Eastern Turf Maintenance Blog

lawn weeds, dandelion in grass

Common Lawn Weeds in North Carolina

Controlling Weeds in Your Raleigh Lawn  Weeds are a constant challenge for homeowners in the Raleigh area. North Carolina’s warm seasons, mild winters, and regular rain create the perfect environment for unwanted plants to settle into your turf. Keeping these invaders under control protects your lawn’s health, appearance, and long-term strength. With the right knowledge…

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spring lawn care

Lawn Care Tips for Raleigh Homeowners

Spring Lawn Care Tips for Raleigh Lawns As spring arrives in Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area, your lawn begins to shake off the chill of winter and prepare for new growth. This is the perfect time to take proactive steps to help your turf thrive and keep weeds from stealing valuable nutrients. Spring lawn…

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watering lawn after fescue overseeding in raleigh

What to do After Overseeding Fescue Lawns

Raleigh Lawn Care: Caring for a Newly Seeded Lawn  Fall is a critical time for Raleigh homeowners to strengthen and refresh their lawns. Aeration and overseeding give your grass the best chance to recover from summer stress, establish deep roots, and build density for the seasons ahead. But success depends on how you care for…

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man spraying treatment in yard

When to Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control  

Why Pre-Emergents Matter for Raleigh Lawns One of the biggest challenges for Raleigh homeowners is keeping weeds under control. Weeds like crabgrass, henbit, and poa annua thrive in our climate and can quickly take over a lawn if left unchecked. Pre-emergent weed control helps by creating a protective barrier in the soil that prevents weed…

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fall overseeding, lawn seed for fescue grass

Fall Overseeding for Fescue Lawns 

Why Your Fescue Lawn Needs Fall Overseeding Summers in North Carolina can be tough on fescue lawns. Between high heat, humidity, drought stress, and regular use, even the healthiest lawn can start looking thin or patchy by early fall. The good news is that fall overseeding can restore density and improve overall lawn health. At…

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Raleigh Spring Lawn Care Tips

When to Start Spring Lawn Care in Raleigh As winter fades into spring, there’s no better time to start preparing your lawn for the season ahead. In Raleigh, where mild winters meet warm, humid springs, early preparation isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Taking proactive steps now can help you set your lawn up for success, giving…

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lush green grass, fall overseeding benefits

Benefits of Overseeding Fescue Lawns in the Fall

Benefits of Fall Overseeding for Tall Fescue Lawns If your lawn is made up of cool-season grasses like tall fescue, you’re probably all too aware that summer isn’t a kind season. The sun and the heat can leave your fescue lawn looking patchy. Unfortunately, cool-season turfgrasses like tall and fine fescue don’t spread, so those…

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lawn with brown patches of damage, close up of armyworms and lawn grubs

How to Handle Armyworms and Grubs

Armyworms and Grubs are Active in North Carolina As fall approaches in North Carolina, homeowners face a significant threat to their lawns: fall armyworms and grubs. These pests can quickly turn your lush, green grass into a brown, patchy mess. Fortunately, with the right approach, you can protect your lawn from these damaging pests. Here’s…

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man lawn mowing

Lawn Mowing Tips

Mow Like a Pro: 8 Essential DIY Lawn Mowing Tips for NC Residents You want a clean-cut lawn that’s lush and thick, but you aren’t sure if you’re mowing too much… or not enough. It can be hard to find the right mowing balance, but once you do, your lawn will thank you. There are…

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bermuda grass lawn

Bermuda Lawn Care and Growth Regulators

How to Care for Your Bermuda Lawn in Raleigh Bermuda grass is a popular choice for homeowners in Raleigh, North Carolina, thanks to its durability and beautiful green color. This warm-season grass thrives in full sun and is known for its excellent drought tolerance. Let’s go through some essential lawn care tips to help you…

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close up of bermuda grass blades with growth regulator

Turf Care Tips for Summer

6 Lawn Care Tips for Raleigh Homeowners April is here and summer weather is picking up in the Triangle area. This month is National Lawn Care and that has turf care top-of-mind for many homeowners. Now is a crucial time of year to take care of your lawn and prepare for the upcoming summer growing…

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man spraying treatment in yard

Mosquito Treatments for Your Yard

When to Start Mosquito Treatments in Raleigh Are you tired of pesky mosquitoes invading your yard during those warm summer months? Mosquitoes can quickly turn a fun day outdoors into an itchy nightmare. With the right knowledge and preparation, Raleigh homeowners can keep those blood-sucking pests at bay. The key to successful mosquito control is…

