Moles do not hibernate

January 26th, 2012 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

This has been a great winter to be a mole. Moles don’t hibernate durring the winter, they simply move below the frost line. Since we don’t really have any frost, they have been close to the surface. When eastern moles go deeper, they tend to push up more piles. When they are close to the surface they leave the ridges.


Angie’s List Super Service Award

January 15th, 2012 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

We just received the Angie’s List Super Service Award.  We feel very honored to receive this.


Moles are Hidden Garden Treasures

December 6th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

I actually had an article sent to me boasting about the “benefits” of moles.  Follow this link to read the article. By the way, the author is wrong about shrews.  They are not insectivores.  Does anybody else perceive moles as beneficial?


The final mole tally for 2011

December 6th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

Our traps have all been pulled from the ground.  We ended up trapping 1787 moles this year.  This is less than 2010, but we did not have the carbon monoxide gasser in 2010.  We used our gasser a lot and have been very happy with the results.


Proper End of Season Mowing Height

November 10th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

Just as it is important during the summer season to mow at the proper height, it is also important to adjust your mower height at the end of the mowing season.  With each cutting this fall, gradually lower your mower height until your last cutting is at the lowest possible height without scalping your lawn.  This will allow leaves to more easily blow off and will help protect your lawn from snow mold.


Don’t rake those leaves, mulch them into your lawn

November 10th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

It’s great to have big shade trees in your yard, but come fall you can start to resent them. Those big trees drop leaves and that means extra work for you. However, there’s good news! A recent study done at Michigan State University shows that you can forget about raking, blowing, and bagging leaves. Lawn care is easier than ever. Instead, just mulch them with your lawn mower. It’ll save you work, improve your soil, and add nutrients. Take the grass catcher off your mower and mow over the leaves on your lawn. You want to reduce your leaf clutter to dime-size pieces. You’ll know you’re done when about half an inch of grass can be seen through the mulched leaf layer. Once the leaf crumbs settle in, microbes and worms get to work recycling them. Any kind of rotary-action mower will do the job, and any kind of leaves can be chopped up. With several passes of your mower, you can mulch up to 18 inches of leaf clutter. When spring arrives, you’ll notice that the leaf litter you mulched up in the fall will have disappeared and your grass will look greener than ever.


Do you have holes in your bark after winter?

November 10th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

 

If you answered yes to this question, then you probably have VOLES. Voles are field mice. They spend the winter under the snow eating the bark off bushes and trees. They survive quite well in the winter because the snow cover insulates them from the cold air and predators cannot find them. Voles chew the grass at ground level and build nests with the grass. This creates trails throughout the lawn. Voles are also able to tunnel in bark, and leave holes the size of quarters.

We now offer a granular repellent application to deter their digging in your bark beds. This application should go down prior to any snowfall.  If we have a thaw in the winter, it is a good idea to apply it again. One application in your foundational beds costs $50.00.  We can also treat your entire lawn. Contact us for a price to treat your entire lawn and other non-foundational beds.


Trunk or Treat

October 17th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

Bill handed out candy at the Byron Township Trunk or Treat at Whistle Stop park on Saturday 10/15.  It was extremely windy, but it did not keep the children away.  He handed out over 1000 pieces of candy in 45 minutes.


Time is running out for Box Elder Bugs

October 12th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

Time is running out before the Boxelder bugs move from the outside of your house to the inside.  Our Pest Solutions experts can still treat them and block them from moving in.


Boxelder Bugs

October 6th, 2011 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

Boxelder Bugs are crawling on the side of houses now.  Our Pest Solutions experts can spray for these now and create a barrier to prevent them from crawling into the house for the winter.