How to Keep Geese Away for Good!

Geese can cause a significant mess in your yard. They are coming to your lakefront or pond because you are close to a body of water, making it a convenient spot for them to be, since they can be close to a food source. You may have tried everything to keep them off your lawn and from causing a mess for you.

You are not alone in this struggle. That is why Lake Restoration has a goose barrier system that is placed between your yard and your water to keep the unwanted geese off your yard! 

The Goose D-Fence system from Lake Restoration works great as a goose control fence, keeping geese off your dock, yard and other areas where they are not wanted. So what makes Goose D-Fence effective?

How and Why it Works

Goose D-Fence provides a barrier between your yard and the water. Geese need access to food and water every 30 minutes, or they will move to a more desired location if they can’t easily access it (they shed feathers in the summer, making them not want to fly if not necessary). Since geese on your lawn will not be able to access the water because of the fence, they will leave and go to a more desirable location.

What is it Made of?

Goose D-Fence is a retractable line system that can be set up and taken down within minutes. The line used in the Goose D-Fence is a clear, mono-filament line, making the Goose D-Fence a very inconspicuous goose control option. The housing unit contains a total of 500 ft of line and comes with one additional post. The traditional two line setup will cover a span of 250 ft.

Where can you use it?

Below are a few setup examples.

*Some set-ups require more than one system, or additional posts to go around corners and every additional 50-60 feet you are trying to cover. 

Set-up and Take-Down Instructions

Watch how to set-up and take-down the Goose D-Fence System. https://www.youtube.com/embed/eF92EdF5Ccw.

The great thing about Goose D-Fence is that you can take it down and put it back up within 10 minutes. Take it down to mow your grass or let the kids play, then put it right back up afterwards. It is simple and fast to keep geese gone!

Geese control can be a challenge for many homeowners. Goose D-Fence is designed to eliminate the unwanted pests and keep them gone and off of your property! Visit us online at LakeRestoration.com, or call a Lake Expert at 877-428-8898!

Keep geese off you lawn for good with Goose D-Fence!

As the weather gets a little colder and the leaves start turning, it’s time to start thinking about prepping your yard for next summer! Fall is a great time to care for and prep your lawn, garden, structures, water landscapes and other landscapes. Doing the work on your yard now will set you up for a smooth-sailing winter and a great spring ahead.

So where do you start? Follow these tips and steps for successful fall prep! 

Clean Up:

Start with the easiest step first. Pick up any garbage laying around, and get rid of any junk you’ve been meaning to take to the dump. This will make things a lot easier with less clutter to get in your way! You can also take the time to clean out your sheds and garages to get rid of excess clutter and re-organize.

Lawn Tips:

Your grass growth may slow down as the fall arrives, but this does not mean you should neglect it. Keep on mowing and watering your grass until the sprinklers must be blown out (if you’re in a climate that requires it). You can also cut your grass shorter for the last couple of mowings.

Aerating the soil will help when it comes time to fertilize your lawn. The holes the aerator produces in your lawn will allow water and air to get into your grass, therefore increasing the health. Fertilizing in the fall is very important in setting up your lawn for good growth in spring and summer. 

Clean Out Gutters:

Cleaning out any falling leaves, sticks or other debris from your gutters will be crucial to making sure your gutter systems work properly for winter precipitation.

Rake Leaves:

This could be a fun one to recruit your kids for! Keeping leaves off your lawn will help the grass and soil breath better. Also, rotting and decaying leaves can sometimes create fungal diseases on your grass. Rake and bag the leaves early on so they don’t have time to harm your grass. 

Plants and Gardens:

Make sure you take time to trim down bushes and annual plants.  You can even take some leaves you rake and put them around your plants as an insulator. Remove any dead plants that won’t make it another season. Make sure to mix in your compost to help replace soil nutrients lost during the summer growing season. Take note in your vegetable garden of which veggies and plants did well, and which did not.

