Q. How do you know what my lawn needs?
A. A free lawn analysis is delivered to your home with a cost estimate prior to beginning service. Fertilizer recommendations are based on soil analysis and samples along with guidelines given by Ohio State University Extension. The person who services your lawn is licensed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Q. My neighbors don’t treat their lawns...why should I?
A. Three Reasons:
- Aesthetics – A well-maintained lawn and landscape can add as much as 15% to the value of your home.
- Air Cleaner – All green plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere.
- Filter – Healthy lawns absorb pollutants as well as trap dirt and dust particles.
Q. Are all of the products you use safe?
A. Every person’s definition of safe is different. All of the products we use have been tested and approved by the Federal E.P.A. These plant protection mechanisms are only used at the recommended rates by qualified professionals.
Q. You applied a pre-emergent to my lawn back in early spring, why do I still have dandelions?
A. The pre-emergent we apply in early spring is designed to control crabgrass and only works to prevent annual grassy weeds, not broadleaf weeds.
Q. Is thatch good or bad?
A. A small thatch layer of half an inch or less acts like a blanket and moisture barrier to the soil. Thatch will insulate the soil and conserve moisture during hot summer months. Excessive thatch needs to be monitored closely. Your lawn technician will monitor the thatch layer in your lawn.
Q. What exactly does core aeration do for my lawn?
A. The three biggest benefits of core cultivation are:
- Improves movement of food, water and oxygen to the root zone.
- Relieves compaction of heavy clay soils.
- Reduces layering of your thatch zone.
Q. How can I be sure my grass is getting enough water?
A. One inch of water per week is enough water for your lawn and landscape. In southern Ohio, Mother Nature usually provides us with one inch of rainfall per week. In June, July and August you should monitor the rainfall or irrigation with a rain gauge on a weekly basis. Your lawn technician will gladly provide you with a free rain gauge.
Q. Why is fall the best time of year to fertilize?
A. Plants are very much like bears when it comes to storing food. In the fall, all green perennial plants use their energy to store food and build roots. These same plants use all of their energies in the spring for top growth, flowering and fruit production. Our heaviest fertilizer applications take place in October and November.
Q. Do I need to water after each treatment?
A. The only application that needs to be watered in is your grub treatment. The rest of the applications are designed to work without watering or rainfall.
Q. Why is mowing so important?
A. Turf grass plants produce food through their leaves - photosynthesis. Mowing height, frequency and keeping your blade sharp will produce a high quality turf and allow your lawn to develop a dense vigorous root system. The recommended mowing height for southern Ohio lawns is 3 to 3 ½ inches.
Q. What is the best weed control on the market?
A. A dense, healthy, competitive stand of turf is our best defense against weeds, insects and disease. It is not our goal to use more pesticides - rather to use less chemicals through building quality plants.
Q. What does Ecocare mean?
A. Ecocare means that we are an earth friendly company. Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) means that blanket applications of pesticides will only be used when insects or diseases threaten the health of your lawn or landscape investment.
Q. I know people who never fertilize and their plants always look good. Is fertilizing really beneficial?
A. Some species of plants can adapt to poor soils and appear to grow well. However, when compared to plants that have been fertilized, the fertilized plants will usually exhibit better growth, color and flowering characteristics than the non-fertilized plants.
Q. Why does my crabapple tree always lose its leaves by the middle of August, leaving a mostly bare tree?
A. Crabapples are susceptible to a fungus disease called apple scab. Some varieties are extremely susceptible to the fungus, while other varieties are resistant. Wet spring weather will increase the amount of infection. Fungicide applications in the spring can be quite effective in reducing the amount of infection and preserving the foliage later into the season.
Q. I have been fertilizing my pin oak tree regularly but the leaves continue to be yellow. Why hasn’t fertilizing improved the color my oak?
A. Certain plants experience a micronutrient deficiency (usually iron or manganese) due to the high pH (alkalinity) of the soil in this area. Plants such as pin oak, river birch, hollies, boxwoods and others require the addition of available iron to maintain a rich, green color. The type of treatment is determined by the size and variety of the plant.
Q. I had my yard treated for grubs. Why do I still have Japanese beetles?
A.Japanese beetleadults do develop from Japanese beetle grubs. The adults can fly into your landscape from neighboring properties that do not treat to control grubs. Insecticide treatments can be effective in reducing beetle feeding activity.
Q. I have a 10 year old tree I planted when I moved into my new home. The tree has started to decline and lose its leaves.
A. It is very hard to diagnose a damaged tree or shrub without seeing it. Buckeye EcoCare has several trained tree and shrub experts. We will gladly diagnose and recommend a course or action by simply calling our office.
