What Impact Does Rainy Weather Have On My Lawn?

In the region we live in, North Texas, we've grown accustom to drought conditions, we've all learned what it means to be on water restrictions, have our lawns look dry, parched and craving water. But, this year, its a different situation from what we've been forced to adjust to in years past. This year, we have rain, and a lot of it. It seems in Texas it's either feast or famine, we either get very little of something or way too much, and this year its too much rainfall.
This year alone our region has received three times the annual rainfall by May 1st than the last three years combined. It's raining constantly it seems which carries mixed blessings, your lawn gets the water it needs, our area lakes fill up, and nature takes a long deep sighing breath. However in contrast, rainfall can have its drawbacks to maintaining a healthy lawn. When rain fall totals exceed a lawns ability to absorb it, you can get erosion problems, root rot, and disease.
The biggest problem currently with ornamental lawns, is fungus. Fungus starts breeding rapidly when inclement weather meets humid hot air, creating the ideal scenario for fungus to develop and spread on the leaf blade. The weather cycle were currently in now, rain falling every other day, the temperatures rising to the eighties, with little ability to dry out the lawn, this scenario creates an environment for diseases comparable to that of a laboratory setting, the conditions perfect for disease growth.

This weather pattern can be frustrating for the lawn application company as well as the customer. A customer thankful for the rainfall, happy their lawn is getting water, but disappointed as they look at the condition of the lawn and see browning spots or dying areas. So a customer is left scratching their heads, as to why the lawn looks bad, since we've had so much rainfall the lawn should look good right? it's a brain teaser for sure. On the other hand, lawn companies can struggle to meet timelines, scheduling lawn applications only to have them rescheduled due to rainfall. They also struggle with educating the customer as to why the lawn looks bad, having to explain disease and how conditions are ripe for fungus to spread.
The biggest problem with tackling rainy weather is finding time to get out to the lawn, diagnose the lawn, and then find time between rain to apply a much needed disease treatment. Large amounts of rainfall can cause all types of negative aspects when trying to maintain a lawn, its a double edged sword so to speak. We need the rainfall, but with that comes disease, erosion and frustration. The best way to tackle this problem is to keep the customer informed, try and stick to a rigid schedule around rainfall, and apply the best products to stop disease. Lawn Tech, tries very hard to keep the customer informed and make timely treatments available to try and rid the lawn of any diseases.
If you think you have a disease in your lawn currently, call Lawn Tech, we can come out, diagnose the problem and apply a fungicide to stop it in its tracks. Call us today @ 972-346-2696 and we can send someone out to put an end to what the rain has left behind, disease.

Preparing for the Fight, Pre-Emergent is Key

"Let's get ready to rumble" prepare ourselves for the fight, don our battle gear. Are we ready? When you take on any battle you've got to know your opponent, what equipment you'll need for battle and be trained to handle whatever the fight might bring. Well in this case our opponent is any pest you don't want in your yard, specifically weeds.
Are we going to battle with weeds? Sure we are. And experience is on our side. We've learned a few things over the years, I guess you can say we're "Battle Tested" we know as professionals that in order to rid an ornamental lawn of weeds, make it look as pretty as a picture, we have to use pre-emergent. Not only use them, apply them at the right time in order to make the biggest impact.
If your intentions are to have an ornamental lawn, that "Golf Course" look, then pre-emergent is key to obtaining that look. What are the crucial aspects of applying pre-emergent? First, and the most important, time of application. Pre-emergent must be applied certain times of the year, before weeds are allowed to germinate, if you wait too long, the weed can sprout from seed, break the surface and it's too late, post emergent (spraying the surface weed chemically after germination) is all you can apply after weeds germinate. Secondly, it must be watered in to the soil adequately, if not, the chemical cannot reach the weed seed to kill it, so timing, and making sure the homeowner waters the pre-emergent in heavy, is the answer to effective weed control.
So, effectively pre-emergent is crucial, to controlling weeds, it's 50% of the battle, when it comes to the beauty of your lawn. So, back to the analogy of battle, we must be prepared for the fight, how we do that is by being pro-active instead of re-active. We start the season out early, we do not procrastinate. So, if you're dragging your feet on deciding whether or not to hire us for lawn care, don't wait too long, the battle has already started, give us a leg up, by hiring a battle tested team early in the season so that pre-emergent can be applied in a timely manner, waiting only gives the enemy the advantage. Call Lawn Tech today and start the fight against weeds, @ 972-346-2696

Hydretain Moisture Manager The Answer To Drought

We are all feeling the effects of water restrictions, hopefully your yard has benefited from rain as of late, as we've been blessed with some summer rains. Most municipalities are frowned upon in these times of water shortages regardless of the occasional shower, however, your blame may be misdirected. Often protocol trumps any personal feelings toward assigning water level restrictions, rules set in place years prior to drought, are strictly adhered upon by city directors as they try and limit the amount of fall out from not observing a drought as quickly as they should, effectively being pro-active, as unpopular as it may be. Often those rules set in stone are followed by city employees that may very well live in the same town their instituting restrictions on, effectively restricting themselves as well. Water restrictions are what they are, a necessity to insure our major infrastructures and cities don't fall victim to what some other unfortunate places around the state have done, ran out of water. It is possible, and has happened.

