Here are some great tips to protect your back and heart when shoveling. What seems like a simple activity can actually put an excessive amount of strain on you if done incorrectly.
1. If you are inactive and have a history of heart trouble, talk to you doctor before shoveling your snow.
2. Avoid caffeine or nicotine before beginning. These are stimulants and they may increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to restrict. This places extra stress on the heart.
3. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is just as much of a concern in the cold winter months as it is in the summer.
4. Dress in several layers so you can remove a layer if necessary.
5. Warm up muscles by walking for a few minutes or march in place. Once muscles are warmed up, gently stretch arms and legs to loosen muscles and decrease your risk of injury.
6. Pick the right shovel for you. A smaller blade requires less lifting.
7. Lift with your legs not your back. Bend your knees and keep your back as straight as possible so that the lifting comes from your leg muscles, not your back. Never bend at the waist. Step in the direction that you are throwing snow. This will help prevent the lower back from twisting and will help alleviate any back soreness that you might typically experience the day after a hard shoveling job.
8. Create some distance between the hands. This will give you more leverage and make it easier to lift the snow.
9. Push snow to the side, rather than lifting it each time.
10. Listen to your body and stop if you are in pain.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
It's beginning to look a lot like...
That's right! The snow has finally come. If you have already signed a contract for plowing you can rest assured that should Old Man Winter make a visit in the middle of the night, you will wake up to a clear driveway thanks to the great crew at Peterson Lawn.
Don't forget: we also sell ice melt! We carry several varieties including Pelodow Calcium Chloride, Freezgard Magnesium, Power Thaw, Thaw Master and Halite Crystals. Give us a call if you would like to discuss ice melt options and place your order. We have many more months of the white stuff to go!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Fall Clean-Ups Complete!
Thanks to the unusally warm weather in November we were able to finish everyone's fall clean-up before the snow arrived. What a relief to have all of the leaves cleaned up before winter!
If you didn't get on our fall clean-up schedule this year make sure to ask about the program when we mail our contracts out for 2010.
If you didn't get on our fall clean-up schedule this year make sure to ask about the program when we mail our contracts out for 2010.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Why Fall Clean-up?
Noticing frost on the ground this morning puts even more urgency into fall clean-ups. A reminder to those that have signed up that if we have not already cleaned up your yard we will be there very shortly, and a reminder to sign up for your fall clean-up EARLY next year. Cleaning up the leaves in your yard and preparing plants for Spring is essential in maintaining a healthy lawn. Here are some tips for a healthier yard and plants come Springtime; it will be here before we know it!
1. Houseplants that have spent summer outdoors in the garden or on a patio need to be tended to first, usually in September. Many are tropical and will suffer once the night temperatures begin to drop. Set up an area outside to trim plants if necessary, check for insects and disease and repot any that have outgrown their current containers. Bring the plants indoors before you fully turn on the heat so that they have a chance to adjust to their new environment. The plants may lose a few leaves or the leaves may brown on the edges. This is simply an indication that the plant is adjusting to the lower light and humidity inside the house.
2. Poinsettias and Christmas cacti are two perennial favorites for winter blooming. The beautiful and rich reds and pinks are very welcome in the stark winter months. These plants, however, require special care. Both need a 14-hour period of continuous darkness each day from October 1 until mid-December to set flower buds. Two ways to accomplish this are to either set the plants in a closet or place a cardboard box over them from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. for the period listed above. At all other times, the plants should receive normal light exposure.
3. Finish planting spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and flowering onions as well as dormant, deciduous nursery stock before the soil freezes.
4. Caring for your lawn in the fall will bring you the best results the following growing season. Apply herbicides in September to control weed infestations. Aerate if the soil is compacted or if thatch is a problem and apply gypsum and fertilizer to improve soil conditions and provide nutrients for healthy turf growth. Continue mowing the lawn so that it is no higher than 1.5 to 2.0 inches going into the winter. A lawn should be only 1.5 inches tall where the snow tends to accumulate and snow mold or powdery mildew might be a problem. Most cool season lawns are best maintained at a 2- to 3-inch height during the growing season. As the month of October nears, the height can gradually be reduced to the overwintering heights.
And of course, make sure all leaves are picked up to avoid smothering the grass.
