What is the difference between Ice Melt and Rock Salt?

What is the difference between Ice Melt 

and 

Rock Salt?

As the winter season finally hit us with a bang. You looking into getting rock salt or ice melt, so you are prepared. Deicers can be very helpful in keeping you and your family from slips and falls. For residential/commercial use, generally, you can either purchase a rock salt, such as American Rock Salt OR ice melt, such as Quad Select Premium 4-way blend. The difference is in their chemical composition and how they work to melt ice. No worries, I am here to help you make the right choice.

                                                                                             ROCK SALT

Rock salt is a solid crystalline material composed of sodium chloride. Salt lowers the freezing point of water. A small amount of salt partial melt the ice forming a brine (Solution of salt and water). The solution flows under the ice and breaks the bond between the ice and the ground. Rock salt melts to 15°F and helps provide instant traction on snow one ice.

                        Ice Melt

Ice melt is a blend of Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, and sodium Chlorides. This combination is typically regarded as the best performing ice melt for fast melting and long lasting action. It melts to -15°F. Ice Melt contains a water-based, non-staining blue indicator dye to make the application process more efficient. The indicator dye prevents over application which cuts down on waste and plant damage.

Here are some helpful tips for using deicing products:

1. Use shovel or snow blower to clear any snow accumulation
2. Apply it in a thin even layer using a salt spreader. If you don’t have a salt spreader, sprinkle it on using a cup or wear gloves and apply it by hand. If you apply too much, thin it out with a broom.
3. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use on the package

Hope this helps you out, if you need any more help please give us a call!

Fall Chores for Beautiful Spring

Fall Chores

          It’s that time to start cleaning up the yard and garden before the snow flies, and for an easy fresh start in the spring. I always enjoy less work, and great results.

          So we all know that cleaning up the leaves in the lawn is important. Remember that the heavy leaves on the lawn will cause dead areas in the spring, and we don’t want to seed in the spring unless we have too.

          I’m also a fan of over seeding in the fall, which will help with a thicker lawn and so I can put down a crabgrass preventative. Don’t forget now is great time to lime the lawn and garden since it is a slow-release and it will raise the pH level.

          Any spent plants should be removed so that diseases and bugs.  Remember don’t throw it in your compost pile. You don’t want to give the disease or the bugs a better home.

          If you plan on moving your garden or expanding it, give this a try:

                Scalp the lawn in the area. Then layer newspapers directly on top of the sod. Put the newspapers 4-5 sheets thick are ideal, overlapping by a few inches. Hint: Wet down the newspapers to keep them in place. Cover the newspapers with compost and mulched leaves.

                WAIT FOR SPRING

Now you have lovely new planting beds full of worms.

I can't wait to see if this works the way, I picture it in my head.

Don’t forget to pull those weeds, one left to mature can produce hundreds, if not thousands of seeds that will grow into weeds. 

If you have any questions or concerns please let us know @ (814)796-1111 or Nikki.Luebke@TeamTurfErie.com

* Copyright to Rohrsnursy.com for the use of the photo

Spring Lawn Checklist

It's Clean Up Time

Spring Lawn Care Checklist

    Just 2 weeks ago I was wondering about the snow that was in the forecast over the weekend. I was getting excited for spring. I planted some of my garden, and made metal notes of the things I have to do! Now that spring is starting to turn for the better, I figured I should get started...I will need a checklist!!

 

 

1.) Give Shrubs a Spring Makeover

This is a good time of year to prune your shrubs, expect for those that bloom in the spring. Remove any dead wood and encourage the shrubs natural shape.

 

How to Prune Shrubs

 

2.) Clear Out the Rubbish

Remove debris from ditches, gutters, and planting beds. Clear unwanted brush and undergrowth out of your yard. Cut back dead foliage on last year's perennials and ornamental grasses before new growth starts.

 

3.) Top Dressing

Once your spring soil is dry enough, amend your planting beds and lawn by "Top-Dressing" with a couple of inches of compost or favorite organic mix.

 

How to Top Dressing

 

4.) Mulch Protecting Planting Beds with Mulch

Even out your mulch with a rake to a depth of 2-4 inches and more if needed. In cooler climates, lightly cover early bulbs shoots to protect them from a hard freeze.