Most towns are allowing some watering and most are on every other week schedule, which can keep the lawn alive and looking somewhat healthy, you'd be surprised how little water Bermuda grass takes to survive, being as drought tolerant as it is, and being native to Texas. So most folks are getting by, but still concerned. Over the last few years, some companies have done what companies have done for centuries to capitalize on a shortage or crisis, they come up with an alternative. Some, don't work, some are purely to take advantage, and then there's those companies that come up with a viable product that fills a need. Well, we've found a product that actually works and fills a need, fills it in a way that's bio-degradable, affordable and easy to apply.

Moisture Manager by Hydretain is an amazing product that works very well to help retain moisture in the soil, helping ornamental grasses look good or better than doing without during a drought, utilizing a unique product similar to a wetting agent or soil conditioner, Moisture Manager contains hydretain, a humectant that causes moisture to be literally pulled from the air around the plants roots, humidity that otherwise would not be available to the roots, this product makes that unclaimed moisture readily available, simply by pulling that moisture from the air. Now, the science of this product can be intimidating, but when the company representative explained how it worked to us here at Lawn Tech, it was easy to understand how Moisture Manager worked, how it effectively pulled moisture from the air, held it for weeks until the plant could uptake it.

We've been using Moisture Manager now for about two years, we've been extremely impressed with the results, so much so employees have put the product out on their own lawns in order to salvage them from drought. We've had customers call in and tell us how much the product impacted their lawn and raved about the product to neighbors. The word is out on Moisture Manager and it's all been good. Our experience a valid documented success.

Moisture manager is available in two forms of application, one is liquid, the other granular, both work effectively. Granular is easier to apply, its put out with a conventional lawn spreader and must be watered into the soil, helping the product get to the roots of the grass, once watered in, the product works great, helping the lawn to stay hydrated between watering's, the residual last about three months. The more applications you do, the more builds up in the soil, in this case more is better, all in an effort to stave off the effects of drought, and or high temperatures.

If you're interested in a great product that's proven to work well, actually does what the label professes, an answer to your water restrictions, give Lawn Tech a call, were experts at applying this product and we can schedule the application in a timely manner. Take the time to give your lawn what it needs, moisture. Call us today and ask about this effective product helping us to keep our customers lawns healthier in time of drought, and we can have that same product, Moisture Manager, applied to your lawn in no time. Please visit our website for more information on Moisture Manager or call us @ 972-346-2696 websites: www.lawntech.com or visit www.hydretain.com

The Lingering Effects of Winter

As a rule in this region, turf grasses transition from dormancy around the middle of April to May 1st. In years past, turf grasses have transitioned as late as may 15th and as early as March 30th. The transitioning of turf grasses in this region has in years past been very easy to predict as weather patterns over the years have been consistent, with slim chances of late freezes, although it does and has happened in our recent history, But, this year has been nothing short of chaos .

In March we had temperatures that reached 82 degrees at their highest, and twelve at their lowest. We had the last day of freezing temperatures around the middle of April, the day before it was 76 degrees the next day it was 28 degrees. These type temperature swings which are not typical, can wreak havoc on transitioning grass. The slow transition period can develop into winter kill or burn, areas that do not come back from the previous year, never to green up again. St. Augustine is very susceptible to a late freeze and can often never transition fully, leaving large dead areas for the homeowner to have to re-sod. Winter kill or spring dead spot, can leave large areas in Bermuda grass that look like someone has killed the grass with something, when in reality, it's a late frost that's the culprit. Jack Frost can cause cancerous areas in transitioning grass, and this year we had many late freezes, just as the yard starts to turn green, the chill is on, and dead spots are the result. So how do we fix the problem? We can't. Only time will help heal those damaged areas as grass starts to spread in dead areas. A fungicide can be sprayed to eliminate the fungus "Spring Dead Spot" but the damage is done. Your only hope is to spray a fungicide to prevent a reoccurrence of the year before, effectively stopping more damage the next year. Re-sodding is an answer for dead areas, those that are obviously damaged from "Winter Kill" or late freeze, or wait for them to fill back in as the grass around that area grows. If you have any questions or if you think you have "Winter Kill" "Spring Dead Spot" and need someone to take a look, call us Lawn Tech, @ 972-346-2696, we can work out a time to come visit your lawn and see if the areas of damage you have are indeed from a late freeze or something else is going on, like "Brown Patch" or some other disease.