Prepare Ponds and Water Features:

You may think that since summer is ending you don’t need to do anything else to your pond this year, but think again! Your pond could greatly benefit from adding nutrient reducers, such as PhosControl and SparKlear to it during fall. This will help break down any decaying weeds, algae and muck in your pond, as well as reduce nutrients in your pond that are necessary for algae and aquatic weed growth. 

Yard Pest Control:

Did you know ticks are still active in the fall months? Make sure to spray your property or wooded areas near your yard to keep ticks away. Multiple Lake Restoration pest products will repel ticks when sprayed outside near wooded areas and grasses. Also, keeping long vegetation in your yard short as the fall comes will help keep ticks off your property. Lake Restoration pest products will control many other pests as well!

Get a head start on all of your fall prep. Make a list of what you need, where to start, and which projects take president over the others. This will ensure that by the time winter comes, you will already be prepared for spring!

The new Vitaflume® floating fountains from Lake Restoration made their debut this spring, and have already found homes in lakes and ponds around the country!

 
Lake and pond floating, aerating fountains offer all kinds of great benefits to your pond and lake, including:
·         Exchange of gasses trapped in your pond or lakeshore.
·         Keeps movement in your pond and lakeshore so algae doesn’t settle and form mats.
·         Aerating fountains add oxygen into the water, increasing your pond’s overall health.
·         Adds beauty to your lake or pond.

Pond fountains and lake fountains can be very beneficial to your water, but what makes Vitaflume® floating fountains the best option for your lake or pond? Also, what sets them apart from the competitor?

Water volume:

Vitaflume® floating fountains have a mechanism built into the pump that creates a higher volume water turn rate than some fountain pumps. The Vitaflume® ½ Horse Power pump produces 130 gallons per minute! That’s 7,800 gallons per hour. Many other pumps can only do around 2,400 gallons per hour. The larger size ¾ HP and 1 HP Vitaflume® pumps can produce 8,660 to nearly 10,000 gallons per hour.

More gallons moved per hour equals more efficient aeration for your pond or lake!

Quality parts:

The motor is made for durability, and the stainless steel pump housing and filter creates for a high-quality fountain that won’t easily break or become clogged. The pump float is made of a hard, durable plastic. Using high quality parts makes Vitaflume® a reliable option, and one that will last for many years to come.

Options:

Vitaflume® allows you to choose the look and fit of your fountain for your water feature. With Vitaflume®, you can choose from the standard Vortex spray pattern, or from the Esprit and Flurish patterns. You also have the option to add 3 LED lights that attach to the float so that your fountain lights up in the dark! Choose from 3 cord lengths, 50, 100, and 150 foot. 1/2, 3/4, and 1 HP pumps change the amount of water produced and the size of the spray pattern. 

Price:

Vitaflume® floating, aerating fountains are manufactured in house at Lake Restoration, making them direct from the manufacturer (which saves you money and ensures quality). You can be confident that if you will be dealing with us when in need of technical support, or any other assistance.

Visit LakeRestoration.com, or call 877-428-8898 to talk to a Lake Expert about a fountain for your lake or pond! 

If you are like most people with a pond, you may be in a constant battle with algae and pond weed growth during the warmer months of the year. This is because aquatic plants thrive in warm weather and the conditions that it brings to your pond.

Lack of water movement can create a buildup of gases in the water caused by decaying leaves and algae that don’t have a chance to be exchanged back into the air. Runoff from lawn fertilizer or farm fields could also cause an abundance of nutrients in the water that only fuels algae and weed growth.

So what are some things you can do to control and reduce the amount of built up organic matter and excess nutrients in your pond?

Nutrient Reducers:

Lake Restoration offers two nutrient reducers specific for ponds, SparKlear® and PhosControl®.

SparKlear® contains bacteria and enzymes that work in your pond to break up organic matter (such as muck, grass, algae, and dead and decaying weeds and leaves). While reducing the amount of organic matter in your pond that algae feeds from, it also improves water clarity in you pond.

