NOVEMBER 2024
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When you have completed the last mow of the season you will likely be happy to put your lawn mower away for the winter. However, before you store it, a little service now can save you from much aggravation next spring. We recommend you follow these service steps for gas mowers:
Disconnect the ignition wire from the spark plug before starting any maintenance, to avoid injury.
Clean or replace spark plug – Remove the spark plug and check the electrode for corrosion and dirt. Clean, or replace with a new plug.
Check the oil – It is a good idea to change the oil now, and again after every 25-hours of running time.
Clean or replace the air filter – Unscrew the bolt that holds the air cleaner. Replace with a new one. Foam filters that are not too dirty can be rinsed clean in warm water and reinstalled when dry.
Check the blade – Mower blades should be sharpened regularly. Dull blades should be sharpened professionally, and damaged blades should be replaced.
Check the fuel – Gas left over the winter will go stale, causing problems in the spring. You can drain or run the machine until empty. We prefer to add a fuel stabilizer to the tank and run the engine for 5-10 minutes so treated gas reaches all carburetor parts. If you do nothing else, this last step can prevent a lot of problems next spring!
Now you can put your mower away for the winter, knowing it will be ready to “cut it” next year!
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms, sometimes called toadstools, are the reproductive (fruiting) structures certain kinds of fungi. Most fungi in lawns are beneficial because they decompose organic matter, thereby releasing nutrients, making them more available to be absorbed by the grass plant.
Mushrooms found in lawns often develop from buried scraps of construction lumber, rotting stumps, old mulch, or other organic matter. The fungi that produce these mushrooms are beneficial because they decompose organic matter in the soil, making nutrients available to other plants.
Mushrooms are merely the fruiting bodies of fungi, removing them does not kill the underground mycelia from which they are growing. Still, picking mushrooms, puffballs, stinkhorns, or other reproductive structures soon after they appear may prevent their spores from spreading to new sites.
Most spores are blown long distances due to the wind. They can easily come into a lawn from neighboring areas. The primary reason for removing mushrooms from lawns are to keep them away from children and pets (because you do not want them eating them by accident) and to improve the lawn’s appearance.
Mushrooms often appear in a new sod lawn during the period of sod establishment because they require frequent irrigation to become established, creating an ideal wet environment for the growth of mushrooms.
These mushrooms usually are harmless to grasses, but some people consider them unsightly. They normally appear in damp periods – autumn being a favorite time.
The good news is that the mushrooms do not harm the lawn and will often disappear when irrigation/rainfall is reduced.
SOB WEBWORM
Sod webworms are foliage feeding insects. Damage generally becomes evident in the fall. The sod webworms feed on the upper root systems, stems, and blades of grass.
The sod webworm feeding exposes the crown of the grass to the hot sun; thus, the injury is much worse during hot, dry weather. As the caterpillar grows, it can damage an area of lawn about the size of a softball. If the infestation is severe, the damage may develop into much larger areas.
Sod webworms feed at night so they are difficult to see during the day.
There are many varieties of caterpillar species. Simply seeing moths on a lawn does not indicate a potential problem.
Damage often repairs itself since the roots remain intact, although re-seeding may be required.
Sod webworms create burrows (holes) where they move up and down in the soil. You will often see green pellets (their feces).
Most sod webworms complete 2 or 3 generations each year, with approximately 6 to 8 weeks elapsing between egg deposition and adult emergence.
For some reason, green healthy lawns make us feel good. But the benefits go well beyond.
Cooling – Take off your shoes and walk in the grass. The front lawn of an average home has the cooling effect of 9 tons of air conditioning. Compare that to the 3 to 4-ton capacity of a typical central air conditioner.
Air to Breathe – Turf grass absorbs sulfur dioxide, ozone, and other pollutants. 2500 square feet of lawn converts carbon dioxide and other gases into enough oxygen to sustain a family of four!
Air Filtration – At 8 or 10 individual grass plants per square inch your lawn contains millions of little dust traps. As air circulates outside, turf grass traps and removes much of the dust and dirt circulating around your home.
Water Purification – Lawns act as filters, capturing and breaking down pollutants as rainwater passes through the root zone.
Erosion Control – Dense healthy grass is the best natural surface we have for trapping rainfall and reducing erosion. Very little runs off into street gutters and storm sewers.
Noise Reduction – A thick lawn absorbs noise better than heavy carpeting.
Soil Production – Your lawn continually makes soil by growing, dying off, decomposing, and redeveloping. Mulching clippings back to the soil aids the process.
Fun & Games – Grass gives us a safe, soft area to play for kids of all ages.
Nutri-Lawn
Bridgewater: 902.527.0007
Halifax: 902.468.8101
Kentville: 902.681.2654
Moncton: 506.857.9111
New Glasgow: 902.601.5046
Truro: 902.893.2099
1-888-688-7452
