AC Yard Services

Lawn Dethatching vs. Aeration: What’s the Difference?

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Restoring your lawn after a cold, snowy winter can be a challenging task. From clean-up to planting to maintenance, proper lawn care in the spring consists of a long list of responsibilities.

To give your lawn the care and treatment it deserves after a freezing Maine winter, dethatching and aerating are two of the best things you can do. Depending on the situation, your lawn may only need either aeration or dethatching. In some cases, your lawn might need both.

Lawn Dethatching vs. Aeration: What’s the Difference?

Dethatching and Aeration

Both dethatching and aeration are treatments that improve the flow of nutrients to the roots of your lawn. However, they do so by fixing different issues with your lawn.

Dethatching is a process that removes excess thatch – the tangled, matted areas – from your lawn so that nutrients, air, and water can reach the soil. In other words, dethatching is a powerful, deep lawn raking.

Aeration is an efficient method of breaking and treating the soil so that the lawn and the soil under it can breathe. The lawn patches that have constant foot traffic require lawn aeration more frequently than more out-of-the-way areas do.

Although both treatments are used for different issues, the results achieved are quite similar.

When to aerate and dethatch?

There are several ways you can determine if your lawn needs to be dethatched, aerated or both.

Lawn dethatching should be done if your lawn has grown over 1.5 inches tall. It is also helpful for addressing the following conditions:

  • Invading weeds
  • Spongy ground
  • Lawn that is springy to the touch
  • Thinning grass
  • Dry spots
  • Fading color
  • Insects and fungal diseases

Lawn aeration is helpful for addressing the following conditions:

  • Hard soil
  • Thinning grass
  • Brown patches
  • Improper drains
  • Invading weeds
  • Yellow grass, slow growth
  • Stressed shrubs

If you are both dethatching and aerating your lawn, we recommend that you dethatch first to remove debris, dead grass and other organic matter. Once your lawn has been dethatched it makes aeration much easier.

Get in touch with us

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at (207) 712-5554. Our team of experts at AC Yard Services are here to guide you and help take care of your lawn dethatching and aeration needs.

What Plants Can Survive Maine’s Harsh Winter

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Winter in Maine can be pretty harsh. Lack of sunlight, piles of snow and below freezing temperatures make life hard for plants. While it might be difficult for plants to survive outdoors, it doesn’t mean you cannot liven up your indoor living space with fresh greenery and colorful flowers.


What Plants Can Survive Maine's Harsh Winter

Are you curious to find out which plants can thrive in an indoor setting during winter? Well, you’re in the right place. Here are some plants you can keep in any corner of your home to enjoy year-around perks without feeling the need to buy winter-specific plants. 

1) Cacti

Cacti are the subset of succulents and have properties to store water in roots, leaves and stems. The fleshy plants are more adjustable to the cold than any other plant of this type; hence, seating them in a pot can be an excellent planting idea. Adding them at any place in your home will give an exotic touch. You can try keeping mini cacti on your work table.  These plants need to be watered once in a while and they can survive with only a few hours of exposure to direct sunlight during winter.

2) Pine Tree

Potted pines can be brought inside for several weeks at freezing temperature for decor purposes, so you adore the daily dose of aroma paddling around your home. You can add one or more small pine trees to any corner of your home.

3) Winterberries

Winterberries are the iconic winter plants that will add a charm to your house giving your space an exotic feel. They can be used for decor and can add cool colors to your living room. Try placing a mini winterberry plant somewhere in your kitchen. We recommend you provide them with sunlight for at least four hours daily.

4) Snake Plant 

The plant with the best chance of survival in winters is the Snake Plant. Place it at the entrance of your house to add an elegant touch to it. You don’t have to worry about watering it daily. You can even ignore it for a week under the shade in any corner and its long straight leaves will still remain fresh.

5) Poinsettia or Christmas Flower

Poinsettia or Christmas flowers are the top sellers during the winter months. Associated with a pine-like terpenic scent, they only need a maximum of six hours of indirect sunlight each day. Christmas Flowers come in various colors giving a cozy vibe to your home.

