Early Spring Grass & Lawn Care Tips to Improve Your Yard

Garden City, Utah resident mowing their lawn - Rentokil

It’s finally that time of the year here in Utah – the snow is beginning to melt, the trees are filling with blossoming buds, and the sun is sticking around a bit longer every day. While spring is a welcome sight, it also means that you need to start preparing your yard for the rising temperatures. We’ve helped many homeowners maintain beautiful yards here at Rentokil, so we’d like to share some simple tips that will help you keep a clean and healthy lawn on your own.

Spring Yard Clean Up

Keeping your yard neat and tidy not only improves its appearance, it also renders your lawn less susceptible to unnecessary damage and decay. Here are 3 steps you can take to set up your yard for a healthy spring:

  1. Clear off any twigs and debris that the winter season swept your way. Leaving any unwanted foliage on your lawn will stifle its growth. Grab a rake or a leaf blower and get to work!
  2. Mow your lawn early and often – your grass will grow thicker and healthier. You should mow your lawn once every five or six days during the spring for the best results.
  3. Keep your trees trimmed. You may not realize a branch is dead until you take a closer look! Any dead branches should be removed to avoid them breaking and causing damage to your yard or property. This will also promote your trees’ growth.

Extra Lawn Care Measures

After taking care of the previous steps, you can take more focused measures to ensure a beautiful yard once spring has set in. If you’re noticing any gaps in your grass, make sure to reseed your lawn before you apply any pre-emergents or fertilizers. You want to ensure that the new grass seeds have a fair chance to develop before adding any chemical agents to the mix.

That being said, the moisture that comes with the spring season aids the function of additional growth-promoting agents. Once your lawn is evenly seeded, fertilize your lawn, and apply a pre-emergent that will stop crabgrass and other unwanted growth. 

Spring normally will bring a decent amount of moisture with it. This is a great time to fertilize your lawn and also apply a pre-emergent that will be helpful in keeping the crabgrass out of your lawn. Six weeks after the first application, you will want to reapply, and also introduce a broadleaf weed killer to take care of any other unsightly weeds.

The onset of spring is also the perfect time to pay some attention to your flower beds. Pick a heavy mulch and replace your old mulch from last year. Hardwood bark mulches that have been dyed brown are a reliable choice for long-lasting results.

Professional Lawn Experts

Getting your lawn and yard ready for spring and summer is a tall task. If you would rather leave it up to the experts, contact our lawn care professionals at Rentokil for an estimate. We have helped many Utah homeowners bring the yard that they envisioned to live, and we would love to do the same for you!

Carpenter Ants in the Spring

Carpenter ants are common in the spring in Utah and Idaho - RentokilSpringtime beckons the return of many pest problems. In our region, ants are one of the most troublesome springtime pests! We all are accustomed to dealing with the occasional house ant problem, but carpenter ants are one pest problem you don’t want to deal with. True to their name, carpenter ants nest in wood and can cause a bit of damage by excavating cavities in wood around your property. Often confused for termites, carpenter ants are a dangerous ant species that need to be prevented. The experts at Rentokil are here to share all you need to know about carpenter ants in the spring.

Signs of Carpenter Ant Activity

Carpenter ants are mostly black in color but can also have red or brown hints. Swarmer carpenter ants have wings that enable them to fly. However, the easiest way to identify carpenter ants is to look for the signs of their activity. Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

  • Piles of sawdust: Like other wood-destroying insects, carpenter ants will excavate holes and remove the sawdust, which often accumulates in piles near where they live.
  • Wet, decaying wood: Recent leaks or water damage are attractive to carpenter ants, who prefer rotting or decaying wood.
  • Noises in your walls: If you hear rustling noises in your walls or yard, there could be carpenter ants nearby. Their noise is often described as sounding similar to crinkling cellophane.

How to Prevent Carpenter Ants in the Spring

Preventing carpenter ants entails many of the same prevention techniques you’d use to prevent any type of ant. This includes:

  1. Cleaning up spills and crumbs. Any tiny mess will entice hoards of ants inside or outside your home. Regularly sweep and clean your kitchen.
  2. Fix any leaks or water damage. Ants need water to survive. Carpenter ants prefer wood that has been weakened with water damage to the point of decay.
  3. Look for and seal entry points. Needless to say, ants are microscopic and can get indoors through the tiniest crevices. Seal up holes with caulk.

Get Rid of Carpenter Ants For Good

If you have noticed carpenter ant activity inside or outside your home, it’s important to contact your local ant control experts at Rentokil. Our ant exterminators know exactly how to get rid of these wood-destroying ants—and keep them away for good. Contact us today to get started!