Sutherlands Organic Solutions
“We are a lawn care company committed to helping your lawn look its best and our earth help itself.”
It’s 4th of July Holiday Week! —Let the Celebrations Begin! 🎆🌭🍔
The grills are heating up, the flags are flying, and the countdown to fireworks has officially begun! Before we dive into all the fun, we have one quick (but important) announcement…
We are heading into our third major heat wave, and this one is expected to be the hottest yet, with temperatures soaring well over 100°F. That’s not just uncomfortable—it can be dangerous for both people and lawns.
Most Importantly—Take Care of Yourself! ❤️
This heat is no joke. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day—even if you don’t feel thirsty. Take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning, wear light-colored clothing when possible, and avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the afternoon.
If you begin to feel dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, overly fatigued, or notice excessive sweating or muscle cramps, don’t try to “push through it.” Stop what you’re doing immediately, move to a cool place, drink water, and allow your body to cool down. Heat-related illnesses can develop quickly, so it’s always better to play it safe.
Remember, your health comes first! The burgers will still be hot, the fireworks will still light up the sky, and the celebrations will be even more enjoyable when you’re feeling your best.
Your Lawn Needs a Holiday Weekend Too! 🌱
Your grass is going to feel this heat just as much as you do.
Please help it survive by:
- 💧 Watering deeply to keep it hydrated.
- 🚫 Skip mowing all week/weekend (your lawn says, “thank you!”).
- 📏 Keep your grass around 4 inches tall if possible. A taller lawn helps protect the soil and roots from the intense sun.
- 🌾 Don’t panic if you notice some browning—it’s normal during extreme heat and doesn’t mean your lawn is giving up; it is protecting itself. Extreme heat can cause your lawn to go dormant—a normal survival response, not a sign it’s dying. Dormancy helps grass conserve water and energy until cooler temperatures return.
💦 Bonus Tip for Beating the Heat! On days when temperatures are expected to reach the 90s or even 100°F, we recommend giving your lawn a little extra help if possible. 🌞Around 12:30–1:00 PM, run your sprinklers for about 10 minutes. This isn’t meant to replace your regular watering schedule—it’s simply a quick midday cooldown during extreme heat. Think of it like jumping into a pool on a scorching summer day. 🏊♂️ It helps cool the soil, reduces heat stress on your grass, and can make a big difference in helping your lawn survive these intense temperatures. Just remember: this quick midday watering is only recommended during extreme heat waves, not as part of your everyday watering routine.
For Customers Receiving Treatments This Week
Good news! Our fertilizer program is specifically designed to perform during tough summer conditions. It helps strengthen your lawn, reduce heat stress, and promotes a quicker recovery once temperatures return to normal.
If your lawn develops brown patches before or after your treatment, don’t worry—this is not a reflection of the application or its effectiveness. During extreme heat, your lawn naturally goes into a protective survival mode called dormancy. This is your grass’s way of conserving energy and moisture until cooler temperatures and more favorable growing conditions return. With proper watering, mowing and a little patience, your lawn will be in the best position to bounce back once this heat wave passes.
Happy Independence Day! 🎇
Stay safe, stay cool, drink plenty of water (yes, that means you—not just the lawn! 😉), and we’ll see you soon when the temperatures—and hopefully everyone—have cooled off a bit.
🚨 NOW IS THE TIME FOR GRUB PREVENTION! 🚨
Protect Your Lawn Before the Grubs Take Over!
Don’t wait until your lawn is covered in brown patches, thinning turf, and expensive damage. By the time grub damage becomes visible, the destruction has already begun beneath the surface.
Grubs feed on your lawn’s root system, weakening healthy turf and leaving it vulnerable to drought, stress, and even wildlife damage from skunks, raccoons, and birds searching for an easy meal.
The good news? Prevention is simple when applied at the right time. At Sutherland’s Organic Solutions, our professional grub prevention treatment targets grubs during their vulnerable larval stage—before they can mature and cause widespread damage. By interrupting the grub life cycle early, we help prevent infestations before they start, protecting your lawn’s valuable root system all season long.
