News

Why Inspect Your Yard Now?

11th February 2016

Making a regular tour of your yard allows you to find small problems before they become big, expensive problems. If you contract out your yard work, don’t assume the workers will bring problems to your attention. They may not be looking.

Visibility During Winter

Winter is a good time to inspect your property because many plants are dormant. Their leaves are down and it’s easier to see under bushes and into the corners. Make sure you go all around the boundaries, not just the areas where you spend the most time.

Here are some things to look for during a yard inspection:

* Trash, vandalism and theft, especially along roads and sidewalks. Studies have shown that trash attracts more trash. Discarded food, wrappers and containers draw rodents, insects and breeding mosquitoes. New plantings can be vulnerable to thieves.
* Standing water means a drainage problem. Don’t let your valuable sod and plantings drown!
* Broken, rotting or rusted fences. A fence in poor repair can’t do its job of keeping what you want in and what you don’t want out.
* Broken or damaged trees and shrubs. Damage to deciduous trees is easiest to see when the leaves are down. Look for broken or split branches and sprouting fungus. Check the bases of bushes and small trees for signs of animals gnawing the bark. Tending to small tree problems while they can be handled from the ground or by a climber is easier on your lawn than waiting until a truck has to drive across it to take care of a major problem.
* Discolored or wilted sod and leaves may have many causes such as soggy soil, damaged roots or stems, insects, disease or exposure to harmful chemicals such as herbicides and salt spray.
* Animal damage. Many people enjoy watching backyard wildlife. Most birds, animals and insects do no harm to your sod and yard. Some are beneficial, but others can cause problems. Watch out for holes and tunnels in the lawn and under plantings, droppings, missing leaves and bitten-off stems, holes drilled in bark and wasp nests in trees or under eaves. Dealing with wildlife problems may be as simple as bringing your pet’s food dish inside, so that it doesn’t attract the skunks that dig up the sod, or may require a licensed pesticide applicator or exterminator.

Solutions for Landscape Problems

We have many years of experience in solving landscape problems! Contact us for assistance!

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