Lawn Care Draw Winners Chosen

Gerry Okimi, of Turf King Hamilton announced that two winners have been selected in the 11th Early Bird Fall Lawn Care Draw. Each fall, 2 winners are selected from those customers who choose Turf King Hamilton as their lawn maintenance program provider for the following season.

Turf King Hamilton would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the winners of this year’ draw. Every year, Turf King Hamilton has been rewarding its invaluable customers by holding an Early Bird Draw for a Free Lawn program.

According to Okimi, “This is just a small endeavour on our part to say ‘Thanks!’ for the priceless trust our customers place in the products and services of our lawn care company. Turf King Hamilton appreciates the opportunity that pre-booking gives us to pre-order supplies and to organize throughout the winter. Fall bookings also lessen the impact of a busy spring booking season.”

Okimi reiterated that “Turf King Hamilton would like to thank everyone who has booked their 2011 lawn package this fall. We are grateful for the confidence that is shown to us, by our many loyal clients. It is through their continued support, and referrals that help us to continue to be a leader in the lawn care industry.”

The lucky winners will receive up to $300.00 towards their 2011 lawn care programs. If they have paid for their programs, the $300.00 will be refunded to them. To be eligible, the lawn programs may be booked in the fall, but can be paid for in the fall, in the spring, or paid on a budget payment plan. To make the process as easy as possible, Turf King Hamilton accepts cheques and major credit cards. Clients can also make payments through their banks internet banking portals.

The winners will be contacted shortly to inform them of their good fortune. Their names will be published in the spring edition of the Turf King Hamilton newsletter TURF NOTES.

Turf King Hamilton has been servicing lawns in the Hamilton area since 1991. Turf King Hamilton, the Lawn Experts since 1962 provides the highest quality products and service in Lawn Care. Turf King Hamilton is a full-service professional Lawn Care provider, servicing residential, commercial and industrial lawns in Hamilton, Grimsby, Beamsville, Burlington, Oakville and Haldimand.

In order to give clients a healthy, green lawn, Turf King Hamilton applies high quality, long-lasting fertilizers to provide needed nutrition to the grass, with minimal impact to the environment.

Gerry Okimi has a degree from the University of Guelph in Environmental Horticulture and has spent all of his working career in various aspects of horticulture. Turf King Hamilton is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LOHTA), and the Professional Lawn Care Association of Ontario (PLCAO). Customer may also earn AIR MILES® reward miles on lawn programs at Turf King Hamilton.

Contact Gerry Okimi
Turf King Hamilton, 95 Hempstead Drive, Hamilton ON L8W 2Y6
Phone: 905-318-6677
www.lawncarehamilton.com
Email hamilton@turfking.ca

A Dandelion tries to bloom in December

As I was driving today, I noticed a lot of white stuff along the boulevards and lawns along the streets. No, it wasn't snow. Certain weedy lawns along the streets had a lot of dandelions growing in them. Maybe it was the  bright sun on a cold crisp day that made them more noticeable than normal. Of course, once you see a patch or two, you can't help but see a whole lot more wherever you drive.

What are the dandelions intending to do? The flowers, for the most part have bloomed and gone partially to seed. Will these dandelion seed heads still mature and disperse their seeds later? Like, in the spring? or on some warmer sunny day? Or did I just notice them because, they weren't at this stage previously, but add some "fluff" very recently?

 Why did the seed heads form at this time of year?
In this closeup photo, there is one flower head with some yellow showing.

The answer to why - is harder to determine.
The answer to HOW- well call Turf King Hamilton 905-318-6677
We have Fiesta Weed Control applications that can help. Not that it's a miracle cure. But in conjunction with  a program to create a thicker, healthier lawn, weed treatments will go a long ways to giving you the lawn you are looking for. This will take time, but it's worth the time.