In business since 1985, we've learned a few things about customer service

Customer service can be tricky, "the customer is always right" can be problematic, leaving a company to try and persuade a customer about what's best for them or their lawn. Often in the lawn care industry, so many variables can leave us with little option but to demand the customer let us handle the lawn and be patient, an attitude that can cause customers to be anxious. It is true that taking care of a lawn from a weed control perspective is a daunting task, often outside influences wreak havoc on our attempts to control weeds, temperatures not cooperating or water restrictions prohibiting proper timely watering, all prevent some weed control applications form working. So we fight to keep a handle on troublesome weeds and as a result customers view our inability to readily rid the yard of weeds as neglecting our paid responsibilities. Well, Lawn Tech has the answer to issues like inadequate weed control that sets us apart from our competition, we care. We go as far as to offer "Free Service Calls" as part of our guarantee. Other companies charge to come back out and spray certain troublesome weeds like Dallis Grass or Nutsedge, we don't. Its that simple, we care enough to give our customers free service if for some reason our first application fails to work. We make sure to get back out in a timely manner and re-apply chemicals to those stubborn weeds that wont die, our competition has yet to make that commitment, they have to find a way to charge you, we don't try to find a way to charge you extra, we simply provide FREE service as a part of customer service program and we've been doing that since 1985, that's why we still have customers that have chosen to use our service for over twenty years, because we care. Take the time to discover what has set Lawn Tech apart form all the rest, our proven five treatment program with free service calls, making a commitment to stand behind our promise of bringing you a beautiful lawn, "A Beautiful Lawn Is Our Business." Call 972-346-2696, or visit us at www.lawntech.com

Surviving the Drought, What to Know About Water Restrictions

Surviving drought conditions in Texas can almost seem impossible, you look around at your environment and all you see is burnt, dying or dead grass. If our conditions are drought like in nature consistently and all around us we see what the heat can do to our environment, then why even try to keep up? In reality, your environment is more adapted to handle the heat than you might imagine. In most cases native Texas grasses like Bermuda are built to handle the heat, grasses like buffalo grass are even more drought resistant. They may not look their best, but their alive and well below the surface. Bermuda for instance is a very drought tolerant grass, in fact Bermuda does not like or tolerate lower temps, its a tropical grass as well, meaning it can handle hot humid weather and still survive. So we come back to the issue of water management as it relates to turf management, how do we effectively apply enough water to our turf grasses under such tight restrictions? Simple. You utilize the schedule given to you by your municipality, which in most cases is one day a week, which is more than enough to put out the required amount to keep grasses healthy in the region we live in. 1 inch a week is all ornamental turf grasses need in this region to maintain a healthy status. They may not look as healthy and green as you remember from early summer, but their alive and well regardless. The website listed below is a valuable resource and can help you understand water restrictions, why they impose such harsh restrictions and how each of us can play a part in helping to conserve water. If you have any questions about turf grass management or water management, please don't hesitate to call Lawn Tech today @ 972-346-2696 and speak to a qualified expert on turf management. Cut and paste: http://texaswatersmart.com/water-smart-tips-your-lawn

Summer Patch or Take All Patch

Lately we are beginning to see a few yards showing signs of "Summer" patch or "Take All" patch. This troublesome lawn affliction can be caused by several underlying factors; The following is a excerpt from the University of Arkansas research and extension office; "Take all patch is caused by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminia, the primary damage to turf occurs from root infections, but stolon's and rhizomes can also be infected. Stressed or weakened turf tends to be more susceptible to pathogen attack, especially during moist hot conditions of summer." (2013www.uaex.edu Take-All Patch) As professionals we have to diagnose problems right after they first exhibit signs of multiplying. The problem with "Take All" patch is that it usually appears in hot summer months immediately after periods of rain, once the rain stops, within a few days the disease has done its damage, the lead up time is just not enough to diagnose and treat the disease until its too late. Also, "Summer Patch or Take all patch" has been linked to other factors not associated with turf disease, for example some professionals believe summer patch is purely the result of extreme heat patterns causing the turf to stress, leaving dead top growth often in shallow areas or along mowing wheel lines, leaving the yard to look as if the areas that are affected are uniform in nature. The only way to remedy the problem is two-fold, try and put as much concentrated water directly on the affected area, with a water hose if needed to try and have the lawn recover faster, and recognize your lawn is susceptible to "Take All" patch and apply a preventative fungicide early before the disease comes back again the next year. A fungicide can be applied after the fact, however once the disease spreads shortly after a rain period, the reaction time is not fast enough to forego damage. There is some good news however and it applies to how well the lawn recovers after the next dormant cycle, according to the University of Texas A&M, the recovery rate based on diseased area as a whole and the amount of new grass that springs up the next year is promising and has shown a substantial yield in new grass coming back on damaged areas the next year. In other words not all the grass dies or looses it's ability to bounce back, offering some hope for the future. If you have any questions or think you have the above disease please contact Lawn Tech @ 972-346-2696