 

5.) Our Feathered Friends

Clean our and repair birdhouses, unless nesting is already taking place. Clean and restock bird feeders.

 

6.) Early Spring is a Great Time for Correcting and Reseeding the Lawn

Just make sure you inform the landscapers that you did some seeding. Don't want the money to go to waste.

 

7.) Move Gardening Indoors

Start seeds indoors for later planting in the garden. Repot houseplants if needed, and prune and dead foliage or overgrowth.

 

 

 

Now that your lawn is making a turn around for the good. The grass is turning green again, trees are forming their little buds, and their is more daylight hours everyday.

 

8.) Plan and Dream!!

Spend these days of sunshine, fresh air, and birds singing

in your yard making plans for the upcoming year.

 

 

 

Getting Rid of Snow Mold

Getting Rid of Snow Mold

                The snow is finally gone…well for now this is Northwestern Pa. What was a beautiful dark green lawn, now contains white and yellow spots. The questions you are asking yourself are: What happened to my lawn over the winter? Is my lawn dead? It looks terrible!!

NO WORRIES!!

                Your turf is not dead. It is affected by the presence of a lawn fungus commonly known as SNOW MOLD! Its damage is usually concentrated in circles three to twelve inches in diameter, although yards may have many of these circles, sometimes to the point at which it becomes hard to differentiate between different circles. Snow mold comes in two varieties: pink or gray. While it can affect all types of grasses, Kentucky bluegrass and fescue lawns are least affected by snow mold.

                This disease comes as the snow melts, exposing the grass to the cool, wet temperatures of early spring. Keep in mind snow is not always necessary for the disease to occur! Snow Mold can only affect the grass blade, so fully recovery of the turf plant is common.

How to get rid of Snow Mold

You can always prevent it, but like in my case…I already have it!

                So what can you do, you can lightly fluff up the matted areas in the spring with a rake. This includes areas matted with leaves and/or packed snow from the plow over the winter. Be careful not to damage the live grass, just to loosen the dead, diseased parts. With this light raking it will help bring air and sun within the turf to help recover and begin to green again.

                As you are raking if you notice bare spots now would be a great time to seed these area but remember if you are seeding you should not be applying any crabgrass control if you have any more questions, please give us a call.

 

Mosquitoes and Zika Virus

     Over a million people worldwide die from mosquito diseases every year. They can carry diseases that afflict humans, they also transmit several diseases and parasites that dogs and horses are susceptible to. Also, these include dog heartworm, West Nile Virus, and Zika Virus.

     As you have heard, the Zika Virus is becoming a issue throughout the Americans. Health offices are advising pregnant women to avoid traveling to places that Zika is/has becoming epidemic.

     Zika Virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. These mosquitos usually lay their eggs in and around water; in things like standing water in pools, tires, buckets, and bird baths are just a start. These mosquitoes are daytime biters. They will also bite at night. When someone that has the virus gets bitten by the mosquito, then the infected mosquito can spread the virus to other people through their bites.

     Only 1 in 5 people get infected with the Zika Virus actually get ill, and develop Zika. The common symptoms of the virus are fever, rash joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Usually mild symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don't get sick enough to go to the hospital, and rarely die of Zika. The virus usually remains in the blood of the infected person for a week but it can be found longer in some people.

     If you have the symptoms described above and have visited an area where the virus has been found, please see your healthcare provider. Also if you have recently traveled tell your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may have to order specialized blood tests to look for viruses like Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.

     Protecting yourself and your family from mosquitoes begin with awareness of their presence, and taking steps to stop their reproduction cycle. Wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants, and remember to apply repellant early and often outside. With your landscapes that is where TeamTurf can help keep them at bay. Our Pest Control Professionals will scout your landscape for mosquito breeding grounds and either eliminate them or bring them to your attention. We offer a mosquito control product that kills mosquitoes on contact and repels them for weeks. Our mosquito control program has us back on your property on a scheduled basis to keep ahead of mosquitoes all season long.
Contact us today at (814)796-1111 to order Mosquito control today.

     For more information on Zika Virus visit the CDC website by clicking here.

Pest Control
TeamTurf

Resources http://www.cdc.gov/zika/resources/index.html
                  http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-borne-diseases