Have you noticed that your lawn looks damaged and a caterpillar looking creature is crawling around? You may have Army Worms!

Army Worms tend to strike in late summer until the first frost. These pests thrive in warm temperatures! Once it starts becoming colder, thankfully they will no longer survive.





Make sure that you are aware of the signs of Army Worms:

Increased bird activity on your lawn. If you’re wondering why you all of a sudden have birds pecking around, it may be because they’re making a snack out of these worms.

Discolored sod. It may look similar to how it looks when exposed to frost.

Moving Damage. Army Worm damage tends to move from one side of your lawn to the other. This doesn’t always happen like this, but more times than not, this is how you will notice damage.

You’ll especially want to keep an eye out from dusk til dawn! Army Worms may not be seen mid-day or early afternoon, which causes homeowners to believe that none of these pesky pests are present. However, damage can happen overnight.

Be sure to call us at the first sign of what you believe to be Army Worms. The sooner we can get to you, the less damage they can do and the more likely your lawn is to recover.

Give us a call at (864) 275-2039!

By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2022

While it might feel like spring in the Upstate this week, winter is here! It won't be long before those cold fronts start coming through. Is your lawn ready for the cold temperatures? Below are a few tips that could help you prepare your lawn when the temperatures drop!
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1. Spread new mulch. Make sure you use a thicker layer than normal during the winter months. This will protect your soil and plants through winter.
2. If you have potted spring flowers or plants, make sure you bring them inside during the colder months to keep them thriving.
3. Protect flower bulbs by putting extra mulch on them to keep them warm. You may even want to dig up some bulbs and store them in a cool, dark place during the winter months. 
4. Pull up any weeds in your yard. This should help you have less weeds in the spring when everything begins to spread and bloom again. 
5. Try to avoid walking on grass that has frost on it. This can make the grass weak, especially if this happens over and over again. 

If you have any questions or concerns, drop us a comment, send us a message, or give us a call. We will be happy to answer any of your questions!

By: Hannah Raines
​Copyright ALL Outdoors 2021

No matter what you’re shopping for, there is always a premium version and a cheaper option. It is tempting to grab the cheapest item off the shelf…especially since it looks similar to the premium version. However, unless you read the fine print, there may be many differences between the premium and cheap!

This is especially true with grass seed. It is tempting to grab the cheapest bag on the shelf. After all, it’s the same weight bag and the pictures look the same of what your final product will be, right? Wrong! A lower sticker price almost always means that corners have been cut.

Cheap grass seed will most likely contain weed seeds. It is important to check the fine print to find out if there is any filler material and how much!


When looking at a bag of seed you will typically see several areas listed: 
Type of Grass & Brand
Weight- This will clue you in on how much is actually grass seed vs. filler by weight
Breakdown of Seed Volume- How much of each seed type is in the bag
Breakdown of Seed Additives- This will let you know what and how many fertilizers and fillers are in there. Filled with lots of inert material? That’s sawdust, fertilizer or mulch, be sure to steer clear!
Test Dates- This will let you know how well these seeds performed in tests. How well their germination, viability, weed volume and purity is. 
Sell-by Dates- They are good for a certain amount of time after their test date. These are different for every state. 

Be sure to check all of these things to know what you’re buying! You don’t want to buy 90% intert material and only 10% actual seed. 
Cheap grass seed will cause you spend more money in weed control and overseeding. If you don’t read the fine print, you have probably unintentionally planted a lawn full of weeds that will require money spend on weed control to tame. You will also have to overseed with quality grass seed to fix the problem.  

So. in the long run, buying cheap seed will only cost you more. Spend the extra money upfront for a quality product with less filler. 

As, always, we are always here to help you with that decision. We are happy to help recommend better quality brands. Give us a call anytime at (864) 275-2039!

By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2021

It can be hard deciding what type of turf you want in your yard. Whether you choose synthetic or natural, there are always pros and cons. Below you can find both for each lawn choice!

As always we are here to help! We are always willing to help you weigh the pros & cons and find the perfect option for you. Give us a call today!

By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2021

It’s that time again to start making resolutions! If you’re like me, you’ve probably resolved to eat healthier and exercise more, but again, if you’re like me, those resolutions won’t last long. How about creating some resolutions that we can stick to? Resolve to make 2021 the year that you get the landscape you’ve been wanting for years! It could be easier than you think! Check out some projects that you can make your goal to complete this year!

Add a fire pit
We can’t stress this enough, a fire pit is the perfect outdoor living addition to your back yard. It is such a great center piece to have everyone gathered round. Some use it for warmth, some use it for ambiance, but it is perfect for both. It is especially fun to gather round with the family and toast marshmallows to make s’mores!

Landscaping Package
Spend more time with your family and let us do the work for you. We have several different package options, but we can keep your lawn looking great all year long. Check out our packages on the home page of our website!

Plant Shrubs
Shrubs are a wonderful addition to any landscape. They add great personality to any home landscape. They also make great border plants!

Plant Flowers
Who doesn’t love flowers? They add the perfect pop of color to any area. You can also always have fresh flowers in the house when you have a fresh supply out in your yard!

Grow a Garden
Nothing is better than fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs out of the garden. While you can get the most output in the summer, gardens can be grown all year round! There is always something to grow and harvest and I can guarantee it will taste better than anything you can find at the store!

Add a Patio
Patios are a wonderful addition to spruce up the back yard. It is the best investment because you will use it more than you know. We are lucky enough to live in a place where we don’t have too harsh of a winter, so you are sure to use a patio space all year long!