A pint of SparKlear® starts at $23.70, and more sizes are available depending on the size of your pond. We recommend treating once a month with this product.  Try applying it with the TORMADA® remote control application boat!

PhosControl® works by using aluminum sulfate to bind with phosphorus in your water. Phosphorus is another nutrient aquatic weeds and algae like (phosphorus can be from farm field or lawn fertilizer runoff). Without excess phosphorus in your water, weed and algae reproduction will slow down. Just one pound of phosphorus can produce 500 pounds of aquatic plant and algae growth, so making sure phosphorus isn’t in your water could be the key to successful aquatic weed and algae management.

1 pound of PhosControl® is $19.99 and will cover 2,000 square feet. Larger sizes are available.

Keep organic debris from getting in our pond:

You can reduce the amount of organic matter buildup in your pond by keeping things like weeds and grass clippings out of your pond. These grass clippings and weeds create food for algae.

Overall Solution:

If you are using an algaecide, you should also be using a nutrient reducer to help prevent prime algae conditions. We recommend using the following products to prevent weeds, algae, and nutrients:

Dibrox® Hercide: for submerged and floating weeds

Mizzen® Algaecide: for existing algae

SparKlear®: to reduce nutrients and clarify water

Sapphire Bay® Blue Pond Dye: for a pleasing blue color

Shop these products at LakeRestoration.com.

Did you know there is a way to remove unwanted lake weeds and muck in as little as 24 hours? You can do this with help from the LAKEMAID® lake weed and muck removal system from Lake Restoration!

You won’t have to strain yourself by removing weeds by raking them with a traditional lake rake. All you need to do is install the LAKEMAID® lake rake where you want it to remove weeds and muck, then sit back and let it do the work for you!

How it works:

The LAKEMAID® has a pump with two arms on floats that drag rakes across the bottom of your lake bottom. As the rakes drag over the weeds, it gently breaks them up. Since weeds are mostly made of water, the weed debris will not wash up on shore after they break up, they will simply disintegrate.

The rakes also expose the sand bottom of your lake from silt and muck. It makes over 1,000 rake passes per day. Once you’ve eliminated the weeds from one area, you can pick up the LAKEMAID® and move it to a different spot in your swim area and start the removal process there. Keep moving the LAKEMAID® until you’ve reached the desired results in your dock and swim area.  

Features:

The LAKEMAID® comes in two sizes, 24 and 36 foot units. It is easy to install, is remarkably lightweight, and can be done with just one person. It only takes about 15 minutes to install or to remove, making it easy to share or move to a different location.

24 foot unit

·         Covers 450 sq ft

·         Includes a 1 Horsepower pump

·         7 chain rakes

·         Finisher rakes (1, 6ft and 1, 3ft)

36 foot unit

·         Covers 1,010 sq ft

·         Includes a 1 HP pump

·         10 chain rakes

·         Finisher rakes (2, 6ft and 1, 3ft)

The LAKEMAID® can help you feel the sand beneath your feet in your dock and swim area in no time!

If you are interested in the LAKEMAID® lake rake system, please visit LakeRestoration.com, or call us at 877-428-8898 to speak to a Lake Expert. 

In peak algae season all over the country, it is not uncommon for bodies of water to have at least a little bit of algae on them. High temperatures are perfect growing weather for algae. Algae is a normal part of a water ecosystem, but when algae overgrows rapidly, it can become dangerous. Toxic algae can occur in all 50 states.

What is toxic algae?

When algae experiences an overgrowth, this is called an algae bloom. Some large algae blooms contain toxins that are harmful to humans. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are the harmful type of algae blooms. Algae blooms can occur in salt and fresh water and can be toxic to humans and animals alike. These blooms happen in slow moving water, in high-sunlight areas, and in waters with excess nutrients that algae like to feed off of (nitrogen and phosphorus).

An algae bloom can look like paint on the water or like scum. These can vary in color, from green, red, blue and brown. It will most often smell foul as well.

