The beginning of June marks the unofficial start of the mosquito season in Tennessee, with large groups of tiny critters preparing to invade barbecues, picnics and other outdoor activities on your property. Heavy rainfall, coupled with rising temperatures, will cause mosquito populations to explode in the following weeks. Despite their size and fragility, they cause about 725,000 human deaths every year. This is more than some of the biggest predators on the planet, such as sharks, wolves, lions, elephants, and crocodiles, combined. A mosquito is an effective carrier of pathogens that may cause devastating diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, various forms of encephalitis, and the notorious West Nile virus. With that being said, here is how you get rid of mosquitoes in your yard.
Buy a one-gallon jug for lawn insect repellant at the closest home center or pest control supplier. Spray the repellent on the lawn, shrubs, and other areas with plants to create a shield that insects won’t want to trespass. Alternatively, you can get granules that can be applied to your turfgrass with a fertilizer spreader. These types of products usually contain oils that repel pesky insects without releasing chemicals or fumes that are poisonous to pets or kids. Their effectiveness lasts for about three weeks. Contact professionals in the field for mosquito control management.
If the insects have already invaded your landscaping, use some tricks like burning citronella candles and placing fans on the ground that will help keep you from getting bit for a while.
For best results, choose a seasonal mosquito control service. In this way, you will get relief from mosquitoes all summer long, not just a few weeks with a single service. Secure Lawn offers pest protection & control management in Tennessee. Call us at 615-893-8455 to schedule an inspection today!
Tennessee residents love outdoor activities, summer picnics and BBQ’s in the yard. Plus, opening our home to fresh, warm breezes are evidence of perfect summer weather. However, you need to take precautions, otherwise pesky insects will put a damper on your fun.
Pest protection services will make sure no ants, flies, mosquitoes, or any other insect or arachnid ruins all your summer activities. Here is how to pest-proof your backyard this summer.
Besides the above actions, professionals in the field encourage homeowners to adopt good practices concerning soil management, turfgrass selection, exclusions through sanitation and prevention, and appropriate cultural practices. 
Hire a professional outdoor pest control company for better results.
Pest control services offered by Secure Lawn come in 7 Series of steps to control pests, not only during summer but throughout the year. This will ensure your lawn, trees, and shrubs remain healthy and thriving. We will customize your applications to prevent harm from damaging insects, protect against diseases and infestations and strengthen the roots of your plants during dormant seasons. We only use high-quality products to give your lawn, trees, and shrubs the best care they deserve. Call us at 615-893-8455 or click here to learn more.
Just like your hair, you need to cut grass for it to be beautiful and in top condition. Common grass species such as bermudagrass and fescues can be used as turfgrass. The first one has a fine-to-medium texture, it performs well in warm climates, and it is very tolerant to extreme drought. Because of these characteristics, bermudagrass tends to invade other grasses, including fescues, if not managed properly. Tall fescues are perennial cool-season grasses that have relatively fine leaves and can provide a green lawn all year-round. Here is how you properly mow these two type of turfgrass.
The general rule of thumb is to only remove one-third of a grass plant in one mowing. For example, if you’re mowing your grass at 2 inches, mow it before it exceeds 3 inches. To measure the height, use your mower. Set-up the wheels to the same height. Next, station it on a flat area, measure and write down the distance between the blade and the ground.
Having sharp blades is crucial for effective mowing. Make sure your blade is sharp enough before starting the process. Replace it if necessary. Dull blades will rip the grass ends rather than cutting them which leaves you with a tan or brownish tint lawn.
Most of tall fescues growth occurs during the spring and fall months, and it grows better when mowed at 2 to 2.5 inches. Mowed fescues at 3 inches to promote root growth and discourage weed invasion. Use a rotary mower and cut the grass often enough to give the lawn an even textured finish.
Cut bermudagrass at a height of 1 to 1 1.5 inches. Use a rotary mower and start mowing at a 1-inch height in spring and gradually increase the height when summer arrives. Overall, mow the grass when it reaches 3 inches tall. Don’t neglect to mow your grass, especially bermudagrass, as it will invade other areas in a blink of an eye.
Besides mowing your grass to keep it looking great, you need to perform other maintenance tasks such as pest control, aeration, seeding among others.
Call the experts from Secure Lawn at 615-893-8455. We have the best turf management programs in Tennessee.
When freezing temperatures cease in Tennessee, and spring kicks in, it’s time to activate your sprinkler system. In this blog, we will show you the importance of performing this task and how to properly de-winterize and start up the irrigation system.
With a shovel or spade, dig approximately 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) into the soil. If you come across frozen ground, wait a week or two before testing again. Never activate the sprinkler system while the ground is still frozen.
Turn on the control panel and pay attention to the current settings for date, time, and irrigation zones. If necessary, reprogram the controller for automatic watering. Replace the controller backup battery if it is more than one-year-old.
