Want a Beautiful Lawn Next Spring…Start Now!

Beautiful lawns begin in the Fall. Take the following steps now for a healthy, thick, green lawn in 2010:

1. Soil Test:Comprehensive Soil Analysis (CSA): Now is the best time to identify soil problems. Giroud takes soil samples from around your lawn for testing by a nationally recognized Agronomic Lab. Based on the test results, your Giroud Technician custom blends your Fall fertilizer treatments and determines if other actions are required.
2. Lawn Treatments (including Fertilization): Our special fall formula or CSA Custom Blend helps your lawn establish strong root systems and prepare for winter stress and spring growth. If you don’t already have our Annual Lawn Program, ask about our Fall Treatment package.
3. Core Aeration: Every lawn can benefit from aeration. Aeration breaks through dense patches of thatch and fractures compacted soil. It stimulates healthy growth, gives your lawn’s roots immediate access to fertilizer, lime and other amendments and accelerates seed germination and growth. It is a must for any lawn that is being seeded.

Giroud Evaluates Lawn Health

Learn how Giroud evaluates lawn health. ISA Certified Arborist, Mike Taraborrelli, explains the steps to develop a lawn care program that produces a healthy, thick, green lawn.

Tree Tales: No Deer Around Here!

A customer was concerned about insects or disease on her arborvitae hedge. I inspected her tree and it took me no more than 2 seconds to see that the local deer herd from the nearby woodlots were having a buffet on her plants.

After explaining the problem to her, she told me that: "There are no deer around here. I've never seen one."

We continued walking around the back of the house and both burst out laughing. An adult female deer was standing behind her Arborvitae just looking at us with her 2 yearlings. I guess they were having a late breakfast??? Posted by: Rob Nagy, ISA Certified Arborist serving: Abington, Rydal, Meadowbrook, Elkins Park, Cheltenham, and Wyncote, PA (pictured above)

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.