Best For Pets: Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer
Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer uses only natural ingredients like vinegar to remove weeds, so pet owners dont have to worry about the health of their four-legged friends. It costs around $25 for 1 gallon. It can wither weeds in just 24 hours after application without using any toxic chemicals.
You can use this nontoxic weed killer practically anywhere in your yard, garden, or lawn. Pet owners and parents of small children especially prefer this product because it only uses vinegar, a natural weed killer, which is not harmful if ingested. Its also convenient since its ready to use. All you need to do is attach your garden hose to the product and spray the solution over your yard. Over 1,400 reviews on Amazon give this product a 4.3 out of a 5-star rating.
Do It Yourself Lawn Care Tips & Advice
Having a green lawn is a mark of pride for many homeowners. A beautiful, lush, and natural-looking lawn becomes a big part of how they come to define home.
When you consider your own landscaping options, there might be some decisions on whether to hire professional lawn care or if you can do it yourself. This article will outline some of the basic considerations youll face so you can approach do-it-yourself lawn care with confidence.
Who Registers Pesticides In The United States
EPA and state departments register or license pesticides for use in the United States. EPA receives its authority to register pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act . States are authorized to regulate pesticides under FIFRA and under state pesticide laws. States may place more restrictive requirements on pesticides than EPA. Pesticides must be registered both by EPA and the state before distribution. The United States has one of the most stringent pesticide regulatory systems in the world. The safety and effectiveness of each product is thoroughly evaluated by agency toxicologists to ensure products meet strict safety standards. In most cases, pesticides are subject to more testing than pharmaceutical drugs. Professional applicators are highly trained and adhere to all state regulations concerning pesticide use. The pest management products that are available to the homeowner for use on lawns are virtually the same products that commercial lawn care companies use. Like other products used in and around the home such as paints, cleaners, medicines and fuels, pesticides should always be used responsibly, and only when needed. When used and stored according to their directions, they present a low risk to the safety of people, pets and the environment.
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Should I Remove Grass Clippings
Grass clippings should be left on the lawn when mowing. “Grass-cycling” is a natural and environmentally beneficial practice. Grass clippings are about 90 percent water by weight. Because they are high in protein they should be left on the lawn to decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Grass-cycling also reduces waste and conserves landfill space. It is only necessary to remove lawn clippings if they are long and will smother the lawn.
Choosing Between Standard & Organic Lawn Care
In addition to our natural and organic lawn care services, we offer a wide range of other eco-friendly lawn care options that are fully friendly to the environment. One example is our standard fertilizers, which use lab-synthesized nutrients, but are completely safe for your lawn and the local eco-system. Talk with one of our lawn care experts about your complete range of eco-friendly lawn care services.
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Will You Adjust The Cutting Schedule To The Growth Rates Of The Lawn As It Changes Over The Season
For example, early in the season, grass requires cutting frequently, maintaining a 3 high lawn. As the rate of growth slows down during the season and during dry periods, it doesnt need cutting as frequently. Will the care provider only cut the grass as necessary? Your grass wont need cutting every Wednesday, e.g.
What Is Traditional Lawn Care
When we talk about traditional lawn care, we’re referring to a program that uses synthetic fertilizers to feed the grass and then uses synthetic pesticides to treat insects, diseases, weeds, and other issues that come up. These synthetic fertilizers and pesticides became popular after World War II and havent been in existence for very long in human history, but long enough to become traditional.
Synthetic fertilizers contain water soluble nutrient salts in a form that the plants can readily absorb. The benefit of a water soluble lawn fertilizer is that you notice a quick greenup after applying a synthetic fertilizer. There are a few drawbacks to traditional synthetic fertilizers though. The first is that the high doses of salt burn up the beneficial soil biology that is so necessary for healthy plant growth and lead to thatch accumulation. The second is that because the nutrients are water soluble, theyre more likely to get washed down the drain and end up in our rivers and lakes where excess nutrient pollution can lead to harmful algal blooms.
Some newer synthetic fertilizers contain water soluble nutrients covered with plastic that gradually breaks down and then exposes the water soluble fertilizer to the environment. So, they make a quick release fertilizer, more slow release by covering it with plastic.
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What Does Trugreen Actually Do
TruGreen ChemLawn does not provide landscaping services or mowing, however, it does specialize in lawn care services. ;These services include weed control, shrub care, pest control, fertilizer and more. They create a protection plan for the trees and shrubs present in your yard and offer spring lawn care as well.
TruGreen lawn care has received a lot of negative reviews. Many people have been having problems with this lawn care company.
