A healthy lawn resists invasion by weeds, insects and diseases. Regular pruning of trees and shrubs is important, as is aerating the soil to reduce compaction and promote root growth.
A comprehensive lawn care schedule includes mowing, watering, fertilizing and aerating. Ask companies about their service schedules and whether they offer satisfaction guarantees or free re-treatments. Visit https://www.primecutlawnky.com/ to learn more.
Mowing lawns is one of the most common services offered by lawn care companies. They use the right tools and knowledge to mow lawns properly and efficiently, avoiding unnecessary damage. They will also weed whack and trim edges to keep your yard clean. Many homeowners appreciate having a lawn service take this chore off their to-do list.
Ideally, a lawn should be mowed weekly or more during the peak growing season. A good lawn service company will know how often to cut based on weather conditions, grass type, and growth pattern. They will set a schedule that keeps your grass looking lush throughout the year.
Lawn maintenance also includes preventative fungicide treatments to protect your turf from the diseases that afflict it. Pests like grubs are notorious for ruining lawns and a good lawn service will keep an eye out for them, treating them before they cause major damage.
A good lawn service will also do regular soil testing, aeration, seeding and weed control. They will also provide fertilization and watering based on the needs of your lawn. They will check for soil discrepancies such as PH and nutrient levels. Lime applications are a necessary step in most areas to help with the balance of your soil.
Landscaping is much more complex, transforming outdoor spaces through design, construction, and planting. It involves creating peaceful, beautiful gardens and natural areas to stroll through. It also involves constructing hardscape elements like walkways, decks, patios, stone walls and fire pits. Finally, it includes the plantation of privacy hedges, foundational plantings and trees and shrubs to create a well-rounded landscape.
Whether you are in need of lawn care or landscaping services, Eden has the experience and expertise to get your yard in top shape. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an estimate for your property. We look forward to helping you make your property stand out in the neighborhood!
Watering
When it comes to watering, balancing the right amount of moisture with the needs of your lawn can be tricky. Overwatering promotes shallow root growth, making your grass more vulnerable to drought conditions. Overwatering can also lead to fungus and disease.
A healthy lawn requires deep roots, which can draw moisture from a soil reservoir below the surface. Frequent shallow waterings can leave the roots dependent on the surface, which makes them more susceptible to drought and other stresses.
Lawn care experts recommend allowing the soil to dry between waterings. The best time to do this is early in the morning. This ensures that the lawn dries completely before nightfall, reducing fungus and disease. It also reduces evaporation, which saves money and keeps the soil healthier by avoiding saturation.
Most lawns need watering three days a week in the spring and summer, with a reduction to two days in fall. However, this may vary depending on weather and local water supply conditions.
Overwatering can be hard to detect. Grass that appears dull or wilted, for example, is likely suffering from heat stress and is in need of more water. A quick way to test if your lawn needs more moisture is to step on it. If the grass springs back quickly, it doesn’t need more water, and you can turn off the sprinklers.
During irrigation, be sure to move the sprinklers frequently to prevent flooding and missed areas. Overwatering can also create puddles, which encourages unwanted pests such as mosquitoes. Additionally, water that pools on hard surfaces can erode the soil, which weakens the roots. This can be particularly problematic on slopes and in heavy soils.
Newly seeded or sodded lawns need special attention to watering. Seedlings need frequent, light applications of water (1/8 inch or less) up to four times a day until they are established. This helps them develop deeper roots that are less sensitive to stress during droughts.
Fertilizing
Keeping your lawn well-fertilized is essential to its health and beauty. The right fertilizer will help it grow densely and keep its lush green color. It will also be better able to resist diseases, pests and weeds. Fertilizing also helps the soil hold nutrients more effectively, and prevents nutrient leaching from the soil into lakes or rivers.
Lawn fertilizer is typically made of three major ingredients – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen promotes growth and gives grass its bright green color. Phosphorus promotes root development and helps grass stand up to heat and drought. Potassium regulates water movement within the plant and improves its ability to withstand cold weather. Different lawns require different types and amounts of these nutrients. When choosing a lawn fertilizer, look for the “N” (nitrogen) and “P” (phosphorus) percentages on the label to know what your lawn needs.
When it comes to applying lawn fertilizer, timing is crucial. If you apply too early, the nutrients may wash away in rainstorms or run off into nearby bodies of water. Too late, and the turf might be in a state of stress, making it difficult to absorb nutrients.
The best time to apply lawn fertilizer depends on the type of turf you have. Cool-season grasses, such as fescue and bluegrass, do best in the fall and into early winter. Warm-season grasses, such as zoysia and annual ryegrass, do best in spring and summer.
There are two main kinds of lawn fertilizers: organic and synthetic. Synthetic fertilizers are man-made chemicals, which are typically cheaper but more harmful to the environment than their organic counterparts. Organic fertilizers are derived from natural materials, such as compost, manure, cottonseed meal, blood meal or seaweed. These are generally better for the earth and for your lawn.
Many local lawn care services offer a variety of lawn maintenance options, including mowing, seeding/overseeding, aeration, pest control and leaf and snow removal. They can also test your soil pH and recommend lime applications as needed. In addition, they can perform fungicide treatments to prevent and control disease-causing fungi.
Aerating
A lush, green lawn makes a beautiful backdrop for flower beds and shrubs, an enjoyable picnic spot or play area and a habitat for birds and other wildlife. But a lush, thick lawn requires more than just mowing and watering. It also needs regular aeration. Aeration involves poking small holes in the soil. It helps relieve soil compaction and improves the grass roots’ water and nutrient consumption. It also allows stale carbon dioxide to leave the ground and fresh oxygen to go in, which is good for both the grass and the earth.
Aeration can be done with a manual lawn aerator or with liquid aerators. When using a manual lawn aerator, the tines or spikes of the aerator poke holes into the surface of the soil, usually about 12 per square foot. Aeration should be done regularly, preferably once each year. When using liquid aerators, the liquid mixes with the soil to create holes. It’s important to note that children and pets should stay off the lawn while this process is happening.
When a lawn is not adequately aerated, it becomes compacted and starves the grass of its essential nutrients. The compacted soil seals solid particles together, preventing air and water from reaching the root system. Excess thatch or heavy organic debris buried under the surface can restrict the flow of these vital substances as well.
Lawn aeration alleviates soil compaction, and the process of aerating itself encourages deep root growth that produces healthy, dense grass. It also decreases disease susceptibility, reduces runoff and polluting the local environment, and increases water retention.
Grass that is healthier and thicker grows better in drought conditions and resists weeds. The best time for aerating cool-season lawns (fescue, rye or bluegrass) is August through October, while warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia or St. Augustine) should be aerated during April through June. If you are not comfortable doing aeration yourself, a professional lawn care company should be able to handle it for you. Just make sure you check with the lawn treatment company for the ingredients of their products before hiring them to work on your property.