Author: Daniel Baker

Many homeowners find it quite challenging to keep up with a lot of aspects in home care especially lawn maintenance. For example, lawn service is one such area that is underestimated by many homeowners. It is only when they realize that the curb appeal has totally vanished along with their home’s value that they call a professional like insect control service Crystal Minnesota  Do now wait to have an ugly or worse, dead lawn by letting insects or weeds go out of control.

Lawn Disease

A lot of lawn problems are a result of the proliferation of certain fungus variants that use grass as their food. The result is the brown patches, or shredded and shriveled grass blades in your front yard.  For instance, brown patch is found in almost any area in the US with the exception of Southern California and the Mountain states.  Lawns that are infected with Dollar Spot disease or the Red Thread disease have less resilience and are more prone to getting wiped out from weeds and other insects.

Weeds and Pests

According to mosquito control service St. Louis Park MN, the presence of invasive weed species such as crabgrass, creeping Charlie, Dandelion, Canada Thistle and Plantains contribute to significant lawn damage if they are not controlled effectively.  Some of these were introduced as a form of livestock feed in the past but have gone out of control.

Lawns also are under threat from insect and their larvae. These insects eat the grass while grub worms or insect larvae create havoc at the root system and destroy the vital nutritional support system your grass and plants rely on for survival.

Treatment

Keeping your plants and grass healthy with the use of the right fertilizers is essential to ensure they have the necessary resilience against these invaders. Combine that with regular pest and weed control and you will be able to achieve a healthy lawn all year round.  Talk to a lawn care expert today.

Every homeowner planning to have a beautifully manicured lawn needs to use the right kind of grass that is suited for the location and environment.  Choosing the wrong one could lead to expensive maintenance and upkeep such as constant mowing, fertilizers and pesticides. If you live in a warm weather environment here are some grass varieties to consider.

Bahia

According to lawn care service Crystal May MN experts, this kind of grass is quite resistant to drought, disease and insects. This grass likewise thrives well in sandy or clay environments. Used a lot in coastal areas like Florida, the Bahia variant requires a lot of mowing especially during hot weather.

Bermuda

This type of grass is used in a lot of lawns in the southern United States. It is quite resistant to drought and is quite adaptable to a number of different soils. It is popularly used in parks, golf courses and athletic fields. This kind of grass does not like shade and can handle a lot of foot traffic.

Centipede

Weed spraying service Long Lake MN specialists recommend this slow growing grass for lawns as it requires little maintenance and even less mowing and fertilizers to thrive.

Saint Augustine

This type of grass is popular in the southern United States and is perfect for coastal areas. It does not like cold weather and high foot traffic.

Zoysia

This is an example of a drought tolerant type of grass. It tends to become deeply rooted in the ground and can handle a high degree of traffic.

Alternatives

Use Native Plants

Native plants that grow locally tend to adapt very well to the current weather and environment. They also integrate well with other landscaping projects. For example, clover and moss are commonly used to cover lawns.

Cedar Bark Mulch

Mulch as we all know is an excellent alternative for homes that require a grass alternative. It is cheap and comes in a variety of sizes and does not collect heat the same way gravel does.

Every fall season, homeowners are always faced with the dilemma whether or not to rake the fallen leaves scattered about on their respective lawns.  According to weed control service Chaska Minnesota specialists, unless you like the idea of reseeding in spring you should not leave the leaves on your lawn the entire winter.  This brings another question to the fore, which is whether to hire someone to get rid of the problem or risk blisters and all and just do them yourself.

What Leaves can do

According to lawn care service Crystal Bay MN experts, leaves that are left to pile up in your lawn could build up to form a heavy mass that can damage grass and kill plants. For instance, matted leaves easily block the sun as well as reduce the evaporation of water resulting to mold, fungus disease formation. These two alone can destroy your lawn very quickly.

Smaller leave that decompose faster or simply get blown away by the wind such as honey locust, gingko, birch trees and dogwood can be allowed to be left on the ground provided they do not get too thick.

Leaf Removal

There are a couple of ways that one can go about doing this. The first is to use a running mower over them so as to reduce them into smaller bits that can be left there as additional nutrients or raking and collecting them.

The fact that leaves are organic and in the right setup could decompose into an amazing soil additive it is best not to bag them or if you must consider paper bags. Many landscaping companies offer leaf removal options. They usually use a vacuum to get rid of the smallest bits from your lawn or go old school by raking them onto a tarp and then hauling them off.

