Ottawa News

Techniques to Tackle Common Lawn Diseases

Monday, 11 July 2011 23:41

Techniques to Tackle Common Lawn Diseases

Common lawn diseases are difficult to diagnose. In most cases, the only sign of distress is when the grass is already dead. If your lawn is already exhibiting patches of dead or yellowing grass, don't despair. The expert lawn care and inground sprinkler system installers at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa can help you tackle these problematic patches and prevent the spread of disease. The following diseases are the ones most commonly found on local lawns:

1) Snow Moulds

Snow moulds are caused by several species of fungi, most of which grow at temperatures near freezing. Symptoms of this common lawn disease are most prevalent in the spring, or whenever the first major snow melt occurs. Signs of snow mould include circular or irregular straw-coloured patches that are topped by fluffy grey or pink mould spores. The residential sprinkler installers at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa usually notice damage in areas where snow persists longer in the spring (the areas next to driveways are often the first to show signs of distress).

Getting a Handle on Hairy Chinch Bugs

Monday, 11 July 2011 23:11

Getting a Handle on Hairy Chinch Bugs

Ottawa business owners have enough to worry about without adding lawn pests to the list. Unfortunately, Ottawa often falls prey to an awful infestation of hairy chinch bugs during the summer months, and commercial properties aren't exempt from the attack. Protect your lawn from these vicious little bugs early with pesticide treatments from the lawn care and commercial sprinkler system experts at Nutri-Lawn.

How to Tell if Your Lawn is in a Hairy Situation

Hairy chinch bugs are extremely small (about 5 millimetres in length) with six reddish legs. A fully grown hairy chinch bug has a black body and white wings. Immature hairy chinch bugs are bright red with distinct white bands across their backs. If you happen to inspect a hairy chinch bug up close, be careful! Hairy chinch bugs have piercing mouthparts that they use to feed on the sap of grass plants.

Watering Tips for Your Ottawa Lawn

Thursday, 30 June 2011 17:53

Watering Tips for Your Ottawa Lawn

Proper watering is an essential part of your lawn care maintenance routine. Whether you own a small commercial lot or a rolling residential estate, a well-rounded irrigation schedule will help improve your lawn's health, appearance, and resistance to disease. Let the residential and commercial sprinkler system installers from Nutri-Lawn show you how to properly use your inground irrigation system in order to ensure that your Ottawa lawn flourishes this summer.

Tip #1 – Water As Needed
Remember what your mother told you – everything in moderation. The same can be said for your Ottawa irrigation schedule. Too much water can lead to a variety of lawn diseases. How can you tell if your lawn is being over-saturated by your commercial or residential sprinkler system? Symptoms include the yellowing of grass shoots, the pooling of water, and root rot. While it may seem counterintuitive, grass can also wilt if it is exposed to too much continual moisture.

What is the Ontario Pesticide Ban?

Thursday, 16 June 2011 01:17

What is the Ontario Pesticide Ban?

Did you know that Ontario effectively banned the use of lawn and garden pesticides back in April of 2009? This ban, which included more than 250 popular pesticide treatments, has greatly limited the way Ottawa lawn care companies can treat and protect lawns against harmful pests and persistent weed growth. Luckily, the talented lawn care crew at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa have developed a number of techniques and environmentally-friendly pesticide alternatives that can help ensure the health and vitality of your lawn this summer.

About the Pesticide Ban
The Ontario-wide pesticide ban came into effect on Earth Day in April of 2009. The ban, which is now law across all of the province, banned the sale of pesticides "for cosmetic purposes on lawns, gardens, parks, and school yards, and includes many herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides." This ban also prohibited the types of lawn care products that automatic lawn sprinkler system installers could provide to their customers. There are no exceptions to this pesticide ban. If you have used chemicals on your lawn, vegetable garden, patio, driveway or ornamental gardens in the past, you are no longer permitted to do so and can be fined if these chemicals are found in your possession.