To avoid bursting the fittings and causing sprinklers to blow right out of the ground, fill the pipes first. Slowly open the shutoff valve that controls the water supply to the whole system. If you don’t have air pressure relief valves, remove the sprinkler heads located at the highest point of each zone. This will allow air to slowly be released when you turn on the water. Next, open the principal water valve slowly to avoid the uncontrolled flow of water. Stop when you hear the water begin to flow and wait for five minutes as water goes into the mainline. Continue by opening the valve just a few degrees every two minutes until it’s completely open. Repeat the same process if your system has several branch lines.
Test the irrigation of each of your zones using the control panel, one at a time. This will allow you to check that your spray patterns are receiving water where it is needed. With the sprinklers turned-off, adjust the nozzles if necessary. Finally, activate your full irrigation program for the last inspection. If you are satisfied with what you see, you are ready for your first lawn watering in spring!
Stay tuned for more tips to keep your lawn in top conditions all-year-round.
Secure Lawn is your trusted lawn application company in Tennessee. Call us at 615-893-8455 to speak with an expert.
The Spring season brings joy to our homes, and many people are ready to finally go out, after the long cold days, to work outdoors. Others are preparing to spring-clean their garage or kitchen. However, don’t forget the outdoor areas of your home. Perform spring cleaning tasks performed to freshen up your yard.
Before you begin, wait until the soil is no longer wet enough to form a ball of debris, leaves, and any lingering organic material, to avoid walking on it and compacting it. Here is how to prepare your yard for the growing season.
The incessant rain, snow, and wind have taken a toll on your trees, so start your clean-up efforts by gathering the fallen branches and scattered sticks. Continue with your flower beds and remove any dead leaves and flowers.
The sooner you eliminate these nasty invaders, the better. Don’t let them settle, weeds will grow sturdy roots during summer. Pull these invaders out before it is too late.
Many trees, such as oaks, lose their leaves over the winter and spring. Removing those layers of old leaves will avoid grass mold or decay. Rake out fallen leaves and dead foliage. Once you are done, consider composting. Otherwise, let your town collection service take the bagged leaves.
Look around for damaged or dead bushes, overgrown perennials, and hedges, and prune them back. Use hand pruners to shape hedges. This is when you trim fruit trees so you can have a nice harvest later.
Trim damaged tree branches and limbs that you can easily access, and contact a professional tree-trimmer to take care of those that are hard-to-reach.
At this point, you can start planting any plants, shrubbery, or trees strong enough to survive early springs still-cool nights.
Early spring is the time when you can prepare damaged lawn areas for spring seeding. First, test the pH of the soil and make the necessary amendments. Remove dead turf with a square metal rake, then flip it over to spread compost.
A proper spring garden clean up should benefit your plants. By following the above tips, your garden will thank you later on.
Should you need help with your lawn, contact Secure Lawn professionals. We offer seeding & aeration among other services for Tennessee homes.
Getting your lawn ready for spring in Tennessee is easy with today’s tips. Early preparation can get your lawn in great shape now so that it can flourish in the spring and stay healthy and thriving through the spring and into the hotter summer months.
Springtime irrigation startup is a gradual process. Once it starts growing, ensure your lawn gets at least 1″ of water per week. Watering your lawn is best early in the day. Too much water will leave it wet, promoting fungi growth.
Applying a pre-emergent weed control and fertilizers in early spring is crucial for your lawn. This task must be done before the soil temperatures reach 55 °F to 60 °F. Otherwise, the weed seeds will have already begun to germinate, and the product will no longer be effective against annual weed or crabgrass. Also, we recommend using organic fertilizers like compost and mulching mowers to reduce the number of chemicals in the soil.
Mowing is important for your lawn’s health and aesthetics. However, to successfully mown it you need to sharpen the blades every month or two. Otherwise dull blades will only rip grass blades instead of cutting them cleanly, leaving grass susceptible to diseases. If your blades are bent or nicked, replace them with new ones.
Start your season off right by performing these activities. And if prepping your lawn for spring is too much work, you can leave it to the professionals at Secure Lawn.
Hiring our lawn care contractor can help to save your nights and weekends for more enjoyable springtime activities. At Secure lawn, we can get your lawn ready for spring with our lawn care services in Tennessee. Call us at to 615-893-8455 to speak with a turf specialist.
When warm weather begins in Tennessee, residents love to take advantage of the outdoors. Many throw unique birthday parties, barbecues, wedding receptions, graduation celebrations, and other events on their properties. But those events can be way much better in an outdoor setting without mosquitoes. This means that when planning your next event outdoors, you should consider applying proper measures to get rid of pests.
There are 40 mosquito species found in Tennessee and numerous guests can attract lots of these insects to your venue. So, don’t let mosquitoes ruin your special day and call the professionals from Secure Lawn to prevent mosquito attacks during your outdoor event.
