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How to Properly Remove Christmas Lights on Trees
Properly removing the Christmas lights from trees and shrubs when the holiday season is over is important for your plants’ health. If you’re not being careful, it’s possible to damage those plants. I have seen too many people pull on the strings of lights while standing on the ground instead of using a ladder or reversing the process that was followed when the lights were hung. Unless you are careful, the tender branches can easily snap, as they
Winter Lawn Care: Winterizing Your Lawn Mower and Other Equipment
The weather has been getting colder which means it’s time to come to terms with the fact that winter is right around the corner. Hopefully, you have cleaned up your gardens, removed any dead plants, and have things wrapped up for the winter in your yards. Have you considered a few other winter lawn care tasks that should be completed before winter fully sets in, such as winterizing your lawn mower and other gas-powered equipment or cleaning off you
Salt on Grass and Plants: How to Prevent Salt Damage to Your Landscape
To put it simply, the best way to prevent salt damage to your lawn and landscape is to not use it. Unfortunately, that is not always an option, and you can sometimes find yourself with salt on your grass and plants. There are products out there that claim not to damage grass or plants (like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride), but if you use too much, it can still cause damage. In reality, most people end up using plain old rock salt since it
Will There Be Freeze Damage to Your Lawn This Winter?
Answering whether or not there will be freeze damage to your lawn this winter is almost impossible, since there are a few things to understand about how turf adjusts to freezing temperatures first. If your lawn has had a chance to become acclimated to the cold through a period often referred to as the “hardening-off” process, it has a much greater chance of surviving freezing temperatures. If the freeze occurs very quickly without giving th
Can I Prune Trees in the Winter?
This may be a good winter to do some tree pruning, especially if the weather stays mild. Winter is not the time you want to try to shape hedges, even evergreens, but you can correct a number of problems that may not be as visible during the growing season when deciduous plants are covered with leaves. Which Branches Should I Remove? The first things you want to look to remove are any broken branches. Also look for branches that are growing into the tree instead of g
6 Helpful Do's and Don’ts for Taking Care of Your Lawn This Winter.
It’s that time of year again, time to take care of snow removal and ice coated walkways. Winter is a time that we tend to forget about our lawn, especially since the ground is usually covered in snow or frost and the temperatures are a lot colder. Unfortunately this is not a time to just sit back and forget all about lawn care, save yourself some trouble when spring returns by taking a few extra precautions. 6 do's and don’ts that will assist you and your lawn this winter season: <
It’s Snow Problem: 3 Easy Winter Lawn Care Tips
Think because your lawn is buried in snow you can’t be taking care of it? Think again! It’s time to get out that shovel and clear your entire yard from snow, then delicately prune each blade of grass to prepare for spring... No, not really. But as you gaze out at the sea of white and daydream about the smell of grass clippings or the feel of your hands in the dirt, there are a few winter tasks you can tackle right now to take care of your lawn—even if indirectly. Sharpen Your Mower Blade As far as winter lawn care goes, once you get the hang o
How You’re Damaging Your Lawn By . . . Walking On It
Before you ask . . . no, we are not suggesting that instead of walking on your grass you invest in a Marty McFly-style hoverboard. (But if you do own one of those, please send us pictures.) Winter is a great season, isn’t it? It’s the time of year when we don’t give a second thought to how healthy our grass is underneath all that snow (or, lately, ice). It goes dormant in the fall, awakens from its slumber in the spring, and then we start the taking-care-of-the-lawn seasons. Easy, simple. Did you know, though, that the simplest activity you do every day might ac
What Spring-Green Is Doing In The Winter Months
Many people think that those who work in lawn care have nothing to do in the winter. In actuality, winter is a very busy time for those who work in the lawn care industry. Some of our southern franchise locations have already started performing applications to control weeds that have germinated and are applying products to prevent new ones from germinating. Granted, the far north franchise locations may not be making any applications, but there is still a good deal of work to get done before the start of their lawn care season. What Spring-Green is doing during the winter months:
Winter Weed Control On Warm-Season Grasses
This is a Bermuda grass lawn in Opelika, AL entering dormancy. Each year, as the temperatures drop, this is what happens to most warm-season grasses when exposed to freezing temperatures. They take on this almost camouflage-look. Except for parts of Florida, most warm-season grasses enter into a dormant state during the winter. They will turn brown and do not green up until next spring through early summer. Even though the grass turns brown, there are still broadleaf weeds and annual grasses that continue growing throughout the winter dormant period. Types of Winter Annua
The Lawn Care Season Has Kicked-Off in the South
During the spring, I travel across the US to conduct training seminars for our great Field Staff and Customer Service Professionals in many of the states where Spring-Green does business. I started off in Columbia, SC, working with teams from North and South Carolina along with a team from Alabama. All of these locations started their lawn care year or are getting ready to start within the next week. It may be early February, but if the weather is good, as it has been, these operations are getting a jump start on late winter weed control. This helps lessen
How Winter Mulch Can Protect Your Garden This Season!