An Industry Struggling for Answers

Have you noticed more grassy weeds than usual in your lawn? Do you see more and more weeds than ever before. Do you find yourself asking your lawn care provider why so many grassy weeds have not been killed? As a lawn care professional, I already know the answer to these questions, the answer is "Yes" grassy weeds have become a problem in our industry and chemicals that once controlled them effectively have been systematically taken off the market, leaving us scratching our heads with frustration. The lawn care industry sustains itself by ridding a customers lawn of weeds and making his or her environment "Ornamental" This process is done by using target chemicals to eradicate pest, in this case the pest in question is grassy weeds. The industry has long relied on a product called MSMA, a selective grassy leaf herbicide widely used in our industry for years until it's availability was derailed by the government. As a result, our industry has been limited to a small variety of less invasive chemicals, designed to cause the least amount of danger to the environment, a good thing. However, we've found those chemicals we're allowed to use, do eventually work, but much slower. As you would imagine, slow is not something that works well in the service industry. The slow kill rate, with multiple applications to kill weeds, can cause cost to go up and service calls to spike. The customer wants the weed gone and now it can take up to three applications to finally kill the weed being treated. The good news, we can control most weeds almost immediately, helping the lawn to look better quickly, with some grassy weeds requiring additional treatments to kill them. If you have a good company hired to provide weed control, they will come back for free if needed, to re-apply those chemicals which take time to work. Some companies charge extra to come back and treat grassy weeds again, so be careful when searching for a company to provide weed control, insuring that they don't charge extra to spray stubborn grassy weeds. Our industry does fall prey to the whims of organizations like the EPA, and the Government, taking chemicals away from us as they need to, to protect the environment. This is nothing new, it happens all the time. The answer to the problem of grassy weeds is a fairly easy one, find a company like Lawn Tech, that will come back out for free, to retreat grassy weeds if needed, and be patient with your lawn care provider with the understanding that some weeds are harder to kill than others and multiple applications can take time. If you have some questions regarding this post or would like to speak to someone about your lawn today, call Lawn Tech @ 972-346-2696, a company that cares about it's customers.

Abnormal Weather Patterns Can Cause Dead Areas

Most of us like to see the yard green up as spring time approaches, we enjoy the first time the lawn greens up and the flowers bud. But what if all doesn’t go as we've grown accustom too? Most residential lawns in the North Texas area are struggling to green up and in some cases aren't greening up at all. Homeowners want to know why, they insist all has been done correctly, they've watered last year as much as possible, they have hired a lawn service to fertilize and remove the weeds, they've mowed regularly, so why is the yard not greening up or looks like it's dying? The answer can be abnormal weather patterns, an early spring that goes from the low twenties to the high seventies within a week. Rain and cold one day, hot and dry the next. North Texas is known for its crazy spring weather and in most cases, these abnormal weather patterns are the culprit to your lawn not greening up. A harsh winter or late cold snap can cause some spots to die, causing "Spring Dead Spot" areas that don't green back up after winter. Some spots are referred to by professionals as "Winter Spot" areas that die because of freeze. Ornamental grasses in the North Texas region can easily be the victim of abnormal weather patterns, as the sun comes out and the temps warm up to the seventies, turf grass begins to transition, sending new tender green leaves rising toward the sun. Then a freeze comes calling, killing all the new green grass trying to transition, "Jack Frost" has left his calling card, your yard is left with large damaged areas. This pattern is visible this time of year and can cause concern to homeowners who feel the lawn is not greening up as they'd hoped. St. Augustine is very susceptible to this pattern of freezing and warming and Bermuda grass can be affected as well. Most homeowners believe something other than abnormal weather patterns are to blame and often dispute a professional diagnosis; regardless "Spring Dead Spot" is often the cause of dead patterns found in lawns this time of year. Not all is lost; some tips can help your lawn green up. If the lawn is still alive but has not transitioned yet, mowing can help the yard turn green. Also fertilizer can help the lawn begin to store nutrients and start growing. If you do actually have "Spring Dead Spot" or "Winter Spot" those areas are dead and no trick will bring them back to life. The answer to helping overcome abnormal weather patterns or harsh freezes is to have a healthy lawn by watering and fertilizer. If you have any questions about this post or want to speak to a lawn care professional please call Lawn Tech, Inc. @ 972-346-2696

Warmer Temps Can Cause Unsettling Weeds

Typical Texas climate as of late has seen warming trends beginning earlier in the year. February seems too soon to see temps in the seventies. Weeds begin to pop out early revealing the stark contrast between the tan, gray of dormancy versus the bright green hue of weeds. Your yard is dormant and will start to show signs in some areas of coming out of dormancy, new small green tender grass begins to form in open sun areas. However, your grass is still considered "In Dormancy" until the yard is consistently green and growing. Weeds will have a better chance of taking over and making your yard look unsightly. One of the tricks of the trade so to speak is to mow the yard earlier than usual; making sure that no chance of freeze is on the horizon. Also, begin watering if Mother Nature is not cooperating. This time of year, customers forget that an ornamental lawn needs water to be healthy, dormant or not. In the colder months they need less because evaporation is less of an issue and typically there is enough moisture in winter to sustain a yard. But, a lawn still needs water regardless how it gets it. The biggest concern for ornamental lawns this time of year is pre-emergent application. In the North Texas region, we must have pre-emergent’s out by April 1st or you can expect a large amount of weeds if target dates are not met. Most lawn application companies utilize their first two treatments to apply pre-emergent. This is standard in the industry and must be watered in heavy once applied. If the homeowner will follow watering instructions and be diligent about how the pre-emergent is watered in, the results are fantastic. Less weeds to deal with. Dealing with weeds early in the year can be frustrating, a customer can watch their yard sprout weeds as weather warms up, the yard trying to green up, never fast enough to offset the weeds. The best answer is an early application. A properly applied pre-emergent, watering and early mowing can make the yard look more ornamental. You may not get rid of all of the nasty pest, but you will see marked improvement until the yard can green up and become healthy. Take the time to contact Lawn Tech today to schedule the much needed early spring treatment containing a pre-emergent, a crucial step to start the year off on a good foot. 972-346-2696 or visit our website www.lawntech.com

Tree and Shrub Care, How to Protect Your Investment.

