Lawn Care Tips

Featured Articles

• Choosing the Right Lawn Care Service
• Got a Sick Kid?
• The Trivia Block

Choosing the Right Lawn Care Service

Many people choose to hire a professional company to help maintain their lawn. Lawn care companies offer a range of services, from fertilizing and pest control to aerating, mowing and renovation. Here are some important questions to ask when deciding which lawn care service is best for you:

Is the company licensed? Nearly all states require lawn care companies to be licensed. The qualifications for obtaining a license vary from state to state, but having a license is one indication that the company is reputable and operating legally.

Does the company have a good track record? Ask neighbors and friends who have dealt with the company if they were satisfied with the service they received. Call the Better Business Bureau or the state or local consumer protection office listed in your phone book; have they received any complaints about the company? Determine from the state pesticide regulatory agency if the company has a history of violations.

Is the company affiliated with a professional lawn care association? Affiliation with a professional association helps members to stay informed of new developments in the lawn care field.

Does the company offer a variety of pest management approaches? Does it apply pesticides on a set schedule or only when they are really needed? Does it use integrated pest management, or "IPM"- an approach that often reduces pesticide use by combining it with other, non-chemical methods of pest control? More and more lawn companies are offering integrated pest management (IPM) in response to public concern about pesticides. Be aware that IPM is a general term and that companies may use it to describe a wide range of activities. Find out exactly what a company means if it says it uses IPM.

Is the company willing to help you understand your lawn's problems and the solutions? Lawn services generally apply fertilizers and pesticides. But you may be the one who mows and waters - and poor watering and mowing practices can lead to disappointing results. The company should tell you how it plans to take care of your lawn, and advise you about the work you need to do to keep your lawn in good shape.

Will the company tell you what pesticides it applies to your lawn and why, and what health and environmental risks may be presented by their use? You have a right to this information. If asked, the company should readily supply it. All pesticides sold legally in the United States are registered by EPA, but such registration is not a guarantee of safety. Ask to see a copy of pesticide labels to make sure they bear an EPA registration number, and to review the directions that should be followed.

Got a Sick Kid?
Don't Guess. Read the Label.

Make sure you're giving your children the right medicine and the right amount. When it comes to taking medicines, kids aren't just small adults. When using nonprescription medicines, here are 10 ways to be sure you're giving your children the right medicine and the right amount.

1. Read and follow the label directions every time. Pay special attention to usage directions and warnings. If you notice any new symptoms or unexpected side effects in your child or the medicine doesn't appear to be working, talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

2. Know how much medicine to give and when. Read and follow the label.

3. Know the abbreviations for tablespoon (tbsp.) and teaspoon (tsp.). You should also know: milligram (mg.), milliliter (mL), and ounce (oz.).

4. Use the correct dosing device. If the label says two teaspoons and you're using a dosing cup with ounces only, don't guess. get the proper measuring device. Don't substitute another item, such as a kitchen spoon.

5. Never play doctor. Twice the recommended dose is not appropriate just because your child seems twice as sick as last time. When in doubt about your child's condition, call your doctor.

6. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional before giving two medicines at the same time to avoid a possible overdose or an unwanted interaction.

7. Follow age and weight limit recommendations. If the label says don't give to children under a certain age or weight, don't do it. Call your doctor.

8. Always use the child-resistant cap and re-lock the cap after each use. Be especially careful with iron. containing vitamins or supplements, which have been a source of accidental poisoning deaths in children under three.

9. Follow the "KEEP OUT OF REACH" warning. Today's medicines are often flavored to hide the taste of the medicine, which is all the more reason to keep all drugs out of the sight and reach of children.

10. Always check the package and the medicine itself for signs of tampering. Don't buy or use any medicine from a package that shows cuts, tears, slices or other imperfections. Report anything suspicious to the pharmacist or store manager.

The Trivia Block

What was the world's highest viewing platform before the opening of the Empire State Building in 1939?

For 42 years the Eiffel Tower in Paris was the highest viewing platform in a man-made structure.