In the United States, homeowners living in different regions experience varying climate and growing conditions that may pose a challenge to the kind of grass they can grow in their lawns.  In the north for instance where the growing seasons are short and the climate is really cold only certain grass varieties thrive in such environments.  In the south where the soil tend to be sandier and with long hot summers and mild winters, some grasses may not do as good as well.  Here are some cool weather grasses for people living in the northern part of the US.

Bentgrass

According to turf care company Cologne Minnesota experts, this kind of grass can tolerate a high degree of mowing but does not like hot, humid and dry weathers. This is best for use in golf courses and since it requires very little maintenance it has good tolerance for droughts and high foot traffic.

Kentucky bluegrass

According to weed control service Chaska MN experts, the Kentucky bluegrass is considered the most popular all cool weather grasses. It has the ability to spread well and can easily fill in a lot of bare spots.  Bluegrass however goes dormant when the weather is hot and dry or in winter. It also performs poorly in extreme shade.  If you are going to use it on your lawn be prepared to water regularly and fertilize often.

Rough bluegrass

This grass variant is perfect in cool moist environments and performs really well in cold temperatures and responds well to irrigation and fertilization. The problem however for this kind of grass is its high susceptibility to disease and pests.

Red Fescue

This variety of grass works well in cool shaded sites like resorts, cabins and camps. Does not need a lot of water to survive or fertilizers for that matter.

Annual Ryegrass

Popularly used as a kind of forage for animals, it can be used to mix with other grass types in order to help the dominant grass achieve higher density and thickness.

Perennial Ryegrass

This grass is ideally used for moist and cool environments. It can be used in the south but can be expensive to maintain. It needs constant watering, mowing, pest control and fertilizers to achieve optimum results.

Each year hundreds of pets are sent to the vet due to exposure or ingestion of fertilizers. Protect not just your pets but your family as well by learning the risks of using pesticides and fertilizers.  Keeping pests at bay and maintaining a lawn using fertilizers is part of owning a home.  It is important that you follow all the necessary safety precautions to ensure your pet does not get sick when exposed to it.

According to Fertilizer Company Minnetonka MN experts, pesticides and fertilizers are designed to kill weeds, rodents, mosquitoes and a whole lot of other things. While not intended to harm us, if the pesticides are ingested or absorbed into our body via the air or through the mouth, nose, skin and paws it can do a lot of damage.

Danger

The danger to pets especially to dogs is they love to walk around our lawns and gardens as well as other areas that are treated chemically on a regular basis.  This means they unknowingly absorb harmful chemicals or possibly even eat or ingest something that contains them.

Keep your Fertilizer Away from Pets

Make sure that you properly store your pesticides and fertilizers away from the reach of kids and pets. Ensure that the lids are properly sealed and that there is no leakage. Check the manufacturer label on when you could safely allow your pet to roam the garden after you have sprayed it with pesticide or fertilizer.  The best solution is to put them away in a locked area or cabinet.

Fertilizer Company Long Lake MN specialists recommend keeping your pesticides in their original containers as transferring them to your own risk losing the directions for its use as well as increase the chance of having a loose-fitting lid or leak.  Never use the product near pet bowls, toys or sleeping areas to minimize the risk of exposure.

Discuss with your Vet

It is always a good idea to speak with your vet in order to get more information about the effect of pesticides or fertilizers on pets as well as what to do in the event that there is exposure or ingestion.

Each year hundreds of pets are sent to the vet due to exposure or ingestion of fertilizers. Protect not just your pets but your family as well by learning the risks of using pesticides and fertilizers.  Keeping pests at bay and maintaining a lawn using fertilizers is part of owning a home.  It is important that you follow all the necessary safety precautions to ensure your pet does not get sick when exposed to it.

According to Fertilizer Company Minnetonka MN experts, pesticides and fertilizers are designed to kill weeds, rodents, mosquitoes and a whole lot of other things. While not intended to harm us, if the pesticides are ingested or absorbed into our body via the air or through the mouth, nose, skin and paws it can do a lot of damage.

Danger

The danger to pets especially to dogs is they love to walk around our lawns and gardens as well as other areas that are treated chemically on a regular basis.  This means they unknowingly absorb harmful chemicals or possibly even eat or ingest something that contains them.

