Landscape maintenance services that weather the storm

Landscaping companies are often in high demand during the months of June through September because of storms. In addition to our usual landscape maintenance services, we often get calls after a storm due to storm related damage. Being proactive is the best way to go to avoid having to wait for a cleanup crew to arrive while dealing with the storm damage.

Landscape maintenance services before a storm

It’s best to keep your lawn in good shape so that you’re not caught unawares when a storm arrives. Doing a cursory check of your garden and surrounding areas will help you determine any potential hazards that need to be dealt with. Some quick things to check or have checked by our lawn maintenance services team are –

• Trees –

Check for any weakness in trees or limbs to determine if they need pruning. Dead limbs or trees can cause much havoc if not properly dealt with. Damage to your garden, fence, other trees, or even your home can occur due to fallen trees or limbs. If storms are strong enough, uprooted trees can also be hazardous, so it’s good to check that trees are well rooted in the surrounding soil.

• Permanent and temporary structures –

This is also a good time to check your fences, play structures, and any other garden structures you may have. Our landscape maintenance services team can secure fence posts and other garden structures like fountains and lighting to help them withstand the storm.

• Low lying areas –

If you have low lying areas in your yard, our landscape maintenance services team can help level things out so you don’t have to deal with patches, flooding, or mosquitos after a storm.

• Drainage –

Check to make sure that your drains are functioning properly and aren’t blocked to avoid flooding and pooling of water.
Being prepared before a storm is definitely a more cost effective approach. You also benefit from our team getting to you in enough time to address your needs rather than having to wait till other customers are taken care of in the aftermath of a storm.

Landscape maintenance services after a storm

Sometimes, a storm can take you by surprise, and cleanup is inevitable. Despite your best efforts, damage could be caused by debris that’s traveled from a neighboring property or further away. It’s always best to simply handle things in a calm and methodical way. If it’s safe to go out and survey your property, do so. Make a list of all the things that need to be dealt with and determine what you can do yourself and where you may need the assistance of our lawn maintenance services team. Using proper equipment and gear, take care of leaves, branches, and other manageable debris. For larger debris, trees, limbs, fences, etc. you may need to contact a professional. Landscaping companies can take care of most of your yard related cleanup and fixes. For tasks that are outside our scope of services, we can recommend reputable and experienced service providers that can assist.
So don’t let storms and bad weather uproot your sense of calm. Our lawn maintenance team is at your service both before and after stormy weather.
Author
Percy LaPoint

Our lawn maintenance services and grass cutting services team talks about stinging grass

Our grass cutting services team often comes across vicious weeds in yards during our regular maintenance.  Our clients too sometimes have the misfortune of discovering vengeful flora and hastily contact our lawn maintenance services team for the guidance and assistance.  What could possibly be the cause of such fear and loathing?  Stinging plants and grass could incite a rash of fear amongst the calmest of people.

Our grass cutting services team helps you recognize stingers

Our grass cutting services team can easily identify rogue plants that can be considered harmful to humans and pets.  There are may such plants and grasses to watch out for.
Among these are the burning nettles and stinging nettles which generally affect fence rows, ditch banks, and roadsides.  The bulb of these plants encloses a needle-like point which penetrates the skin on contact.  This results in reddish rash-type patches on the affected area and itching and burning as well.
Certain weeds can also be the source of much grief such as Lawn Bur Weed or “stinging grass” and Sawgrass.  Lawn Bur Weed or spurweed thrives during the fall months and goes through a rapid growth period in early spring.  The burs stick and prick.  Sawgrass (which is not really a grass), has sharp teeth like points along its leaves which can be quite painful.

Our lawn maintenance services team advises on dealing with the weed

The first step when encountering such a pest is proper diagnosis.  The best way to approach things is cautiously.  If you’ve already been stung, take care of the affected area.  Then, amply armed, re-approach the problem spot and identify if it’s an insect-based infestation or a plant-based infestation that you’re dealing with.  If it is in fact plant-based, contact your landscape maintenance services team and have them eliminate the infestation.  They should also inspect other parts of your yard to ensure that the infestation hasn’t spread already and treat the lawn to avoid any nasty surprises in the future.  Another option is to take a sample of the suspect to your local home and garden store and ask for advice on what the proper elimination method is.  Either way, be sure to handle the plant carefully to avoid direct contact and also mark the spot to ensure family members and pets stay well away till the infestation has been handled.

Our landscape maintenance services team shares tips on how to deal with the rash

When dealing with a sting or a burn, it’s natural to want to touch the area and investigate it.  Unfortunately that spreads the poison/acid injected by the plant.  Rinse the area with cold water.  Certain soaps can aggravate the problem.  Some natural remedies you can use are –

1. Baking soda and cold water – combine the two and make a paste, then apply it to the affected area.  Use a dabbing  motion rather than spreading the paste.  This will help to relieve some of the symptoms.
2. Aloe vera juice – this versatile and medicinal plant is used for many ailments and aloe vera juice can also be used to reduce the burning and treat the inflamed area.
3. Dockweed and jewelweed – these little heroes generally grow in the vicinity of nettles.  Crush the leaves and apply to the affected area.

In case of severe cases, contact a medical professional for advice and assistance.
Any lawn maintenance services expert will tell you that prevention is certainly better than cure.  If you’re afflicted by these or other weeds, talk to our grass cutting services team about the health of your lawn and the best way to ensure that these weeds don’t infest your garden.
Author:
Tender Care Lawn Service