We always think about making our lawn look beautiful, making it green and free of weeds is the most common request made by potential customers, but what about your Trees and Shrubs? Often overlooked, most are adapted to the region we live in and for the most part seem to manage on their own. However, with closer inspection, you'll find most are under extreme stress from a variety of ailments. Water restrictions place ornamentals under stress yearly, often taking its toll in the hot months, the growth patterns of most trees and shrubs are limited to the amount of water and nutrients they receive. Often the homeowner rarely gives their ornamentals the attention they need, leading to a big decline in growth rates. Disease, Insect damage and inadequate moisture often lead to late or premature budding, early loss of foliage and growth decline. All signs of some type of stress to the plant, most problems go undiagnosed, unnoticed and left to leave their mark on a homeowner’s investment. How do we gain the advantage? We give ornamentals what they need to be healthy, a combination of adequate water, early detection and application. The homeowner needs to make sure adequate irrigation is available to all plant life, making sure their system functions properly. Next, find a good company who can regularly inject nutrients to the root zone and monitor tree and shrub health, identifying any disease or insect damage and treat accordingly. Most lawn care companies have a tree and shrub program, one in conjunction with the lawn. This season, take the time to ask your lawn care professional about tree and shrub applications, a program designed to protect your investment. If you've ever had to replace or purchase new landscape ornamentals you know how expensive replacing them can be. Extremely costly, replacing trees and shrubs is more than most budgets can handle. So, take the time this year to notice your homes most beautiful asset, the landscaping. Protect your investment wisely, call Lawn Tech today and find out how a simple tree and shrub program for a small price can help you save big money in the long run. Call Lawn Tech today @ 972-346-2696 or visit our website at www.lawntech.com

Don't Wait! Hiring a Lawn Service After You Find Problems May Be Too Late.

Late spring or early summer seems to be the time when most homeowners decide it’s time to call a company for service. They've either taken the time to stop and smell the roses, or they've decided that doing applications themselves is more work than first imagined. Typically, as it warms up and the year is in full swing, homeowners have a chance to get out in the yard, relax by the pool or take a stroll around the neighborhood. As they get out in their environment they begin to notice how beautiful everything looks and how ugly. By mid May, weeds are usually taking off "Fast and Furious" they've settled into a routine of sprouting, producing root nodules and spreading seed lets. Before you know it, they've invaded your lawn to the point of being unwanted pests, an unsightly mound staring back at you in stark contrast from your ornamental lawn. Waiting can mean a daunting task for you and any company hired to take on the task. It's never too late to start, after all you have to start sometime, yet, starting late in spring and early summer has given weeds and disease time to take up residence to the point of infestation. The answer is to be pro-active and not re-active. One of the most critical parts of lawn care is pre-emergence, a product systematically applied before weeds germinate. This crucial step is one designed to be applied as the season starts, not as the season has progressed. In order to bring about the best results, target dates prescribed by our industry which afford professionals the best opportunity to rid the yard of weeds must be adhered to. Missing this window of opportunity is big in our industry, without an effectively applied pre-emergent, we know the battle is on and will rage throughout the season if not done properly. Procrastination is common; we all seem to put off today what could be done tomorrow, its human nature. However, if you have a beautiful home and want that "Ornamental Look" we all dream of having, then don't wait! Be pro-active and call Lawn Tech today to set the season off right, after all, we all deserve a beautiful lawn. Call the professionals at Lawn Tech @ 972-346-2696 or click on the title to this post to go straight to our website for a free quote, you'll find it's cheaper than you think.

