When to Start Treating Your Lawn

The birds are chirping and the days are longer, which can only mean one thing- Spring is in the air! We’re all looking forward to enjoying time outside in the sunshine, and you may be eager to get your Lawn Care Program started ASAP. In fact, you may have already seen trucks for other lawn care companies out on properties this year. However, the Lawn Care Experts at Giroud Tree and Lawn have been carefully planning the official start of their season, and they’ve decided to start a little later than usual. Read on to find out why!

We know that winter weather can affect how your lawn fares in spring and summer, but carefully timing your lawn care treatments can be the deciding factor between a lush, green carpet of grass and one riddled with problems all season long. Fertilizer and weed control are only effective if you apply them at the optimal time.

“We have to time it just right,” explains Tom McMonagle, Giroud Lawn Care. “It’s a domino effect, and if we start too early, all the other treatments will be too early as well. That’s why we start on the weather, not based on the time of year.”

There’s a Chill in the Ground

We’ve all been enjoying the spring-like temperatures this week, but it’s important to know that air temperature is different than soil temperature.  It takes a lot more energy for the soil to warm up, and we need optimal soil temperature to get the best results from the fertilizer treatments. Crabgrass Pre-emergent Control needs to be applied just as the Crabgrass is beginning to germinate, which won’t happen until the soil temperature is 55 degrees or above for at least 3 days in a row.

Soaked Soil

We had a very wet winter! You may notice that the ground is almost spongy when you step on it and there are pools of water on many properties. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “From December 2018 through February 2019, the total U.S. winter precipitation was 9.01 inches that was 2.22 inches above average. That made it the wettest winter on record beating the winter of 1997-1998.”

Our Lawn Technicians have been carefully monitoring soil conditions for 3 important reasons:

1. An Even, Uniform Application– excess water will dilute the product, causing some sections to get too much and others not enough.
2. Maintaining the Product’s Strength and Effectiveness– wet conditions like these can dilute our crabgrass controls and weaken the protective barrier.
3. Preventing Lawn Damage: If the ground is soft and still absorbing all that water, driving heavy equipment on your grass will only damage the lawn! In some cases, the ground is still so soaked that even walking on it could leave divots and dents.

What You Can Do While You Wait

We know you might be eager for that lush, green lawn, so here are a few things you can do now to get your lawn ready for a great season:

1. Give your property a Spring Cleanup! Clear brush, rake up leaves, and pick up anything that may block the early spring sun from shining down on those little grass sprouts.
2. Have your soil’s pH level checked. A balanced soil acidity will only strengthen the effectiveness of your lawn care program!
3. Schedule a FREE Lawn Evaluation! Your PA Certified Lawn Care Technician will analyze the growing environment, current condition of your lawn, and check for any emerging issues. Each program is designed to provide the care and treatments needed for a healthy, green lawn!

Your Giroud Lawn Technician is your personal lawn care manager.  He is responsible for everything on your lawn from applying treatments to making sure you are 100%  happy with our service. Give us a call today!

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