You’ll want to check out a new service we will offer this year. Moles are getting out of control in many parts of the country. Go to our website and read about our new mole control product named Talpirid.

We are offering a new Mole Control Program, where we scout the lawn and set Talpirid baits every time we do your regular lawncare treatment.

If mole activity is present, we’ll set the baits into the tunnels, and follow that up with a service call in two weeks to set more baits. We’ll continue to return and set baits until the mole activity is gone. For one annual fee (3X your normal lawn treatment price), we will monitor mole activity and set baits as needed all season. We have found that in most cases, consistent treatment works best in order to eliminate moles. Sometimes, a one-time treatment may kill one mole. But more often than not, many moles are present and they can come in later in the season after we have eliminated the first batch. They do seem to reproduce quickly! Visit www.talpirid.com for more information.

At LawnAmerica, we always take customer service and satisfaction very seriously. It is our passion.

So much, that we have added our LawnAmerica Guarantee to our service this year. I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s on our website! It basically says, “If you are ever not pleased with our care for your lawn, contact us and we’ll promptly return to care for your lawn (re-spray, etc,), and return in 1-2 weeks to make sure you are pleased with our care.” You must let us know, by calling or with an e-mail, when you have questions or problems. We’ll then do all we can to address those until you are pleased.

In order for your turf to respond correctly to fertilizers, a proper soil pH is needed. We strive to maintain a pH somewhere between the 5.8–7.2 range, with 6.5 being ideal. The only way to identify if your soil pH is ideal or not is through a soil test.

Starting in 2006, we will be sending our soil tests to Spectrum Analytic in Ohio rather than doing them in-house. This will provide a more complete and accurate soil pH test and give valuable information on other possible soil nutrient problems on your lawn. With this basic soil test, we’ll also be able to determine other deficiencies your soil may have, such as Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and organic matter. This test will also provide us with lime or sulfur recommendations to correct any pH problem.

A $10 fee will cover our expenses for this. We strongly encourage all customers to subscribe to a soil test every 2-3 years. Let us know if you would like for us to provide this new soil test for you. It can be done at any time during the season.

A more weed-free lawn begins in early spring with a properly applied pre-emergent herbicide from LawnAmerica. We apply a liquid pre-emergent named Barricade, which we believe is the best product available. When applied and watered into the soil, Barricade forms a barrier that prevents crabgrass and other summer annual weeds from germinating this spring and on into the summer. Our Round 1 Pre-emergent Treatment needs to be applied anytime during early spring, before the soil temperatures reach the mid-50’s on a consistent basis.

A pre-emergent herbicide will provide about 6 months of prevention, so while it will help prevent most crabgrass from
coming up during the spring and summer growth period, you may see some spotty crabgrass late in the season. Spring pre-emergent products are not that effective in preventing most summer broadleaf weeds and nutgrass from germinating. They have to be sprayed with post-emergent products after they come up during the season.

Remember also that the best defense against weeds is always a thick, healthy, well-fertilized turf. A thick, healthy turf will choke out many weeds and prevent some weed seeds from getting down into the soil to germinate.