But effective grub protection doesn’t stop there. A healthy, well-fed lawn is naturally more resilient and better equipped to withstand environmental stresses and pest pressures. That’s why our Customized Lawn Care & Fertilization Program works hand in hand with grub prevention.
Our customized approach helps:
✔ Develop deeper, stronger root systems
✔ Improve lawn density and overall vigor
✔ Increase drought and stress tolerance
✔ Promote thicker turf that naturally resists damage
✔ Create healthier growing conditions that help reduce the likelihood of severe grub infestations
Think of it this way: Grub prevention protects your lawn from below, while customized fertilization strengthens it from the ground up. Together, they create the ultimate defense against one of the most common and costly lawn pests.
📞 Contact Sutherland’s Organic Solutions today at 401-764-0740 to begin your lawn care treatment and schedule your Grub Prevention early this summer season to enjoy a healthier, greener, stronger lawn all season long.
Naturally, Better Lawns. Proven Protection. Protect your investment. Protect your curb appeal. Protect your lawn before damage occurs.
“We are committed to helping your lawn look its best, and our earth help itself.”
Preparing Your Lawn for Summer Stress: Why Early Lawn Care Matters
As summer approaches and temperatures rise, many homeowners begin to notice changes in their lawns. What may have looked healthy and green during the cooler spring months can quickly become stressed once the summer heat arrives. Brown patches, thinning grass, weeds, dry spots, and insect activity are all common problems lawns face during the hottest part of the year.
What many people do not realize is that the condition of your lawn during summer is often determined by the care it receives in spring and early summer. A lawn that is properly prepared ahead of time has a much better chance of staying healthy, green, and resilient through periods of heat and drought.
Why Summer Is So Hard on Lawns
Summer places significant stress on turfgrass for several reasons:
- High temperatures increase moisture loss
- Dry conditions limit water availability
- Humidity can encourage fungal disease activity
- Heavy foot traffic weakens stressed grass
- Weeds compete for water and nutrients
- Insects become more active during warm weather
Grass plants naturally slow down during extreme heat as they focus more energy on survival than growth. If the lawn enters summer already weak or nutrient deficient, it often struggles to recover.
Lawn Damage Starts Before Summer Arrives
One of the biggest misconceptions about lawn care is that problems begin once lawns turn brown. In reality, lawns begin preparing for summer stress much earlier in the season.
During spring and early summer, healthy grass plants are:
- Developing root systems
- Storing nutrients
- Building density
- Recovering from winter damage
- Strengthening against environmental stress
Without proper fertilization, weed control, and soil health support during this time, lawns may enter summer in a weakened condition.
Common Signs of Summer Lawn Stress
As temperatures increase, stressed lawns may begin showing symptoms such as:
Brown or Yellow Patches: Heat and drought stress can cause grass blades to dry out and discolor, especially in areas with shallow root systems.
Thinning Turf: Weak grass struggles to spread and fill in properly, leading to sparse or patchy areas.
Increased Weed Growth: Weeds thrive in stressed lawns because they compete aggressively for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients.
Dry, Crunchy Grass: Compacted or unhealthy soil can prevent proper water absorption, causing lawns to dry out faster.
Insect and Disease Activity: Warmer weather increases activity from lawn insects and fungal diseases, both of which can damage already stressed turf.
How Professional Lawn Care Helps Protect Your Lawn
A properly timed lawn care program gives your lawn the support it needs to better tolerate summer conditions.
Fertilization: Professional fertilization programs provide balanced nutrients that strengthen grass plants and improve overall turf health.
Benefits include:
- Stronger root development
- Improved color and density
- Better drought tolerance
- Faster recovery from stress
Broadleaf Weed Control: Weeds steal valuable water and nutrients from your lawn. Controlling weeds early helps your grass utilize resources more efficiently during hot weather.
