Most homeowners know what services are necessary for good Louisville lawn care: proper mowing, aeration, overseeding, adequate hydration and fertilizer. Aeration is one of the most beneficial Louisville lawn care services, especially if you live in an area that experiences episodes of little to no rainfall. Aerating your Louisville lawn will allow the water from your irrigation system to reach the grass roots directly and be immediately absorbed. However, even though aeration ensures that your Louisville lawn and soil are manipulated, you should go one step further and also have your soil periodically tested by a Louisville lawn care professional.

A soil test is a fairly simple procedure and many Louisville lawn care companies offer the service for free in conjunction with their Louisville lawn care programs. The Louisville lawn care technician will take a small soil sample and have it sent to a lab. A qualified soil expert will examine the sample and look at the pH level (acidity); the presence or absence of such macronutrients as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen; the presence or absence of such micronutrients as iron, calcium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper and other nutrients that deter weed growth and enhance the Louisville lawn’s resistance to insect and disease infestations; the soil type, which can help your Louisville lawn care technician create a preventative plan to reduce the incidence of compaction; and levels of decomposed plant material, also known as thatch.

Once the results are back, your Louisville lawn care specialists can consult with you on what the best plan of action is regarding your Louisville lawn care regimen. To schedule a soil analysis, call your local Louisville lawn care company today.

Ants can be a frustrating problem when it comes to them invading your home. Ants can smell food from many miles away, so if there are any crumbs, food left out or spills, ants will find a way into your home to clean up after you. You can always rely on baits, but if you have children or pets in the home, here are a few natural remedies that are effective but safe for the entire household.

Grits. Yep, that’s right. Use more food to get rid of ants by using quick grits. The end result for the ants isn’t pleasant, as the grits expand in their stomachs and cause the ants to die. You can sprinkle the grits in any area where you have notice ants and voila! They will be gone.

Boric acid. Boric acid can is effective, but Louisville pest control specialists warn that you should be careful not to inhale the fumes from the acid as it can cause breathing problems. The toxicity is low to humans, but if you have asthma or other breathing complications, you may want to try one of the other methods. Janitorial experts recommend mixing two parts of something sweet with one part boric acid.

Lemons. Make a concoction of half lemon juice and half water in a spray bottle. Spray around areas where ants frequent, and as well as areas where they may gain entrance to your home such as windows, doors, etc.

Spices. Pest control experts say there are a wide variety of spices that can be used to eliminate ants; however, you have to strategically make a line of the spice that will make it hard for the ants to travel around. Peppermint oil, black pepper, cayenne pepper and cinnamon can all be used to get rid of your ant problem.

Pest control authorities say all these remedies will be effective, but the best way to keep ants out is by cleaning up crumbs and spills as soon as possible and not leaving food out.

Mowing might seem like the simplest of Louisville lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your Louisville lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your Louisville lawn. Here are some Louisville lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.

Most Louisville lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.

Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the Louisville lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your Louisville lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.

Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your Louisville lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your Louisville lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.

If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local Louisville lawn care professionals.

During the winter we prepare for harsh weather by piling on layers of clothing and wearing heavy coats, gloves, hats and scarves; unfortunately, not many people think about how the living things in their yards and gardens react to the cold.  Trees and shrubs are vulnerable to cold weather just like we are.  If new growth in the early  Fall doesn’t have enough time to harden off, experts say the sudden drop in temperatures can create ice crystals that can rupture cell walls, resulting in dead branch tips and branches.

Officials at a state cooperative extension service say one of the biggest problems for trees and shrubs is the sharp temperature change from day into night during the winter.  They say that dramatic change can actually freeze the water in the trunks of trees, causing them to explode or split open.  That reaction is called frost cracking.  Sometimes these cracks can close when warm weather returns, if the damage isn’t that severe.  Many shrubs can suffer from something similar, called bark split.  Extension service officials say those particularly susceptible are many cultivars of evergreen azaleas.  In most cases plants close over the cracks with no treatment necessary.