Chemicals and The Lawn Care Industry

The word "Chemical" sometimes has a negative connotation, movies have sensationalized the threat to the average citizen to the point that the very word can conjure up feelings of post apocalyptic horrors. The reality is far from how the movies have conditioned those viewers to believe; after all, just about every household item we use has chemicals in them. Now that doesn’t make them any less harmful, yet we have to be rational as to what classifies an ingredient as a chemical and just how that particular chemical effects our environment. As it turns out most substances labeled as "Chemicals" are found naturally in our environment and in our bodies. For instance, a very common chemical used in lawn care is Sodium Chloride which is found naturally in nature and in the human body. Yet, in large quantities can be harmful. This rational way to look at chemicals is more in keeping with the science of chemicals and less in the over dramatized picture Hollywood has depicted. There are many different families of chemicals and different classifications of chemicals. Some occur naturally in our environment while others are manmade, all typically separated by three main subcategories: Ingredient, Toxicity and Flash point. These three main categories are used to classify a certain chemical for many reasons not just the end user. Manufacturing, Transportation and Application utilize these classifications in order to insure each chemical is used as intended. The Environmental Protection Agency which governs how and when chemicals are used in our environment oversees the regulation, distribution, and application of chemicals in a wide variety of uses. Essentially the "Police" of the chemical world, the EPA have other functions however their main purpose is to protect human health and our environment. Chemicals are just one category the EPA regulates and it’s the most impactful. The EPA's involvement is one that is needed, warranted and underappreciated. In the lawn care industry chemicals are used to control pest. A "Pest" can be anything a homeowner doesn’t want in his or her yard; Weeds, Insects and disease prompt chemical use to obtain ornamental qualities and protect landscape. All regulated by the Department of Agriculture and the EPA. Each lawn care chemical company must go through detailed training yearly, pass a written test and obtain a commercial applicator's license in order to apply controlled use chemical products on someone’s yard. The chemicals used in the lawn care industry are created and chosen for their ability to eliminate "Pest" ironically, making our environment less pest intrusive and more appealing. So how safe are the chemicals used and regulated in our industry? The end user is heavily regulated by licensing agencies like the Department of Agriculture and the EPA, insuring each chemical used, is put out in a manner which causes the least chance of over application and hazard. The chemicals used typically are of low toxicity and application rates are minimized and monitored to try and limit over exposure to the environment. Chemicals like Fertilizer which have components occurring naturally in our environment, are most common, other chemicals man made in origin are used to "kill pests" all heavily regulated and diluted for use. Generally chemicals are safe for the user, our customers and the environment when applied as prescribed. Our industry is heavily regulated to insure each and every user adheres to regulations that keep chemicals from harming our environment. As long as you hire a company which is licensed to apply chemicals, has a professional staff who cares about the customer and follows the laws and regulations under which the license they carry was issued, you can't go wrong. As with any industry, you have companies who try and circumvent the rules, our industry is no different. You can find companies willing to apply chemicals without a license. Eventually, the law will catch up to them; heavy fines and jail time will follow. Finding the right company is the key to proper lawn care, finding a company properly trained and licensed is the answer. Lawn Care has always been a unique way to bring about the most satisfying aspect of any property, a beautiful lawn is a statement of health and tranquility, giving a homeowner a sense of accomplishment, a statement of success and something to be proud of. As we learn more about how chemicals are used in the lawn care industry we find that the toxicity of those chemicals is relatively small, heavily regulated with little to no impact to our environment. When properly applied by an ethical, licensed responsible company, the end result is a beautiful lawn done right. If you’re interested in finding out more how lawn care can be done right, call 972-346-2696 or visit www.lawntech.com

Why Hire A Lawn Service? Why Invest the Money?

We as homeowners are a proud bunch, we take the time, energy and resources to protect our investment, after all, we pay enough for our homes, why not take care of them, right? Part of homeownership is taking responsibility for our surroundings, providing regular maintenance, like; changing the A/C unit filters, cleaning, repairing and general upkeep. Why do we do it? We know that by taking care of our most precious investment insures its longevity, its reliability and its safety. We also have a certain measure of pride associated with how our home looks; "Keeping Up with the Jones's" has long been the attitude with some homeowners who see their house as a statement to success. Now whether or not you feel this way or for that matter agree with this logic, the fact still remains for whatever the reasons, taking care of your home and its surroundings benefit you and your family. Did you know, that according to the National Association of Realtors who surveyed potential home buyers as to what the most important factor which led them to find interest in or buy a certain property was the landscaping? 77% percent out of those surveyed said that landscaping caught their eye and appealed to them foremost. Extremely telling for those of us interested in protecting our most precious investment. How the presentation of our landscaping looks captures the eye, ads to the overall architecture of any building and gives life to an otherwise meaningless structure. A beautifully manicured lawn and landscape can put the cherry on top of a beautifully crafted home, giving off an air of sophistication, peace and tranquility. The richness that a beautiful lawn provides is hard to measure as to the aesthetics and can seal the deal when it comes to selling your home. There are other reasons other than "Keeping Up with the Jones's" for maintaining a beautiful landscape that are not as obvious; One of the main purposes for maintaining your lawn is for erosion purposes, which is vital in this region of unpredictable weather, where heat can cause foundation troubles and torrential rainfall can erode your soil. Furthermore, a well maintained landscape can prevent concrete damage to sidewalks and driveways, and help control pest as well. As a result we not only take pride in our beautiful landscape as it turns out we need it. So we must protect it, provide for it and nurture it, without the upkeep and investment into how our landscape looks, its overall health, we run the risk of losing our investment we worked so hard to obtain. So we have a choice to make as to how we go about protecting our landscape from decline, or worse. We either try to take care of it ourselves or we pay a professional to do it for us. The lawn care industry has over the last few decades changed to adapt to homeowners needs; they've added products, services and made paying for it easier and more affordable than ever. If you’re like most people and don't have the time or the knowledge to take care of your landscape as a professional would, why not hire one? Hiring a lawn service gives the homeowner the best chance at protecting ones investment by allowing a professional to apply the right chemicals at the right time, giving a homeowner the best chance to keep his or her lawn healthy. We've already established the importance to maintaining a beautiful landscape, so why not allow the pro's to reassure you it’s been done right the first time? Take the necessary steps to avoid your landscapes decline and give Lawntech a quick call for a free quote, they've been taking care of lawns for close to thirty years with a long track record of satisfied customers, call them today for a chance to save on this year’s lawn care @ 972-346-2696 or visit them at www.lawntech.com, Lawn Tech, "A Beautiful Lawn is Our Business"