5. Take preliminary steps to protect roses. Final winterizing is usually done in late October after a deep freeze, but tying the canes loosely beforehand will ease the job. For the final winterizing, cut the canes back to about 6 to 12 inches and mound the plants with fresh topsoil purchased earlier. Cover with cones or bushel baskets for complete protection. Many gardeners successfully overwinter their roses and other tender perennials by covering with bags of leaves collected in the autumn.
6. Install simple windbreaks to protect young, tender plantings from drying winter winds. Anything that encourages snow accumulation will help provide excellent protection against low temperature or wind desiccation. Where evergreens are exposed, spray with an anti-desiccant to provide protection from drying winds. Spray again in mid-winter during a thaw when the temperature will be above 40 degrees F. for a few hours.
7. Protect young apple, maple and other tree species from rodent damage. Wrap tree trunks with hardware cloth up to the expected snow-line to provide the necessary protection. Plant material that has developed a thickened or corky bark is usually not vulnerable to damage of this sort.
8. After a heavy frost, remove all blackened plants such as zinnias, petunias, marigolds, etc. Remove and destroy plant stems on any perennials which may have had diseased foliage (ie. peonies and lilies). Good sanitation now will result in fewer problems next spring.
9. If there is time, turn the soil over in vegetable and flower gardens. Litter-free areas in the garden or under fruit trees will help eliminate many disease and insect problems the following season. Open spaces of fallow, weed-free soil are more attractive in winter and will make the soil ready for planting early next spring.
If the soil is particularly heavy, the addition of gypsum at 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet will help to soften the soil next spring. Thorough incorporation of generous amounts of organic matter such as compost or peat moss is also very beneficial.
Finally, to stretch out flowering a couple more weeks in the autumn, covering plants with plastic or cloth sheets, boxes or newspaper tents will provide protection against the initial frosts. Frequently, unprotected plants damaged by light frosts can be given an extension of useful beauty by hosing them with water before the sun rises.
Information adapted from document written by:
Ronald C. Smith
Extension Horticulturist and Turfgrass Specialist
1. Houseplants that have spent summer outdoors in the garden or on a patio need to be tended to first, usually in September. Many are tropical and will suffer once the night temperatures begin to drop. Set up an area outside to trim plants if necessary, check for insects and disease and repot any that have outgrown their current containers. Bring the plants indoors before you fully turn on the heat so that they have a chance to adjust to their new environment. The plants may lose a few leaves or the leaves may brown on the edges. This is simply an indication that the plant is adjusting to the lower light and humidity inside the house.
2. Poinsettias and Christmas cacti are two perennial favorites for winter blooming. The beautiful and rich reds and pinks are very welcome in the stark winter months. These plants, however, require special care. Both need a 14-hour period of continuous darkness each day from October 1 until mid-December to set flower buds. Two ways to accomplish this are to either set the plants in a closet or place a cardboard box over them from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. for the period listed above. At all other times, the plants should receive normal light exposure.
3. Finish planting spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and flowering onions as well as dormant, deciduous nursery stock before the soil freezes.
4. Caring for your lawn in the fall will bring you the best results the following growing season. Apply herbicides in September to control weed infestations. Aerate if the soil is compacted or if thatch is a problem and apply gypsum and fertilizer to improve soil conditions and provide nutrients for healthy turf growth. Continue mowing the lawn so that it is no higher than 1.5 to 2.0 inches going into the winter. A lawn should be only 1.5 inches tall where the snow tends to accumulate and snow mold or powdery mildew might be a problem. Most cool season lawns are best maintained at a 2- to 3-inch height during the growing season. As the month of October nears, the height can gradually be reduced to the overwintering heights.
And of course, make sure all leaves are picked up to avoid smothering the grass.
5. Take preliminary steps to protect roses. Final winterizing is usually done in late October after a deep freeze, but tying the canes loosely beforehand will ease the job. For the final winterizing, cut the canes back to about 6 to 12 inches and mound the plants with fresh topsoil purchased earlier. Cover with cones or bushel baskets for complete protection. Many gardeners successfully overwinter their roses and other tender perennials by covering with bags of leaves collected in the autumn.