No matter which of the above-mentioned plants you choose to beautify your indoor setting this winter, they will surely brighten up your space with minimal care and management.

Get in Touch

If you are still confused about which plants to pick for your space, get in touch with us at (207) 712-5554. Our team of experts at AC Yard Services would love to help you out.

Five Tips For Spring Property Preparation

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Spring is coming! Is your property ready?

When spring arrives in Maine, it is time to celebrate. We made it through another winter! As spring arrives, though, so does a new list of chores to tackle for keeping your yard and property looking their best. At least it’s a little bit warmer out as you tackle these chores than when you’re shoveling.

Winter takes its toll on a yard, and if your yard looks messy and unkempt your entire property will too. If you’re on an annual plan with AC Yard Services, you know that we are committed to keeping your property looking its best year-round, and part of that is doing several tasks in each and every season. For spring, we recommend starting with these five landscaping and yard-work chores to get your property ready:

  • Pick Up Sticks (And Other Debris)
  • Take Care of Overgrown Shrubs
  • Neaten Up Your Gardens and Yard by Edging
  • Clean Out and Freshen Up Your Flowerbeds
  • Put Down Mulch

Family cleaning up lawn with rakes and plastic bags

Pick Up Sticks (and leaves, and acorns, and everything else)

By the time the snow melts it can seem like your yard has turned into a gathering place for all the stray branches, acorns, and litter in your neighborhood. Getting rid of all of this debris can make a big difference in your property’s overall appearance, and it’s a chore that you can start relatively early, even before the snow is all melted. If you get ahead on this chore, your property will look much neater than those around you, and you will have a head start on your overall spring raking, weeding, and planting work.

Take Care of Overgrown Shrubs

Even if you thought you took care of all the trimming in the fall, you might notice some overgrowth in your shrubbery as spring arrives. The shrubbery that is particularly important to take care of in the spring is that closest to your house, especially if it sits right up against it. If shrubbery is overgrown, messy and tight up to your house, it not only looks unsightly but can also trap moisture – something no homeowner wants to deal with as an ongoing problem.

Shrubbery, when neat and healthy, can be an excellent accent to your yard. It creates borders, can help provide privacy, and offers attractive greenery with fairly little maintenance required. But, we’ve all seen what can happen when shrubbery gets out of control. Taking just a little time this spring to tame the shrubs in your yard can be a long-term investment in the health and attractiveness of your property.

Create Borders With Edging

Edging with a flat-edged spade can help you create a neat appearance throughout your yard. Tackle the areas next to sidewalks, along the driveway, your front walk, or around your patio. Edge the side of the lawn so it is a straight line against these property elements, and not overgrown and ragged. You might not even notice how much this project can help your lawn look neater until it’s done, but edging really does make a big difference in the overall appearance of your property. If the snow is gone earlier from some parts of your property than others, you can start with those and get a jump on this project.

Clean Out And Freshen Up Your Flowerbeds

As part of the overall debris cleanup discussed in Tip #1, you probably started getting sticks, branches, and leaves out of your flowerbeds. As we get later into spring, though, you should make a second pass through your flowerbeds to start pulling out weeds and getting rid of debris that may have found its way back there since you did your initial cleanup. Prepping the flowerbeds gets you ready for one of the best parts of spring – getting flowers in the ground!

When spring actually arrives, one of the most important things you can do for your property is to get rid of weeds and put in bright, cheery plants. Consider planting spring annuals, like petunias, to add vibrance to your yard.

Put Down Mulch

If your yard looks good, but you can tell it isn’t quite there yet – consider adding mulch. If the snow is gone, adding a layer of mulch is both a way to add a ‘pop’ to your property while also serving the practical purpose of discouraging weed growth. For weed prevention, apply a 3”-4” layer of mulch.

