Winter Lawn Care Tips

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean no yard work.  In fact, fall and winter lawn maintenance is vital to a healthy green lawn in the warmer months.  Here are some things to consider when caring for your lawn in the winter:

  • Keep it clean.  It’s important to keep your lawn clean of debris that could smother grass and promote the growth of weeds.  Rake leaves, remove debris, and keep pine straw in the beds.  This is also important in keeping unwanted bugs and other pests from finding a home in your lawn or even worse, your home.
  • Mow, if necessary. – If your grass is long it can smother itself, cause damage from freezing conditions, or develop diseases.  Beware not to cut the grass too short, you could scalp it and cause further damage.
  • Fertilize. Choose a fertilizer that is high in phosphate and focuses on root development rather than lush lead development.

Your lawn is supposed to be enjoyed.  So whether it’s having cook outs in the summer, raking leaves in the fall, or building snowmen in the winter…take care of your lawn.  And for those of you who like to spend your time and effort elsewhere, call a professional lawn care service to take on the task for you.  If you’re looking for lawn care in Atlanta call Northwest Lawn Care.

Getting Rid of Fire Ants Quickly

Fire ants are a common problem for homeowners in Atlanta and other southeastern cities.  They can be found in the yard and should be a concern for homeowners. Fire ants can be difficult to get rid of once they have moved onto your property and have built their colonies.  They are an aggressive species and will bite and sting if they feel that they, or their colony,  is being threatened.  A fire ant’s bite or sting can be painful and cause serious health risks to you, your family, and pets.  You and your family should be able to enjoy your yard freely without the concern of stumbling across a fire ant mound.

Because fire ants can be difficult to get rid of and carry a health risk, Northwest Exterminating recommends using a professional exterminating company to ensure the fire ant colonies are treated effectively.  Northwest Exterminating’s Fire Ant Control program reduces fire ant colonies within 24 to 72 hours.  Our treatment even targets the colonies located underground.  Other products used by companies take up to 30 days to control fire ants, require immediate irrigation to work, can be harmful to your family and pets, and may require over 80 pounds of product to be effective.

In the summer, you don’t have 30 days to spare to enjoy your yard!

Benefits of Northwest Exterminating’s Fire Ant Control Service:

  • We use Dupont’s AdvionTM, the fastest acting fire ant bait on the market.
  • The bait is ingested by the fire ant, controlling the colony within 24-72 hours.
  • Entire yard is treated to wipe out all colonies, even the ones underground.
  • Application is environmentally friendly to your family and pets.

 Have you had a run-in with a fire ant mound?

 

 

"Holy Mole-y!" There’s a mole in the pool!

mole peeking out of the grassThere’s nothing like jumping in the pool on a hot summer day (well, a day that feels like summer anyways)!  So that is exactly what my family and I did on Saturday.  We went to my in-laws’ house and jumped right in the pool.  We had just begun to cool off and enjoy the water when we noticed we weren’t alone.  There was a mole in the pool!!!

The mole was quickly removed without incident and the fun continued but of course my mother-in-law had lots of questions about what it was doing in her yard, how did it get there, what is was looking for, and how does she get rid of them.  So mother in law…this is for you!

Moles are mammals that live underground and occasionally come to the surface.  Above ground, they breathe in oxygen and are able to re-use it to survive in low-oxygen environments such as underground burrows.  When they surface, they cause damage.  Mole damage is divided into two types: burrows and mounds.  Burrows occur when moles search for food near the surface, causing soil to be raised in ridges. Mounds are created when moles burrow deep or tunnel under solid objects such as tree roots or sidewalks and push the soil to the surface.

map of mole's runway system

Mole's runway system

Moles’ bodies and front claws are ideal for digging.  Their hands are quite large for their bodies and include an extra thumb and multiple joints in other fingers.  There are situations where mole damage is mostly visual, but in other situations they can destroy root systems in your yard, eventually killing the grass.