When You Think About Diy Lawn Care A Lot Of The Work Includes:
- Going to the store and buying the fertilizer and other materials.
- Digging your spreader out of your garage or shed.
- Reading the label instructions to make sure you understand how to use the material and how to spread it evenly.
- Getting the spreader ready and calibrating it to dispense the proper rate of fertilizer .
- Clean-up when the work is done.
- Storing things away like, the left over fertilizer, the spreader, leaf blower or broom used to clean fertilizer off of the sidewalks and driveway.
Notice, none of these bullet points include actually treating the lawn.
Before a professional lawn care service arrives at your house, all of the prep work has already been done. When the technician arrives, all they need to do is treat the lawn and clean-up as needed .
The lawn care applicator has all the materials they need and their equipment is calibrated before they arrive at your house. They also have a leaf blower that is easily accessible and starts on the first pull.
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How Organic Lawn Care Keeps Grass Green And Healthy
To answer the question of how an organic approach to lawn care actually works, we return again to the health of the soil. Are you noticing a theme here? Thats right, lets say it again: healthy soil = healthy plants. When done right, organic weed control and organic fertilizer treatments focus on building soil health and fertility. Clean Air Lawn Cares approach, for instance, includes a custom-made soil builder and fertilizer that encourages a healthy soil microbiome, balanced soil nutrients, and robust grass growth. We also utilize sustainable mowing practices that encourage a healthy lawn.
Green,sustainable, and organic are buzzwords in many industries right now, including lawn care. But a lot of lawn care companies are not truly sustainable or organic. Clean Air Lawn Care, on the other hand, walks the walk. On top of using treatments that are safe and healthy, we use zero-emission lawn equipment thats powered by the sun.
Need Help With Your Lawn
If you are aware of the type of grass you have in your yard and are content with its health and the way it looks, simply learn more about how to treat it well. If you are starting fresh, make sure you select a grass that thrives in your geographic area. One good tip is to locate the best-looking lawn in your neighborhood and initiate a conversation with the owner. They can give you a good idea of what types of seed, fertilizer and watering schedules might also work well in your yard.
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Final Thoughts On Chemlawn Trugreen Controversy
Chem lawn / Tru Green seems to have straightened up its practices when compared to a few years ago. However, they seem to be far from being truly green. The company is very private about their products and ingredients, only listing them on a customers bill therefore, after the product has been applied. Do you want to use their;lawn care;services only to find out later their ingredients can have devastating consequences?
But if we think about it, the problem goes much deeper. Although unethical, these practices that ChemLawn services use are not illegal and this is what should worry us the most. After all, if ChemLawn has been doing it for all these years, whats stopping other lawn care companies from doing the same?
Ready To Switch To Organic Lawn Care
Homeowners across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania have a choice when it comes to caring for their lawn.
The first step is to learn about the options available to you and consider how those fit with your lifestyle and views. To start, check out the Lawn Care section of our website. Youll find details on common lawn issues, fertilization options, turf types, mowing techniques, and overall lawn care, with a focus on organic options that are better for your health and the environment.
We see many cases of improper, excessive, and unnecessary use of yard chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizer. If youd like to take a different approach to lawn care this year, give us a call at . Wed love to help you get started with organic care for your yard!
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Where Do You Start With Getting Your Lawn In Shape
Every solid project requires a good foundation. The foundation for a good lawn is the soil in which it grows. If you have soil issues, you will have lawn issues. Perform a soil test for your lawn soil. This will give you valuable information on what your soil has and what you need to add to it.
There are do-it-yourself kits available from some lawn care services or lawn and garden shops. The cooperative extension offices in many states will also test soil for free or for a low fee. Private companies also provide kits and testing for a fee. Once you get the results returned, you will see what you may need to add to the soil in order to get the lawn of your dreams.
What Do Farmers Use
Farmers have access to stronger post-emergent solutions, and will regularly use them to protect their crops and livelihood.
These can include herbicides such as Axial, Signal, Simplicity GoDri, Traxos, Varro, Odyssey Ultra NXT, Solo ADV, Solo Ultra, and Viper ADV. Some of these may be available at a farm supply store if there is one near you.
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A Lush Lawn Without Pesticides
The truth about the chemicals that keep your lawn green, and how to create a healthy oasis without them
Shortly after Lydia Chambers had her first child, in 1995, her family moved to a new home in Ohio. It was this neighborhood with perfect lawns, recalls Chambers, now 60. In her previous home, when a swath of dandelions appeared shortly after she and her husband moved in, she spent two weeks pulling them out by hand.
