Eco Lawn Science

Ete's seen a lot during his decades in the lawn industry, including a whole lot of homeowner mistakes. And they tend to be the same mistakes. Today Ete describes the top 7 things he sees people doing that they shouldn't, and 1 thing they don't do, which they should. Luckily, these are all pretty easy fixes. Want to save money, time, effort, and maybe your pride? Make sure you're not making these oft-repeated lawncare no-nos by listening in to this episode of Eco Lawn Science. 

Do you want to wake up to animals eating your grass and pooping on your lawn? Of course you do. Who doesn't want a chemical-free, non-fossil-fuel-using, lawn mowing, furry, weed control and fertilization service? Companies like Rent A Goat and Real Deal Milk's Lawn Moo-er program can make your dreams come true. Want to know why Google has 200 goats milling about its grassy areas? Live in the UK and want free access to your very own lawn-roaming cow? Curious why Ete's day-dreaming about goats in fire fighter gear? Then this is the episode for you. It's all in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Is the person spraying your lawn licensed? Ask them. By law they should be. Having a license will definitely not ensure that a person is a lawn expert, but it does require at least a minimum understanding of how to treat turf. What does it mean if someone is a licensed Pesticide Applicator ("pesticides" include weed control)? Does it matter? Learn more about licensing in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Testing your soil is a fantastic way to figure out what you need to do to improve your lawn's health. If you've never done a soil test, if it's been a few years, if you have problem areas, Ete highly recommends getting a test done. Check with your local university extension to find out about testing centers in your area and mail off that sample. It's easy, affordable, and a great way see what amendments might be needed to get yourself a healthier, happier lawn. Learn more about the benefits of soil testing in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Lawn service advertisements, like the one Ete discusses today, can promote some serious doubt in your abilities to take on your own lawn. Okay, there may be some teeny-tiny kernels of truth to the dire warnings that your lawn will be hideous and virtually radioactive if you DIY it, but not much. And the truth is, there's nothing you can't learn to do properly on your own. Hear Ete's take on reasons for and against both DIYing your lawn, and hiring a company to do it for you, in this week's episode of Eco Lawn Science.

You may treat weeds, but it turns out your weeds can treat you too. Treat your body’s ailments, that is. Full of vitamins, and all kinds of healthful properties, weeds may just help symptoms of your health issues. Today Ete takes a look at 11 very common weeds that are beneficial to your health, from helping calm inflammation and bowel issues to reducing cholesterol. Check out what medicinal plants may be lurking in your lawn in this episode of EcoLawn.

Prepare yourselves. Just like seemingly everything else, prices for lawn care is going to go up this year. Ete's seeing jumps between 10%-15% over last year's prices. Hear how the current economic climate is affecting the lawn care industry, and what that means for you, in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

The whole concept of home lawns and turfgrass areas is taking quite the beating these days. And there are very real, very legitimate concerns regarding keeping and maintaining a lawn. But lawns are not all bad. In fact, they do have some real benefits. Some are obvious, like aesthetics, but, surprisingly, responsibly-maintained turfgrasses also do some good things for the environment. Check out what's good about lawns in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Want to dig deeper into lawn care? Beyond podcasts, YouTube channels, and Instagram feeds, you'll find fantastic info by cracking into some good, old-fashioned books. This week Ete discusses some of the books he thinks would be most helpful to homeowners who want to learn more about how to care for their lawns. Hear which books made the list, and why, in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Continuing on the theme of unbelievable, futuristic lawn tech (check out the laser robot weed-killer episode)  you're going to want to go to the Scythe Robotics website and watch this  robot in action. We've talked about lawn mowing robots in the past, but this autonomous commercial lawn mower is next level. It's electric, quiet, maps with precision, and frees up the tech to get going on other things. This mower is dang impressive and leaves us excited about what's next for the green industry. Ete discusses the Scythe mower in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Welcome to the future. Want to eliminate weeds quickly, accurately, without soil disturbance and without chemicals? Of course you do. Today Ete introduces us to the Carbon Robotics Autonomous LaserWeeder. These robots roam around on their own, identify weeds, and kill them with lasers. With deadly accuracy. But don't run out to buy one yet. They're just for commercial agriculture. Plus they're on back order until 2023. But who knows? Maybe one day smaller versions of these suckers may patrol your lawn. Check out weed robots in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