The Lawn Care Experts at Turf King will help you.

www.hamiltonturfking.ca
www.lawncarehamilton.com
www.lawncarehaldimand.com
www.lawncaregrimsby.com

Snow & the Seed Catalog

We're happy to not be in the SNOWMAGEDDON in  London, Ontario which is reeling under a metre of snow that's fallen in the last day or so. While Hamilton and Stoney Creek had just a light dusting of flurries, here in Hagersville, we got about a couple of inches.

What should appear but the William Dam seed catalog. 

Gardening can be a lot of fun, relaxation, - a fine hobby, but it can be a lot of work too.

Maybe we should cut back next year? But when you start looking at all the new varieties...

then well, maybe we could try growing some of those.

Ah the challenges of gardening- they always start with the seed catalog. Spring can't be that far away. . .  .

www.hamiltonturfking.ca
www.lawncarehamilton.com
www.lawncarehaldimand.com
www.lawncaregrimsby.com

Compare Lawn Care Hamilton Programs to Get the Best One for You

Author: Denny Phillips

Everyone wants to have a beautiful green lawn accentuating their house and helping to make it as attractive as possible.  They also want their lawn to be easy to maintain and free of pests and weeds.  With busy schedules, many people like you don't have the time or energy to put into your lawn care program.  That is why hiring one of the many lawn care companies in Hamilton, Ontario might be the answer to your problem.  What you do need to do however, is to compare lawn care services to find the one that suits you best—and the one that offers you the most for your money.

Here are a few things you should look for before you commit to a professional lawn care service:
First of all, you need to decide whether you need a lawn care service to provide spring, summer, fall and/or winter lawn maintenance.  If you do, try to choose a company that will fertilize your lawn in all seasons so that you end up with the greenest and healthiest grass possible.

You also need to decide if you want an organic lawn care service that uses only as much control products as is necessary to keep weeds and pests under control.  Organic lawn care products, geared to different seasons, are your best option for the best lawn and for environmentally friendly purposes.  Of course, you may want to delve into the blend and type of fertilizer that is used on your lawn, but sometimes it is best decided by the professional lawn care company you hire.

The professional lawn care service you decide on should guard against various pests as well.  They should offer protection against chinch bugs and white grubs, while still remaining within the restraints of using as many environmentally friendly products as possible.  A good option for dealing with grubs is the use of Nematode (biological) grub control.  This method uses microscopic worms to kill grubs in your lawn.  Ask if this type of treatment is available in the lawn care program you choose.

Professional lawn care companies should also provide treatments for fungus problems, do professional soil tests, and use soil supplements and additives to give you the best lawn possible.  They should provide core aeration, in which plugs of soil are removed to increase oxygenation to improve your soil structure and allow grass to grow better.  They should also offer weed control protection and management for broadleaf weeds (such as dandelions, plantain, clover and others), creeping charlie (that thrives in moist, shady areas) and crabgrass.

Some lawn maintenance companies go beyond only looking after your lawn.  Some lawn care services will also help with vegetation control for driveways, patios and walkways.  Some will also help control insects in your trees, or provide deep root feeding of your trees and shrubs.  Lawn care companies like these go above and beyond in their lawn care programs, and if you require these services it is good to ask at the onset if the professional lawn care company you decide on provides these options.

While comparing all of the products and lawn care programs offered, you still need to look at costs.  Compare the products and services of one professional lawn care program with another and find out which is most cost effective.  Remember to compare ‘apples with apples' so that you know you are getting the best price for your lawn care service.

If you are looking for lawn care Hamilton companies can certainly offer you what you need.  You only have to be aware of what options the lawn care service you choose offers with respect to your personal wants and needs.  Whether you just want professional lawn care services, creeping charlie control, or organic lawn care products, there are many lawn care companies to choose from, so do your homework, decide which features you need and want, and choose a lawn care Hamilton company that fits your needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/compare-lawn-care-hamilton-programs-to-get-the-best-one-for-you-3775622.html

About the AuthorThis article was prepared on behalf of Turf King Hamilton (http://www.hamiltonturfking.ca) located at 95 Hempstead Dr., Unit 14, Hamilton, Ontario, offering the highest quality and service in lawn care.