During this winter there are some things you can do to protect your trees and shrubs.  You can wrap the trunks with burlap strips or commercial tree wrap.  Experts also recommend painting the trunks white or shading them with a board to prevent bark splitting.  These methods reflect sunlight and reduce temperature fluctuations, like the buildup of heat during the day, that cause splitting.  All wraps should be removed after one season to stop insect or moisture damage.

Pest control professionals often find that when they’re called out to a job where the homeowner is complaining of excess bugs, the simple is actually quite simple: be mindful of your garbage can.

Even if your garbage can in under a sink or somewhere else that isn’t out in the open, bugs can find a way in because the odors are still being emitted. Pest control experts recommend never throwing any organic material into the waste bin. If you are not able to dispose of the material outside, place the food in a sealable plastic bag (such as a freezer bag) and then dispose of it. Even better, you can place these materials in a plastic bag and add them to your compost pile later on. If you choose this option, however, make sure your compost pile is far away from your home and cover the food scraps with leaves or dirt to prevent attracting unwanted animals.

Make sure you change your garbage bag often. Do not simply empty the contents and leave the bag inside the can. Replace the bag with a new one that will not have food particles on it that will further attract bugs.

Pest control experts also recommend cleaning out your garbage can with bleach from time to time. If the bag has leaked or a piece of food missed the bag and went down the side, the odors are still present and can send out an inviting signal to Louisville pests.

Pest control against bugs can be as simple as making that extra effort to be choosy about what garbage goes into your garbage can.

Pest Control Tip: Make a Plastic Ziploc Bag Trap

• Place a few slices of an apple or other sweet fruit inside a freezer bag.
• Open that bag about an inch to allow the fruit flies to enter and surround the fruit.
• Zip the bag closed, trapping them inside and release them outside.

Vacuum Cleaner Method

• Pest control experts say fruit flies tend to congregate in certain areas, so if your vacuum is powerful and has a good filter you can easily suck up lots of them and eliminate them from your home.
• Use the vacuum cleaner attachment and to suck the flies into the shaft.
• Trick the flies. Dip a couple pieces of paper towel or cotton swabs in jelly or cider vinegar and then securely tape them inside the vacuum cleaner attachment. When the flies start going inside, turn on the vacuum cleaner and get them by surprise!

Pest control experts recommend disposing the dust and other contents of the vacuum outside or get rid of the inner bag in order to keep these flies from getting back into your home.

Termites are not the only insect that can cause serious damage to the structure of your home; woodworms will bore into the wood of your house, furniture and other areas where they are afforded a woody protection.

Pest control experts say woodworms often go undetected for years because the adults, also known as Furniture Beetles, will lay their eggs in the wood of your furniture. Once the larvae have emerged, they will bore into the wood and remain there for a few years. They will also leave the furniture and get into the structural wood of your home, where their boring can cause serious damage.

The best Louisville pest control method to protect against woodworms is to not bring used furniture into your home. Pest control specialists say this is typically how most homes become infested with woodworms. However, the adult woodworm can fly and if a window or door is left open, they can easily fly into your home. If you notice that woodworms are present in your home, your local Louisville pest control company can apply a special insecticide. They can also apply or suggest polishes that are designed to protect your furniture from woodworm invasions. If you have windows that you like to keep open, make sure they have screens so adult woodworms cannot fly into your home.

If you notice holes in your wooden furniture, that is a sure sign that woodworms are present. It is important to contact your Louisville pest control company quickly before these insects can cause problems for your home’s structure.

