{"PictureModel":{"ImageUrl":null,"ThumbImageUrl":null,"FullSizeImageUrl":null,"Title":null,"AlternateText":null,"Style":null,"ExtraField":null,"Id":null,"UserFields":[]},"WorkingLanguageId":"617cccc47b40d711a5631fd6","PagingFilteringContext":{"Month":null,"Tag":"lawn care","CategorySeName":null,"SearchKeyword":null,"FirstItem":1,"HasNextPage":false,"HasPreviousPage":false,"LastItem":6,"PageIndex":0,"PageNumber":1,"PageSize":10,"TotalItems":6,"TotalPages":1},"BlogPosts":[{"MetaKeywords":null,"MetaDescription":"Discover essential lawn care tips for December, tailored for both northern and southern climates. Learn how to prepare your yard for winter or maintain it through milder weather.","MetaTitle":"Lawn Care Tips for December","SeName":"lawn-care-tips-for-december","Title":"Lawn Care Tips for December","PictureModel":{"ImageUrl":"/assets/images/thumbs/675086ecf0461a3dfdcf3f1e_lawn-care-tips-for-december_750.jpeg","ThumbImageUrl":null,"FullSizeImageUrl":"/assets/images/thumbs/675086ecf0461a3dfdcf3f1e_lawn-care-tips-for-december.jpeg","Title":"Show blog post for Lawn Care Tips for December","AlternateText":"Picture for blog post Lawn Care Tips for December","Style":null,"ExtraField":null,"Id":"675086ecf0461a3dfdcf3f1e","UserFields":[]},"Body":"\r\n

 Introduction

 

As December rolls in, the divide between the North and South becomes clear in lawn care. In the North, winter has often settled in, with fallen leaves either already cleaned up or buried beneath snow. Meanwhile, in the South, leaves may still be falling, and temperatures remain more temperate, keeping lawns active. Whether your yard is dormant or still thriving, this guide will help you care for your lawn in December and set it up for success in the months ahead.

 

Lawn Care in the South



 

In the South, December brings cooler temperatures, but lawns remain more active than in northern regions. While some grasses may slow their growth, tasks like leaf cleanup, occasional mowing, and proactive maintenance remain key to keeping your yard healthy. With milder weather, now is also a good time to address bare patches and prepare for any sudden frosts. Let’s look at the top priorities this December.

 

1.  Continue Leaf Cleanup


Leaves may still be falling in the South, and it’s essential to stay on top of cleanup. Allowing leaves to pile up can block sunlight, trap moisture, and create the perfect environment for pests and diseases. The most effective method of leaf cleanup is a leaf vacuum, such as Cyclone Rake.

 

2.  Monitor Lawn Health


Warmer temperatures mean weeds and pests could still be active. Keep an eye out for intruders like dollarweed or fire ants and address them promptly to protect your lawn.

 

3.  Mow If Necessary


Grass in Southern regions like Bermuda or St. Augustine may continue to grow slowly. Mow sparingly, keeping blades sharp and grass at the recommended height to avoid stress.

 

4.  Aerate and Overseed

If your lawn has compacted areas or bare spots, December is a great time to aerate the soil and overseed. This ensures the grass is strong enough to outcompete weeds when growth resumes in spring.

 

5.  Water Strategically


While watering needs decrease during cooler months, occasional deep watering may still be necessary in dry areas. Always adjust based on rainfall and ensure you’re not overwatering.

 

6.  Protect from Frost

 

In areas susceptible to frost, take precautions by covering sensitive plants or mulching around vulnerable root systems. Simple frost protection measures can often mean the difference of your plant surviving winter or not.

 

Lawn Care in the North

 

In the North, December marks the transition into full dormancy for most lawns. With fallen leaves cleaned up and snow often covering the ground, your focus shifts to protecting your lawn from winter damage and preparing for spring. Properly storing equipment and safeguarding sensitive plants from frost are essential steps to ensure a healthy start when warmer weather returns. Let’s look at the top priorities this December.

 



1.  Store Lawn Equipment Properly

 

With winter in full swing, now is the time to clean and service your lawn equipment. Empty fuel tanks or add stabilizer to prevent clogs, and store everything in a dry place to avoid rust. This step ensures your tools are ready to go when spring arrives.

