#1 Easy Pickins
Get to the bottom of why wild turkeys invaded your neighborhood. Do you see them gobbling up food scraps in your neighbor’s backyard? Or, do they hang out near your bird feeder, waiting for seeds to fall? Like any wild animal, if they find a place where they can easily get food, they’ll stick around. So, what you need to do is create a food desert. As much as you enjoy watching the wild birds perched on your bird feeder, you need to store the feeder in the shed. Also, politely ask your neighbor to stop feeding the wild turkeys. Other potential sources of food for wild turkeys include garbage cans, grass seeds, nut trees, and berry bushes. Secure your garbage cans, cut your grass often, and install a fence around your fruit-bearing plants and garden.

#2 Climb to the Top
The Humane Society of the United States recommends positioning yourself at the top of the turkey pecking order. This way, your neighborhood turkey will fear you, rather than treat you like a doormat. How do you climb to the top? The Humane Society recommends using noisemakers (a can of pennies works great), waving your arms overhead, throwing tennis balls, hosing turkeys down with squirt guns, or employing any other method that will scare away the turkey, but not physically harm or injure it.

#3 Sculpture Garden
Create a “sculpture garden” in your yard. Install a 3D coyote replica and a scarecrow as 24/7 sentinels. The neighborhood turkeys won’t know what to make of these “sculptures”, especially if you move them frequently, giving them the appearance of being mobile creatures, who could strike at any moment.

#4 The Day and Night Dream Team
Nite Guard offers the day and night dream team. During the day, when turkeys are active, install Nite Guard Repellent Tape. And for night, we offer Nite Guard Solar lights. Like us, turkeys sleep at night. However, in the event your neighborhood turkey wanders around at night, it’s best to have all your bases covered with day and night protection. Our durable flash tape creates bright flashes of light and loud, crackling noises that scare away wild turkeys. With its red flashing light, Nite Guard Solar lights mimic the presence of a predator, which triggers the fight or flight response, resulting in the wild turkey fleeing your property.

#5 Not a B&B
As mentioned in tip #4, turkeys sleep at night, and are active during the day. In the evening, they search for a nice, comfy spot to roost, such as on your roof, in one of your trees, or in among your bushes. Don’t be their B&B. Install bird wire and prune your trees and bushes to give these turkeys zero roosting options.

Coyote Urine or blood granules can also be used to serve as a deter for Wild Turkeys. Coyote Urine can be purchased at Pet Shops and/or Online at Walmart or Lowe’s. Apply the Coyote Urine several times throughout your property, the scent will give the illusion a predator has made a home on your property.

http://www.niteguard.com/post/how-to-deter-turkeys-5-humane-wild-turkey-friendly-tips

1. WATER WHEN DROUGHT BEGINS
If you notice any of the following signs, you should do a thorough watering as soon as possible to help your lawn stay out of drought mode, if your municipality allows it:
• change in color (dull gray, blue/green at first);
• lingering prints or marks after stepping or driving on grass; and,
• folded or rolled grass blades/wilting.

2. DON’T WORRY ABOUT WATERING EVERY DAY
Lawns rarely need to be watered every day. Keep your grass healthy with about one inch of water per week.

3. WATER EVENLY
If you’re using sprinklers, make sure they distribute water evenly and deeply throughout the lawn. If you find patches of dry, discolored grass, you’ll know the watering isn’t even.

4. MOW HIGHER, LESS FREQUENTLY
Taller grass will help protect your soil from drying out. Depending on your lawn’s species, set your mower deck higher – anywhere from 3-½-5 inches tall – to protect the soil and help conserve water.
Also, mowing less frequently helps the grass stay higher and healthier, because you’ll be cutting less of the blade off each time.

5. USE CLIPPINGS WISELY
You may be used to throwing out your clippings, but it’s best to spread them on your lawn. Spread them evenly to give it an extra source of nutrients, as well as moisture and shade to help the soil retain moisture.

6. STAY SHARP
The sharper your blades, the smoother your cut will be and the more accurate your height setting will be. Be sure to sharpen them often.

valleygreen.net/2017/08/02/6-drought-tips-keeping-lawn-green/

1. Keep your lawn long. Longer lawns do a better job of retaining water and standing up to heat. If you can, wait for a cooler day to mow and you will minimize water loss.