If there’s anything more annoying than weeds sprouting up throughout your Louisville lawn, it’s pulling each of those weeds. It might even seem like the old wives’ tale about pulling gray hairs applies to weeds: pull one weed and two more grow back. But if you time your weed pulling or weed control treatments right, you might just be able to see a decrease in the following season.
Lawn care specialists advise that if your Louisville lawn is comprised of 50 percent or more weeds, then it’s time for a “do-over.” But if you haven’t quite hit that limit (even if sometimes it seems that way), then you just need to strategize your weed control and come up with an effective battle plan.
For optimal weed prevention, Louisville lawn care experts recommend weeding in the spring and fall when they’re at their weakest point. During the spring, all plants are gearing up to grow, even weeds. The roots are trying to pump as much energy into the leaves as possible, which is where you need to take them out, thus eliminating much of the energy supply and ensuring they don’t have a chance to spread their seeds around.
If your weed problem rears its ugly head during the summer, Louisville lawn care technicians recommend weeding throughout the summer season, but get ready for the big battle in the fall. By treating germinated seeds, you’re able to get the weeds before they’ve even sprouted. If you were lucky enough to jump on the weeds in the spring, by fall they will be still trying to recover from the damage and will likely die off during the cold winter months when their much-needed nutrients and sunlight aren’t as prevalent.
If you’re tired of weeds in the summer, call your local Louisville lawn care company before spring and fall to get a jumpstart on your weed battle!

You have your Louisville lawn care regimen down pretty pat. You make sure your mower is set on high and the blades are sharpened. You’ve got watering down to a science and your Louisville lawn care company is making sure your turf is disease and Louisville pest-free. You might think you’re taking the best possible care of your turf and while what you’re already doing is definitely beneficial, you’re leaving out one vital aspect of good Louisville lawn care: soil testing.
Knowing your Louisville lawn’s acidity, or pH, level is key to understanding what your Louisville lawn needs and when. Lawn care experts say the pH level varies throughout the season and can change dramatically as plants and grass develop in the prime growing season because they are taking more and more out of the soil. A Louisville lawn’s acidity level should usually fall in between 6.1 and 6.9, giving you an idea of how much fertilizer you need to maintain a healthy Louisville lawn.
The best action you can take is having your Louisville lawn care company conduct soil tests throughout each season. Although you can do it yourself and figure out how much fertilizer is needed and when, Louisville lawn professionals have years of experience in testing soil and calculating fertilizer needs. On the plus side, more often than not Louisville lawn care companies offer free soil analyses.
Whichever route you choose, doing it on your own or soliciting your Louisville lawn care company, making sure your Louisville lawn’s pH level is in the right zone could be the difference between a dry, colorless Louisville lawn and a health, green, dense Louisville lawn!

If you have a landscape that is in the sun for the majority of the day, Louisville lawn care specialists will tell you that not just any type of grass will do. In order to have a successful landscape, you need to have a groundcover that can withstand the constant sunlight and the heat that accompanies long periods of sunlight.
Your Louisville lawn does not have to be the typical kind of groundcover most people have. Part of having a beautiful landscape is employing creative ideas that will give your property a distinctive appearance. Interspersed with your Louisville lawn should be groundcover that will thrive in the beating sun, such as thyme, anemone and stonecrop.
Thyme is a dense groundcover that will successfully survive in sunny or partially sunny areas of your landscape. This Louisville lawn care option offers a variety of colors when it comes to foliage, from bright green and bluish to a greyer green. Unlike your typical Louisville lawn, thyme yields a beautiful pink or lavender flowering carpet. Perhaps you won’t want to step foot on this beautiful landscape canvass, but if you do, thyme holds up exceptionally well under occasional foot traffic.
Anemone is perfect for soils that are finicky and have a hard time producing healthy Louisville lawns of the typical variety, according to Louisville lawn care professionals. Blooming in the late spring, anemone produces tall and exquisite flowers that are certain to add to your sophisticated landscape. What makes anemone even more ideal is its high tolerance for dry soil.
Stonecrop also offers beautiful foliage and is also a flowering groundcover. This ideal turf mat is tolerant of hot, dry weather, but also can withstand cold, harsh winter weather. Depending on the variety, some stonecrop grows close to the ground and is not impeded by foot traffic; however other species are more delicate and would require an area not frequented by feet.
If you aren’t sure what kind of groundcover would be best suited for your landscape, call your local Louisville lawn care company and have an expert help you decide what would be best to withstand the unvarying blazing and unforgiving heat of the sun.