How to Handle Summer Lawn Stress | Nutri-Lawn Ottawa

Monday, 13 June 2011 18:25

How to Handle Summer Lawn Stress

Summer hasn't officially arrived in Ottawa just yet, but don't you worry – the hot and humid afternoon's will be here soon enough. Is your lawn ready to deal with the stress of summer weather? Excessive heat and lack of rain calls for regular watering from your inground sprinkler system, while unexpected thunderstorms can create disease conditions due to excessive moisture. Balancing Mother Nature's mid-June mood swings can be frustrating, but don't throw in the towel just yet. Ensure your Ottawa lawn is ready for another summer scorcher with professional lawn care maintenance from the experts at Nutri-Lawn.

How Your Grass Naturally Copes With Heat
Did you know that your lawn goes semidormant during periods of extreme heat and drought? During the summer, grass utilizes energy that's stored in its root system in order to sustain life and survive sweltering days. Unfortunately, the more energy the plant draws from the roots, the weaker they become, making the plant more susceptible to disease and insect damage. The best way to protect your lawn from the effects of summer stress is to ensure it's properly fed and maintained during the spring growing season. Proper fertility and a higher mower cut setting will help promote the growth of an extensive root system, as well as improve your lawn's ability to combat pests and problems.

How to Estimate Your Lawn Care Costs | Nurtri-Lawn Ottawa

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 16:42

How to Estimate Your Lawn Care Costs

Taking care of a lawn, whether it's at your home or business, can be a time consuming and sometimes expensive task. Mowing, watering, weeding, and landscaping – the list of outdoor chores goes on and on and on! If the thought of spending hours behind the wheel of your lawnmower makes you weary, don't fret just yet. Nutri-Lawn's residential and commercial sprinkler system installers are here to help you better understand the costs and commitments associated with your year-round lawn maintenance needs.

Deciding on the Necessary Lawn Care Services
The first step in estimating your commercial or residential lawn care needs is deciding just what sort of services your lawn requires. Services are wide ranging and include everything from tree and shrub trimming to mowing, sprinkler system installation and maintenance, and holiday decorating. Not sure what your lawn requires? An experienced Nutri-Lawn lawn maintenance technician would be happy to stop by your home or business to provide a thorough site evaluation and offer their professional recommendations. Lawn care maintenance plans are extremely flexible and can be customized to suit both your budget and the natural requirements of your property.

Ottawa Weed Control - the Eco-Friendly Way

Monday, 06 June 2011 04:09

Ottawa Weed Control - the Eco-Friendly Way

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa is pleased to offer the best Natural Weed Control product to hit the market since the province of Ontario banned the use of cosmetic pesticides in 2009. For homeowners whose lawns are over-run by weeds Nutri-Lawn offers a non pesticide alternative.

Fiesta Lawn Weed Killer is available for use in Ontario to control broadleaf weeds on your lawn. Fiesta is a natural alternative to the traditional chemical herbicides that are now banned in the province of Ontario.

Fiesta is a welcome solution to Ottawa homeowners fed up with the explosion of dandelions on their lawn.

• Fiesta kills the weeds, but doesn't harm the lawn!
• Works rapidly with results expected in less than 48 hours!
• Fiesta weed control is made naturally occurring Iron!
• Fiesta is rain-fast in just 3 hours!
• Fiesta weed control is odourless and is spot applied!

The Weed Control Act of Ontario states that all property owners are responsible for destroying noxious weeds on their property unless the weeds or weed seeds are deemed by the Weed Inspector to be far enough away from any land used for agricultural or horticultural purposes that they do not interfere with that use.

When Should I Fertilize My Ottawa Lawn? | Nurtri-Lawn Ottawa

Friday, 03 June 2011 22:51

How often do you feed your lawn? It may seem like a funny question, but in order to keep your Ottawa lawn healthy and vibrant, you need to feed it nutrients regularly. Elements like phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen need to be added to your lawn in order to keep it lush and green. Fertilizers are the most common way to feed your lawn, but just what type of nutrient combination does your unique lawn need? If you're struggling to find a fertilizer that's right for your Ottawa property, don't worry – the home sprinkler system installers at Nutri-Lawn can design a fertilizer treatment to satisfy the cravings of any Ottawa area lawn.

Understanding the Needs of Your Lawn
Ottawa residents will have either warm-season or cool-season grass planted on their property. Each of these grasses has its own growing season, and therefore each requires a different fertilization schedule.