This episode is for all the professional out there. Today Ete takes a look at remote control hose reels. Despite some serious skepticism, Ete spent some time using a remote control reel system. And now he's outfitting all of his trucks with them. Yeah, they're that game changing. In this episode, Ete discusses some different reels, hoses, and the companies who make them (btw, he has no affiliation with any of these companies) including:
Quik Spray
Supa Slip hose
Hannay Reels
RME6014-33-34-10.5 Hannay Remote Controlled Power Rewind Hose Reel
Reel Tech

Fall is a great time–some say the best time–to do the things that will help rebuild your lawn after summer damage: aerations, overseedings, cleanups, renovations etc. This will set up for a healthy lawn come springtime. Power raking, something that a lot of people don't know about, is a great way to help reinvigorate your lawn. What is powerraking, and how does it help? Does my lawn need to be powerraked? Can I do it myself? Find out in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

You've hired a lawn company to treat your lawns. Ever wonder which brands they use? Where do professionals get their products? Today Ete talks about two of the companies he gets his products from, Huma Gro and Greene County Fertilizer Co. (he is not a sponsor of either company and gets nothing for endorsing them. He honestly just likes them). He'll even tell you the names of some of his favorite products. Hear all about what ferts the pros use  and more on this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Dry, hot, and everything seemed to be on fire. May we never again see a lawn season like the summer of 2021 (probably wishful thinking). Ete, our host as well as the owner of a lawn fertilization company, checks back in to tell us how he fared through this insane summer.  Terrible heat, little snow pack from the previous winter, no rain, and (necessary) water restrictions meant a real battle just to keep lawns alive. How did it go from a pro's perspective? Find out in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Here in UT, where even at the best of times getting the rain and snow we need is a constant preoccupation, this year’s extreme lack of water is very concerning. Up and down the western half of the U.S., we’re seeing record high temperatures and record low moisture. Adopted voluntarily or not, water restrictions are becoming a reality, and that’s going to affect your lawn. That's got people really considering the costs of maintaining turf. Do they really need or want to maintain a lawn? Do they need all of their lawn? What options do they have to keep their lawns alive through this summer? Today we’re talking about extreme drought and your lawn in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Oh the heat. Even with A/C we're all feeling it big time, so how do you think your lawn feels? Besides the obvious (PROPER IRRIGATION!) what does your lawn need? It's not more nitrogen. Nitrogen is essential at the right times and it brings on that green color pop, but hot, hot summer is definitely the time to back off.  So is your lawn craving right now? What can you do for your lawn if you're in a water restricted area? Could your dry spots be caused by something besides the heat? Ete's got answers. Check out this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Welcome to May in Utah. Some lawns are a little behind waking up this year, but for those who’s lawns are out of dormancy, it’s definitely time to start some lawn care. Getting your lawn in tip top shape right now will help your lawn ride out the harsh summer. What should you be focusing on to help your lawn get healthy this spring? What should you be sure to avoid doing? How can you help through this drought? Find out in this episode of Eco Lawn Science.

Do you fight with your lawn way too much? Do you deal with the same dead spots, fungi, insects, in the exact same places year after year? Whether it's from constant irrigation problems, lack of sun, soil issues, or any of a host of other potential problems that keep turf from thriving, the truth is that ripping out grass in some areas might be your wisest move. That may sound like a total bummer, but it's actually an opportunity to save precious resources, be creative, and spend your summers enjoying, rather than battling your lawn.

It happens every year. Warmer temps and winter fatigue combine to get everyone stoked about their lawns. Let's get those half dormant lawns green, green, green ASAP! Bring on the nitrogen! If dog spots are a lovely dark green, just add nitrogen to get the rest of the lawn to match! Chill out everyone. Dumping high N fertilizer on your lawn is a bad move. Want to find out why that is and when exactly you should start fertilizing? Check out this episode of Eco Lawn Science.