Damage caused by moles:

  • Interference of mowing and planting
  • Create weed invasion
  • Damage plants
  • Damage drainage systems and watercourses

The best way to get rid of a mole is by trapping or baiting the runs.  The trick to mole extermination is to find the feeding tunnels vs. the travel tunnels.  A professional animal removal service provider can distinguish between the two and can humanely remove the moles from your yard.  Call Northwest Exterminating for mole removal.

What is the craziest thing you ever jumped in next to?

"Holy Mole-y!" There's a mole in the pool!

mole peeking out of the grassThere’s nothing like jumping in the pool on a hot summer day (well, a day that feels like summer anyways)!  So that is exactly what my family and I did on Saturday.  We went to my in-laws’ house and jumped right in the pool.  We had just begun to cool off and enjoy the water when we noticed we weren’t alone.  There was a mole in the pool!!!
The mole was quickly removed without incident and the fun continued but of course my mother-in-law had lots of questions about what it was doing in her yard, how did it get there, what is was looking for, and how does she get rid of them.  So mother in law…this is for you!
Moles are mammals that live underground and occasionally come to the surface.  Above ground, they breathe in oxygen and are able to re-use it to survive in low-oxygen environments such as underground burrows.  When they surface, they cause damage.  Mole damage is divided into two types: burrows and mounds.  Burrows occur when moles search for food near the surface, causing soil to be raised in ridges. Mounds are created when moles burrow deep or tunnel under solid objects such as tree roots or sidewalks and push the soil to the surface.

map of mole's runway system

Mole's runway system


Moles’ bodies and front claws are ideal for digging.  Their hands are quite large for their bodies and include an extra thumb and multiple joints in other fingers.  There are situations where mole damage is mostly visual, but in other situations they can destroy root systems in your yard, eventually killing the grass.
Damage caused by moles:

  • Interference of mowing and planting
  • Create weed invasion
  • Damage plants
  • Damage drainage systems and watercourses

The best way to get rid of a mole is by trapping or baiting the runs.  The trick to mole extermination is to find the feeding tunnels vs. the travel tunnels.  A professional animal removal service provider can distinguish between the two and can humanely remove the moles from your yard.  Call Northwest Exterminating for mole removal.
What is the craziest thing you ever jumped in next to?

Flea Prevention & Facts

How can something as small as a flea be such a huge pain?  Pet owners are all too familiar with the annoyance of fleas because they make us AND our pets miserable.  Fleas attach themselves to warm-blooded animals (pets and humans) and feed on their blood.  A flea bite can cause discomfort, painful, itchy red bumps and can lead to an allergic reaction.  In some cases, they can even transmit diseases like the bubonic plague, murine typhus and transfer tapeworms in pets.

To prevent fleas from becoming a pest in your home, clean and vacuum frequently.  A clean home is a healthy home and will aid in the prevention of other pests as well.  Cleaning will help to remove any fleas and their eggs.  Maintaining a clean yard is just as important, especially if you have pets that go outside often.  A well kept lawn with no debris or pet droppings will reduce the flea population around your home.  Bathe pets regularly and apply a flea and tick treatment.  Most importantly, call a professional exterminator if you have fleas in your home.  A flea infestation can be very difficult to get rid of and is best left to the professionals so the problem does not continue to grow.

Interesting Flea Facts:

  • The largest recorded flea measured almost ½ inch!
  • Fleas consume 15 times their weight in blood each day. That is like a 140 lb. woman eating 8,400 burgers in one day!
  • Fleas are the number one cause of allergies in cats and dogs.
  • Fleas can live for about 100 days.
  • Fleas don’t fly, they jump.
  • A pair of fleas can produce 400-500 offspring in their lifetime.
  • A flea can jump up to 8 inches high or 150 times its own height.

Got a flea problem?  Call Northwest Exterminating for professional, effective flea control.

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