frequently asked questions
what services do you offer?
Routine Mowing Package for aesthetics/clean cut appearance. Proper mowing height throughout the season to improve lawns density and keep the root system healthy. Also helps crowd out weeds and reduce heat stress.
Lawn Care Program for healthy grass and a thick lush lawn. Fertilizer, weed control, lime, insect/grub control. Helps lawn recover during stressful times such as heat stress and disease or insect activity.
Aeration and Overseed to relieve compaction and help roots thrive for a thick lush lawn. This allows air, water, and nutrients into the root zone. Optional overseeding to thicken the lawn and improve heat and disease resistance.
is this a national/big company?
ATS is a locally owned and operated company in Erie Pa servicing Erie City, Wesleyville, Harborcreek, Millcreek, Fairview.
How will I be billed?
Typically after each service or monthly. Checks or online payments accepted.
What is a pre-emergent?
A pre-emergent is a chemical barrier put down to control weed seeds from germinating. A example of an annual weed is crabgrass.
When is it okay to mow after an application?
Best to wait 24 hours after an application.
How long will it take weeds to die?
Some weeds will be tougher to control than others. It will vary from next day to 2 weeks for weeds to start to wilt.
Should I get a soil test done?
It is recommended to test the soil every 3 to 5 years. It will be the best starting point for a custom fertilization program.
How many visits in the lawn care program?
A five step fertilization program is a good starting point in our area and each visit is spaced out 4 to 7 weeks apart.
How often should I mow?
Following the 1/3 rule is best for mowing, do not take off more than 1/3 of the blade for desired cut height. Usually we keep mow height at 3-3.5 inches for healthy turf.
How often should I aerate?
Your lawn will benefit from an annual aeration. This allows air, water, nutrients to enter the root zone and helps roots expand to thicken turf.
Does aeration help with thatch?
Yes. It helps decompose the excessive thatch and is less destructive than a typical dethatcher.
Why is the lawn brown or dead looking in mid June/July?
This is typically the time of year we experience extreme weather conditions and the grass stresses out. Stressed out grass is vulnerable to disease and insect activity and can all look similar. The fertilizer we put on is intended to reduce disease and insect invasion and/or help with recovery. Grass will go dormant to protect itself during these conditions but will recover with less extreme conditions.
How much watering should I do if lawn is stressed?
Avoid watering the turf every day. Watering in the morning is recommended to prevent fungus. Water 2 to 3 times per week around 0.5 inches deeply each time as lawns need about 1.5 inches of water and/or rainfall per week.
My application was just done, can my kids/pets be back on the lawn now?
We recommend you have pets/children stay off the lawn until the liquid applications that we apply have time to dry, which can vary from 1 to 3 hours depending on the humidity and so on. With granular applications you can re-enter the lawn immediately following our treatment.
It rained right after my application. Now what?
If it was a granular applications, great! The rain will help the product become active. If it was a liquid application, a light rain will only help the nutrients get deeper into the soil. If it was a heavy rain it is possible for the weed control to be affected; in this case remember we provide free service calls, if you have weeds that don’t die after a couple weeks please let us know and we’ll re-treat free of charge.