It is best to leave a mosquito treatment to the professionals. Experts in mosquito control will inspect your outdoor spaces to ensure the exact treatment prevention for your backyard. Next, they will apply a special treatment to your yard perimeter and the non-blooming foliage at your venue, targeting all mosquito resting spots and breeding areas. This procedure will not only leave you with a mosquito-free yard but will also shield it against, gnats, ticks, and other annoying bugs.
A mosquito control professional from Secure Lawn will visit your home at least 24 hours before the event starts and spray the yard with pest-control products. Mosquitoes will be gone hours before your big day.
Contact Secure Lawn in Murfreesboro, TN to discuss what is the best mosquito pest control treatment for your next backyard event and learn why we are your number one choice.
Also known as annual bluegrass, this species is a weed that loves lawn. It is very challenging to control because it produces unsightly seeds that can stay dormant for several years before sprouting. On top of these, both annual and perennial species exist. There are two common methods to eliminate this common grass invader.
Most of the time, grasses can be treated with pre-emergent herbicides. Just keep in mind, that sometimes after application, you may notice some weeds in your beautiful lawn. This is because the amount of pre-emergent herbicide may not have been properly calculated. Another reason is that some weeds may have already been rooted in your grass at the time of the first application, thus you would have to apply a post-emergent herbicide.
When applying post-emergent herbicides be careful not to damage your turf in the process. Don’t forget that poa annua is a grass too. This means that it might be closely related to the turf species you have, and the chemicals may damage or kill your turf as well. Make sure to read labels carefully and choose products specially formulated to use on your type of grass. Or, contact experts in weed control to learn more about this technique.
In the spring, this weed should be removed or controlled before it flowers and produces seed. If only a few plants are still lingering, you can remove them by hand.
Use mulch, as it acts as a barrier against this grassy invader, making it an effective control technique as it helps prevent seed germination by blocking sunlight from the soil.
Proper plant maintenance help plants to be well-prepared against weeds. So, make sure to properly space plants, water them deeply but not too frequently and give them the adequate nutrients properly.
Controlling or suppressing Poa annua takes the right products, the right approach, and most of all, knowledge of your turf.
Should you need help eliminating Poa annua weed from your lawn in Tennesse, reach out the experts at Secure Lawn. We offer the best professional weed control in the area.
Dormancy is a natural process of trees and shrubs, it starts during the firsts weeks of winter and extends until spring season kicks in. So, just before the winter ends and spring begins, when the temperatures are slightly above freezing, you can apply preventative methods for pest control. This is particularly important because pests make your plants their refuge during the colder months, waiting for warmer days to come and invade your precious plants. If you neglect maintenance, these nasty critters will become a big problem later on. There are two main actions you can perform to cut off most of the pesky populations.
Dormant sprays kill overwintering insects’ larvae and eggs, and fungal diseases that can put at risk your garden plants next spring. You can apply these chemicals at the end of the freezing months on your fruit trees and other plants such as roses. Apply the oils before the buds begin to swell. Your roses can be sprayed early spring before growth begins.
This plant pest control technique is used when large trees cannot be effectively sprayed with insecticides. The idea is to add diluted chemicals directly to the base of the plants. The roots will absorb the product, which will go up to the leaves and repel unwanted insects. But, before starting the process, clean the area first. Things like dead leaves or mulch should be removed so the insecticide solution goes directly into the ground. Also, keep the soil around these plants moist for the next ten days after you apply the insecticide to encourage absorption.
Plant problems vary according to the region where you live. A species that is resistant to a certain disease in one location may be disease prone to another. Contact experts in pest control to determine which is the best product and treatment for your plants.
Secure Lawn offers pest protection plans in Murfreesboro, TN that will help keep your plants healthy all-year-round. Schedule your next treatment here.
At Secure Lawn, LLC, our goal is to provide a natural grass surface for all levels of athletes, from beginners to professionals. A professionally maintained sports field helps protect athletes from injuries, and also offers a fantastic view to all those sports fans cheering on their teams or favorite players.
It is essential to establish a maintenance plan that caters to the needs of your school or association. We can customize a program for almost any financial situation. The services provided include:
Aerification: Air exchange, increased infiltration, activates root growth, and weed control.
Chemical Application: We are licensed to apply chemical care to your lawn to obtain optimal results.
Fertilization: This process allows us to achieve amazing results by utilizing liquid or granular fertilizers making your turf happy and strong.
Overseeding: Overseeding is essential to keep your lawn full and healthy season after season.
Any sports turf has a rough time during the game season. These small plants get torn right out by their roots with every step the athlete takes, the attempts to pass the ball, and the forceful runs, which rip the grass right out of the soil, leaving areas exposed and dead.
Field renovation is critical to maintaining a healthy, strong looking turf. Consider Secure Lawn to keep your field at its optimum level. We are experts with many years of experience who know and understand Tennessee soils!
Caring for Your Sports Turf Is Our ThingCall us today to get a free estimate or more information on how we can serve you and your community, and to hire our services. Our expert and licensed staff will give you the confidence of knowing that you are leaving your Sports Turf in great hands!
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