Soil Health Improvement: Healthy soil improves water retention and nutrient absorption while encouraging deeper root growth.
Core Aeration & Over-Seeding: Aeration helps relieve soil compaction and improves airflow and water penetration. Overseeding can help thicken weak or damaged areas before summer stress intensifies.
Insect & Disease Monitoring: Regular lawn evaluations can identify early signs of insect damage or disease before they become major problems.
The Importance of Proactive Lawn Care
One of the best ways to avoid major lawn problems during summer is to stay proactive rather than reactive. Once lawns become severely stressed during extreme heat, recovery can be difficult and often requires significantly more work.
Preparing your lawn early helps:
- Maintain greener turf longer
- Reduce summer damage
- Improve drought resistance
- Minimize weed pressure
- Support long-term lawn health
Supporting Your Lawn During Summer
In addition to professional treatments, homeowners can help reduce summer stress by:
- Watering deeply and infrequently
- Avoiding mowing too short
- Limiting heavy traffic during drought conditions
- Keeping mower blades sharp
- Monitoring for signs of insect or disease activity
Key Takeaway
Summer can be one of the most challenging seasons for lawn health, but proper preparation makes a significant difference. Lawns that receive proper nutrition, weed control, soil support, and preventative care are far more likely to remain healthy and resilient throughout the season.
At Sutherland’s Organic Solutions, we focus on helping homeowners build stronger, healthier lawns that can better withstand summer stress while continuing to look their best all season long.
If you would like to learn more about our lawn care programs or how to improve the health of your lawn this summer, contact Sutherland’s Organic Solutions today. 401-764-0740 // info@soslawn.com
SOS Lawn Care Tips: Keeping Your Lawn Strong & Healthy
Longer days, rising temperatures, and rapid growth mean now is the perfect time to give your lawn the care it needs before summer stress arrives.
Proper watering, mowing, and staying on schedule with treatments will help keep your turf thick, green, and healthy all season long. Let’s get ahead of the heat and make this your lawn’s best season yet! 🌿💧
Here are some important lawn care tips and friendly reminders to help keep your lawn happy and healthy.
🌿 Maintain Proper Mowing Practice and Height. As temperatures rise, mowing practice and height become increasingly important. Taller grass helps shade the soil, conserve moisture, and reduce weed pressure. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade at any time; maintain your lawn at 3½ to 4 inches for optimal turf health and keep mower blades sharp to avoid tearing of the grass.
🌿 Watering for Root Health: Now is the time to turn on your irrigation system. Please do not delay — the heat is coming. If rainfall is limited, begin watering every other morning and water deeply, giving your lawn approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. This encourages deeper root growth and improves drought tolerance as summer approaches. Early morning watering is best to reduce evaporation and disease risk.
🌿 Watch for Weeds: Weed activity will continue throughout the season. While weed elimination is very difficult to fully achieve, addressing them with each scheduled treatment gradually reduces their presence and helps prevent their spread and competition for nutrients and water. Some weeds may still appear between treatment applications, which is normal, but keep an eye out for an unusual increase in activity.
🌿 Fertilization Supports Growth: Proper fertilization during active growth helps maintain lawn color and density. Balanced nutrient applications strengthen grass and support overall lawn health.
🌿 Reduce Lawn Stress: The heat is coming, and increased foot traffic, pets, and outdoor activities can place additional stress on turf. Rotating activity areas and limiting excessive wear can help maintain even growth and reduce stress from both heat and use.
🌿 Stay on Schedule with Treatments: Timely lawn care applications are essential for maintaining thick, healthy turf and preventing future issues. Even during periods of drought or extreme heat, our materials are designed not to burn the lawn. Our slow-release applications are specifically formulated to sustain and support the root system during stressful summer conditions. Staying on schedule is extremely important to maintain turf health, and skipping treatments due to heat or drought is not recommended.