Think Pre-Emergent as Early Fall Approaches

Pre-emergence critical to a beautiful lawn, must be applied by a certain date to be effective, without pre-emergent’s, your lawn would be riddled with weeds to a point impossible to control. What is a pre-emergent and when should they be applied? A pre-emergent is a class of herbicide designed to create a layer of protection just below the soil surface and remain in the soil to stop new weed seeds from germinating. Herbicides of this nature are designed to be applied in two different ways and some pre-emergent have other benefits as well, depending on the type and brand. Granular and liquid are the two types used in lawn care at different times of the year, some containing post-emergent qualities while others are strictly pre-emergent only. Each having similar benefits when applied at the right time, giving a homeowner the best chance of stopping most weeds from germinating at different times of the year. Spring and fall are times when weeds germinate; some being "Summer Weeds" while other weeds are labeled as "Winter Weeds" Without pre-emergent, the lawn care industry would not be effective enough to stay in business. Pre-emergent’s are crucial and remain the single most important part of lawn care, without the all important spring and fall pre-emergent, weeds are left to grow unimpeded, lawn care companies understand the vital importance of a pre-emergent applied at the right time, and cringe when a customer refuses or postpones a treatment containing one, knowing from experience the all important catalyst to an ornamental yard starts with a correctly applied pre-emergent, when applied at the right time in the right manner most weeds don’t stand a chance of germinating. Take the time to read up on the vital importance of pre-emergent qualities and benefits, begin to understand the vital role pre-emergent plays in the ornamental state of your lawn, realizing the benefits, a homeowner can come to the conclusion that pre-emergence is the answer to a weed free lawn. There relatively easy to apply in granular form with a garden spreader, or a lawn care company can be contracted to apply pre-emergent at the right time to be most effective, leaving it up to the Pro’s so to speak. However, if you want to tackle the chore yourself the following info is vital: In the North Texas region the ideal target window for fall pre-emergent is before Sept 15th for a true pre-emergent with no residual post emergent activity, after Sept 15th you must apply a pre-emergent that contains post emergent activity because some weeds may have already germinated making a pre-emergent without post emergent qualities ineffective. Pay special attention to label instructions or ask your local lawn care professional for help Lawn Tech @ 972-346-2696. Good Luck and may you always have a beautiful lawn.

It's Time To Treat For Grubs

White grubs eat organic matter including the roots of plants. Therefore, damage first appears to be drought stress. Heavily infested turf appears off color, gray-green, and wilts rapidly in the hot sun. Continued feeding will cause the turf to die in large irregular patches. The tunneling of the larvae cause the turf to feel spongy under foot and the turf can often be rolled back like a loose carpet. Once the damage is done, its hard to regain any new turf without sodding or seeding. The best alternative to damage is preventative grub insecticide, however, topical insecticide can be applied once grubs have reached mature stages to kill on contact, preventing any further damage from occurring. Often grubs are found in soft soils or healthy lawns near and around street lamps or outdoor lighting. If you would like to find out how you can prevent grubs from ruining your lawn, call Lawntech or visit our website.

Hot, Dry and Under Restrictions

Summer's here and its hot, Texans are used to this weather, right? Not necessarily. Over the last three years we have broken records each of those three years, the most recent being the hottest, driest months on record. Yes, I suppose in this region North Texan's are more apt to handle hot weather than say our northern neighbors, yet as we look at temperatures for the last century, we find we have been hotter consistently and below average rainfall. So if temperatures are high as usual without any rainfall, drought conditions magnify turf problems, without water your investment is wasted. Bermuda for example does have some drought tolerances, consequently, just like the any living plant, Bermuda needs a certain amount of water to stay healthy. The University of Texas A&M experts in regional turf grasses, have some surprising prescriptions for regional turf grass irrigation recommendations, a suggestion far less than one would expect. 1 to 1.5 inches per week, with longer periods of slow watering the better. The pro's who study turf grass management have done their field work, analyzed the data, to formulate suggested weekly watering tables for regional turf grasses, both Bermuda and St. Augustine require only one to two inches weekly to be healthy. Which is a surprisingly low amount, given the time it takes to apply. With this prescription a homeowner can breathe a sigh of relief in times of drought and forced water restrictions. Your irrigation system should be in proper working order, insuring the heads are functioning properly, however, only needing one to two inches weekly should be an easy chore, assuming your system is working as intended. In this time of what seems to be a pattern of drought we're stuck in, take the time to have your system audited, fixed and maintained. Follow the weekly rule of one to two inches per week and your investment should be fine. Rain will eventually fall again, but until it does, you can be comforted in knowing under restrictions you can still have a beautiful lawn. Check out Lawn Tech's answer to watering restrictions, a product called "Moisture Manager" a unique bio-degradable substance which helps maximize your yards water consumption. Visit our website at: www.lawntech.com to read more or call us at 972-346-2696 for more information.

