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Time to get ready for Winter

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Lawns need a little help preparing for winter. Although they are hardy and can usually survive until spring, they will green up much sooner if appropriate steps are taken before fall ends. VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City wants to make sure you are able to enjoy a lush green lawn as soon as possible when warm weather hits. Here are a few hints to help your lawn survive the winter in the best shape.

Cut back on water usage. The amount of water required to keep a lawn thriving in 90 degree weather is much more than a lawn requires at 60 degrees. Overwatering is not only wasteful but can also facilitate mold or disease growth.

Aerating your lawn is one of the best things you can do to help it through winter. It decreases compaction and provides a protective top dressing for the lawn if the plugs are left to decompose. Air, light, fertilizer and water are all able to filter to the roots which increases their growth and ability to store up for winter.

Leaving grass just a bit longer in the fall will also help stimulate root growth.  However, for the final mowing, mow at or just shorter than regular mow height and leave the clippings on the lawn as extra protection for the crowns from the coming frosts. This will also provide fertilization as the clippings decompose over the winter.

In order to help fix dead or thin areas, fertilizer should be applied at this time of year. A slow release fertilizer high in nitrogen will provide nutrients that will allow the lawn to recover from the heat of summer and grow stronger roots to help it last through winter better. Reseeding may also be necessary for some bare areas and fall is a great time to do this but it needs to be done so the seeds have time to germinate. Early fall seeding allows the seeds to begin growing without freezing first.

We want you to have the healthiest lawn you can. Call us today to let us help you prepare your landscaping for winter.

Things You Can Do That Pests Hate

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Discovering you have a pest problem can be discouraging. Pests can invade any home. If you are having a pest issue, you need to find out how to get rid of them. Included in this article are tips for ways to handle pests.

If you want to get rid of the ants around your house, sprinkle some borax powder near your home. This will help to poison the ants so that they are stopped in their tracks and cannot come back. This will help to temporarily eliminate the ant problem during certain seasons of the year.

Know what pest you are dealing with. You can’t combat what you don’t understand. Not every pest control method works for every type of bug. You need to choose the right weapon to face your foe. That’s why hiring a professional pest control company is so important, it takes all the worry and hassle out of figuring out the best way to get rid of unwanted pests.

Different over the counter pesticides and treatments can cause different issues in human beings. There are some that are extremely harmful to pets, and dangerous for children and babies.  At VIRIDIS we only use safe pesticides, Safe for pets, Children and babies but deadly to common household pests.

Keep your kitchen as clean as possible. Bugs won’t show up as often if they don’t have anything to eat. In particular, use containers that have lids for loose food items in your pantry. Take the trash out often and keep your counters clean. Finally, sweep each evening before bed.

If you have any leaky pipes or anything that drips water, make sure that you get them repaired. Leaving water around is a good way of keeping pests in your home. They will not want to leave because you are giving them a way to get the water that they need.

You have many options when it comes to controlling pests. No matter what, you should keep your family safe. Eliminating pests is important to maintain your health, but don’t make the cure worse than the disease because you didn’t do hire a professional.

Amazing Pest Control Advice You Need To Hear

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Pest control is a topic that most people must become familiar at one point or another due to an unexpected infestation. Information is the key to managing the thorny dilemma common pests can pose. Apply the advice that follows and prepare to be victorious when confronting pests within your own home.

If you notice that there are mice lurking around the house, set up a mouse trap. Peanut butter is the best thing that you can use to lure the mice in, as this will help to catch them. Try to place many of these around the house to increase your chances of catching it.

Sweep your kitchen and dining room floors and wipe your counter tops every day. Even small crumbs or bits of dropped food can attract ants, roaches and other pests. It is a good idea to empty the garbage each day. Trash can be a breeding ground for house and fruit flies.

Take away any pet food in the overnight hours. You will also want to take away their water bowl. Bugs like to eat the food and then wash it down with the water bowl. If you are spraying for bugs with pesticide you want to take away the dog bowl before hand.

Eliminate pests naturally. Sometimes you don’t need to resort to chemicals to control pests. Removing sources of water, food and shelter is one way to get rid of them. This is particularly effective in the case of rodents. If you have pets, don’t leave food or water bowls outside, and ensure that you don’t have any holes or cracks in the exterior of your home.

For Ants, Spiders and lawn pests, save yourself time and hassle and call the professionals at VIRIDIS LAWNS!

 

Common Indoor Pests

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Indoor bugs can cause as much or more of a problem as outdoor pests. Protect your home from invasion with VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City, Utah. Our perimeter control can help keep unwanted insects from causing issues in your homes, lawns and gardens. Among the most frequent cross-over pests are:

  • Ants

Ants are the most common indoor or outdoor pest. They feed on anything available, including food in cupboards. They nest in small cracks in pavement or concrete. They can even cause structural damage if unattended. Dependent on the variety, control methods can range from easily manageable to extremely difficult.

