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!
Take advantage of the opportunities that springtime offers to fertilize your trees & shrubs in Tennessee.
When you apply the correct amount of fertilizer, young plants absorb the nitrogen which gives them the correct nutrient balance for optimum conditions to stay green into the fall. Also, established trees or shrubs in or near lawns or groundcovers that are fertilized regularly, can benefit from the fertilizer compounds.
Spring is the time to begin a fantastic looking yard. But, before you apply any fertilizer, first observe your trees to determine if they need supplementary nutrients.
There is a lot of information on the Internet which provides different formulas for how much fertilizer to apply to plants. Basically, the idea is to use 1/2 pound of nitrogen for trees six inches or more in diameter. For smaller trees, use 1/4-pound nitrogen.
In sum, root fertilization provides around 13 elements that every plant needs. It helps to promote growth in young trees and improved health in mature ones. Plus, your plant will be more prepared to resist diseases, pest, and environmental stresses.
Along with root fertilization, adequate pest management is key to the health of not only your trees or shrubs but all plants in your garden. Professionals will evaluate your tree and shrub pest control needs and determine the solution that’s best for your plants.
If you need plant pest control in Tennessee, or you are not sure about how much fertilizer you should use, call Secure Lawn at 615-893-8455. Our experts will be more than happy to help you.
While you may be excited about putting down a new lawn, selecting one that will survive the specific conditions on your region may be tricky. Turf species vary in their tolerance of a broad range of factors and on their maintenance, look and establishment methods. Fescues, Zoysia grass, and Bermuda grass are three widely used turf grasses. Let’s take a more in-depth look at their main differences.
These grasses grow well at temperatures between 60 and 75°F (15.5 to 24°C), in the Northeast and much of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Cool season varieties include fine fescue and tall fescue. The Midwest and Western states present a cool, arid environment that permits these species to thrive if irrigation is available. Unlike warm season grasses, they do not go dormant.
All subspecies need less frequent watering than other types of lawn grasses, and when adequately established, are drought resistant, have excellent shade tolerance, and they are green year-round. The Fine Fescues being colder tolerant than the Tall Fescues. Fescue grasses are suitable for sports turf such as baseball fields, golf fields, play fields, polo fields, and in commercial sites like hospitals.
Warm season grasses are common lawn grasses with favorable growth at temperatures between 80 and 95°F (27 to 35°C). Typically found in the warm arid, and warm humid states of the south and southwest. Both Zoysia and Bermuda grass are warm-season perennial grasses that grow actively during the summer but go dormant and lose their color in winter. Also, they turn brown once soil temperatures drop to below approximately 65°F. That is why during the colder winter months, many cool-season grasses are a preferred choice among garden enthusiasts for over-seeding to deliver a green lawn all year long.
If you have decided which type of grass you would like for your home, contact Secure Lawn. Our turf specialists will help you create the perfect lawn in Middle Tennessee.
Aphids are small insects that colonize and feed on many types of garden plants, including trees and shrubs. They can be of various colors – black, green, brown, pink, red or yellow. Some have a waxy or wooly appearance due to a secretion of a waxy or white substance. If they are not eliminated on time, a small infestation of aphids can turn into a big problem in just a couple of days, causing damage to your shrubs, trees, and other plants, and spreading disease.
Photo by Blake Layton | Mississippi State University Extension Service
If your garden plants fall victim to a particular aphid called Hackberry Wooly Aphids, you’ll easily see why. These nasty little creatures reproduce with amazing speed, creating a fall “snow” effect. Worry not! Here we show you two control methods to stop them from becoming a severe problem.
Natural enemies can do a fantastic job controlling aphids. Ladybugs, lacewings or parasitic wasps will feed on aphids. You can also introduce plants like aster, hollyhock, larkspur, mum, or nasturtium that attract aphids to lure the insects away from your green area.
If you go down the chemical control road, try first an insecticidal soap or oil, such as canola or neem oil. These products will kill aphids by smothering them. The mixture should only be 1-2% oil solution in water. Keep in mind that you may need to apply the mixture several times, preferably in late winter or early spring, as it only kills the aphids present the day of treatment. There are stronger products available. You can contact a professionally licensed company like Secure Lawn to apply this type of product.
Have questions about aphids and your level of infestation? Call us at 615-893-8455. Our experts can evaluate your plants and help you determine a course of action.
The Asian ladybugs found in the USA were introduced in the country to try and control pesky aphids, particularly the ones that were chowing down on our soybean crops. In your garden, they eat aphids and other insects in your trees and shrubs. However, this species reproduces fast and becomes a nuisance in late fall and winter when they prepare to hibernate. Country areas, wooded industrial and residential areas are especially prone to having severe infestation problems.
So, in spite of their beneficial function in controlling aphids, we are seeing a lot of them because it’s finally starting to get cooler and large quantities of these beetles are looking for some warmth. When temperatures start to cool down, they will go looking for a place to hibernate. As such, they are attracted to light colored homes and heat that the homes reflect. Once ladybugs have intruded your home, they are hard to eliminate.
If they are already in, and there not many, just leave them. They will go away when spring arrives. Do not disturb them, as these little critters release a small amount of a yellowish fluid and produce a foul odor when they sense danger. But, if you still want to get them out of your house, you can use a “shop vacuum.” This type of device is easy to use to collect ladybugs. Make sure to use a clean bag or pad the bottom with a cloth. After they have been removed, release the beetles outside.
If you are serious about how to eradicate Asian ladybugs efficiently, seek professional pest control help to treat the perimeter of your home or building with a residual spray in the spring and fall. A licensed pest management technician, like those from SecureLawn, will also help find the source of the problem and implement integrated pest management techniques to help eliminate the pests, monitor for them, and prevent them from returning.
At SecureLawn, we offer a Perimeter Pest Protection treatment which creates a barrier around your home to help keep bugs from invading as the weather gets colder.
Contact us to keep bugs from coming into your home!
Maintaining a vigorous turf will protect against weed infestation. However, during the winter months, grasses are not actively growing and are then susceptible to the growth of winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Controlling these weeds before they are able to set seed will not only reduce the likelihood of an outbreak in the spring but will improve the quality of your lawn.
The main winter annual broadleaf weeds in Tennessee are common Chickweed, Henbit, and Shepherd’s Purse. The mustard species, henbit, and marestail can be found as well. The main winter perennial broadleaf weeds include Clover, Dandelions, Dichondra, and Wild Onions. These species germinate in the autumn or early winter, over-winter, then grow in the spring.
The first approach to keep winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds at bay is to follow cultural practices that encourage vigorous turfgrass growth and development. These weeds do not easily invade turfgrasses that are adequately maintained. Adequate fertilization, mowing and irrigation habits during the summer months will lead to a robust turfgrass in the fall. Increasing the turf density will reduce the bare areas where winter annual broadleaf weeds will thrive. Aeration along with overseeding will help fill in bare areas making it more difficult for the winter weeds to grow. A good weed control along with proper root fertilization is critical for this species, especially in the late fall.
Turf maintenance during the summer months will help prevent the encroachment of winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds in autumn. Use control practices before these weeds produce seeds that can be deposited into the soil. There are, however, multiple options for post-emergent control of winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
Contact SecureLawn.We offer a winterizing fertilizer and post-emergent weed control to address these winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds – call to schedule your application today!
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