Harmful effects of toxic algae:

Animals and humans can experience negative side effects of toxic algae exposure. Irritation or rashes can happen, along with vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, and more. In pets that have been exposed, lethargy, difficulty breathing, vomiting may occur. If symptoms are left untreated, severe illness or even death may occur. If you or a pet is exposed to toxic algae, wash off and monitor for signs of exposure for the following few hours. Seek medical attention if symptoms are occurring.

If you see toxic algae, report it to your local authorities and stay away from the water. Don’t allow kids or pets in the water.

How to prevent and treat growth:

Since large algae blooms happen due to conditions such as ample sunlight, excess nutrients, and stagnant water, there are a few things you should consider doing to prevent prime algae overgrowth.

1.       Treat existing algae with an algaecide, such as Mizzen® algaecide from Lake Restoration.

2.       Use a nutrient reducer, such as SparKlear® or PhosControl® to rid your water of excess nutrients that aid in rapid algae growth. Make sure grass clippings and leaves aren’t getting into your water (this creates more excess nutrients in your pond).

3.       Use an aerating fountain, like the Vitaflume® floating fountain from Lake Restoration. The fountain will help keep water moving and gas exchanged between the water and the air.

While algae growth is common this time of year and is a normal part of a healthy pond, overgrowth of algae can be dangerous. Take precautions and prevent algae from taking over your pond with the help of products from Lake Restoration! Shop all pond weed and algae products online at LakeRestoration.com. FREE SHIPPING* on all orders!

As the temperatures rise around the country this time of year, you may find that your pond is looking more green than usual. This is because warm temperatures, along with organic matter and excess nutrients in the water can create the perfect environment for very rapid algae growth.

To keep a clear pond, especially at this point in the season, you need to be proactive about making sure you are taking the right steps to keep algae away. Keeping your pond clear of algae is similar to weeding your garden; you need to keep up with it, or it will get out of control. We recommend treating every 3-4 weeks to keep your pond looking great!

Take note of some helpful tips and product recommendations to keep up with your pond.

1.       Using an algaecide regularly

Using an algaecide, like our copper-based Mizzen® algaecide, will be a key factor in eliminating algae once it is grown underneath or on top of your pond. Mizzen® is sprayed over the algae or can be applied with the TORMADA® remote controlled application boat. Mizzen® can help clear up your pond in as little as 7-14 days, with full results seen in a month. Algae can re-grow rapidly, even within a few days, so make sure you have enough Mizzen® on hand for a second treatment or spot treating throughout the season. One gallon of Mizzen will cover 20,000 square feet, and is $34.95. Mizzen® is also available in smaller sizes or gallon packs.

2.       Use a nutrient reducer as part of your treatment plan

Nutrient reducers, such as SparKlear® and PhosControl® can reduce the organic matter in your pond that weeds and algae feed off of. When used in conjunction with an algaecide, you will be reducing existing algae and making it harder for it to regrow. SparKlear® contains bacteria and enzymes that eat away at the nutrients in your pond, and it can help improve your pond’s water clarity. PhosControl® contains aluminum sulfate that binds with phosphorus (which algae feed off of) making the phosphorus unavailable for the algae. Monthly treatments with these products is recommended.

3.       Consider aeration to help keep water clear

Aerators or aerating fountains work to keep water moving and will help exchange gases trapped in the water that are aiding in algae growth. Lake Restoration offers Vitaflume® floating aerating fountains in 3 different sizes and can move 7,000-10,000 gallons of water per hour. Fountains keep water moving so that algae mats cannot form like they would in more stagnant waters. Aerating fountains help your pond “breathe,” and they also look great as a centerpiece. Vitaflume® starts at $975 and offers optional spray patterns and lighting so you can customize the look of your centerpiece.

4.       If you also have weeds, we recommend using the following products for an overall healthy pond:

Dibrox® herbicide: controls floating and submerged weeds like Eurasian Watermilfoil and duckweed.

Mizzen® algaecide: to control filamentous and planktonic algae in scum.

SparKlear® or PhosControl® nutrient reducers: to reduce algae fuel and sludge, and improve water clarity.