Adding mulch around garden and landscape plants is a great idea as it will help protect the roots of overwintering perennials from the ravages of winter temperatures. When temperatures fluctuate during the winter, mulch helps to keep soil temperature around more steady than uncovered soil. Even though it is winter, plants still need moisture, especially evergreen plants like yews, junipers, arborvitae and many broad-leafed evergreen plants still require water. Common Mulch to Use in the Winter When bare soil freezes, the moisture in the frozen soil is less available to the plant, which can lead to wint
How to Protect Your Lawn and Landscape from Winter Salt
If you are like most people, you go to the hardware store and pick up two or three bags of rock salt to use on your driveway and sidewalks. Some products claim not to damage grass or plants (like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride), but if you use too much, it can still cause damage. There are also products that are safer for pets, but those products can cost 7 to 10 times more than common rock salt. So what's the best way to protect your lawn and landscape plants from winter salt? Safe Salt Alternatives to Melt Winter Ice A cheap alternative to avoid winter salt damage on la
How Cooler Temperatures Are Affecting Lawn and Landscape
Is It Spring Yet? As is the case with most years, sometimes it will warm up early, fooling a lot of plants, including turfgrasses, to start the annual spring green-up. Only to be broadsided with an arctic blast and cooler temperatures that pushes plants back into winter dormancy. Cool-season turfgrasses like bluegrass, ryegrass and the fescues are somewhat accustomed to these weather fluctuations, but the warm-season grasses, such as Centipede, St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses can be greatly affected by a cold snap after they have been coaxed into an early spring green-up by an early warm up. Such is the case with many lawns in the warmer parts of the United States. Roland Freund, Franchise Owner in the Houston, Texas area, posted some information on his
Winter Turf Damage: Cold Temperatures Affected Southern Lawns
Blog Post Provided From Roland Freund, Spring-Green Franchise Owner of Spring, Texas This past winter will be remembered as an unusually cold one in the South region, and landscapes are now telling the story. Homeowners are busy trying to replace dead plants and repair lawn areas. Since Eastern Redbuds are blooming, there is a very good chance the freezing cold weather is behind us. Lawn Care companies and the Extension Offices have been inundated with phone calls regarding dead areas in lawns. Everyone is quick to blame someone, but the truth of the matter is that no one had c
How To Pick The Perfect Christmas Tree For The Holiday Season
It’s December, which means it’s time to decorate for the holidays if you haven't already. While shopping and cookie baking are at the top of our to-do lists, so is picking the perfect Christmas tree. The fun and festivities of heading out to the local nursery or corner stall to buy a tree is always exciting, but picking the right Christmas tree for your unique needs can make all the difference in your holiday decorating efforts. Don’t sweat it though – your local lawn care, pest control and tree care professionals at
How To Care For Your Holiday Poinsettias
Over 35 million poinsettias are sold each year, making it the highest-selling flowering potted plant in the United States. And, let’s face it, the holidays just aren’t the same without these beauties brightening up our homes and communities. Many holiday-makers have questions about the best way to care for their holiday poinsettias. Spring Green, experts in lawn care, pest control, and tree care since 1977, has tips for the best way to keep your poinsettias looking great through the holiday season. Poinsettia Tips and Tricks To Make The Season Bright Types
The Secrets To Winter Lawn Care Revealed
Professional landscaping experts get the frequently asked winter lawn care questions over and over again. “How often should I water my lawn in winter?” Or other varieties like: How can I keep my lawn healthy during the cold months, so it looks great in spring and summer? What are the best tools to prep my lawn before the first snowfall comes? I have this type of grass, how do I care for it during winter? So, since those are just a few of the commonly asked questions about winter lawn care, we decided we should put
Answers to Top Frequently Asked Questions about Warm Season Grass Mowing
If you’re like most homeowners, you have a few pressing questions about warm season grasses that need to be answered ASAP! Before we dive into the most commonly asked questions about your dormant grass and its best care recommendations, let’s get on the same page. First-things-first, let’s make sure we understand what warm season grasses are. Warm season grasses, as the name implies, thrive in temperatures that are consistently over 75 degrees. These warm-weather loving grasses are best used in warm regions such as the south, southeast, and southwest of the United States, where summ
Winter Lawn Care Made Easy | Tips for Warm Climate Maintenance
Proper winter lawn care includes controlling winter weeds, adjusting irrigation, and testing soil to maintain lawn health in warm climates. Overseeding with ryegrass keeps lawns green during winter, while dormant seeding jump-starts growth for cool-season grasses. Minimizing foot traffic on dormant grass, using mulch for protection, and watering wisely help prevent damage and promote strong spring growth. Winter in a warm climate usually means no snow shoveling, but it doesn’t mean your lawn can take a break. While warm-season grasses
Winter Bugs Invading Your Home? Your Lawn Care (or Lack Thereof) Might Be to Blame
Poor lawn maintenance, such as overgrown grass and leaf piles, can create ideal winter habitats for pests that may invade your home. Regular mowing, leaf removal, and proper mulching can significantly reduce the risk of winter bugs in the house. Winter lawn treatments can proactively target and prevent pest infestations, keeping your home free from unwanted insects. As winter approaches, many homeowners focus on keeping their homes warm and cozy, preparing for the cold months ahead. But wh
Understanding Vital Winter Tasks to Prepare Your Lawn for Spring
Aerating your lawn in late fall improves air and water penetration, promoting healthier grass growth in spring. Winter fertilization with potassium-rich products strengthens grass roots and enhances resilience to freezing and disease. Removing debris like leaves and branches prevents lawn suffocation and reduces the risk of pests and fungal infections. Overseeding and weed prevention during winter encourage thicker grass and help control weeds before they emerge in spring. When temperatures