6. Install simple windbreaks to protect young, tender plantings from drying winter winds. Anything that encourages snow accumulation will help provide excellent protection against low temperature or wind desiccation. Where evergreens are exposed, spray with an anti-desiccant to provide protection from drying winds. Spray again in mid-winter during a thaw when the temperature will be above 40 degrees F. for a few hours.
7. Protect young apple, maple and other tree species from rodent damage. Wrap tree trunks with hardware cloth up to the expected snow-line to provide the necessary protection. Plant material that has developed a thickened or corky bark is usually not vulnerable to damage of this sort.
8. After a heavy frost, remove all blackened plants such as zinnias, petunias, marigolds, etc. Remove and destroy plant stems on any perennials which may have had diseased foliage (ie. peonies and lilies). Good sanitation now will result in fewer problems next spring.
9. If there is time, turn the soil over in vegetable and flower gardens. Litter-free areas in the garden or under fruit trees will help eliminate many disease and insect problems the following season. Open spaces of fallow, weed-free soil are more attractive in winter and will make the soil ready for planting early next spring.
If the soil is particularly heavy, the addition of gypsum at 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet will help to soften the soil next spring. Thorough incorporation of generous amounts of organic matter such as compost or peat moss is also very beneficial.
Finally, to stretch out flowering a couple more weeks in the autumn, covering plants with plastic or cloth sheets, boxes or newspaper tents will provide protection against the initial frosts. Frequently, unprotected plants damaged by light frosts can be given an extension of useful beauty by hosing them with water before the sun rises.
Information adapted from document written by:
Ronald C. Smith
Extension Horticulturist and Turfgrass Specialist
Monday, November 9, 2009
Fall Clean-ups well underway
Fall clean-ups have been in full swing, though some dates have had to be pushed back as a result of the rain that pounded the Twin Cities metro for those few weeks in October. If you are still waiting for your clean-up have no fear, we are on our way. If you signed up for a weekly clean-up, you should be getting one more clean-up. If you signed up for the one-time clean-up, those will be starting this week. If you have any questions about your clean-up, please feel free to give us a call. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of this service we are unable to take on any more fall clean-ups at this time. Thanks, and let's hope this beautiful sunshine holds out a bit longer!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Irrigation Blow-Outs Being Scheduled Now
Customers who requested an irrigation blow out should be getting a call from Dan some time within the next couple of weeks. He will schedule a day/time with you when he calls.
If you would like to be added to Dan's schedule please call our office the week of Oct. 5. It is important that irrigation systems are blown out before the cold weather could cause pipes to freeze.
Thank you!
PLS
If you would like to be added to Dan's schedule please call our office the week of Oct. 5. It is important that irrigation systems are blown out before the cold weather could cause pipes to freeze.
Thank you!
PLS
Fall Clean-Ups are Coming…
With the beautiful fall weather rapidly approaching, it is time to start thinking about fall clean-ups! Because this is our busiest time of the year, we wanted to send a few reminders that will help make this season run as smoothly as possible.
1. Peterson Lawn Services will wrap up mowing the week of Oct. 15 and begin clean-ups the following week. Clean-ups will continue while the weather permits.
2.This year you have two clean-up options. There is a Four Week program that will run from the week of Oct. 19 thru the week of Nov. 9, or you can choose for a single, large clean-up. Single clean-ups will be scheduled around the weekly clean-up schedule.
3.Any customers who requested clean-ups “as late as possible” in November due to late falling leaves, are risking that the cold weather may prevent a thorough clean-up, or may even prevent a clean-up altogether.
4.If a heavy snowfall is in the forecast we will begin limiting clean-ups to turf areas only to enable us to get to more properties cleaned before the snow arrives.
5.If neither, “disposal,” nor, “no disposal,” were identified on the contract, disposal will be automatically completed.
Thank you for your patronage and your business this summer!! We appreciate all your help on making this a great season! Enjoy the beautiful fall season and please do not hesitate to call if you have any concerns! If you have not yet signed up for a Fall Clean-Up please do so now. Our lists are filling up quickly!
Peterson Lawn Services
1. Peterson Lawn Services will wrap up mowing the week of Oct. 15 and begin clean-ups the following week. Clean-ups will continue while the weather permits.