Sapphire Bay® Pond Dye: Do give your pond a pleasing blue color.

*for lakes and dock and swim areas, use Mizzen®, Dibrox® and MuckMaid® pellets.

Following these steps will help improve your pond’s health over the hottest months of the summer when algae growth is rapid.

Visit LakeRestoration.com, or call an Aquatic Expert to learn more about these products. 

As the temperatures rise around the country this time of year, you may find that your pond is looking more green than usual. This is because warm temperatures, along with organic matter and excess nutrients in the water can create the perfect environment for very rapid algae growth.

To keep a clear pond, especially at this point in the season, you need to be proactive about making sure you are taking the right steps to keep algae away. Keeping your pond clear of algae is similar to weeding your garden; you need to keep up with it, or it will get out of control. We recommend treating every 3-4 weeks to keep your pond looking great!

Take note of some helpful tips and product recommendations to keep up with your pond.

1.       Using an algaecide regularly

Using an algaecide, like our copper-based Mizzen® algaecide, will be a key factor in eliminating algae once it is grown underneath or on top of your pond. Mizzen® is sprayed over the algae or can be applied with the TORMADA® remote controlled application boat. Mizzen® can help clear up your pond in as little as 7-14 days, with full results seen in a month. Algae can re-grow rapidly, even within a few days, so make sure you have enough Mizzen® on hand for a second treatment or spot treating throughout the season. One gallon of Mizzen will cover 20,000 square feet, and is $34.95. Mizzen® is also available in smaller sizes or gallon packs.

2.       Use a nutrient reducer as part of your treatment plan

Nutrient reducers, such as SparKlear® and PhosControl® can reduce the organic matter in your pond that weeds and algae feed off of. When used in conjunction with an algaecide, you will be reducing existing algae and making it harder for it to regrow. SparKlear® contains bacteria and enzymes that eat away at the nutrients in your pond, and it can help improve your pond’s water clarity. PhosControl® contains aluminum sulfate that binds with phosphorus (which algae feed off of) making the phosphorus unavailable for the algae. Monthly treatments with these products is recommended.

3.       Consider aeration to help keep water clear

Aerators or aerating fountains work to keep water moving and will help exchange gases trapped in the water that are aiding in algae growth. Lake Restoration offers Vitaflume® floating aerating fountains in 3 different sizes and can move 7,000-10,000 gallons of water per hour. Fountains keep water moving so that algae mats cannot form like they would in more stagnant waters. Aerating fountains help your pond “breathe,” and they also look great as a centerpiece. Vitaflume® starts at $975 and offers optional spray patterns and lighting so you can customize the look of your centerpiece.

4.       If you also have weeds, we recommend using the following products for an overall healthy pond:

Dibrox® herbicide: controls floating and submerged weeds like Eurasian Watermilfoil and duckweed.

Mizzen® algaecide: to control filamentous and planktonic algae in scum.

SparKlear® or PhosControl® nutrient reducers: to reduce algae fuel and sludge, and improve water clarity.

Sapphire Bay® Pond Dye: Do give your pond a pleasing blue color.

*for lakes and dock and swim areas, use Mizzen®, Dibrox® and MuckMaid® pellets.

Following these steps will help improve your pond’s health over the hottest months of the summer when algae growth is rapid.

Visit LakeRestoration.com, or call an Aquatic Expert to learn more about these products. 

If you haven’t heard the news, ticks have been a major problem this year. Experts are saying the increase in tick population is due to the larger population of white footed mice that carry Lyme disease. The warmer weather and earlier heat up has helped mosquitoes breed and thrive this year as well.

If you live in a wooded area or are near a water source, you probably are well-aware of these pest issues. So how can you stop these pest in their tracks and maintain an enjoyable yard, free of pests?

Lake Restoration is now carrying a full line of pest control products, including products for use on ticks, adult mosquitoes, and mosquito larvae.

