Frequently Asked Questions
General
What makes AC Plant & Turf the experts?
Our AC Plant & Turf team is comprised of experienced and certified experts in plant and lawn care. Team members have undergraduate and graduate degrees in Plant Science, Agronomy, and Horticulture as well as over 15 years of hands-on experience. All our technicians are Certified Pesticide Applicators with a specialty in Turf and Ornamental.
How do I renew my contract?
Contracts automatically renew annually.
How do I cancel services?
If you wish to cancel any service, please send a written request to office@arborcarede.com.
Lawn Care
Can I pick and choose off the 7-Step Lawn Treatment?
Our 7-step program is our basic program and is designed to provide you optimal results. We do not allow you to remove these steps, however, we do offer additional options including fungicides, nutsedge, and a winter weed treatment.
How long after a lawn treatment should I keep my pets off the grass?
We advise you to wait until the treatment has dried which is typically around two hours after the treatment has been completed based on weather conditions.
After a treatment, how long until the grass can be mowed?
Please wait a minimum of one day, preferably with one irrigation cycle or two days for optimal results.
What length should I mow my lawn?
We recommend the grass to be mowed no less than 3" in height.
How far apart are my treatments?
In general, treatments will be performed approximately six weeks from the last performed treatment.
Do fertilizer treatments generate new grass?
Unfortunately, fertilizer treatments cannot produce new grass or fill bare areas of your lawn. Bare areas will need a seeding in the fall timeframe.
Can I seed my lawn in the spring or summer?
Typically, we do NOT recommend seeding in the spring or summer. Although, there are a few instances where seeding in the spring can be beneficial; once we provide our first and/or second treatment(s) seed will NOT germinate, and grass will NOT grow.
When can I aerate and overseed?
In July, every turf client will receive an aerating and overseeding proposal. We only perform this service for AC Turf clients. We will begin this service late August until the end of October.
Do I need a soil test?
Yes! Soil tests reveal the current nutrient status of your soil. It is a blueprint of what needs to be added to the program in order for a lawn to thrive.
When do you pull the soil sample?
Unless requested by the client or we see an issue, soil samples get pulled during treatment six. Samples go to the lab and results and a proposal are sent to our clients in December. Accepted soil amendment proposals are performed in January and February.
When should I irrigate my lawn?
Early morning watering is best. Late afternoon can be a good time; however, you should not water in the evening since lingering moisture can lead to fungal diseases in the grass.
How often should I irrigate my lawn?
Every lawn is different so we can only provide general advice to answer this question. Homeowners should monitor their lawn to verify how dry or how saturated it looks and feels. Keep an eye on the sky, when it rains for several days, water less or even turn your irrigation off.
It's summer and I have been irrigating my lawn; why is my lawn turning brown in some areas?
During the summer months disease/fungus pressure is at its highest point, especially with lawns that have irrigation. There are multiple factors that contribute to lawn diseases (air flow, seed type, irrigation cycles etc.) but it's important to recognize these diseases early before dieback occurs. AC Plant & Turf uses the highest quality fungicides on the market for disease prevention and curative treatments. We encourage adding preventative treatments to our clients' programs, especially if the lawn has a history of disease pressure.
Plant Care
Do you remove trees?
No, AC Plant & Turf's goal is to save trees. If you wish to remove a tree, please contact a local tree service company.
Do you trim trees?
Yes, AC Plant & Turf does perform some trimming services; however, we perform the majority of trimming during the winter season while trees are dormant. For immediate service or for large tree trimmings, please contact a local tree service company.
When do you treat for bagworms?
Bagworm hatching generally occurs in mid-June causing treatments to begin in late June into July and August. Treatments must be performed after bagworms hatch; meaning the bagworms must ingest the treatment.
What can I do for a Japanese Beetles invasion?
With our program, we spray a systemic insecticide that will help mitigate damage made by Japanese Beetles. Important to note, it will not get rid of them all together. If you are seeing many Japanese Beetles, we can spray a contact insecticide that will help eliminate this concern.
Why is my holly turning yellow in the Spring?
Broadleaf evergreens like hollies, laurels and camellias often shed their older, inner leaves. They turn yellow as the plant withdraws nutrients from these leaves, and then fall. Broadleaf evergreens are also most affected by winter damage and can show a greater amount of yellowing and dieback.
Why is my arborvitae turning brown inside the canopy in the Fall?
Narrow-leaf evergreens or conifers such as arborvitaes, pines and junipers often shed their inner, older leaves in the fall. This helps preserve water and minimizes damage during the winter months when the ground freezes and water is scarce.
How often should I irrigate my plants?
Due to variables with weather, soil quality and the needs of individual plants, we recommend feeling for soil moisture an inch below the soil surface and watering when the soil is dry. We suggest a deep, thorough watering with each cycle, 1-4 times a week, as opposed to more frequent and shallow watering. New plants will require more attention to soil moisture and evergreens typically need less water than deciduous plants. Even water-loving plants can suffer from excess water in our local soils due to the high clay content which inhibits drainage and the plants' ability to uptake the water.
Payment Options
What are the available payment options?
Bagworm hatching generally occurs in mid-June causing treatments to begin in late June into July and August. Treatments must be performed after bagworms hatch; meaning the bagworms must ingest the treatment.
Can I pre-pay for the entire year?
Yes! We allow our customers to pay one payment for their full program(s) in advance. You will not receive an invoice after every treatment; however, you will receive an email from the technician after each service.
Can I use the Customer Portal to make payment?
Yes! The Customer Portal allows you to view all your account information and directly pay invoices. To first access the portal, you will need to register with your customer#, which can be found on the invoice.
Can I use the "Pay Now" link on the invoice to make payment?
Yes! Click the blue "Pay Now" button on the invoice. You will enter your credit card information and submit payment via a secure processing link.
Can I put a credit card on file?
Yes! Our Auto Bill option allows you to put a credit card on file. Once you receive your invoice, the office will automatically make payment to the credit card on file, and you will receive an emailed receipt. To sign up for auto bill, please contact our AR department at 302-945-8450 ext. 3 or use the Customer Portal.