Grub Damage Recovery Plan

Angie emailed about animals digging in her lawn. Here is our recommendation to her.

Angie, Thanks for your response

The digging by animals is a problem. Most likely there are grubs there. There are not insecticides currently allowed for the treatment of grubs. Nematodes can be used in warm weather. (mid Aug to mid Oct). One problem with nematodes is that they may only control 50-75% of the grubs (if we are lucky). Also it does take time for the grubs to die, therefore, sometimes the skunks and/or raccoons may still come for dying grubs or for the ones that were not controlled.

To look on the bright side, the animals digging for grubs are at least getting rid of some grubs. If you could train them to put the sod back after they are finished, we could hire them.!

The grubs do survive the winter. The animals may be back next spring. By the spring, I would not recommend treating at that time. Nematodes could technically be used in the spring once the soil warms up. Even when chemical insecticides were available, I normally did not recommend treating for grubs in the spring.

Reasons for not treating.

1. Most of the damage to the lawn by the grub is done in the fall. Some feeding does occur, but generally it is minimal

2. Spring grubs have now reached close to their maximum size and are harder to kill with insecticides.

3. Even if they could be controlled, the grubs in your lawn are not necessarily the source of the next batch of grubs to invade your lawn. (grubs pupate in May-June, then emerge as adults in June-July. The adults can fly. This means they can go to other lawns to lay their eggs which then hatch into baby grubs.) So even if we got rid of all the grubs in your lawn, adults from down the road, across the street or from a neighbourhood park, may still fly over to your lawn and lay eggs in the soil. Controlling the grubs in your lawn in the spring will mean less adults flying in your neighbourhood, but not necessarily any less eggs laid on YOUR lawn.

What should you do?

Once the animals have stopped coming to your lawn, replace the sod pieces as best you can, (green side up.) Don't do it every morning, because, most likely they will come back and rip up the same piece tomorrow night. At this time of year, it is cool and damp, the sod, if it is still alive, will survive a few days on its back. By waiting you will be less frustrated - hopefully you replace the sod only once or twice.

If the damage is very minimal, sometimes a couple of pieces of sod, may be an easier fix. Do this if sod is available.

In the spring, add some soil as needed, and sprinkle lots of good quality grass seed that is appropriate for the sun/shade conditions of your lawn. If it is both sunny and shady, and you only want to purchase on type of seed, use shady grass seed. Shady grass seed will grow better in the sun than sunny grass will in the shade.

If the damage is very severe, the easiest way to get grass back is to aerate and overseed. Seeds falling in the aeration holes are protected from drying out, and from the birds. 

Feed the lawn to help it recover from the damage. Good quality fertilizer is important to help the lawn fill the spaces where the roots have been eaten by the grubs.

Consider doing a nematode treatment for Late August- September to control any grubs from the next generation.

Thanks for you Card of Thanks

12 Nov/10

Jeff!
Many thanks for helping us have the best lawn on the street!

Sincerely

Bob & Hildegard

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We are grateful for all of our Happy Customers

For all that you do...
Thank you a Million Times over. Great companies are rare. You are a diamond in the rough. Thank you for ALL of our fine Lawn care over the years. You are so very much Appreciated. We shall see you Next 'grass season.'
Thank you for keeping our lawn so GREEN!
www.hamiltonturfking.ca

Fiesta Weed Control in Cool November Weather

 Fiesta weed control was applied to these weeds on November 7th

 This is what they looked like on November 16th, about 9 days later.

Fiesta does continue to work even in the cooler weather, especially compared to Sarritor which need relatively warm conditions to get the fungus activated.


Turf King the Lawn Experts providing professional Lawn Care.