Most of the general pest control products can be sprayed indoors and outdoors on a variety of surfaces, including: lawn, turf, shrubs, greenhouses, kennels, parks, restaurants, warehouses, etc. These products are labeled for many pests, including: ticks, spiders, bed bugs, ants, mites, crickets, bees, wasps, cockroaches, etc. (see labels for full list of surface uses and pests controlled).

For specific pest, use the following products:

Mosquitoes

Larvae: Microbe-Lift (only works on mosquitoes and can be used in the TORMADA® application boat from Lake Restoration).

·         Apply to water with TORMADA® boat or sprayer every two weeks for full effects.

Adult mosquitoes: Bifen IT and Demon Max

·         These products can be used in a sprayer and should not be used in water.

·         Can be used on greenery, gardens, lawns and other area where mosquitoes are common.

·         Apply at average rates for adult mosquitoes.

 Ticks

Bifen IT, Demon Max, Cynoff EC, Talstar, and LambdaStar CS are all labeled to control ticks. These products can be sprayed on a variety of surfaces (check label restrictions on uses indoors and outdoors).

·         Do not spot treat areas for ticks, treat whole area where present.

·         Use higher rates of application for areas with heavy leaf litter.

·         Retreat during high-pest season times when necessary.

·         Continue treatments during season only if signs of tick activity still exist.

Deer Ticks: treat in late fall and/or early spring to low-lying vegetation

American Dog Ticks: Treat as needed along pathways and roadways, as needed, from mid-spring to early fall.

Other Pests

Excluding Microbe-Lift, all of our other pest products are labelled for many different types of pest and insects. See the individual product labels for complete lists of pest controlled and the surfaces and areas that these products can be used in.

Ticks, mosquitoes, and other pests can be a bother. Not only are they annoying, they can carry deadly diseases as well. Lake Restoration pest products will help keep your yard and structures free of pests, making your spaces safe and enjoyable. Visit LakeRestoration.com to shop and learn more about our pest control line. 

Summer is here! That means if you live by a lake or pond, you are exploring options on how to treat weeds and algae. Treating weeds and algae takes time and planning, and can sometimes be a daunting task depending on how accessible your water features are (and how easily you can get in a boat to treat your pond with a sprayer).

Do you have trouble getting into your water with a boat to be able to spray or dump product in your pond or dock and swim area? Do you want to take the chore out of treating for weeds and algae each year?

The TORMADA® application boat, manufactured by Lake Restoration, will solve those problems for you, making applying liquid product to your water simple and fun! With the TORMADA® application boat, you can stand at your dock or shore and empty product from the TORMADA® with a remote control.

The TORMADA® can be used with many liquid Lake Restoration herbicides and algaecides, and even some pest control products. Some products include:

·         Dibrox®

·         Mizzen®

·         Liquid 2,4-D

·         Liquid SparKlear®

·         Spritflo®

The TORMADA® comes in two different models. The standard TORMADA® comes ready to go right out of the box.  The TORMADA T2 also comes ready to go, but the boat features an electric ON/OFF valve that allows you to control the product outflow by remote. This allows you to drive to the product treatment are with the product valve closed.  Once the boat gets to the treatment site, you can open the valve and apply the product.

The battery operates for approximately 20 minutes on one charge, and the tank capacity is one gallon. The remote control allows you to control fan speed and direction. At under 3ft long and weighing only 20 pounds, the TORMADA® is easy to maneuver to your water area and is easy to clean.

Using the TORMADA®

Filling the TORMADA® with liquid products is easy and should be done on the shore before putting the TORMADA® in the water. Simply place a funnel into the opening on top of the TORMADA® and pour in product. Put the cap back on the tank opening and place the TORMADA® in the water. Turn the valve on the TORMADA® to the flow rate you would like (or adjust it on the T2 Series with the remote control). Planning your route ahead of time will help save product and time. Bring the TORMADA® back to shore and close the flow valve.

The TORMADA® will save you time and effort when treating your weeds this summer. There’s no better time to order than now to take advantage of our FREE SHIPPING* offer! Give it a try today!