Keep your Fertilizer Away from Pets

Make sure that you properly store your pesticides and fertilizers away from the reach of kids and pets. Ensure that the lids are properly sealed and that there is no leakage. Check the manufacturer label on when you could safely allow your pet to roam the garden after you have sprayed it with pesticide or fertilizer.  The best solution is to put them away in a locked area or cabinet.

Fertilizer Company Long Lake MN specialists recommend keeping your pesticides in their original containers as transferring them to your own risk losing the directions for its use as well as increase the chance of having a loose-fitting lid or leak.  Never use the product near pet bowls, toys or sleeping areas to minimize the risk of exposure.

Discuss with your Vet

It is always a good idea to speak with your vet in order to get more information about the effect of pesticides or fertilizers on pets as well as what to do in the event that there is exposure or ingestion.

“Location, location, location” – this is the tried and true adage when we are looking to purchase a home or setting up a place of business.  Truth be told, this saying is true for most things like the location of the water heater inside your home. Here are some situations to prove it.

“It’s located in the garage, there is nothing to worry about.”

Most folks dismiss the idea of a potential issue about water heaters since it is located in the garage far away from the reach of kids and pets or nosy houseguests.   True there is a veneer of safety and convenience by putting the heater in the garage but it is not a foolproof you will not encounter problems.  According to Minneapolis water heater plumbers, most water heaters are placed on stands when they are installed in the garage. This is so in order to keep the gas burner at least 18 inches off the floor. To ensure the 18 inch clearance required, builders often extend the higher sub-floor from an adjoining room above the crawlspace, just away enough to establish the platform for the heater and the furnace.

A leaking water heater may quickly damage the floor and the walls in the nearby room. It is not unusual to discover damaged hardwood floors or wall damage within the home caused by a water heater installed in the garage.

“My water heater sits in a pan so I’m OK.”

While pans are quite good at preventing damage from a leaking water heater, not all are equipped with drains and most pans are only designed to prevent a small volume of water from flooding the home.

Preparation is Key

All able persons living in the home should know how to shut off water, gas and electricity in the event of an emergency. It also would be a good idea to know the contact information of the nearest Minneapolis water heater repair professional in case something bad happens with the water heater.

Most water heaters are stored in areas that are inaccessible or somewhere that can easily be ignored by the homeowner thinking it is safe. The key step to preventing problems is to ensure regular maintenance and inspection is done.

Water heaters are important devices that you use every single day. They provide you with hot water for bathing, cooking and cleaning purposes.  If you have an old water heater make sure you practice preventive maintenance on it to ensure it functions optimally.  Avoid damage and disruption of your hot water supply by knowing the 4 signs of an impending water heater failure

Age

According to Minneapolis water heater plumber experts most water heaters need to be replaced if they are more than ten years old to prevent leaks and disruption. If it is in a location where a leakage will not produce damage to the immediate area then you can just safely wait for it to fail prior to replacing it.

Presence of Rusty Water

Rusty water coming from the heater originating from the hot side piping is a clear sign that the water heater is rusting from within and may be leaking soon. However, if you have galvanized piping it is possible that you may have just rusty pipes to begin with.  In order to avoid replacing a fully functioning water heater by mistake just drain a few five gallons of hot water out.  If by the third bucket, the water coming out is still rusty, chances are the water heater is at fault.

Noise and Rumbling

As the water heater ages, sediment begins to build on the bottom of the tank. The cycle of heating and reheating will cause this sediment to harden eventually. Once this occurs you will begin to hear the rumbling and banging sounds as the water heater is heating up. This is a sure sign that the heater is at the end of its life cycle. Hardened sediment results in less heating efficiency resulting in higher gas or electricity costs for you. Secondly, the extra time needed to heat the water causes more stress on the tank itself leading to tiny leaks.

Presence of Water around the Heater

Call your friendly St. Paul water heater expert expert if you begin to notice moisture around the heater as this is a sure sign of a leak or fracture in the tank.  This occurs because the metal heats causing it to expand and if there are slight fractures the leaks occur. Once it cools the inner tank will contract and the leaks will usually stop.

Your water heater is an important device that provides you with all the heated water for your everyday needs.  It is also a sound investment that you should take care of if you want it to last a long time. Caring for your water heater is easy, here are some essential tips to consider.

Determine Where it is Located

This is a no-brainer as you cannot begin preventive maintenance procedures if you do not know where your water heater is located in the house. The important thing to know is that you need to have good access to it. There are instances where the heater is tucked away in a location that is very hard to reach such as an attic. 

