5 Tips for the Best Spring Lawn

Mowing your spring lawn ensures it stays healthy and green in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho all year long. Learn more from Rentokil!

It’s springtime here in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho, making it the ideal time to get your lawn looking its best for the months ahead. Easier said than done, right? Especially after a harsh winter, it can be difficult to bring your lawn back to life. To achieve that beautiful green spring lawn that will be the envy of your neighbors, it’s important to create a routine and stick with it. The lawn care professionals at Rentokil are here to share five expert tips for getting that beautiful spring lawn that will last all year long.

1. Pick the Best Grass

There are many types of grass to choose from, so how do you pick the right one? There are pros and cons to each one, and a lawn care expert can typically help you decide which is best for your unique property. Whether St. Augustine grass is your top choice because of its high tolerance and attractive dark green blades or you’re considering Bermuda for its resistance to foot traffic and drought, the right grass can ensure a beautiful spring lawn.

2. Fertilize You Lawn Properly

Everyone knows that fertilizers help maintain the nutritional balance of your lawn and encourage growth. It’s easy to see why people are intimidated by fertilizer, especially because improper use can lead to a ruined lawn. Always use fertilizers sparingly and follow your local fertilizer ordinance guidelines, as some types of fertilizer are banned during the summer months. The team at Rentokil offers custom lawn fertilizers that are unique to our region!

3. Implement Weed Control When Necessary

Weeds can be detrimental to any yard because of how aggressive they are. This dreaded lawn problem often comes about as a result of over-watering, insect infestations, heavy foot traffic, and more. Because we deal with so many different types of weeds in our area, it’s recommended to enlist professional help to identify and treat specific weeds. We offer noxious weed and pasture weed control, flowerbed weed control, as well as bare ground weed control!

4. Learn How to Mow Your Lawn

Mowing your lawn too short will weaken the root system and quickly welcome weeds. Your grass should never be mowed more than ⅓ of its leaf surface, and, on average, a lawn should be mowed about once a week. Ensure your mower has sharp blades to get the most out of your work and to ensure your lawn stays green.

5. Create a Good Watering Schedule

Bottom line: only water your lawn when needed! For a healthy, green lawn, you only need to water once every three or four days. Equip your sprinkler system with the right technology, including watering timers, meters, and moisture sensors. This will help keep your water usage in check and also keep your lawn healthy. Too much water this time of year can quickly expose your lawn to disease and insects.

Year-Round Lawn Care

With so many steps involved in lawn care, it’s easy to understand why many people get overwhelmed. For 20 years, we have been your local lawn care experts, and we can ensure your spring lawn looks its best all year long. Contact our lawn care specialists today to learn how we can get you the green grass you’ve always dreamed of!

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Spring Pests and How to Prevent Them!

Prevent spring pests by spring cleaning your Northern Utah or Southern Idaho Home. Learn more from Rentokil.

It’s almost springtime in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho! Many people welcome the warming temperatures with open arms. Unfortunately, the start of spring is also the start of the pest season. As winter comes to a close, pests that were less active throughout the year will come back out with a vengeance! To protect your property from the many pest threats this time of year, it’s best to implement pest prevention measures into your spring cleaning routine this year. Keep reading for expert tips from the team here at Rentokil.

What Pests Are Common in Spring?

While some of these pests are active year-round, there tends to be a peak in activity this time of year. The pests you should be aware of in spring include:

  • Ants. Warming temperatures encourage ants to start invading once more.
  • Flies. In the spring and summer, flies are more active than ever and can be a big nuisance.
  • Rodents. Although they’re active year-round, rats and mice are a problem in the spring.
  • Stinging insects. Wasps and hornets are gearing up to build nests this time of year.
  • Stink bugs. After overwintering, people report a resurgence in stink bugs.

Avoiding Spring Pest Problems

This time of year, many people plan to spring clean their properties. There’s no better time to implement pest prevention into the mix! Some of our tips to prevent pests from finding your home the ideal place to infest include:

  • Thoroughly cleaning your windows and doors. Seal any cracks or crevices.
  • Deep-cleaning your carpets and rugs. Vacuum, shampoo, or even steam-clean the surface.
  • Sanitizing and cleaning your kitchen with a focus on your appliances. Crumbs and spilled liquids will welcome all sorts of bugs and pests.
  • Removing debris from your yard, and trim any shrubs or tree branches away from your home. Clear out your gutters and downspouts.
  • Checking on plumbing and pipes. Quickly address any leaks or blockages.
  • Keeping a tidy home at all times. Clean under furniture, wipe down surfaces, and inspect areas of your home that need some fixing up.

Professional Seasonal Pest Control

Without a doubt, your best defense against a pest infestation this season is to work with a professional exterminator. Our Rentokil team will work with you to develop a pest control plan suited to the unique needs of your property

Important Differences Between Termites & Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are commonly mistaken for termites in Southern Idaho and Northern Utah. Learn more from Rentokil!

Termites and flying ants: what’s the difference? Flying ants, known as carpenter ants, can cause a lot of damage with their wood-boring abilities. However, termites are even more dangerous! In the swarmer stages of their lives, these two wood-destroying insects are commonly mistaken for each other. Although they both destroy wood, they are quite different from one another. Keep reading to learn expert tips on the differences between termites & carpenter ants from the professionals at Rentokil.

How to Tell Termites Apart from Carpenter Ants

Termite and carpenter swarmers certainly look alike, but there are several key differences. The best way to differentiate the two is to look at the size of their wings in proportion to their bodies. Flying carpenter ants are black in color, but can have a slight red hue as well. The most telling feature of carpenter ants is that they measure 1/2″–5/8″ with antennae bent at a 45-degree angle. Carpenter ant swarmers are larger than termites, which is a good way to tell them apart.

Meanwhile, termite swarmers are dark brown to black in color and measure 3/8″ long including the wings. Their wings are a translucent to slightly milky or smoky color, may overlap, and are typically as long as or slightly longer than the body. This is the best way to differentiate them from carpenter ants.

Winged ant vs. termite in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho - Rentokil

Behaviors of Wood-Destroying Insects

Termites and carpenter ants both tunnel through wood, but termites are typically more destructive. The main things to know about these wood-boring insects are:

  • Termites make their way into a structure around basement windows, doorways, under siding, porches, or any structure in contact with the soil.
  • Established termite colonies can range from 60,000 to over a million workers and can consume nearly 5 grams of wood per day.
  • Carpenter ants establish nests in wood that is already in decay, and later expand into normal wood, insulation, or wall voids.
  • Excavated termite galleries appear to have been sanded. Carpenter ants do not create the extensive damage termites do.

How to Control Termites and Carpenter Ants

Wood-destroying insects are feared by all property owners, and for good reason! Flying ants, known as carpenter ants, are the most destructive ant species in the nation. However, they don’t hold a torch to the damage caused by termites annually! Your best defense against a wood-destroying insect is to sign up for annual inspections from a professional pest control company such as Rentokil. We can help you learn how to tell the differences between termites & carpenter ants.