2.This year you have two clean-up options. There is a Four Week program that will run from the week of Oct. 19 thru the week of Nov. 9, or you can choose for a single, large clean-up. Single clean-ups will be scheduled around the weekly clean-up schedule.
3.Any customers who requested clean-ups “as late as possible” in November due to late falling leaves, are risking that the cold weather may prevent a thorough clean-up, or may even prevent a clean-up altogether.
4.If a heavy snowfall is in the forecast we will begin limiting clean-ups to turf areas only to enable us to get to more properties cleaned before the snow arrives.
5.If neither, “disposal,” nor, “no disposal,” were identified on the contract, disposal will be automatically completed.
Thank you for your patronage and your business this summer!! We appreciate all your help on making this a great season! Enjoy the beautiful fall season and please do not hesitate to call if you have any concerns! If you have not yet signed up for a Fall Clean-Up please do so now. Our lists are filling up quickly!
Peterson Lawn Services
Monday, July 6, 2009
Second round of fertilizer starts today
Our Summer Fertilizer is a granular fertilizer with a 50 percent slow release. If you have not already gotten an estimate call our office for an individualized quote: 952-252-3301.
If you have already signed up for the Summer Fertilizer, your application will be scheudled according to our weekly mowing routes sometime between July 1 - September 15.
Do you have a specific request pertaining to the timing of your fertilizer application? Please call or e-mail our office staff and we will do our best to honor your request.
Thanks!
PLS
If you have already signed up for the Summer Fertilizer, your application will be scheudled according to our weekly mowing routes sometime between July 1 - September 15.
Do you have a specific request pertaining to the timing of your fertilizer application? Please call or e-mail our office staff and we will do our best to honor your request.
Thanks!
PLS
Friday, June 26, 2009
Mowing Schedule for the Week of July 4th
Next week our office will be closed on Friday, July 3 for the July 4 weekend. This means that our weekly mowing routes will be condensed to a four day schedule for that week.
All mowing will be completed by Thursday, July 2. All of our customers can expect to have their lawns mowed on either:
1. Your regular mow day
2. The day BEFORE your regular mow day
For example: If your mow day is usually Tuesday, your yard will either be mowed on Monday or Tuesday.
Customers with concerns or specific requests should contact our office as soon as possible.
Thanks!
PLS
All mowing will be completed by Thursday, July 2. All of our customers can expect to have their lawns mowed on either:
1. Your regular mow day
2. The day BEFORE your regular mow day
For example: If your mow day is usually Tuesday, your yard will either be mowed on Monday or Tuesday.
Customers with concerns or specific requests should contact our office as soon as possible.
Thanks!
PLS
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tips for Keeping your Grass Green
Who wants a yard full of brittle yellow grass? No one!
It hurts your feet and (most importantly) it makes your home look less attractive. Our staff has put together a list of helpful tips for keeping your grass green, the way it should be:
1. The length and frequency at which grass is cut is a crucial factor in determining whether or not you will have healthy looking grass. It is recommended to keep the grass cut at around 3 inches in length. Shorter grass is more difficult to maintain as it needs more water and is more susceptible to weeds.
2. We recommend watering your grass once a week. Keep in mind that watering is more effective if it is done “deeply and infrequently”. Generally, a lawn needs about an inch of water per week. It is better to soak the lawn once rather than in small increments throughout the week.
3. Finally, a simple way to assure your grass looks its best is to fertilize regularly. If you are not currently signed up for one of our fertilize programs, it is never too late! Our next round of fertilizer is due to begin towards the end of June.
It hurts your feet and (most importantly) it makes your home look less attractive. Our staff has put together a list of helpful tips for keeping your grass green, the way it should be:
1. The length and frequency at which grass is cut is a crucial factor in determining whether or not you will have healthy looking grass. It is recommended to keep the grass cut at around 3 inches in length. Shorter grass is more difficult to maintain as it needs more water and is more susceptible to weeds.
2. We recommend watering your grass once a week. Keep in mind that watering is more effective if it is done “deeply and infrequently”. Generally, a lawn needs about an inch of water per week. It is better to soak the lawn once rather than in small increments throughout the week.
3. Finally, a simple way to assure your grass looks its best is to fertilize regularly. If you are not currently signed up for one of our fertilize programs, it is never too late! Our next round of fertilizer is due to begin towards the end of June.
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