9 Lawn Care Secrets & Insider Tips for Minneapolis Homeowners

We all know that one person who can’t keep a secret. Everybody knows not to include them in the surprise party plans.

But some secrets should be shared — like the secrets to a great lawn. Here are a few great lawn care tips some lawn care companies might not be telling you (but should).

We figure the more educated you are, the better, wiser choices you can make.

Here’s the inside scoop:

1. Why Isn’t Your DIY Weed Killer Working?

Ever wonder why you still have weeds, even though you’re trying hard to zap them?

Lawn care pros who are licensed to spray for weeds have access to pro-level products that are much more effective than those DIY products in your garage.

If you have tenacious Canadian thistle in your yard, for example, good luck battling this lawn villain.

It’s super tough, with deep roots and stubborn underground runners.

But professional lawn care programs can use 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid  (2,4-D for short.) It usually does the trick on this super-stubborn weed.

To combat some especially vigorous weeds, you'll need a professional-grade, specialty weed killer, applied multiple times throughout the year. Weed control is a continuous process.

2. You Might Be Planting Weeds and Not Even Know It

Love a good deal on grass seed? Who doesn’t? Planting grass seed is one of those lawn care basics, and you want to save a few bucks.

But that cheap grass seed piled up in bags in the home improvement store may contain weed seeds.

So there you are swearing about weeds and you could be planting weed seeds yourself, without even realizing it!

Spring for premium grass seed.

3. Your “Organic” Lawn Care Might Not Be Organic

Some lawn care companies say their fertilizer is organic-based, but they’re not quick to clarify that it isn’t organic. Just partially.

It’s easy to just hear “organic” and assume you’re getting completely eco-friendly lawn care.

It’s not organic lawn care if it uses an organic-based product that also includes synthetic weed control products and fertilizers.

Ask for details.

RainMaster customers get an organic-based fertilizer. But we’re not keeping any lawn care secrets.

The fertilizer you’ll get starts with the good qualities of organic fertilizer — organic matter — but it also includes important nutrients to help your lawn thrive, like potassium, nitrogen, and iron.

When you add these extra nutrients, you can tweak the fertilizer formula to meet different lawn needs, which boosts the health of your lawn.

4. Is Your Grub Control Killing Bees?

What is your professional lawn care program using to kill grubs?

If they’re offering cheap deals on grub guard, it’s probably the kind that also kills bees.

Bee-friendly grub guard is considerably more expensive than the kind that kills pollinators. Not everybody uses it.

Our Grub Guard won’t kill bees like the cheaper products many other companies use.

Bees are having a tough time out there. Let’s give them a break.

5. You Can’t Use Weed Killer on New Grass — Or Can You?

It’s exciting when your newly planted grass starts to sprout — until you notice the monster weeds growing even taller.

And, rats, you can’t use weed killer on new grass — it’ll kill your baby grass, too.

Here’s a valuable lawn care secret: if you partner with RainMaster to do your lawn care, problem solved.

We have a pro-level product that will kill weeds without harming your new grass. We can apply it the day we seed. You won’t find anything like it in the DIY lawn care aisles.

6. You Want Liquid Weed Control and Granular Fertilizer

This lawn care tip matters.

Weed control and fertilizer are lawn care essentials, but some professional lawn care programs just use granular weed and feed and hope the product finds the weeds.

That’s not good enough. Make sure you partner with lawn care pros who use a quality liquid weed control, specifically designed to kill the weeds in your yard. This also includes using different products throughout the year to target different weeds.

Weeds are tough customers. One product doesn’t kill them all.

You want granular fertilizer, which is more expensive than the more common liquid stuff, but it breaks down slowly, giving you consistent benefits from fertilization.

It also contains organic nutrients, which give your lawn that beautiful, deep green color.

7. It’s Not Just Products That Matter — It’s the Application

Sure, quality products are lawn care essentials. You want good seed, granular fertilizer, and liquid weed killer.

But how and when you apply them is crucial, too.

If you don’t apply fertilizer or weed killer correctly, you can damage your lawn.

This stuff is tricky.

When to apply it? How often? How much? Some products need to be applied when the soil or air is at a certain temperature, and there’s often a small window of time to do it.

Pros are strategic about all of this timing stuff, and trained in all the application details that make a difference.

8. Lawn Care Secret: The Importance of Soil pH

No matter how much fertilizer you give your lawn, if your grass doesn’t have the proper, balanced soil pH, it won’t do much good.

Important nutrients for grass are available in soil when the pH is at the right level — not too acidic, not too alkaline.

The right pH unlocks your lawn’s ability to take in nutrients and thrive. That's why pH testing your soil is so important. It’s a lawn care essential.

If your soil’s pH level is out of whack, a professional lawn care program can add the right soil amendments to bring it to the right level.

9. All Lawn Care Pros Aren’t Trained Equally

Do you know what kind of training your professional lawn care program employees get — especially the ones who handle and apply pesticides?

You should ask.

Some might just get study materials to help them pass pesticide application certification tests. You want more expertise than that.

Lawn care company employees who aren’t thoroughly trained and educated might spray the wrong amount of product and kill surrounding plants. Misuse can lead to runoff issues that will harm the environment.

RainMaster’s skilled and educated lawn care team includes pros with horticulture degrees and decades of experience.

And RainMaster lawn care specialists work year-round, unlike the seasonal staff at many other lawn care companies.

During the offseason, we’re learning, taking classes, earning certifications, taking part in webinars with lawn care professionals around the world.

The best lawn care companies know skill and training matter.

Want All the Secrets to a Great Lawn? Call RainMaster

Lawn care secrets are fun — as long as nobody’s keeping them from you.

Ask us anything about the services we offer, the products we use, and the prices we charge.

You can find our prices and details about our lawn care in Minneapolis, MN & Eau Claire, WI on our website.

Then, make it easy on yourself. Get all our lawn care secrets rolled up in one effective lawn care program.

You choose from three levels of lawn care programs, based on the results you’d like, how fast you want to see results, and your budget.

When you’re ready to put your trust in us, we can’t wait to meet you — and help you make the best choices for your lawn.

Want the best pro secrets for your lawn? Request a quote today! We’ll review your lawn care options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy watching your lawn transform and stop worrying about it.

Image Source | Canadian Thistle