 

2.  Winterize Your Lawn

 

If the ground hasn’t frozen yet, apply a winter fertilizer to strengthen grass roots for a healthier start in spring. This is especially important for cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue.

 

3.  Avoid Lawn Traffic

 

Grass that’s dormant or under snow cover can be easily damaged. Minimize foot traffic to avoid compacting the soil or creating dead patches that will need repair later.

 

4.  Inspect for Ice Damage

 

Ice storms can wreak havoc on trees and shrubs, leaving branches scattered on your lawn. Regularly check for damage and prune broken limbs to keep debris from harming the grass below.

 

5.  Protect Sensitive Plants from Frost

 

If you haven’t already, make sure to shield delicate plants from frost. Use coverings like burlap, frost blankets, or even old sheets to provide insulation. Mulching around their base can also help protect root systems from extreme cold.

 

6.  Plan for Spring

 

Winter is the perfect time to evaluate your lawn’s needs. Take note of any areas that struggled during the growing season and research solutions, such as overseeding or adjusting soil pH, so you’re prepared when warmer weather returns.

 

Conclusion

 

Whether your lawn is resting under a blanket of snow in the North or thriving in the temperate South, December is a crucial month to give it the care it needs. It’s the perfect time to wrap up fall maintenance, protect your lawn for winter, and lay the groundwork for a strong start in spring. With the right attention to regional needs, your lawn will stay healthy, resilient, and ready to shine when the growing season returns.

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 Introduction

 

As we head deeper into fall, taking a few essential steps to care for your lawn can make a huge difference. November is the time to focus on keeping your yard clear and preparing it for winter dormancy. A well-maintained lawn now will ensure it bounces back stronger come spring. Here are some top tips to get your lawn ready:

 

1.  Consistent Leaf Removal

 

One of the most important tasks this time of year is regular leaf removal. While a blanket of fall leaves may look picturesque, leaving them to sit on your lawn can suffocate the grass and block essential sunlight, causing it to thin or develop disease. Frequent leaf removal is essential to prevent this—and the easiest way to handle it is with a lawn vacuum, like the Cyclone Rake. Not only does it make leaf removal quicker, but it also picks up other debris, helping you keep a clean, healthy lawn.



 

2.  Adjust Your Mower Height

 

As temperatures drop, grass growth slows down, and there’s no need to keep your lawn as short as you would in summer. Instead, raise your mower height slightly to protect the grass blades from frost damage and insulate the roots. Leaving the grass a bit longer, around 2.5 to 3 inches, provides an additional layer of protection and minimizes the stress your lawn will face during winter.

 

3.  Aerate the Soil

 

If you haven’t already aerated your lawn this fall, November is a great time to do it before the ground freezes. Aeration loosens compacted soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to the grass roots, which promotes healthier, deeper root growth. Stronger roots will help your lawn withstand winter stress and come back even greener in the spring. For best results, follow up aeration with a light application of fertilizer to give those roots an extra boost heading into the colder months.

 

4.  Apply a Winterizing Fertilizer

 

Applying a winterizing fertilizer with higher potassium content is a smart move for November. Potassium strengthens the lawn's roots, making it more resilient to cold weather, frost, and other winter stresses. Check your fertilizer label for recommended late-fall or winter formulas, and apply it evenly after your last mowing and aeration. This treatment will give your lawn the best chance to emerge healthy and vibrant when spring arrives.

 

5.  Clean Up Garden Beds and Edges

 

November is the perfect time to tidy up garden beds and edges before winter sets in. Trimming back perennials, removing fallen leaves, and cleaning up the edges of your lawn not only gives your yard a neat look but also helps prevent pests from settling in over the colder months. Clearing out this organic debris reduces the risk of mold, mildew, and pests overwintering in your garden beds.

 

Cyclone Rake accessories, like the Power Vacuum Pickup and Estate Vacuum, make this job easier by reaching into garden beds and other tricky spots to clear out leaves and debris quickly. With the right tools, you can efficiently clean up hard-to-reach areas, leaving your garden beds and edges looking pristine and ready for winter.

 

Conclusion

 

Keeping up with these simple November lawn care tasks will help ensure your yard is well-prepared for the winter months and ready to thrive come spring. A little effort now can make a big difference in how healthy and lush your lawn looks next year. With the Cyclone Rake and its range of accessories, leaf removal and cleanup can be efficient and hassle-free, so you can focus on enjoying the season.