2. Be careful not to over fertilize your lawn. Extreme heat and too much lawn fertilizer are a bad combination. You’re likely to damage your lawn if you over apply.

3. Water in the early morning. Early morning watering is a good idea for lawncare throughout the year, but during a heat wave, it is particularly useful in fighting evaporation, which dries out your garden.

4. Water deeply. Light and frequent watering might seem like a good idea for a parched lawn. But in fact, a deep watering two or three times a week works best, particularly during heat waves. Deeper watering helps the lawn extend its roots deeper into the soil, where moisture can be found even after the top inch or two of soil dries out.

5. Mow late or early. This last tip is for you! Don’t mow your lawn in the blazing sun of a 90-degree day. Skip the heat stroke and wait till evening.

Summer heat can be hard on your lawn. But with a little extra care, you and your lawn can both make it through to the cooler days ahead.

http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/seasonal-lawn-care/5-tips-for-grass-green. By Dawn West, All About Lawns Columnist

Deer Out Concentrate Deer Repellent
Bottom Line: Extremely effective; manufacturer offers a 100% guarantee. Safe for use on food crops. Depending on time of year, you get weeks to months of protection from a single application.
Pros: Peppermint smell deters deer. Environmentally friendly: won’t harm birds, bees, pets. 32-oz. bottle of concentrate makes 2.5 gallons of repellent.
Cons: If deer are hungry enough, nothing may stop them, but at least you’ll be able to get your money back if your plants are devoured by a famished buck.

Predator Guard Deer Repel Natural Repellent Pouches
Bottom Line: An affordable option for repelling deer and rabbits without harming plants. All-natural, long-lasting repellent is guaranteed to work or your money back.
Pros: Economical and easy to use; simply hang pouches near problem areas. Natural, water-resistant, and straightforward. No offensive odor. Money-back guarantee.
Cons: You will get the best results from the pouches if you find a way to secure them; some reports of them being knocked down/carried away by animals.

Hoont Cobra Jet Spray Animal Repeller
Bottom Line: Ward off deer and other garden invaders AND give your lawn a bit of water at the same time. Motion-activated device scares away animal’s w/a strong water blast and accompanying clicking sound.
Pros: A humane way to deter deer and other animals. Safe yet powerful motion-activated water jet. Owners report that it works, and they are happy it doesn’t harm animals. Easy set-up.
Cons: If you forget to turn off the water source before walking into the area, YOU get sprayed. Animals might become accustomed to the device and ignore it. Batteries require periodic changing.

Predator Guard Predator Deterrent Light
Bottom Line: Solar-powered deterrent frightens nighttime garden raiders w/2 flashing LEDs. Deer are startled and flee, thinking a predator is watching. Includes screws and magnet for easy mounting.
Pros: Device charges itself via solar panel during the day and automatically turns on at night. Two powerful LEDs are visible for up to 1/2 mile, discouraging deer. Random flashing pattern keeps most deer from becoming accustomed to the device. Operates in any weather.
Cons: Mileage may vary; some deer learn to ignore the device, and if the animals are especially hungry, they’re likely to visit your garden regardless of deterrent.

I Must Garden Deer Repellent Spice Scent Spray
Bottom Line: Easy to use and very affordable, but you may be disappointed w/its effectiveness. It’s still a good option if you need minimal repellent action and budget is a concern.
Pros: Has the popular features of other models in a low-cost, simple-to-use spray. Long-lasting, rain-resistant, safe, and natural. Can be sprayed directly on plants you want to protect. Pleasant spicy smell.
Cons: Not as versatile as some competitor’s b/c not labeled for pests other than deer. Doesn’t prevent deer from eating some types of plants, and the nozzle occasionally clogs.

http://bestreviews.com/best-deer-repellents

Yay! Summer is almost here! But with the warm summer days approaching brown spots will most definitely appear on your lawn.

Most Brown spots are caused by lack of water and  cutting the grass too short!  If this is happing on your lawn, once your lawn  receives sufficient water, grass growth begins again and the brown spots will start to clear up.  Sufficient rain fall or watering and cutting no shorter than 3 inches is the key.

It’s important to follow as best you can our watering and cutting instructions from our Helpful Hints flyer.  This small step makes a big difference. It stops weeds from multiplying and helps the grass stay strong; save itself from drought during the hot summer months.

Give us a call if your lawn needs help 401-764-0740