Feb 1, 2019, 10:16 AM by Fred Speer

Clark, your neighborly pest control and lawn care expert, recently shared information on how early winter rain could affect pest behavior and pressure around your home. But what about the effect it could have on your lawn, trees, and shrubs?

There’s no question that the greenery in your yard can benefit from rain. Did you know that winter is the ideal time to protect your lawn, landscape plants, and trees from harmful diseases and weeds? Taking action now can have them looking their best this spring.

Applying a preemergent herbicide now to your lawn, and to shrub and flower beds, will prevent weeds – for example, annual grasses, clover, and dandelions – from ruining the appearance of your lawn and threatening its overall health.

As ground temperatures warm over the next month, crabgrass – the number-one weed that threatens California lawns – will germinate and take hold. Crabgrass is an annual grass that goes dormant in the fall and winter, but comes back every year if left untreated.

With crabgrass, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. Making a preventive treatment now is a lot less hassle and more cost-effective than trying to remove it from your yard once it becomes established.

Signs of crabgrass

• Unlike typical lawn grasses, crabgrass has an unattractive and mangled appearance.
• Crabgrass grows fast and tall, sprouting large patches above your current lawn surface.
• Because crabgrass is thicker and has a larger appearance, it is easily noticed.

The application of a preemergent herbicide in combination with an application of winter fertilizer will help your lawn’s root system establish itself before the heat and dryness of summer arrives.

Regular watering – once a week is recommended – and keeping grass mowed to a shorter length in winter will help your lawn receive the moisture it needs, but won’t allow an excess buildup of moisture that can create conditions favorable to harmful diseases.

Another landscape-related pest that you should take a proactive approach toward are aphids. These small, rapidly reproducing insects feed by sucking valuable nutrients from plants, which reduces blooming and threatens overall plant health.

Aphids secrete honeydew – a sticky, sweet substance – which attracts ants and wasps. Honeydew can find its way onto patio surfaces, outdoor furniture, and car windshields. With the abundance of rain, aphids will have more readily available sources of food this spring, and they could appear in greater numbers, thus attracting more pests.

Get the upper hand on aphids before there they damage foliage on trees and shrubs with a preventive soil injection treatment from Clark.

Taking preventive steps to promote good lawn health now will pay off later. Clark’s yard and garden specialists will design a customized weed control and lawn care program to reduce pest hiding spots and protect your lawn and plants. You can also add weed control and lawn fertilization services to your Year-Round Pest-Away® program to give you whole-house protection.

Get your lawn, shrubs and trees ready for spring and summer, and call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop us an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com   

Until next time, I’m Clark, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.