  • Leaf Beetles

These bright beetles can cause damage to leaves of vegetables and flowers and shrubs. Leaves will appear holed and tattered when these beetles are left unchecked. Some varieties move into homes by to survive through the winter months.

  • Seed Bugs

These bugs are abundant in drought conditions both in and around homes as they follow moisture from irrigation of lawns or gardens. They prefer feeding on any plants in the cabbage family and can damage plants but are not a cause for concern with structural damage to homes or other buildings.

  • Indian Meal Moth

This moth often infests stored foods. Typically, the larvae are found in the food while adults can be found around the home. In order to rectify an infestation, all contaminated food must be removed and areas cleaned. Storing foods in air-tight containers can prevent problems with these bugs.

 

  • Fungus Gnats

These small flying bugs, while not harmful as adults (though annoying), can cause serious plant root damage as larvae. Overwatering indoor plants can perpetuate the problem. Allow pots to dry between watering to reduce larvae numbers.

  • Carpet Beetle

Also known as hide or warehouse beetles, these are one of the most common pests, infesting anything from stored foods for humans or animals to clothing and leather to other insect or animal carcasses. While these pests normally live outdoors, they can enter and reside in a home if doors or windows are left open during warmer months or if they are present on any produce brought indoors. Air-tight food storage and regular cleaning and vacuuming can help reduce and prevent an infestation.

Prevention is the best method of control but can’t always be accomplished. Let us help you keep these pests out of your home and surrounding areas.

Unwanted Grass in your Lawn

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Green, lush grass is the goal of any lawn.  Unfortunately, sometimes different varieties of grasses crop up in our turf that cause uneven patches of density or color.  Here at VIRIDIS Lawn Care we want to help you identify and manage these unwanted grasses so you can improve your lawn’s appearance, texture and health.

A few of the common unwanted grasses include:

  • Annual Bluegrass

This is a cool season grass that produces seed heads. It thrives in shady, moist areas. The leaves are coarser than most lawn grasses.

  • Barnyard Grass

This maroon tinted grass prefers warm weather and moisture.  Its seed head divides into several segments.

  • Bentgrass

This perennial grass prefers cool weather.  It sends out runners much like strawberry plants. Keeping lawn mowed too closely can allow bentgrass to dominate. It appears fluffy and fine compared to more desirable lawn grasses.

  • Bermuda Grass

Considered a noxious weed in most Utah counties, this grass spreads though runners and its root system. It prefers warmer weather and produces a seed head with a branching pattern.

  • Crabgrass

This warm weather weed roots easily. It has many long thin segments on its seed head.

  • Quackgrass

This broad-leafed grass prefers cool weather and spreads through underground roots.

  • Tall Fescue

Fescue prefers cooler seasons. Its leaves have fibrous veins which show when cut. They can be up to half an inch wide with ribbed tops and shiny underneaths. Bottoms of the plant can appear maroon in color.

Different options are available for removing these unwanted weeds. Often herbicides can assist but you must be very careful about applying them as they can also kill wanted grass in the lawn.  Digging or pulling to remove unwanted grass is an option but is more labor intense and will leave a bare spot that will need to be reseeded.

The best method of control for all of these weeds is having a healthy, thick lawn so seeds don’t have a chance to germinate.  Mow height is key. Between 2  ½ – 3 inches will help keep unwanted seeds from receiving the sunlight they need to germinate. Irrigation is also important. Watering deeply and less frequently will cause difficulty for shallow rooted grasses to grow.  Also, be sure to seed bare areas quickly.

 

Sod Web Worm

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Order / Family: Lepidoptera / Pyralidae

Visual signs of damage

Signs of damage will appear as thinning yellow areas, sometimes starting as small palm sized spots that will grow together although sometimes may begin by covering a larger area. It would be noticed as stunted growth, turning to the appearance of brown, drought stressed turf and then it will die off. Sometimes the pest can be visible if you lift up the damaged turf exposing the soil underneath.

Damage occurs as the larvae of the sod web worm feeds on the outside of the grass blade at the base. This causes and interruption in the ability for the plant to take up water and nutrients therefore causing drought conditions for the turf even though there may be plenty of moisture in the soil. Overwatering will not cure this problem.

Pest Description

The adult sod web worm is a small moth about ¾-1 inch long. It can be gray, white or tan in appearance and it folds its wings back on its own body appearing long and narrow. You may notice them flying around erratically as you mow or walk around on the lawn. Their lifespan is anywhere from six to eight weeks from egg to adult, creating up to 3 generations per year. They are active more at night fluttering around the lawn dropping on average 60 eggs per night. The eggs are dropped at random all through the turf area falling down into the thatch where they hatch and then begin tunneling and feeding.