While mulch is available in several hues, black mulch is an excellent choice for improving a property’s look. Of course, some houses may have a paint color for which a brown or red mulch is a better choice, or some flower choices may do better with a different hue. Overall, though, if you’re not sure – black mulch is most often a good choice.

If you’re starting to tackle your spring chores and think it would be nice to be hand some of them off to professionals, give AC Yard Services a call at (207) 712-5554. Our team is here for you in every season, and we’re always ready to rake, mow, mulch, plant – and more.

Three Chores To Get Done In Your Yard During Late Summer

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Fall Is Coming!

It’s September, the kids are back at school, the Patriots are back, so it’s time to forget about your lawn care with the exception of raking leaves in a couple weeks, right? Wrong. It’s not fall until September 22nd – we’re still in late summer and your yard still needs your attention.

Before the leaves fall and then the snow falls, you need to make sure your lawn and gardens are ready for the change in seasons and the months of being covered by snow. So what yardwork should you be doing now? Here are three we recommend for the late summer:

Cut Your Grass Short

Yes, you should still be mowing. The difference between mowing now, though, and mowing earlier in the summer is that you want to cut your grass shorter in preparation for the fall and winter. With shorter grass, you are helping it to stay healthy because shorter grass is less susceptible to fungus and other issues that can occur when the grass gets wet and cold. When the grass is short, it’s easier for it to dry it. Taller grass gets compacted more easily under snow, stays wet, and more easily plays host to fungus and mold. For a healthier, greener lawn in the spring, put your mower settings down by a couple and cut your grass low now.

Edging Gardens

This time of year, it’s easy to let your flower beds start looking a little messy. Your flowers are starting to go, and it’s Maine, so there will be frost and snow soon enough anyway, right? But both for your property’s aesthetics and your garden’s health, now is a good time to get edging done.

Edging just makes your yard look neater, and it’s always good to have tidy landscaping – especially if you might be putting your home on the market. Getting edging done now also makes it less of a major undertaking in the spring, when you are already faced with a laundry list of yard work to accomplish.

Perhaps most importantly, though, edging in the late summer means that you aren’t putting new growth at risk. Fragile roots can be disturbed by edging, and as plants are starting to blossom in the spring they are more likely to be damaged by edging. Now, though, there isn’t new growth, and your plants are either already gone by or preparing to settle in for the winter.

Trim Shrubs

If your shrubbery is looking a bit overgrown, now is the time to give them a trim. Don’t wait until late fall or until the frost hits – if you do, the trimmed branches won’t have time to harden off and will be damaged by the cold weather. Trimming shrubs now, in late summer, will give them time to harden off but not start new growth that will require yet another trim before winter. If you get this chore done now, it’s another item on your spring list that will either be non-existent or a bit easier than usual.

If you’d like some backup on these or any of the other many chores that maintaining a property in Maine requires each season, give AC Yard Services give us a call (207) 712-5554 or send us a message over email at . Our annual plans help keep your yard looking its best year-round!

Lawn Art: Taking Your Property To The Next Level

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When you see a lawn with stripes mowed into it, doesn’t it just make the property seem somehow nicer? No matter how nicely a lawn is mowed or gardens are landscaped, a yard doesn’t look completely finished until it has a pattern mown into it.

Lawn art shows that you go the extra mile in taking care of your property. If you’re looking to improve your curb appeal, this is a simple step to neaten up your home’s appearance. If you’re a business with a lawn in front of your building, it can help make your company more appealing to clients or potential customers as they feel welcomed into a well kept-up, clearly cared for building.

Lawn Art From AC Yard Services

While stripes are a popular choice for lawn art, they are far from your only option. From simple stripes to more complex designs, the AC Yard Services team is enjoying adding a unique touch to many of our clients’ properties. We can keep it classic with straight lines, or we can get a little more intricate.

That said, having the Red Sox logo mowed into your lawn is lawn art…but that’s not really the type of lawn art we do. We’ll leave that to the Fenway grounds crew.

