Entries by Matt VanNoord

Kent County Lyme disease cases surge 1,800% as ticks spread across Michigan

There is a concerning trend as we head into spring. The number of ticks and tick-borne illnesses is increasing. From 2016 to 2020 in Kent County, there were only about 11 cases of Lyme disease a year. However, in data only completed through September, 2025 saw 216 cases of Lyme disease. “We’re going from 10, 11, 12 cases to hundreds […]

Annual Bluegrass going to seed

Every spring, while many grass varieties are just waking up, one variety of grass is already standing out. It is an unwanted and difficult-to-control grass called Annual Bluegrass. (Not to be confused with a good grass called Kentucky Bluegrass.)  Right now it is producing seedheads and sticks out in lawns.  For a few weeks every […]

Maple Tree Seedlings

The Maple Tree seedlings are back in full force this spring.  The warm spring weather has caused them to arrive early this year. Many customers ask if our lawn care applications will control Maple Tree seedlings. The answer is yes, but there is an easier way. Maple Tree seedlings aren’t mowing-tolerant. Once the leaves are mowed […]

Kent County Health Department warns about early, heavy tick season

The Spring is on the horizon! However, according to the Kent County Health Department, that means so is a heavy flea and tick season.   Kent County Health Department recommends using tick-repelling bug sprays, wearing layers and carefully checking for ticks before going back inside. Select the link below for the full news story: Heavy Tick […]

Preparing your lawn and landscape for winter

Now that fall has arrived and your lawn growth has slowed, it’s time to turn your attention to winterizing your property. Here is a checklist of things that need to be done before winter arrives: -Prepare for your last leaf cleanups:-Clean any remaining leaves from the roof-Clean the leaves out of your gutters-Get all the […]

Moles vs Voles

Many people often mistake voles for moles. Moles make underground tunnels while voles make above-ground runaways. Moles eat earthworms, grubs, and insects whereas voles gnaw at the base of trees and shrubs and eat plants, especially grass and flower bulbs. During the winter, voles will tunnel under the snow and create winding trails about 2 […]

Mulching Leaves

The days of raking and bagging leaves should be over for almost everyone. Studies have shown that homeowners have successfully mulched more than 6 inches of leaves back into their lawn. Mulching leaves will chop them into very small pieces; often into dust. From a distance or after substantial rain, you’ll never know your leaves […]