Nutri-Lawn Blog

If you're not prepared, a beautiful lawn can be destroyed right before your eyes by a foe you can barely see. Unless you're digging through your soil and have some top-notch eyesight, you could be completely unaware that some common lawn pests are slowly but surely killing your turf. And even if the damage they do is minimal, who's to say other animals won't tear up your lawn in search for some yummy little insects to eat?

Luckily, insect damage can be avoided with the right kind of protection. In terms of preventing damage, beneficial nematodes can be just what your lawn ordered, and if applied correctly and at the right time, will help control lawn insects before they do any serious damage.

Many home lawns in Canada suffer unseasonably hot and dry conditions during the Summer months, with long spells of rainless heat. When drought is at its peak, many homeowners start to become more and more concerned with their brown and seemingly lifeless lawns.

But don't panic; your lawn isn't dead, it's just dormant. The crown of your lawn is still alive, and as soon as rain hits and your lawn gets some much needed moisture, it'll come alive again.

Remember when your parents used to grow their veggies with kelp seaweed? Yes? No? Maybe?

Anyway; there's a great reason for it. Seaweed is high in carbohydrates, making them a great source of food for plants. It's also low in in cellulose, so it breaks down really easily. An organic meal of kelp seaweed is the perfect source of nutrients for a vegetable garden, and the same goes for your lawn.

Chinch bugs are common lawn insects that can cause extensive damage if left untreated. They live in the thatch layer of a lawn, where they feed on the grass by piercing the plant with their mouth and sucking the plant juices.

When chinch bugs feed, they release enzymes that facilitate easy feeding. The enzymes continue damaging the plant after feeding, and cause the grass to turn brown and potentially die.

Chinch bugs are generally found in hot, sunny areas of a lawn. They tend to aggregate, which initially results in localized dead patches. These dead areas are brown, irregular sunken patches, which can coalesce into larger dead areas. Damage generally becomes evident in July and August when temperatures get hot and drought conditions become more prevalent.

Proper watering techniques throughout the season are absolutely essential to a healthy, robust lawn. But just like we do, our lawns get a little thirstier in hot conditions, so it's important to adjust your regular lawn care schedule accordingly.

Smart watering isn't just good for your water bill; it can also help you reduce your risk of lawn disease, weed infestations, and damaging insect issues.

When it comes to curb appeal, a luscious green lawn beats a weed infested one any day of the week. Since most of our customers fit into the 'houseproud' category, it isn't surprising that weed control is a top concern.

But with homeowners wanting environmentally responsible weed control options that satisfy provincial regulations and restrictions, what effective alternatives are there to traditional herbicides?

The answer is Fiesta™. Combined with cultural practices like proper mowing, watering, balanced soil fertility, and aeration, Fiesta can help effectively control weeds without harming your lawn.

A major lawn pest in the Greater Vancouver area is the European Crane Fly, or more accurately – their larvae called leatherjackets. A native of Eurasia, the European Crane Fly will lay between 200 and 500 eggs every fall. Yikes! And the larvae that hatch are hungry!

What Do They Look Like?

These pests are harmless as adults. They look like gangly mosquitoes but they don’t bite or sting and are pretty terrible at flying. You’ll find them congregating on the sides of houses, barns, fences, window and door screens, etc. It’s their larvae, that look like grey or greenish maggots, that cause all the trouble. The larvae grow to 1.5 to 2 inches long and taper at both ends.

Ottawa has a rich variety of soil types, so with a little bit of work, homeowners can enjoy luscious green lawns across the region. That said, there are a few (dozen) ways your lawn can become stressed, or struggle with the threat of pests and disease. Our experts at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa gathered a few of their favourite tips for getting your lawn looking its best this season.

Guess what? It's officially SUMMER!

Considering how long we wait for it to come around, most of us are quick to sing the praises of Summer. But if your grass had a voice, it might not agree.

Prolonged heat and drought can be pretty rough on your lawn, especially if you haven't put in the work during Spring. But don't stress; there's a lot you can do for your lawn throughout June, July, and August to help it survive the effects of sweltering heat.

Here are our 6 top Summer lawn care services.

Vancouver lawns face a tough battle to stay weed-free and healthy. Between the coniferous trees, the rocky and acidic soil, abundant cloud cover and subsequent rainfall keeping everything extremely moist, the odds are not in favour of your lawn.

Our lawn care experts at Nutri-Lawn Vancouver have put together a short list of quick tips to help you get your lawn looking lush and healthy this season. Remember to call our team for a free quote whether you simply want to relax and enjoy a vibrant lawn or if your lawn has persistent problems.