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FAQ

Q: Why should I choose Perennial Green for my lawn care needs?

A: Perennial Green has always been a leader in customer satisfaction. It starts at the top where there is a genuine desire to do what is right and in our customers’ best interest. Our philosophy has always been to take care of our existing customers instead of expending all of our energy trying to sign up new ones. Our customer retention from year to year proves this to be true. Many of the larger companies are out there every spring frantically trying to replace customers that were lost due to poor, inattentive service. They make a countless number of phone calls to households every evening to schedule new customers. They use part time employees with no lawn care experience to walk door to door trying to sell their service. We think this approach is pushy and disrespectful of a person’s privacy. With Perennial Green, you will never have these annoying disruptions.

Q: Do you call your customers to upsell additional services?

A: No, we dislike home solicitation as much as you do. Your Perennial Green service representative is state licensed or certified, meaning that he has gone through extensive training for competency in the areas of turfgrass management, safe product handling and courteous customer service. If something extra is needed to improve the appearance of your lawn we will recommend it at the time of service.

Q: Do you guarantee your services?

A: Yes, Perennial Green guarantees substantial weed reduction, control of surface insects and healthy lawn color (except under drought conditions). Then if you are not satisfied, call us and we will continue working with you until you are satisfied, or we will return the cost of your last treatment.

Q: How often do you come out and treat my lawn?

A: Perennial Greens first treatment is done between late March and early May. After your first treatment you can expect a visit every 5-7 weeks thereafter. Please refer back to our program overview for more details.

Q: What is the proper mowing height?

A: You should mow the grass with the mower deck at the highest setting or at least 3 inches. Each time you mow, you should cut no more than 1/3 of the grass blade. A good rule of thumb is mow high, often and change directions each mowing. A sharp mower blade will give your lawn a clean, manicured appearance. It will also deter diseases, from entering the plant through injury caused by a dull mower blade.

Q: How soon can I mow after a treatment?

A: If a granular fertilizer was applied it is ok to mow anytime. When a liquid treatment of broadleaf weed control has been applied please wait 24-48 hours to mow. This allows the herbicides active ingredient to move through the plant before cutting it off. If you are not sure what was applied please refer to your service report for this information.

Q: Do I need to water my lawn after a treatment was applied?

A: No, none of our treatments require watering. While adequate control has been achieved without watering, the product label recommends watering in grub and surface insect control for optimal results.

Q: Are your treatments safe for my children and pets?

A: It is of the utmost importance that our customers, pets and employees are safe at all times. The fertilizer used by your Perennial Green representative is the same product sold in retail stores to do-it-yourselfers. Control products for weeds and insects can be applied safely if handled properly and according to instructions on the product label. The key to safety is having a licensed professional apply the product according to the proper labeled rate and simply following the safety instructions on your service report.

Q: How long should we keep off the lawn following a treatment?

A: When a granular fertilizer only treatment has been applied you can continue your regular lawn activities. Limit lawn activities when a control product has been applied for crabgrass or insects. Following adequate rainfall the product will move into the soil making it safe to resume all activities. When a liquid treatment has been applied wait until your lawn has completely dried before resuming activities. Keep in mind that factors such as temperature and humidity can influence drying time. Subsequent morning dews should be allowed to dry until adequate rainfall moves the active ingredient off the grass blades.

Q: Are some weeds harder to control than others?

A: Yes, some weeds are classified as “hard to control”. Some of the more common ones are wild violet, wild strawberry, oxalis and ground ivy. These weeds sometimes require multiple treatments and different chemicals to achieve control. Common broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, plantain and yellow rocket are easily controlled usually with one application. The herbicides used to control these types of weeds work only on a post- emergent basis. They will not control new weeds from germinating. A dense tall mowed lawn is still the best defense against weeds.

Q: Will grub control get rid of my moles?

A: No, It is common myth that if moles are present in your lawn, that you must have grubs. The fact is that up to 90% of a moles diet is made up of earthworms because they are abundant in the soil year round. The other 10% of their diet consists of millipedes, ants, grub larvae and other insects. Please refer to our mole page under common lawn problems for more information on moles.

Q: What is the best time of the year to aerate my lawn?

A: Aeration can be beneficial to your lawn when performed in the spring or the fall when adequate soil moisture is present. Fall aeration is preferred over spring where a pre-emergent control has been applied. Spring aeration will disturb this chemical barrier allowing crabgrass and other summer annual weeds to germinate. Fall is also the best time to overseed following lawn aeration. Please refer to our additional services page for more information on lawn aeration.

Q: What is the best time and proper method to plant grass seed?

A: Fall is the best time to plant grass seed whether you are planning a total lawn renovation or fixing up a few problem areas. The soil temperatures are warmer and more frequent rainfall accelerates germination. There is also much less competition with annual weeds and grasses when seeding is done in the fall. The most important thing to remember for a successful seeding project is the seed to soil contact. This means that the soil must first be loosened and the seed then incorporated into it. Spreading grass seed onto hard compacted soil will result in poor, if any seed germination.

Q: What is the best time to apply lime to my lawn?

A: You can apply lime at anytime during the year but spring and fall are best. The increase in rainfall at this time of the year will help work the limestone into the soil. Please refer to our additional services page for more information on lime.

Erie Lawn Care Programs