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man aerating nc lawn

When to Aerate Your Lawn in NC

The Best Time for Core Aeration in Raleigh When it comes to spring lawn care in Raleigh, aeration is one of the best things you can do for your lawn. But when to aerate is the big question for many North Carolina homeowners. We’ve got you covered. We’ve highlighted everything you need to know about…

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close up of crabgrass weed in lawn

Crabgrass Weed Control Tips for North Carolina Lawns

How to Prevent (or Control) Crabgrass in North Carolina It’s hardy, it’s unsightly, it’s fast-growing, and it’s nearly impossible to kill — it’s crabgrass. And it may be coming for your lawn this season. Crabgrass is an invasive weed that thrives in high-sun, high-moisture locales. As weeds go, it’s relatively harmless to flora and fauna,…

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spring lawn care tools laying in the grass next to spring flower beds

Spring Lawn Care Prep

Preparing for Spring Lawn Care in North Carolina Spring is just around the corner, and for homeowners in North Carolina, it’s time to gear up for the growing season. A well-prepared lawn is the key to ensuring lush, green grass throughout the warmer months. We’ve created a guide to walk you through essential spring lawn…

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dormant grass in residential lawn

Winter Lawn Care Tips for Dormant Grass

Do You Need Lawn Care During Winter Dormancy?  While it may seem like your lawn is taking a nap during winter, it still needs some care to stay in top shape. During winter, warm-season grasses go into dormancy during cold weather, like a state of hibernation. But dormant grass doesn’t mean dead grass. A dormant…

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lawn mower in green lush lawn

Raleigh Lawn Care Schedule

Our Complete Raleigh Lawn Care Schedule Achieving a lush and healthy lawn in North Carolina takes a lot of time, effort, and care. Lawns need attention year-round if you want to see the best potential in your grass. As the seasons change, your lawn’s needs change, too. The best way to ensure your lawn is…

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dandelion winter weed in grass

Preventing Winter Weeds in Raleigh

How to Prevent Winter Weeds in Raleigh  Winter in Raleigh might seem like a time when lawn care can be pushed to the side because most lawns go into winter dormancy. But pesky weeds can still find a way to sneak into your lawn. Winter annual weeds will still pop up, even if your grass…

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dandelion, fall weed control, fall lawn weeds in nc

How to Control Weeds During Fall in North Carolina

Tips for the Best Fall Weed Control in the Triangle Area  Fall is a beautiful time of year in North Carolina. The leaves change colors, the air becomes crisp, and it’s the perfect time to prepare your lawn for the upcoming winter months. One important part of fall lawn care is weed control. During winter…

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lawn overseeding raleigh, grass seed

How to Get the Best Results from Lawn Overseeding in Raleigh

How to Get the Best Results from Fall Overseeding in Raleigh The best thing you can do for a fescue lawn in North Carolina is fall overseeding. Summer heat takes a toll on tall fescue grass, and planting new grass seed just in time for fescue’s peak growing season can give your lawn new life.…

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fescue overseeding benefits, fall lawn seeding

Benefits of Fescue Overseeding for Your NC Lawn

4 Benefits of Fescue Overseeding for Your North Carolina Lawn  As the hot summer days in North Carolina take a toll on our lawns, overseeding becomes a smart solution. This fall practice helps fill in bare spots that might have popped up during the scorching summer. It’s like giving your lawn a fresh start, promoting…

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backyard torches, mosquito control in the triangle, eastern turf maintenance, raleigh

Mosquito Control Tips for Labor Day Weekend in the Triangle

The Best Tips for Mosquito Control in the Triangle Area  Avoiding mosquitoes and dealing with their itchy irritation is a struggle of summer that we all know too well. In Raleigh and throughout the triangle area, the hot summers and high humidity make mosquitoes a problem for many. Of course, there are professional ways to…

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fescue grass, fall overseeding nc, eastern turf maintenance

When to Overseed a Fescue Lawn in NC

When to Overseed a Fescue Lawn in North Carolina   Maintaining a lush, healthy lawn is the dream of every homeowner in North Carolina. Overseeding your fescue lawn every year is the key to achieving that goal. But a common question for many is when to overseed in NC.  Fescue grass is a popular cool-season grass…

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Man inspecting a leaf.

Ask The Expert: Arbor Day

Arbor Day is an annual holiday in which people are encouraged to plant trees. The concept of a day to recognize the importance of planting trees is actually something that is recognized as a national holiday in various countries around the world. Trees play an important role in the environment as they filter out CO2…

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Close up of poa annua grass.