Got Fireants! Try Top Choice

In years past our industry struggled with eliminating fire ants from our environment, we fought the gallant fight, put up resistance at every turn, only to find fire ants back at work in a week or so, tormenting our customers. After many battles our efforts seemed futile until recently, our industry has finally found a product that works as advertised. Top Choice, a broad spectrum insecticide targeted mainly at fire ants works well and is easy to apply. The active ingredient Fibronil seems to work wonders in riding your lawn of the angry little pest and sends them packing. Designed to be broadcasted out by conventional spreader application rates, these tiny granules breakdown with moisture and create a barrier once penetrated is carried on their bodies back to the mound and causes death. Perfect control is obtained because of the inherent nature of fire ants to forage or move locations based on weather patterns, moisture distribution and food sources. As they forage across areas applicated with Top Choice they come in contact with the chemical and the rest is as they say "history" The good folks at Bayer Environmental Sciences have really hit the mark with a wonderful product that works, as long as this product is applied correctly by a licensed applicator, you can't go wrong with investing in a Top Choice application. There is however some small problems when not applied effectively or watered in properly, the biggest being full coverage of all dirt surfaces, any areas missed and ants will reside there. Secondly, this product is a controlled use product and must be applied by professionals, finding the right company with applicators that are diligent with how they apply Top Choice can make a huge difference in total infestation removal. Proper irrigation following recent applications can make the difference in success or failure, without proper watering, Top Choice doesn’t work. If you are interested in a proven product that our industry is proud to apply, please contact Lawn Tech at 972-346-2696 or visit nofireants.com and read more about this outstanding product with a yearlong guarantee from Bayer.

Did You Know? Proper Mowing and Fertilizing Conserves Water?

From the University ot Texas A&M,comes a great article about proper mowing heights, making a point to show you how mowing can help conserve water. The following exerpt is from the Agri-Life Website:

"Mowing grass at the proper height conserves water. Mow, St. Augustine grass and Buffalograss at 3 inches; for Bermudagrass mow at 1 inch; for centipedegrass and Zoysiagrass mow at 2 inches.
Applying fertilizer to the lawn at the proper time and in the proper amount can save time, effort and money through reduced mowing and watering. Fertilizers also can be a major source of pollution of streams and groundwater if excessive amounts are applied."

Read the rest of this article at: earthkind.tamu.edu

What Sets Lawn Tech Apart From the Competition?

Some Surprising Differences You May Not Know About Lawn Tech Versus Our Competition:


Five Treatment Program (Chemically Responsible)
Free Service Calls
24hr Courtesy Call before Treatments
Only the Best Products Used
No Contract to Sign
In Business since 1985
Recipient of Several Honorable Awards (Angies List Super Service Award)
Dedicated Experienced Staff
A Loyal Customer Base


Letter to Our Customers,

This year we are well aware of a more than average abundance of weeds, this is typical during years of drought or abnormally warm temperatures, causing weeds to germinate and seasonal grasses to begin transitioning.
Pre-emergent’s applied in the early fall of last year have shown to be less effective than in years past, the weather pattern over the last year has made weeds pop up quicker and in more abundance.
Lawn Tech has since 1985, used five timed treatments throughout the scheduled lawn season, while other companies use up to twelve yearly we stick to only five, the practice of using only five well timed treatments helps limit over application of chemicals, and helps our environment.
Lawn Tech practices “Integrated Pest Management” a term coined by the industry to mean you only apply enough chemicals to be effective. This practice helps limit the amount of chemicals in your family’s environment, your children’s environment, and our drinking water.
Limiting our applications to five seasonal treatments can leave your yard vulnerable in the warm winter months especially if we have drought conditions. We could extend our five treatment program to include the winter months, but at what price? Other companies seem to abandon the ethical practice of being chemically conscious and add as many treatments as they feel necessary to make a profit.
Since 1985 we have tried to give our customers good value, free service calls and great customer service without adding winter treatments. In past years our fall pre-emergent was enough to carry our customers until we could service their property that next February.
This year the drought has caused more weeds than usual, however, without abandoning our five treatment program as discussed, we have every intention of resuming your applications as soon as possible. We are now actively servicing our customers with the first treatment of the year and without fail we will be at your property within weeks, if problems arise during the course of the season, please take advantage of our free service call program within thirty days of your most recent application.
Lawn Tech is very thankful for all our customers and we appreciate your understanding our need to limit the amount of chemicals we put in your environment by adhering to our five treatment program. Once again thank you for being a valued customer and we look forward to making your yard look beautiful.


Please Visit Our Website at: www.lawntech.com