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Introduction

 

As summer fades and autumn approaches, September becomes a crucial month for lawn care. At Cyclone Rake, we're committed to helping you maintain a healthy, vibrant yard year-round. Here's an in-depth guide to essential yard care tasks for September, ensuring your lawn is well-prepared for the cooler months ahead.

 

1.  Continue Mowing: Transitioning to Fall

 

While grass growth slows in September, regular mowing remains important. Here's how to adjust your mowing routine:

 

 

This gradual reduction helps your lawn adapt to cooler temperatures and reduces the risk of snow mold in winter.

 

2.  Aerate and Overseed: Revitalizing Your Lawn

 

September's cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall create ideal conditions for aerating and overseeding:

 

 

3.  Fertilize: Strengthening Roots for Winter

 

Fall fertilization is crucial for developing strong, deep roots. Here are a few key tips:

 

 

This fertilization will provide your grass with essential nutrients to survive winter and thrive in spring.



 

4.  Weed Control: Preventing Next Year's Invasion

 

Tackling weeds in September can significantly reduce their presence next year:

 

 

5.  Prune and Clean: Maintaining Garden Health

 

Proper pruning and cleaning in September sets the stage for a healthy spring garden:

 

 

6.  Prepare for Frost: Protecting Sensitive Plants

 

With the first frost often occurring in late September or early October, be prepared:

 

 



7.  Plan for Next Year: Learning from This Season

 

Use September to reflect on your garden's performance and plan for the future:

 

 

8.  Composting: Turning Leaves into Garden Gold

 

Don't let fallen leaves go to waste – turn them into valuable compost:

 

 

September's lawn care efforts lay the foundation for a resilient and vibrant yard. As you tackle these tasks, you're not just maintaining your lawn – you're investing in its future health and beauty. When spring arrives, you'll reap the rewards of your fall diligence with lush grass and flourishing gardens. So grab your Cyclone Rake (if you don’t have one, you can check them out here), embrace the crisp autumn air, and let's make this September count!

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Introduction


As August rolls in, many homeowners start to notice the wear and tear on their lawns from the summer heat. It's crucial to begin preparations now to ensure a lush, healthy lawn for the fall. Let’s take a peek at a few proactive steps you can take this month, to set the stage for a beautiful, resilient yard in the coming seasons. Here are some essential lawn care tips to consider as summer winds down.


1. Fertilize


August is an ideal time to fertilize your lawn. Fertilization provides essential nutrients that help grass recover from summer stress and prepare for the cooler months ahead. Here are some tips for effective fertilization:



2. Aerate


Aeration is a critical process that involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the grassroots. This practice is particularly beneficial in August for several reasons:





3. Weed Control


Weeds can be particularly aggressive in late summer, competing with your grass for nutrients and water. Implementing weed control measures now will give your lawn a head start for the fall:





4. Overseeding


Overseeding involves spreading grass seed over your existing lawn to fill in bare spots and improve turf density. This is especially important in August as it prepares your lawn for the cooler weather:



5. Mowing Practices


Maintaining proper mowing habits in August can significantly impact your lawn's health as it transitions into fall:



Conclusion


Preparing your lawn in August sets the stage for a vibrant and resilient yard in the fall. Focuses on these tips will ensure your lawn remains healthy and beautiful throughout the cooler months. Remember, a little effort now can lead to significant rewards later, giving you a lush, green lawn to enjoy well into the fall season.

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Introduction


Here at Cyclone Rake, our hatred of mosquitoes is equivalent to our love for dragonflies. Not only are dragonflies incredibly cool to watch and effectively harmless to humans, they are public enemy number one to the hated mosquito.


Fun Fact: Did you know a dragonfly can consume upwards of 80-100 mosquitoes per day? What's more, a recent meta-analysis found that dragonflies \"can provide effective biological control of mosquitoes\" and, on average, a dragonfly consumes 40 mosquito larvae per day. Pretty impressive, huh? (Source.)


The question then becomes: is there a way to leverage the power of these predators against the hated mosquito? There is, in fact, and in this blog post we’ll walk you through how best to create a dragonfly sanctuary to tame the mosquitoes in your yard.