The larvae of the sod web worm color will vary depending on the species. They may be green, brown, gray, light tan with spots and possibly hair. The larvae are roughly ¾ of an inch in length.

Treatment

I’d like to tell you that a healthy turf will keep these pests out of your yard but unfortunately they do not discriminate between healthy and unhealthy lawns. A healthy lawn will definitely be able to sustain a larger amount of sod web worms as opposed to a lawn that is currently stressed and unhealthy. Keeping your lawn well watered and providing a stable and balanced nutrition plan will help combat the problem before it starts. Pest control in Salt Lake City Utah can be tricky. Prevention is a much better approach than curative.

If the infestation reaches a point where it overwhelms the turf and signs of damage begin to show then a curative treatment may be necessary. There are products available through hardware stores, and nurseries that may help. Your local lawn care professional can also help with proper diagnosis and provide treatment options that will ease your mind and restore your lawn to its proper form.

Common Lawn Pests in Salt Lake City Area

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VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake can help you protect your lawn from common destructive insects. A few lawn pest in the Salt Lake City area include:

  • White Grubs

White grubs are the larva of beetles. They eat grass roots which cause yellowing and wilting early on and escalate to brown patches by late summer. The lawn may also be lifted easily due to being un-rooted. They are most easily controlled if treatment begins in late spring before the eggs have a chance to hatch.

  • Billbugs

Billbugs, or Weevils, eat the upper root and crown of the grass which can cause the lawn to appear under watered. The earlier treatment begins the better as they get more difficult to exterminate the older they get. Grass infested with billbugs will develop small dead patches and can be easily pulled up. A sawdust-like substance can also be found in the lawn. Treatment for billbugs should be done while they are young larvae, either spring or late summer dependent on the species.

  • Sod Webworms

The sod webworm is the most widely known of Utah lawn pests. They are an immature moth in the caterpillar stage. They feed mostly on the grass above ground, leaving the roots intact. This can cause grass thinning that increases to small brown patches or, in severe cases, large effected areas. For best control, treat in later summer. Well fertilized and watered lawns can outgrow their damage.

  • Subterranean Sod Webworm

The subterranean sod webworm, also known as the cranberry girdler varies from the sod webworm in that it lives lower in the lawn, feeding on roots. This insect is more difficult to control than many of the other pests. Lawns infested with this insect will exhibit dead, brown patches that increase as the summer continues from damaged root systems.  Treatment should occur during summer to early fall.

Prevention

Good maintenance is the best way to protect your lawn against these common pests. Main ways you can do this include:

  • Mowing

Mow often! Optimal mow height should fall between 2 – 3 ½ inches, never removing over a third of the blade. This encourages roots to grow and increases the strength of your lawn.

  • Fertilizing

Nitrogen is the most important lawn fertilizer. It can help grass recover from winter or other stressors, damage and insect infestations. Fertilizer should be applied in multiple applications for best results.

  • Aerating

Aeration should occur in spring, and occasionally in fall also. This will increase air flow to roots, decrease compacted areas, and help with nutrient absorbing abilities.

  • Watering

Don’t water in the spring until necessary. This will increase root growth. Don’t over or under water. Overwatering can increase your lawn’s susceptibility to disease but not watering enough can open it up to insects. Cut back on water in the spring and fall when temperatures don’t cause as much drying or evaporation.

  • Seeding

Seeding in the fall can help repair damaged areas in your lawn. Cooler temperatures can help seeds germinate.

 

Common Pests in Your Lawn

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If your household is suffering from a dead lawn with brown lawn spots, there are a couple possibilities that this could be causing this problem. The first problem could be that your lawn isn’t being properly irrigated, which could be leaving your grass dry and dead. This problem can usually be fixed rather easily by installing a sprinkler system, and your lawn will be back to normal in no time. If your lawn is already receiving proper irrigation, than the problem is most likely coming from pests that are inhabiting your lawn or another form of lawn disease such as fairy ring. These pests eat your grass and leave dead areas that kill off the live grass around them. Pests can be difficult to get rid of, since they lay eggs underneath the ground and new pests rise up above the ground after you have treated your lawn. In order to fully restore your lawn from one of these two conditions, it is important to call lawn care Salt Lake City, Utah before the problem becomes too large.

 

Common Pests

 

There are plenty of different types of pests that can be contributing to your dead lawn problem and creating the brown lawn areas. The first type of pest to check for is called a Chinch Bug. The Chinch Bug is a small, wingless, bright red bug when it is born, and turns black as it gets older. Chinch Bugs are shaped like a flattened black and white capsule and grows wings as it ages.