What can we do? All kinds of geometric designs. Zigzags, checkerboard, even curved lines – if you have an idea in mind, let us know! If you’d like our professional insight into what might work best for your lawn and your property, we’re always happy to advise on landscaping matters.

Classic straight lines can help give your property a clean look. Perhaps you have a curved stone staircase leading into your front door; you can emphasize its beauty by having arcs mowed into your lawn that are aligned with the stairway. Use a checkerboard pattern to show off how dark green and lush your grass is, or use zigzags to add a little character as you make your yard a little neater.

Alternating Lawn Art Patterns

Once you’ve settled on a lawn art pattern, you can always change it from mow to mow. In fact, not only can you change it – you should change it.

When you mow the same way, in the same pattern over and over the grass under the wheels is consistently getting crushed, which can create ruts from mower wheels as well as cause fungus and disease to grow in that part of the grass. Your grass needs to breathe to stay healthy, and by giving areas of it a break from being crushed under mower wheels, or even just have the blades pushed in a different direction, you’re giving it a bit more freedom to breath and to grow.

You don’t have to completely change patterns from curved to zig-zag and back again (though you certainly can), but do something as simple as reverse the direction the curves are facing, or have stripes run vertically instead of horizontally.

Lawn art isn’t just fun, it’s a great way to keep your yard looking its best. If you’ve been looking for a way to take your property to the next level, lawn art might be the solution.

To find out more about AC Yard Services mowing and landscaping services, contact us at by calling (207) 712-5554 or by sending us an email!.

Why Planting Smaller Trees Will Pay Off In The Long Run

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There is certainly something to be said for the gorgeous old maples and oaks that line many neighborhoods in Maine. And of course there’s the iconic pine tree, so impressive and numerous it’s a symbol of our state.

While it might be tempting to plant these recognizable trees in your yard, smaller options may be a better choice for your property.

Smaller Trees Are Better For The Rest Of Your Landscaping

You’ve spent a lot of time on your gardens, and kept your grass green and healthy. Now you’re looking at what trees to add to your landscaping. If you’re not careful, you might find that the trees you plant end up causing some headaches for the care you’ve already put into your property.

A larger tree with dense leaves will grow to the point that it prevents sunlight from reaching a good portion of your lawn or gardens. As a result, grass, flowers, and vegetables won’t be able to grow like they used to. (Not to mention the headache of all those leaves to rake up).

Smaller trees are also less likely to harbor pests that will snack on your flowers and vegetables, or just generally be a nuisance in your yard.

The roots of smaller trees are also less likely to push up through the ground and disrupt your carefully planned landscape borders and flower gardens.

Smaller Trees Are Easier To Maintain

Tall, wide trees can grow to the point that they cover up your windows and block sunlight from your porch. Their branches can get tangled up in electrical wires, and threaten to fall on your roof. Dead or sick branches may pose a danger to the rest of the tree – or to people in your yard if they fall. These are all reasons you may find yourself wanting to prune a tree. But what happens if the branches are large and out of reach? You can always call in professionals, but that gets pretty expensive pretty quickly.

With a smaller tree variety you are more likely to still be able to reach many branches to prune them using your household ladder. As a result, your trees will be able to stay healthier and your property won’t be overrun by large branches and dense leaf cover.

Small Tree Varieties To Consider

  • Beach Plum
  • Serviceberry
  • Redbud
  • Smooth Blackhaw

If you’d like the AC Yard Services team to help you keep your property looking its best, contact us today by calling (207) 712-5554 or by sending us an email!.

Tips to Avoid The Headaches That Come With A Late Season Winter Storm

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By the time March rolls around, we all like to think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and snow and ice will soon be just a memory as spring nears.AC Yard Service plow truck fully equipped driving into the snow

But, we live in Maine.

It’s just the reality of life in the Northeast: Snowstorms are a real possibility well into March and April. To ease the pain of a late season snowstorm, it helps to be ready to tackle the mess of one. Here are two crucial tips to help you prepare for the inevitable spring storm.

