Tick Populations Exploding!

Tick Populations in Philadelphia PA are exploding thanks to a mild winter. Peak season for ticks is summer; just when families and pets are enjoying the great outdoors. 

Ticks are dangerous.  One bite from these tiny pests could infect you or your pet with Lyme Disease, a debilitating and often difficult to cure illness. 

Read about more ways to protect your family from ticks with Giroud's Top 5 Tick Control Strategies.

In the video below, Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist, and his dog, Nugent demonstrate how to find ticks on your property and the actions to take.  Watch the video on our blog.

Do It Yourself: Raking Leaves and Composting

It’s more than aesthetics, raking leaves is important for your lawn. Leaves left on your grass over the winter will smother your lawn. Come Spring, you’ll find bare spots that will open the door for crabgrass and weeds.

Take special care when removing leaves from recently seeded lawns. Use a blower to protect tender seedlings. If you don’t have a blower, please use a light touch to gently remove leaves from newly seeded areas.

If you are industrious and interested in composting the leaves you rake up, be prepared for a time consuming but very worthwhile process. You'll need a composting bin in which you regularly mix or "turn over" the pile of leaves. You can make your own bin using discarded pallets that will allow air flow. Leaves in the homemade version will need to be turned with a pitchfork. You can also buy a compost tumbler with a hand crank to frequently turn the leaves. To speed up the composting, shred the leaves with a mulching mower before putting them in the bin. Learn more about composting.

Do It Yourself: Weed Control

Before you plant, take time to minimize weeds.

1. Apply a pre-emergent weed and grass control: Last year’s weeds left their seeds in your shrub and flower beds. Apply Preen or ask Giroud to manage your beds for you with a professional grade treatment.
2. Use Organic Alternative: Great for vegetable gardens and organic gardeners, spread newspapers on the bare soil before you mulch. The newspaper keeps weeds down and eventually decomposes to become organic matter.


3. Add Mulch: Spread a thin layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.


4. Control Perennial Weeds: Apply a post-emergent spray like Round-up. Or, ask Giroud to take control as needed with professional grade treatments in your gardens, patios, walks and driveways.