 

The second type of pest to check for is called a White Grub. As the name suggests, it is a small insect that is white in color and has many tiny legs on its underside. White Grubs are very detrimental to the health of your lawn, and if you are infested with them, it is important to get the problem taken care of very quickly.

 

The third type of bug to look for is called a Japanese Beetles. These bugs look quite a bit like lady-bugs, but are completely brown in color. Japanese Beetles eat your lawn and lay eggs that suck the nutrients from the grass stems.

 

If you have been infested by one of these pests, the time to call lawn care Salt Lake City, Utah is now. The professionals will be out to treat your lawn before the infestation spreads, saving your lawn from further harm and allowing it to flourish.

The Proper Way To Control Unwanted Pests

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Having any pest in your home can hinder your family’s ability to function. You may be surprised to find that you don’t always need a professional exterminator to cure your pest problems. The following article is equipped with great tried and true tips to use for all of your pest control needs!

Do not expect to get rid of pests by keeping your home clean. It is a myth that you can starve out pests. Many pests can eat things that you would not consider food, like paper or glue. The only way to get rid of pests is to address the problem directly.

Ask your exterminator what the risks of using their pesticides are. Everything comes with some level of risk, and some chemicals can be very dangerous for children or pets. If your exterminator is unsure you should find out before you let them proceed. It is definitely better to be safe than sorry.

Avoid using wood chips and straw around the outside of your house when doing gardening or other outdoor hobbies/activities. Pests tend to be drawn to these substances and will eat them or try to live in them. You should consider using stone or rock whenever possible to avoid having issues.

Check to see if your windows or screens are cracked or ripped as insects can easily penetrate any inconsistencies in your infrastructure. If you see that a seal has been broken, make sure that you fix this or get it replaced immediately so that it does not become an issue in the future.

Hire A Professional

Check to see if you have any centipedes around the house. Centipedes usually will prey on other bugs, so if you have a lot of them, you may be infested. In this case, the best thing that you can do is to hire a professional to help get rid of the issue in your home.

Getting rid of a house pest may seem like a daunting task, but with the right tips in hand, you can claim your house back. Don’t let any number of pests run wild in your home. Use the tips you’ve just read from this article to ensure your home is a safe environment once again.

Winterize Tips

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There is no such thing as fashionably late when it comes to your lawn. Just like other things in your home, your lawn also needs proper care. Here are a few tips for Winter Lawn Care in Salt Lake City Utah.  These tips and tricks will help ensure that your lawn stays healthy during the winter months and comes back healthy and strong in the spring.

VIRIDIS Lawn Care in Salt Lake City, Utah offers a wide variety of gardening care for many lawn owners in Utah. Moreover, they also offer lots of tips for caring your lawn. They can also provide lawn winterize tips for the benefit of their clients. Watering, proper mow height, aeration, over-seeding and nutrition are important factors and elements that determine how beautiful and lush your law can be. Here are some of these important tips for gardening care of your lawn for winter season that the Lawn Care Salt Lake City, Utah provides.

  • WATERING

It is necessary to continue watering your lawn through the fall season. Culinary water has an advantage here as it can be run through fall. Typically, secondary irrigation often gets turned off too early, which can cause drought stress to your lawn, trees, and shrubs before going dormant. You also need to drain your sprinkler lines fully before they actually freeze or use an air compress for blowing them off.

  • MOW HIEGHT

Yes, mow height is essential. Lawns that are long can be a habitat for pests like mold, voles and other diseases as well. Cutting your lawn to short robs the roots of much needed nutrition before dormancy and allows the roots to be exposed to the harsh winter condition that can damage and kill the root system. The type of grass determines the perfect height. Most of the grasses found in Northern Utah are a rye, fescue, and a blue grass blend. The optimal hiehgt keeps it long enough to protect and retain moisture yet short enough to stand upright. The typical height of your lawn should be at 2.5-3 inches.

  • AERATION

Aeration assists to break up compacted soils by creating soil cores and redistributing the soil across the lawn. It also breaks up the thatch layer that in turn enables oxygen nutrition and water penetrate down below it. The holes are left from the removal allow nutrition oxygen and water to enter directly to the roots.

  • OVERSEEDING

New seeds can be spread over the existing lawn using a seed rower or right after aeration. It helps by filling in weak spots that are commonly subject to pests and weeds. You can use a similar blend of grass you currently have or introduce some new grass types as well.

  • NUTRITION

Fall feeding is arguably the most significant feeding of the year. Although the leafy portion of your lawn is now dormant, its roots are still growing and. You should use a fertilizer that’s high in potassium and phosphorous and low in nitrogen. Feed anytime in the fall season, September through November.