Many of these projects you might feel like you can tackle on your own, but for others you may want our help! We would love to assist you in helping you meet these resolutions in 2021 and beyond. Give us a call today at (864)275-2039!

By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2021

​Well, to answer the question in the title of this blog….now, now is the time to apply pre-emergent! Pre-emergent herbicide is a very important tool to keep weeds out of your lawn. However, it’s important that you get it down in time. 
 
Pre-emergent herbicide is meant to control germinating weed seeds. This herbicide is designed to target weeds that are pre-emergent (just like the name states) that have not yet emerged from the soil. Weeds should not be visible above the ground when the herbicide is applied because that means the weeds have already emerged. 
 
Pre-emergent is not designed to control existing weeds! This is why it must be applied to your lawn BEFORE weeds begin to sprout. The weeds will only be killed when it sprouts from the seed and hits the herbicide barrier. 
 
It is very important that you thoroughly cover your lawn with pre-emergent. It is important that you cover an entire area, otherwise some weeds can slip through the empty spaces. Spot spraying is ineffective and unnecessary. 
 
Some weeds remain dormant for long periods of time. This is why weed control is an ongoing process. You can’t apply pre-emergent and expect all of your weeds to be taken care of. It will prevent many of them from popping up, but those that lie dormant could sprout later in the season. This is why weed control is important all year long!
 
If you have any questions or concerns about weed control, drop us a comment, send us a message or give us a call. We will be happy to answer any of your questions!
 
By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2020

Fall is in full swing. Leaves are falling, the temperatures are cooler, the days are shorter and grass isn’t growing as fast. It’s easy to forget that we still need to be taking care of our lawns, but now is the time to make sure that your lawn is ready for late fall and winter. There are several things that you can do during this time of year to keep your lawn thriving. 
 
Don’t leave the leaves lying on your lawn. If rain falls, it can create a matte of leaves and cause disease and damage to your lawn. Sunlight and nutrients are unable to reach the roots of the grass. A resourceful use of the fallen leaves is to mulch them into your lawn. They can provide lots of nutrients for your lawn!
 
Don’t forget to mow your lawn during fall, but not too short! During this season, it’s a good idea to keep your lawn around 2.5-3 inches tall. If you cut your lawn too short, this can damage your lawn’s root system and leave your lawn susceptible to the cold and dryness of the winter to come. 
 
Watering is also important to keep your lawn thriving during fall. The night time temperatures are cold so you don’t want frozen hose pipes or spigots attached to irrigation systems, but you do want to make sure that your lawn is still receiving enough water. Your lawn still needs around an inch of water a week. 
 
Also, as fall comes to an end, it is important that your lawn has enough nutrients. Fertilizer can help your lawn survive the cold winter that will soon approach.  While nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are all important to your lawn, making sure your lawn has enough potassium is key. It encourages root growth, protects from diseases, cold resistance and drought tolerance. It is always good to do a soil test first to determine what your lawn needs. 
 
If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn, drop us a comment, send us a message or give us a call. We will be happy to answer any of your questions!
 
By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2019

​Fall has officially arrived and the leaves are finally starting to slowly change color and fall to the ground. Before you know it, your whole yard will be covered! Many people are unsure of what to do with this abundance of leaves. Usually in the fall, you see neighborhood streets lined with garbage bags filled with raked up leaves. However, there is so much more that you can do with the leaves!
 
Leaves are full of nutrients, so they can definitely be put to good use! However, don’t let leaves just sit on top of your lawn. If too many leaves pile up, they can block out air and sunlight from reaching the roots of your lawn. It is even worse if rain is added to the mix. Rain causes the leaves to be matted and if this is left too long, it can cause turf diseases to develop. 
 
The quickest and easiest way to take advantage of the leaves’ nutrients is to mulch them into your lawn. Most mowers have mulching blades that cut up the leaves into tiny pieces that settle in your lawn. These ground up pieces will decompose and provide free and all-natural food for your lawn!
 
Leaves can also be used to protect plants. Adding a layer of leaves will help insulate, adding protection from the cold weather and helping your plants be healthy when spring comes along. 
 
You can also use leaves to prepare for your next garden. If you have an area that is typically a garden bed, pile the leaves over this soil. By time spring comes, the leaves will be partially decomposed. You can then till the decomposed leaves into the ground and have healthy soil for your garden. Similarly, if you have a compost bin, you can add the leaves in there as well!
 
If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn, drop us a comment, send us a message or give us a call. We will be happy to answer any of your questions!
 
By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2019

The best air ​Fall is arriving soon and that means that it’s time to aerate your lawn! This month is the time that you should be aerating. Also, aerating goes hand in hand with overseeding your lawn. These are two things that are done together. Aerating and overseeding are done to prepare your lawn for cold weather months ahead and to help your lawn grow back green in the spring! It is important to aerate your lawn, especially if your lawn began as sod, receives heavy foot traffic or has thatch build-up. 
 
It is very important that the conditions are right to aerate your lawn. The best time is when the temperature is cooler, but the soil is still warm. The best air temperature is between 60-75 degrees. It is also important that the ground is moist. Before aeration, it is important that either it has rained the day before or you have watered your lawn.

​Next, is overseeding. Before overseeding, fertilizer should be spread over the aerated soil. Then the ground should be overseeded. After overseeding, it is important to rake ground so that the seeds are able to create good contact with the soil. After all of this has been completed, it is important that your aerated and overseeded lawn is watered properly. 
 
Here at ALL Outdoors, we offer services to aerate and overseed your lawn for you, but spots do fill up fast! If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn, drop us a comment, send us a message, or give us a call. 

By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2019