Key Takeaway: Consistent care now will help prepare your lawn for the warmer months ahead. If you have any questions or would discuss a lawn care program, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Call SOS or visit our website to learn more about our lawn care programs!
SOS 401-764-0740 // http://soslawn.com
Understanding Crabgrass: Why It Appears, How Prevention Works, and Why Fall is Key to Control
Crabgrass is one of the most common and frustrating weeds homeowners face each year. It seems to appear suddenly, spread aggressively, and linger despite treatment. Understanding why crabgrass behaves the way it does can help you manage it more effectively—and even prevent it long-term.
Why Crabgrass Starts When It Does
Crabgrass is a warm-season annual weed, which means it germinates, grows, and dies all within a single year. Its life cycle is driven almost entirely by soil temperature, not the calendar.
- Crabgrass seeds begin to germinate when soil temperatures reach about 55–60°F for several consecutive days.
- This typically happens in mid-spring.
- Once conditions are right, thousands of dormant seeds in your soil begin to sprout rapidly.
This is why crabgrass can seem to “appear overnight”—it’s been waiting below the surface all along for the perfect conditions.
What Crabgrass Prevention Does in Early Spring
Crabgrass prevention, also known as a pre-emergent treatment, is applied in early spring before the seeds germinate.
Here’s how it works:
- It creates a protective barrier in the soil.
- As crabgrass seeds begin to sprout, the treatment stops the young seedlings from developing properly.
- The plant dies before it can break through the surface and become visible.
Timing is critical. If applied too early, the barrier may weaken before germination. If applied too late, some crabgrass may already be growing.
Why Crabgrass Can Still Appear Despite Treatment
Even with proper prevention or post-emergent treatments, it’s still possible to see crabgrass during the season.
This can be frustrating, but there are several valid reasons:
1. Timing and Weather Variability: Unpredictable weather can quickly shift soil temperatures, causing crabgrass to germinate earlier or later than expected.
2. Barrier Disruption: Heavy rain or soil disturbance can weaken the pre-emergent barrier, allowing some seeds to break through.
3. Existing Seeds in the Soil: Lawns often contain years’ worth of crabgrass seeds, and not all will be controlled in a single season.
4. Thin or Weak Lawn Areas: Crabgrass thrives in bare or stressed areas. If your lawn is thin, it creates ideal conditions for crabgrass to establish itself.
5. Post-Emergent Limitations: Post-emergent treatments can control visible crabgrass, but:
- They work best on young plants
- Mature crabgrass is harder to eliminate completely
- New seeds can still germinate later in the season
Why Fall Aeration & Overseeding is the Best Long-Term Solution
While spring treatments help manage crabgrass, fall is the most important time to truly reduce it.
Core Aeration and Over-Seeding in the fall provide long-term benefits:
1. Thickens Your Lawn: Overseeding introduces new grass that fills in bare spots, leaving less space for crabgrass to grow the following year.
2. Improves Soil Health: Aeration reduces soil compaction, allowing water, nutrients, and oxygen to reach the roots more effectively.
3. Interrupts the Crabgrass Cycle: Since crabgrass dies off after the first frost, fall is the perfect time to replace those areas with healthy turfgrass.
4. Builds Natural Resistance: A dense, healthy lawn is your best defense—grass naturally crowds out weeds, including crabgrass.
Key Takeaway
Crabgrass is persistent, but it’s not unbeatable. The key is understanding that control occurs across multiple seasons, not just with one treatment.
- Spring: Focus on prevention and early control
- Summer: Manage breakthrough and maintain lawn health
- Fall: Strengthen and repair your lawn to prevent future problems
If you take a long-term approach—especially with fall aeration and overseeding—you’ll see fewer crabgrass issues each year. A healthier lawn isn’t just about treating weeds—it’s about building strong turf that keeps them out for good.
Call SOS or visit our website to learn more about crabgrass prevention and/or spring lawn care!
SOS 401-764-0740 // http://soslawn.com
Sutherlands Organic Solutions 