Fall lawn care checklist
Clark, your neighborly pest control expert, knows how to prevent pests from becoming a nuisance in and around your home. But how about your lawn and yard?
No worries. We’ve got you covered. Clark Pest Control can help you maintain healthy lawns, shrubs, and trees that add environmental and aesthetic value to your home.
In California and northern Nevada, no two lawns are exactly alike. They can differ by turf species, soil type, climate, location, how they are used, and how they are maintained. The good news is that Clark can tailor a program with the specifics of your lawn and yard in mind.
With Clark’s Pest-Plus® program, residential customers can add lawn care and weed control services to their existing service, and with fall officially arriving Monday, September 23, it’s time for homeowners to be proactive and take care of their lawns and yards.
Mike Andrew, corporate agriculture quality assurance manager for Clark, says fall is the time to rehab your lawn and help it recover from the stress that summer heat and dry conditions have delivered.
“Lawns take a beating during the summer,” Andrew says, “and fall opens a window for homeowners to deliver some much need TLC to their lawns, shrubs, and trees.”
Andrew says the combination of fertilization, watering, and broadleaf weed control will help your lawn establish deeper roots that promote thicker, healthier turf come spring. He also recommends overseeding thin or damaged areas of your lawn, as fall is prime growing season.
Clark’s fall lawn care recommendations include application of a post-emergent herbicide to control broadleaf weeds and fertilizer to promote growth. In your flower beds, a pre-emergent herbicide will be applied to prevent weeds from germinating over the winter, as well as post-emergents to control your current weed issues.
Clark’s fall lawn care checklist:
Remove debris and leaves
Leaves and debris are not good for your lawn, as they block the light and trap moisture. Make sure to pick up any falling leaves and yard debris, because if you don’t, the grass under that decaying mat will be dead.
Proper mowing
Keep mowing your lawn – at least once a week in the fall and winter – and remember not to cut it too short. Andrew recommends 2½- to 3-inch height. Cutting your lawn too short will curtail the root system and block its ability to recover over the winter. Regular mowing also gets rid of leaves, chopping them up and leaving behind a soil-enhancing mulch.
Watering practices
Even though because it’s cooler outside and winter rains are on the horizon, Andrew recommends you water your lawn and plants at least once a week to help promote growth. Check your irrigation pipes and sprinkler heads to make sure they are working properly, and adjust as needed.
Overseeding
A dense, healthy lawn is the best protection against weeds, and overseeding thin or damaged areas will help build up your lawn. Remember that simply spreading seed on the ground isn’t the answer. The seed must be in contact with the soil and watered until it germinates.
Clark Pest Control’s Pest-Plus® program lets you combine any lawn and garden services, like lawn fertilization, weed control, or tree and shrub fertilization – with Clark’s pest control and/or termite monitoring programs. You’ll receive a comprehensive umbrella service for all your pest and lawn needs together.
To keep your lawn, landscape plants, and trees healthy and vibrant all year around, call (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or email clarkcares@clarkpest.com for more information.
Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.