In their Ohio home, however, she had no time to take care of the yard. So she hired a service to come and treat it. At the time, she didnt realize that the chemicals the service used might be dangerous. Even though I kind of sensed it . . . I didnt know, she says.
In her professional life as a hydrogeologist, Chambers was beginning to learn about how long-term, low-dose exposures to dangerous chemicals could lead to cancer and other chronic diseases. This made her increasingly suspicious of the pesticides her landscaping company applied. By 2005, her family had moved to New Jersey and her elementary school-aged kids were playing in the yard constantly. As she did more research, she learned a particularly disturbing fact: One common weed killer, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid , was also an ingredient in Agent Orange, a chemical used during the Vietnam War.
Using Weed And Feed As Part Of Lawn Care
Weed and feed can rid your lawn of unwanted plants such as crabgrass, dandelion, and clover. These weed preventions products contain herbicides to prevent weeds from taking root. They also contain nutrients to feed your grass to make it more resistant to weeds.
Not all gardeners like using weed and feed products on their lawns. The weed killers are herbicides that can destroy grass if misused. Also, not everyone is happy putting toxic chemicals on lawns, especially if children and pets use the yard.
One way to reduce the need for weed and feed products in lawn care is to switch to organic lawn maintenance methods. Growing grass organically, with only natural products, improves soil structure and health. Also, grass becomes more resistant to weeds, pests, and diseases.
For an environmentally friendly option you can use organic weed preventers. These natural products contain corn gluten meal that works by preventing weed seeds from rooting after germination. Weed preventer is not an herbicide. So, if you already have unwanted weeds growing in your lawn, you will need to remove them naturally using these homemade natural weed killers.
For more information read our article about organic lawn care.
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What Do Lawn Care Companies Spray On Lawns
First and foremost, its important to know that the chemicals you can purchase at a big box store for weed, pest, or disease control are not the same that a professional can use. The biggest difference is in the potency. A lawn care company has to be licensed to apply professional-grade products. The biggest difference is going to be in effectiveness. As a homeowner, you simply cant get the same commercial-grade, high-quality products that a professional will have access to. In terms of what chemicals are used in lawn care, a thorough lawn care program will include a combination of weed control, pest control, and even disease control products when theyre needed. It will also include lawn fertilization.But its really not as simple as going out and buying one of each of these types of products. Well dive into how its much more complex than that.
Preventing Reinfestation Of Grassy Weeds
- Applications of Nitrophos Barricade applied before the growing season can prevent a wide variety of grassy weeds from germinating on your lawn.
- Aside from pre-emergent herbicide applications, regular lawn maintenance that promotes a thick, dense lawn can help choke out any weeds and reduce the likelihood of invasive grassy weeds.
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Using A Mulching Mower Will You Leave Grass Clippings On The Lawn
Grass clippings can provide needed compost, reducing your external compost and fertilizer needs. They break down easily, returning nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil. Clippings from a regular mower can be used also, as long as piles of clippings dont form. Gently raking any piles to spread them out enhances their ability to decompose.
Questions To Ask Lawn Care Providers
Many residents are looking for a lawn care company whose products and services are organic or environmentally friendly. Unfortunately these terms are sometimes used indiscriminately. Despite their use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides, some lawn care companies claim to be organic or environmentally friendly. When choosing a company to care for a lawn, be open about your needs and concerns. Ask the following questions to gain a clear picture of a company’s practices and ethics. Demand thorough and honest answers. If you don’t get them from one company, try another.
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Pendelton Turf Supply Liquid Fertilizer
This liquid grass fertilizer concentrate has a combination of fast-release and slow-release nitrogen for quick, but long-lasting turf growth. There is a range of micro-nutrients for grass growth, as well as N-P-K of 18-3-6.
The balance of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium boosts grass growth, helps develop strong roots and increases resistance to drought and disease. The lawn fertilizer liquid concentrate needs only 3 oz. of fertilizer per gallon of water to feed up to 1.000 sq. ft. of grass.
Preventing Broadleaf Weed Growth
- You can discourage the growth of broadleaf weeds by implementing cultural practices that promote a thick, healthy lawn that will make it difficult for broadleaf weeds to establish themselves.
- Mow your grass regularly, water deeply yet infrequently and fertilize your lawn at the right time to hinder the development of Broadleaf weeds.
- Understanding which nutrients are needed for your turf variety at the proper time of the year is essential to preventing broadleaf weeds and the overall health of your lawn.
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