Welcome to Master Gardener Award-Winning Lawn Fertilizing Service operating in Macomb County, Michigan
Monthly Archives: February 2011
When the Michigan snow melts in Macomb County, Oakland County and Berrien County you might be in for a surprise.  And that surprise is VOLE damage.  The good news is that in most cases this damage won’t require much attention on your part. But Master Gardener Lawn Fertilizing Service will get calls from our clients asking us what is happening to their lawns. So we think it is important to talk about voles. A vole is a small critter that resembles a mouse. If you notice tracks in your lawn after the snow melts that look as if a garden hose was laid on the lawn for a few days, then you had a vole under the snow. (Please see the pictures of a Vole and Vole damage). The picture of vole damage was taken on February 19, 2011 in the Beacon Square Subdivision at 21 Mile Road and Romeo Plank in Macomb Township, MI.  Voles like to create and live in tunnels under the snow.  You don’t have to worry about the damaged, it will fill in as your lawn begins to green up and grow. If you see new tracks or tunnels after the snow has been gone for a few days, then the vole is still in your lawn and should be eliminated. Begin by looking for openings that the vole can tunnel into such as a down spout, black edging or a hole in a stone wall. They love to go into tunnels. They may also create holes in the lawn. But in most lawns in Macomb County and Oakland County that are growing on heavy clay that is unlikely.  Instead they will look to go into the landscaping and even children’s toys. Anywhere there is a possible tunnel.  The tunnel is key in this situation because that what we have to create in order to trap the voles.If you can find the tunnel they are living in then you can insert some vole poison that can be purchase at most hardware stores.  Read the directions carefully. I prefer not to use the poison because of the possibility of other animals such as dogs or cats coming into contact with it. Most of the time voles are not a major problem but if you would like more information or would like to discuss a plan of correction feel free to call or contact us on our website or on face book. We are not licensed to trap voles but can walk you through the process. About the Author Patrick Wesley is a Master Gardener and founder of Master Gardener Lawn Care located in Macomb County, Michigan.  Pat provides organic based lawn fertilizing services throughout Macomb County, Oakland County and Berrien County, Michigan. Master Gardener Lawn Care was established in 1991 and provides lawn fertilizing, core aeration, weed control, soil testing and insect control. For more information on our lawn fertilizing services or to request a free lawn care analysis please visit our Free Lawn Fertilizing Service Estimate page.
When the Michigan snow melts in the next few weeks in Macomb County, Oakland County and Berrien County you might be in for a surprise.  And that surprise is gray snow mold or pink snow mold. The good news is that in most cases these two issues won’t require much attention on your part. But Master Gardener Lawn Fertilizing Service will get calls from our clients asking us what is happening to their lawns. So we think it is important to talk about these molds.  Gray Snow Mold is what we see most of in Macomb County, Oakland County and our Master Gardener Lawn Care location in Berrien County.  Like the name suggest it is recognized by the white to gray color. No need to worry!  This issue will clear up with the help of a little light raking. Just rake the effected area to allow the air to circulate and the mold will begin to diminish. Your first lawn fertilizing application will also help the process by providing nutrients to your lawn which help the turf to grow and recovery.  Pink Snow Mold is little more serious of the two. It has a pink to salmon color. Again the first lawn fertilizing service application will stimulate the lawn to grow and the lawn should recover. Light raking of the damage turf will also help to speed up the recovery. There is more of a chance that pink snow mold damage may need to be over seeded.  Wait and see if your lawn recovers before taking any additional action. Please note that if you seed at this time you can not apply a crabgrass pre emergent. This pre emergent will also prevent the grass seed from germinating. Read the label on the bag of the pre emergent to see when it is safe to apply without interfering with the germination of the grass seed. Note: It is possible to see both gray and pink snow mold on the lawn together. Why do some lawns get snow molds and some do not? The number one cause of gray or pink snow mold is having snow on the lawn for an extended period of time. Try to eliminate large piles of snow in the same spot year after year.  But two other factors that help increase your chances of acquiring snow molds are over fertilizing in late fall with a high nitrogen fertilizer and a heavy thatch build up. Be careful not to over fertilize in late fall and look into reducing the thatch layer to allow better air circulation. Please see the core aerating video under our SERVICES page on the Master Gardener Lawn Care website for reducing thatch. Please view the video below from our friends at the University of Nebraska for more on snow mold. About the Author Patrick Wesley is a Master Gardener and founder of Master Gardener Lawn Care located in Macomb County, Michigan.  Pat provides organic based lawn fertilizing services throughout Macomb County, Oakland County and Berrien County, Michigan. Master Gardener Lawn Care was established in 1991 and provides lawn fertilizing, core aeration, weed control, soil testing and insect control. For more information on our lawn fertilizing services or to request a free lawn care analysis please visit our Free Lawn Fertilizing Service Estimate page.
20 YEARS OF THE GREENEST LAWNS!   Master Gardener Lawn Care is proud to be starting its 20th year in business. Some of you have been with us the entire time. WOW! We would like to thank all of you for being loyal customers and helping us maintain one of the highest retention rates in the lawn care industry. We will continue to work to provide you with the best products, service and the greenest lawn in your neighborhood. Once again, Thanks! We are looking forward to caring for your lawn again this year and are planning to start the first treatment around the last week of March. Unless requested not to, your lawn will have a fertilizer with crabgrass control applied at that time. REFERRAL PROGRAM We would like to thank everyone for last year’s referrals. They are greatly appreciated! We will continue to deduct $25 OFF your next application when a friend or neighbor signs-up for our program. Again, we greatly appreciate your help and want to thank you for spreading the word.  CREDIT CARD PAYMENT We are again offering the opportunity to pay with a credit card. We have made it quick and easy by contracting with the very safe E-Bay owned company PAY PAL. Here your personal information is kept confidential. All you need is an e-mail and a Credit Card. When you receive your first bill just mail it back or e-mail me at mglawncare@aol.com with your e-mail address and we will e-mail your invoice through PAY PAL. We look forward to seeing you soon. Meanwhile, if you have any questions please feel free to call. Thank you, Pat Master Gardener                            SEE YOU SOON!              Member of: Michigan Green Industry Association
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