 

Steps to Create a Dragonfly Sanctuary


1. Add a Water Feature


Dragonflies need water to complete their life cycle. Adding a water feature is the most important step in creating a dragonfly sanctuary. While this can also create a breeding spot for mosquitoes, it’s a requisite part of attracting dragonflies.



2. Include Aquatic Plants


Aquatic plants provide essential habitat for dragonfly nymphs and perching spots for adult dragonflies.





3. Provide Perching Sites


Dragonflies need sunny spots to rest and warm up. Adding perching sites around your yard will make it more attractive to them.



4. Create a Diverse Habitat


A diverse yard with a variety of plants will support a healthy insect population, providing a steady food source for dragonflies.





5. Avoid Pesticides


Pesticides can harm dragonflies and other beneficial insects. Adopt natural gardening practices to maintain a healthy, chemical-free environment.


Conclusion


Building a dragonfly sanctuary in your yard is a beautiful and eco-friendly way to combat mosquitoes. By creating a water feature, incorporating aquatic plants, providing perching sites, fostering a diverse habitat, and avoiding pesticides, you can attract these remarkable predators and enjoy a mosquito-free yard.

 

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If you spend any time outside chances are you’ve had the unpleasant experience of running into a tick. Whether they’ve found their way onto you, your kids, or your pets, they’re never fun to deal with. They can even be carriers of very serious diseases. Rather than trying to fight them when you find them, let’s beat them at the source. Here are 5 tips to keep your property tick free.

1) Keep your property clean.


Taking away there hiding spots is one of the best things you can do to keep your property tick free. Just like us they like cozy warm spots to curl up in. Keeping piles of leaves, sticks, and other brush on your property will encourage the ticks to make a home there. By clearing them out with, say the Cyclone Rake, you’re leaving them with less places to hide. The same also applies to tall grass, keeping the grass short will limit hiding places for ticks.


2) Create physical barriers.


Just like back in the day with a moat around a castle, creating a barrier around your property can keep ticks out. Ticks will be less likely to migrate into your territory if you put down a strip of gravel or wood chips between your lawn and any wooded areas. Ticks have a hard time traveling over gravel and wood chips and can’t survive in it for long. Your “moat” should be at least three feet wide to be the most effective.


3) Sun is your friend!


Ticks are not fans of the sun, which means it’s a great natural tool for you to use to your advantage. Keeping things like play equipment, patio tables, and fire pits in the sun will reduce the possibility of you running into a tick. Just be sure to protect yourself from the sun as well while you’re out there.


4) Keep deer off your property.


Keeping deer off your property is a great step towards keeping your property tick free. Ticks like to hitch a ride on deer. The simplest way to keep deer off your property is to build a fence. Just like with ticks creating a physical barrier between your property and the deer will keep them at bay. There are also various deer repellent sprays on the market that can help keep the deer, and subsequently the ticks, away.


5) Try a different tactic.


You may find it’s time to spray your yard if other tactics aren’t ridding your property of ticks. The use of pesticides works similarly to the physical barriers we mentioned before. Spraying the perimeter of your property will make it harder to the ticks to cross over. Keep in mind that these are chemicals, so be sure to read any and all labels before use to make sure it’s right for your needs. You can also check in with your local health or agricultural officials to see what the best product and time to spray for your area is.




Now that we've covered how to prepare your yard, let's take a look at 4 quick tips to ensure you're protecting yourself when you go outdoors:


  • Wear Protective Clothing: Dress in long sleeves and long pants, preferably light-colored so ticks are easier to spot. Tuck your pants into your socks or boots to create a barrier against ticks.
  • Use Tick Repellent:
    • Apply a tick repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or permethrin to your skin and clothing. Permethrin-treated clothing offers longer-lasting protection.
  • Perform Regular Tick Checks:
    • Frequently check your body for ticks, especially after spending time in grassy or wooded areas. Pay attention to hidden spots like underarms, behind ears, and around the waist.
  • Stay on Trails:
    • Avoid walking through tall grass, dense brush, and leaf litter. Stick to the center of trails to reduce the likelihood of picking up ticks.

Check out the CDC’s page on Ticks for more information on the types of ticks, how to treat them, as well as a a ton of other helpful information.

 

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