Know What Kind You Have

There are several kinds of water heaters available in the market and the type of preventive maintenance necessary for these varies with each type.  Determine whether you have natural gas, electric or propane or whether its storage tank or tankless type system.  Be sure to take note of the model and serial number or at least know where that information is located in the tank.  This is important for warranty purposes and this is also the information your Minneapolis water plumber expert will inquire about should you need to get it fixed.

Know How to shut it down

In emergency situations like a possible gas leak, it is in your best interest to know how to shut off the water and the fuel or power source for the water heater.  According to Minneapolis water heater repair pros, you should be able to ascertain the presence of a gas valve or a disconnect button within striking distance of the water heater. It is also an excellent idea to have knowledge of the location of the main gas shut-off valve or the part of the breaker that controls the water heater.

Clear the Space around the Water Heater

To prevent inefficiency in heating as well as a potential fire hazard, make sure the area around the heater is clear of anything.

Flush the Water Heater

Do this at least once a year to clear it off any build up in debris and sediments.  Start by draining a few gallons out of the water heater using the drain valve and then get a five-gallon bucket or garden hose to flush it.

Your water heater is an important device that provides you with all the heated water for your everyday needs.  It is also a sound investment that you should take care of if you want it to last a long time. Caring for your water heater is easy, here are some essential tips to consider.

Determine Where it is Located

This is a no-brainer as you cannot begin preventive maintenance procedures if you do not know where your water heater is located in the house. The important thing to know is that you need to have good access to it. There are instances where the heater is tucked away in a location that is very hard to reach such as an attic. 

Know What Kind You Have

There are several kinds of water heaters available in the market and the type of preventive maintenance necessary for these varies with each type.  Determine whether you have natural gas, electric or propane or whether its storage tank or tankless type system.  Be sure to take note of the model and serial number or at least know where that information is located in the tank.  This is important for warranty purposes and this is also the information your Minneapolis water plumber expert will inquire about should you need to get it fixed.

Know How to shut it down

In emergency situations like a possible gas leak, it is in your best interest to know how to shut off the water and the fuel or power source for the water heater.  According to Minneapolis water heater repair pros, you should be able to ascertain the presence of a gas valve or a disconnect button within striking distance of the water heater. It is also an excellent idea to have knowledge of the location of the main gas shut-off valve or the part of the breaker that controls the water heater.

Clear the Space around the Water Heater

To prevent inefficiency in heating as well as a potential fire hazard, make sure the area around the heater is clear of anything.

Flush the Water Heater

Do this at least once a year to clear it off any build up in debris and sediments.  Start by draining a few gallons out of the water heater using the drain valve and then get a five-gallon bucket or garden hose to flush it.

The two most common problems people encounter with water heaters are they produce water that is not hot enough or they are simply too hot. Before you call your friendly water heater plumber expert in Minneapolis, be sure to turn the temperature dial to its desired level, wait a little bit and then recheck.  If the problem persists check out some of the useful tips down below.

Hot Water Not Enough

The usual problem if you do not get enough hot water is an undersized water heater This is especially true if you have noticed the problem for quite awhile already. Have you recently installed a high-flow shower or a new soaking tub that increased your hot water requirements? If so, you will definitely need a bigger water heater. If you do not want to encounter this problem again, checkout tankless water heaters, which can supply you with hot water constantly.

If there is no recent increase in demand for hot water yet you do not get enough of it still, consider also if outdoor temperatures have gone down which will explain why it would be more difficult for your hot water heater to store and maintain water to the temperature you prefer. Adjust the thermostat accordingly.  Do check for leaks in and around the hot water heater, if there is none try flushing the water heater tank in order to remove any mineral deposits that are quite notorious for reducing the heater’s efficiency.

Check also the temperature-pressure relief valve, this device keeps the pressure from going up too much in the boiler itself. Simply lift or lower its handle, the water should be able to drain easily from the overflow pipe. If it does not, call your friendly neighborhood Minneapolis water heater repair expert.

Hot Water Too Hot

The first step is to adjust the thermostat. Nine times of ten that fixes the problem. Make sure to note the current setting by marking it with a felt-tip pen and then start turning the knob to the cooler setting. If you notice excessive steam or boiling sounds within the water heater itself chances are it is not shutting off at the set temperature.  In this case, the temperature-pressure relief valve may be the problem, turn the water heater’s temperature to cool the water off and then replace the heater’s pressure valve.