What is the deal with Poa?

Image sourced from Bayer Turf & Ornamentals Management It’s not uncommon to get a few calls each spring from homeowners wondering what type of weed is growing in their otherwise healthy lawn.  During the early spring, there is a good chance that weed is poa annua, commonly known as annual bluegrass.    Poa annua, or Annual Bluegrass, is a…

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Close up of healthy grass.

Warm Season Grass Types

North Carolina is home to many grass types. In the Triangle region, we service homes that have warm season grasses like Bermuda or Zoysia and maybe even some with Centipede. A more recent trend is to have split grass types depending on the location of the grass. For instance, if a back yard gets more…

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A field with blue on top of the grass.

Why is my neighbor’s lawn blue?

It’s that time of year again. Spring flowers start blooming, the temperatures start to warm. You step outside with your morning coffee to breath in a little fresh air. You smile and with the sunshine hitting your face, you begin to look around, surveying the neighborhood. But, wait! What is that? Suddenly you realize there…

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A flowering shrub.

Tree and Shrub Care

Caring for the trees and shrubs around your property is an important part of your lawn and landscape program. In the Raleigh and Durham areas, we have both older neighborhoods with long-established landscaping, as well as many new construction communities that are full of young trees and shrubs. Regardless of the age of your plants,…

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aeration and overseeding in Raleigh

2020 Seed Blend For Aeration and Seeding

We take aeration and seeding seriously. Each year, we work directly with seed growers to hand-select the seed blends we offer our customers. We use only zero-weed seed. That means you will never find any weed seed in our blends. Read more about the seed varietals that make up the Eastern Turf Maintenance 2020 over-seeding…

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A very manicured lawn.

Summer Tips for Lawn Maintenance in Raleigh

Every homeowner wants to have a beautiful lawn, but not everyone knows what steps to take. Hopefully these tips can show you that with a little knowledge and effort, keeping a beautiful lawn doesn’t have to be a chore. Maybe you’ll learn, like millions of homeowners have, that maintaining your lawn can actually be a…

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Close up of crabgrass.

Crabgrass care and lawns in Raleigh

Every year as the weather begins to warm-up, many homeowners look out across their lawn and wonder where things went wrong. Either there are large dead, brown areas, or maybe there is much more crabgrass (or crab grass) than they had expected. The homeowner may be especially surprised because they believe they had taken sufficient…

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Man pushing a seeding cart.

Fescue vs Warm Season Grasses in Raleigh & the Triangle

Here in North Carolina we are fortunate to have the best of both worlds when it comes to turf choices. Farther north there are more cool season grasses, like blue grass and fescue, and south of us there are a variety of warm season grasses. In this area, both varieties are used as we are…

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A field being aerated with a tractor.

The Importance of Seeding and Aerating Raleigh Area Lawns

PHOTO — This is Kenny on our Kubota tractor using a deep tine aerator. Aeration is usually done on Bermuda turf athletic fields in the summer time. Here, Kenny is pulling 8 inch cores on Doak Field at NC State’s Dial Park. It would be nice if we could pull cores this deep on residential…

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lawn aeration and overseeding

Aeration and Overseeding in the Raleigh area

The Triangle is located in the transitional zone. What that means for everyone with a fescue lawn is that it’s time to aerate and over seed. The summer heat, compaction from high traffic and disease take a toll on cool season grasses. Fescue lawns can die under these conditions resulting in a thin lawn that…

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Close up of a long sprig of grass.

Lawn Disease Prevention and Treatment

  Grass, just like any other living organism, can catch diseases which affect its health. Because your lawn is an interconnected ecosystem of related plants living together, any disease causing damage in one part of the lawn can quickly spread. Thankfully, there are things you can do, not only to prevent this damage from spreading,…

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A sports field with a tractor on it.

Warm Season Lawn Aeration

Core Aeration Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, and St. Augustine are warm season lawns. These lawns require core aeration to relieve compaction, and allow air and nutrients to get to the root zone. This is often considered one of the best investments to your lawn. Aeration usually occurs in the spring time, when the turf has transitioned…

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Close up of a fire ant.

Top choice for fire ant control

Fire ants are quickly becoming a serious problem in central and south-eastern parts of North Carolina. Invasive and aggressive, their venomous sting is dangerous to people and their pets. ETM Lawncare staff are certified by Bayer Environmental Science to apply Top Choice, a cutting-edge fire ant control. In a single application we can protect your…

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