Feb 26, 2021, 12:11 PM by Clark Pest Control in Stockton, CA

Nothing beats having a lush, green lawn to run on, play on, or simply chill out on, especially during these times. But having a healthy lawn, along with healthy trees and shrubs, is more than mere aesthetics.

According to Project EverGreen, a healthy 2,500 sq. ft. lawn absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and will release enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe. Lawns also are nature’s air conditioners. A lush, green lawn can be as much as 31 degrees cooler than asphalt, and 20 degrees cooler than bare soil.

“Your lawn and yard can literally provide a breath of fresh air for you and your family,” says Mike Andrew, Corporate Quality Assurance Manager, Ag Division, for Clark Pest Control. “That’s why it’s important for homeowners to take the proper steps now to make sure your lawn is ready to go this spring.”

Now is the time to protect your lawn

Clark, your friendly pest control, grounds care, and termite control expert, says now is the time to protect your lawn, landscape plants, and trees from harmful diseases and weeds, so they will look their best and be at their healthiest this spring and summer.

Applying a fertilizer with a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn will help promote turf growth and prevent weeds such as clover, dandelions, and other nuisance weeds from ruining the health and overall appearance of your lawn.

As the ground continue to warm, 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.

Making a preventive crabgrass treatment will make caring for your lawn easier and more cost effective than trying to remove it from your yard once it becomes established. This, in combination with an application of winter fertilizer, will help establish your lawn’s root system.

Tips for a healthier lawn

Want to put your lawn in the best position to be healthy this spring? The following tips will help you achieve your goal:

-Rake up leaves, matted grass, and sticks that have accumulated over the winter. Raking your yard can also help keep the thatch level in your lawn at a desirable half inch or less.

-Start training your lawn in the spring by only watering two days a week. Infrequent watering promotes the growth of a deep, healthy root system that is better able to survive drought and heat stress.

-When you begin mowing your lawn, raise the cutting height of your mower to 2 ½ to 3 inches. Raising the cutting height allows turf to grow longer and thicker, thus preventing invasive weeds and insects from taking root and ruining your lawn.

-Make sure that sprinkler heads on your irrigation system are working properly, that there are no leaks, or broken pipes or sprinkler heads, and that timers are set accordingly. A leaky sprinkler head can waste water, and too much moisture in the turf can lead to disease.

-When you do water, do so early in the morning. Water will evaporate if you water midday or afternoon, and evening watering can promote disease.

-For trees and shrubs, give them a deep watering once or twice a week a week for 15 minutes. You can also apply mulch – two to four inches – around the base of trees and shrubs to retain water.

Don’t forget your flower beds

Your lawn isn’t the only part of your landscape that Clark can protect. To help your flower beds stay weed free, Clark will apply a post-emergent herbicide to eliminate any existing weeds, while at the same time applying a pre-emergent to prevent weeds from germinating and sprouting during the spring and summer.

Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your home from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, they call ahead to notify you before a service, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your home.

If you want your lawn to shine this spring, call California’s trusted, friendly lawn care expert, Clark, at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or send an email to clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home.