Make sure salt, sand and shovels are easily accessible

Once we have a couple of warm March days, it might be tempting to put the salt and sand away in the back of the garage for next year. Remember though, doing so will just make dealing with a late season storm that much harder. When you already have to deal with snow and ice, why add to the frustration by having to fight your way to the back of the garage before work? Or when you’ve just gotten home from a day at the office? Keep your salt and sand easily accessible until the threat of snow and ice really has passed.

The same goes for shovels – don’t pack them away or leave them out where they might get covered if there is an unexpected storm. Have them ready to grab and ready to go. If you have a snowblower, keep it gassed up and ready to start. The quicker you can get started on clearing snow, the quicker you’ll be done with clearing it away.

Roof maintenance

During the depths of winter in Maine, snow and ice collect quickly on the roof. Both present dangerous and potentially expensive problems if not taken care of, and a late-season storm can just exacerbate those problems.

Raking your roof regularly throughout the winter can ensure that a late-season storm doesn’t catch you by surprise and cause problems. One square foot of snow weighs about 20 pounds. That quickly adds up to create a dangerous situation with the potential for roof damage — or even collapse — as well as an environment where ice dams can easily form.

Ice dams are not only a danger to your property because of their weight (57 pounds for one square foot of ice!) but because they cause backups that cause water to seep through your roof and into your house. As we have warmer days followed by cooler days, melting snow and ice get trapped on your roof; the water freezes again, then melts again, and throughout this process, it backs up and you might start seeing leaks in your roof. This isn’t just annoying — it’s expensive, especially when you consider the potential for mold growth on top of the water damage caused.

Taking care of the snow and ice on your roof regularly throughout the winter can help you prevent many headaches when all you want to do is start enjoying the warmer weather.

If you’d prefer to call in the professionals — as well as ensure you don’t have to worry about plowing and snow blowing — contact AC Yard Services to find out how we can help you take care of your property year-round.

Year-Round Plans Aren’t Just Convenient, They’re Smart Landscaping

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AC Yard Services year-round plan customer in Cumberland, Maine

The unpredictability of Maine weather can be both frustrating and exciting. There’s something rejuvenating about stepping outside on a random spring-like day that happens to pop up in the dead of winter. “We’re almost out of it,” you think … until the very next morning when temperatures drop right back down to the low 30s, settling in that range until about mid-April.

However, that unpredictability can take a toll on the overall health and appearance of your property. That is, of course, if you are not giving it the time and attention a property needs. See, there is work to be done in every season that affects your yard for the upcoming one — and the topsy-turvy weather that comes along with it. Because of that, we have put together year-round plans that are designed to help your property thrive season after season.

It’s convenient for you to know that we have you on our radar for everything from planting to raking to shoveling, allowing you to enjoy more of your free time while knowing that your property needs are being addressed. Let us explain how it all works.

Spring & Summer Yard Work

Let’s start at the beginning of the growing season — spring. As your property begins to emerge from underneath the snow and ice, you start looking forward to bright flowers, vegetable gardens, and a green lawn. In order to set your yard and garden up for a beautiful summer, spring yard work needs to be done.

Our various year-round plans each offer different levels of services but all include spring work, like clean-up and mowing that preps your yard for ideal growth in the summer.

It’s important to tackle spring cleanup, not just for aesthetic reasons but also to allow new growth to come in. Dead branches and old leaves can stunt growth of fresh grass and flowers. The AC Yard Services team will come in during the spring to clean up your yard and get it ready for summer growth.

In the summer, your lawn and property are at their peak beauty. To help keep them that way year after year, proper mowing, pruning and other work should be done on a regular basis. Staying on top of such work keeps plants healthy and encourages good growth of your lawn. The healthier your lawn and your plants are overall, the better they will be able to handle Maine’s harsh winters. After all, the sun and warmth only return for a few months, so give your plants the chance to perk up and bloom!

