formulation slightly affects timing for pre-emergent herbicides.

There are two types of pre-emergent herbicides, liquid and granular. Both work to keep weed seeds from sprouting, but one works a little better and more quickly.

The active ingredients in specific pre-emergent weed killers can vary. Identifying the unwanted plants in your hard can help you choose the best pre-emergent and determine the best time to apply, whether for summer or winter annual weeds. Examples of active ingredients are:

Clemson University Extension posts a helpful list of the best active ingredients to tackle summer weeds and grasses. Herbicide products help consumers by listing the types of weeds they should kill on the packaging, in addition to the herbicides active ingredients and warnings.

Reseeding a lawn too soon after applying a pre-emergent herbicide may prevent the grass seeds from sprouting.

Kowalewski cautions that spring is not a good time to use pre-emergent herbicides if you want to sow grass seed in the spring. I would suggest [grass] seed or pre-emergence herbicides in the spring, not both, says Kowalewski. He suggests that homeowners overseed (or interseed) and fertilize in those springs that follow low-weed summers. Keeping turf coverage full and healthy can help prevent weeds from finding a home.

Likewise, spring is not the time to treat the soil in a garden or annual flower bed where beneficial seeds, such as flowers, corn, cucumbers, or squash, will be sown, since pre-emergence products can affect their germination. But for lawns and perennial flower beds, treatment with pre-emergent herbicides in early spring can drastically reduce the number of annual summer weeds.

Sowing any seed while a pre-emergent herbicide is still effective will prevent the wanted seeds from sprouting. Check package directions, but generally wait a minimum of 8 to 9 weeks after applying a pre-emergent to overseed or sow annuals. With winter grass species like fescue, which need cool temps to sprout, avoid fall application of pre-emergents. Instead, overseed the lawn at that time, or alternate seeding and use of pre-emergents.

Pre-emergent herbicides are generally safe on existing plants, says Kowalewski. But they can prevent desired annual flowers or vegetables sown by seed from coming up, so timing is critical. Be sure not to combine seeding with pre-emergence herbicides, Kowalewski says. Check package labels to ensure that a particular formula is meant for the type of weeds you want to stop; knowing the desired targets will help determine the best time for application.

Likewise, consult the products label for specific safety requirements when applying pre-emergent herbicides. When youre applying any pesticide, Kowalewski says it is best to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks, gloves, and protective glasses. He also cautions to always shower after application, and to wash the clothes worn during application separately to reduce exposure. The effects of the ingredients vary among products, so be sure to read and follow all cautions regarding eye exposure, skin exposure, and possible toxicity to pets or children.

Avoid the need for pre-emergents or their repeated use by keeping lawns healthy and full, and by adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to beds in the spring to prevent weed seed growth. Plan timing of pre-emergents based on the type of weed, when it typically appears, and weather (both temperature and expected rainfall). For the best coverage, apply pre-emergents throughout a lawn or bed, not just where you have seen the weed grow. Using liquid formulas and watering after applying any pre-emergent herbicide will help spread the products coverage.

View post:
When to Apply Pre-Emergent to Prevent a Weedy Lawn and Garden - Bob Vila

Spring marks the return of flowering plants and warm weather. And homeowners know that spring also ushers in the return of the home renovation season.

Homeowners undoubtedly have an extensive list of projects on their to-do list this spring, and that may include helping their lawns and gardens recover after a long winter. Unpredictable weather, which can include drought and excessive rainfall and everything in between, can take its toll on a lawn. In certain instances, the best solution may be planting new grass. But homeowners can consider these tips before they begin the process of reseeding or replanting their lawns.

Scarifying a lawn (using a tool to clear matted grass and moss from the surface of your lawn and lightly opening up the ground to add air and improve growth) can help to create a clean slate, but the timing must be right. Various lawn and garden experts, including those at BBC Gardeners World Magazine, recommend scarifying in spring or early autumn. But dont jump the gun when scarifying in spring by doing so before the lawn has started to grow after a dormant winter. Scarify when the soil is a little wet and the grass is once again actively growing. Scarifying can remove any lingering weeds from last season and also pull up any moss that might have taken hold over the winter. Without weeds and moss to contend with, freshly planted seeds are in a better position to thrive.

