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Leading Lawn Care Provider Advises How to Keep Lawns from Turning Pink this Winter
Weed Man USA Provides Tips for Prosperous Fall Lawn Care Practices
Cleveland, OH – As the climate becomes cooler and the leaves begin to change, homeowners need to start considering how they plan to care for their lawns over the fall months to prepare for snow. Unfortunately, it has been found that applying too much fertilizer throughout the fall can lead to snow mold, a lawn’s worst nightmare. This fungal disease transpires in the early spring as the snow melts and appears as pink, circular patches of dead and matted grass. While some live by the phrase the more the merrier, when it comes to fertilization, it’s best to stick with less is more.
To prevent this unhealthy, unattractive-looking disease from taking over your grass, Weed Man USA, North America’s leading lawn care franchise company, advises homeowners to be careful when considering how much fertilizer to use and what kind to use, depending on the type of grass. Fertilizer overuse is undetectable, and once turf grass goes dormant, too much fertilization can cause it to absorb too many nutrients and grow when it doesn’t want to. Therefore, it’s especially important to be cautious and always follow the fertilizer manufacturer's recommended application rate.
“Snow mold can become a serious problem and is a very common issue as many homeowners tend to be overly generous when fertilizing and don’t know when to stop,” said Chris Lemcke, National Technical Director for Weed Man USA. “The fall season is a crucial time for restoring lawns after a long, hot summer, and it is absolutely essential that homeowners treat their lawns properly to ensure a strong, thriving lawn come next spring,”
To help guide homeowners’ fall lawn care plans, the Weed Man USA team has identified two best practices for properly fertilizing and avoiding snow mold.
- Avoid Too Much Nitrogen. Tests have shown that two-thirds of high-nitrogen fertilizers either run off or vaporize without impacting the grass, which is both a waste of money as well as an environmental hazard. Therefore, it is recommended that homeowners apply no more than one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn to avoid overtreatment.
- Choose the Right Fertilizer. Although quick release fertilizer may be more appealing as it is less expensive, it can be very dangerous if overused. When applied too heavily, quick release fertilizers will damage the grass by burning it. Instead, it is widely advised that homeowners purchase slow release fertilizer; although it may be pricier, it releases nutrients over a longer period of time, sometimes for up to two months, and is therefore a much safer choice.
The most important thing to consider when preparing lawns for fall and winter is the element of time. As long as each task is completed at the proper time of year and as instructed, avoiding snow mold should be a breeze.
For more lawn care tips and guidance by Weed Man, visit http://www.weedmanusa.com/Lawn-Care-Tips/Home.html.
About Weed Man
Weed Man USA, North America’s No. 1 franchised lawn care provider, is a network of locally owned and operated lawn care businesses providing environmentally responsible fertilization, weed control and integrated pest management services. For more than 40 years, Weed Man's promise has always been the same: Weed Man treats every lawn as if it was their own and provides customers with honest and open communication. Weed Man entered the U.S. market in 1995 through a licensing agreement with Turf Holdings, Inc. Today Weed Man helps support franchisees in more than 265 territories throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.weedmanfranchise.com.
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