With a year-round plan from AC Yard Services, you don’t have to worry about making time for every chore that needs to be done to keep your yard and gardens healthy. Instead, you can leave that to us and know that your property is being well cared for.

Fall & Winter Yard Work

Raking. Snow removal. Not really crowd favorites.

Nonetheless, they’re important both for the appearance of your property and for the health of your yard and gardens. A year-round plan with AC Yard Services will make sure the leaves are out of your yard before the first snow flies.

We live in Maine, and snow comes early, but we’ll be ready to tackle the leaves in your yard. Keeping up with leaf removal can save your lawn from the impact that months of snow cover on top of leaves can have on your grass. A general fall clean-up can make your yard much easier to deal with come spring, and much more attractive come late spring and summer.

In the winter, a year-round plan with AC Yard Services means you can depend on us to come plow out your property. No more setting your alarm two hours early to get out the shovel so you can get your car out of the driveway. Our plow service is also done with care. We know your property from having worked on it throughout the year, and we’ll take precautions to ensure we’re not running over shrubbery or gardens or causing other damage.

With four unpredictable seasons in Maine, the outdoors work never stops. But when you partner with AC Yard Services, we will make sure the work is done right and done on an effective to keep your property at its best all year.

If you’d like to save yourself some time and keep your yard at its best, contact us today.

Tips to prepare your property for warmer weather

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Freezing cold days, winter weather advisories, school cancelations: It sure does feel like springtime is a long way away.

While that may be the case, it is never too soon to think about what your yard will look like once it emerges from the springtime thaw. Owner Justin Hayden provides a few of his personal tips to get your property in tip-top shape for the spring and summer months. Check out the video below!

If you are looking for a reliable year-round landscaping company to get your property warm-weather-ready, check out our year-round plans. If you would like to learn more, please contact us today.

Three Reasons Why Fall Is the Right Time To Sign Up For A Year-Round Contract

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No matter the season, you can always find something in your yard that needs attention. While summer brings the promise of growth and days in the sun to enjoy your yard, fall yard work is often more about the drudgery. It’s raking and clean-up and getting everything ready for snow. ‘

The good news is that you can take some of the burden off with a year-round contract from AC Yard Services. How do we help you out? Let’s take a look at three reasons why the fall is a great time to sign up for a year-round lawncare contract:

Take Care of Fall Chores

Hate raking? Do you put it off every year until it’s too late, or until you’re out there shivering in your flannel while you rake up soggy leaves? With a year-round contract from AC Yard Services, we’ll make sure your fall chores get taken care of.

It’s important to get your yard cleared of leaves, brush and debris before the snow starts falling in order to protect your yard from damage. When you have leaves piled up on your lawn, then add pounds and pounds of snow on top of it, your lawn starts to suffocate. Sorry to tell you, but in Maine it’s pretty unlikely you’re going to avoid having snow pile up on top of leaves.

Protect your lawn for the months that you can enjoy it, and let AC Yard Services take care of your fall chores.

You’re Covered For Winter

Having peace of mind about your plowing and shoveling needs before winter starts can be a game-changer.

If you sign up for a year-round contract in the fall, you won’t have to panic about getting up early to shovel before work, or spend hours shoveling when you get home. You won’t have to dig your shovel out of the back of the garage, or struggle to make your way across dangerous ice on your property. The AC Yard Services team will take care of it for you.

We offer plowing, sanding, snow blowing, and even roof raking to help keep your property clean and safe all winter long.

Enjoy The Fall!

There’s a lot to love about fall in Maine, and you should be able to enjoy it. When you’re spending hours raking your yard every weekend, you’re missing out on football games, fall foliage hikes, and apple picking with the family. Hire a team of professionals to take care of your fall chores, and you’ll be amazed at the amount of time that frees up for you to spend with your family in our beautiful state.

So don’t miss another minute of the Patriots or another minute in the woods – give AC Yard Services a shout today and we’ll take care of your property year-round.