Work with a landscaping professional

Homeowners with manageable lawns can likely scarify their own lawns with a relatively inexpensive plug-in scarifier. However, scarifying can be a strenuous physical activity, particularly for homeowners with large lawns. In such instances, homeowners can benefit from working with a qualified landscaping professional. Such a professional can scarify the lawn and subsequently reseed or replant new grass. The latter task is not so simple, as the lawn care experts at Scotts note that choosing the correct seed is a vital part of reseeding or replanting a lawn. Choosing seed may sound simple, but its a potentially complex decision that requires knowledge of the existing grass, including when to plant it. Certain grasses are best planted in spring or early fall, while others are best planted in summer. A qualified landscaping professional can identify the existing grass and plan the seeding or planting around this important detail.

Prepare to water the lawn

Watering is vital to the long-term success and health of freshly planted grass seed. Scotts urges homeowners to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist, but not soggy. That requires a daily commitment, and setting a multi-function hose nozzle or sprinkler to mist once per day or more if its hot outside can increase the chances grass will grow in thick and strong. Scotts recommends keeping the top two inches of the soil moist until the new grass reaches a mowing height of roughly three inches. Once that benchmark has been reached, watering frequency can be cut back to about twice per week, but now the soil should be deeply soaked instead of misted. The soaking will help roots grow deep into the soil.

Read this article:
What to know about reseeding or replanting your lawn - thepress.net

When you're dealing with pre-emergent herbicides, it's all about getting the timing and application just right. North Carolina State University has some solid advice on this: Mix your chosen product into the soil through either rainfall or manual irrigation. This approach ensures that the herbicide spreads evenly across your lawn, setting up a formidable defense against those pesky weed seeds. But here's the catch: These herbicides are only effective before the seeds start their growth journey. So, your window for action is right before germination kicks in. After applying, you need to monitor the effectiveness of the herbicide. Try to reapply the product before its strength dwindles below the level required to keep the weeds at bay.

When applying pre-emergent herbicides, there are several key considerations. First and foremost, adhere strictly to the manufacturer's instructions. This guidance is not just regulatory it's your blueprint for effective application. Choose a product that targets the specific weeds you're combating. You've got some noteworthy options. The university rates oryzalin as a top choice, especially for woody plants. Prodiamine is another heavy hitter, but it might be too strong on herbaceous plants. If crabgrass is your nemesis, dithiopyr offers both pre-emergent control and early post-emergent action.

See the original post:
Here's How Long You Can Expect Your Lawn's Weed-Killer Treatment To Last - House Digest

When we say that ServSuite just missed the top spot, we mean it. ServSuite offers many of the same features as Housecall Pro, plus has slightly better customer support and training than Housecall, proving 24/6 coverage, which is the best we've found across any industry.

ServSuite also offer the ServSuite university, which provides 8 hours of live, interactive training to get you confident with every feature and setting.

The biggest hit against ServSuite, that took it out of the top spot, is its mobile app. With exceedingly low scores on the App Store and Play Store, reviewers complain of extremely slow speeds and malfunctioning features. Suffice it to say, we'd recommend sticking to other options if mobile functionality is important to you. It also doesn't offer offline functionality.

Since being acquired by ServiceTitan in 2021, and merged with FieldRoutes in 2022, ServSuite no longer publicly details the prices of its plans. However, it previously offered three different pricing plans, Starter, Plus, and Pro, which were a bit more expensive than Housecall Pro.

The Starter plan was $126 per month, the Plus plan was $186 per month, and the Pro plan was a whopping $339 per month. It's unclear how these prices may have increased or decreased, more recently, and prices likely depend on you getting a custom quote for your exact needs. There is no free plan nor a free trial, but you can get a free demo to see what the platform can do before you buy.

View original post here:
Best Lawn Care Software 2023: Pros, Cons, Prices and More - Tech.co