Many people are surprised to learn that a healthy lawn does not only enhance the look of your property it is also good for the environment.
Water deeply to encourage profound root growth, and water in the early morning when the sun will quickly dry any surface moisture. Aerate heavy soils to relieve compaction, and scatter grass seed in bare areas for lush new growth. Visit https://www.primecutlawnky.com/ to learn more.
Weeds are a fact of life, but there are things you can do to minimize their impact on your lawn. One way to control weeds is by using pre-emergent herbicides that prevent them from growing in the first place. Professional lawn care services typically apply these in early spring before the grass starts to grow.
Once the weeds are established, they can be much more difficult to control. Many perennial weeds produce seeds that are carried by birds, animals and people, so they can continue to grow for years until their seed bank runs out. They also reproduce vegetatively through creeping stems (stolons and rhizomes), tubers or fleshy roots. These weeds are harder to kill than annual weeds, and can take multiple herbicide applications over several seasons before they finally die out.
To help keep the weeds under control, it’s important to mow your turfgrass regularly at the proper height for your type of lawn. A higher mowing height will shade the weeds, and prevent them from getting light and moisture.
Another good tool for controlling weeds is hand pulling them, particularly when they are young and before they go to seed. If you make this a regular practice, it can dramatically reduce your weed problem. If a large patch of weeds becomes established, you may have to cultivate the soil to bring up any buried rhizomes or tubers.
For a little more help, there are a variety of chemical weed controls available, including both selective and non-selective herbicides. Selective herbicides target only weeds and don’t harm the grass, while non-selective herbicides kill everything they touch. Be sure to read the fine print on product labels carefully, and follow the specific application rates and safety precautions. Improper use of these chemicals can damage your lawn and harm the environment.
Some lawn care products contain both preemergence and postemergence herbicides (usually crabgrass prevention and broadleaf weed control). Use these combination products only when you’ve observed a serious weed problem and are certain the conditions for treatment are met. Otherwise, you may be wasting money and the herbicide could end up damaging your lawngrass.
Fertilization
In addition to weed control, fertilization is one of the most important elements of healthy lawn care. A well-fed lawn has a stronger root system to combat heat, cold, drought, mowing, foot traffic and other stressors. Feeding your lawn two to four times a year will promote thick, green grass and help you achieve the look you desire.
Before you begin fertilizing, it’s important to test your soil. A soil sample will tell you which nutrients are missing, which determines the best type of fertilizer to use. Fertilizers are categorized by their nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. Each number on the fertilizer label represents a percentage of these three nutrients.
A good rule of thumb is to use a general-purpose slow-release granular fertilizer that’s appropriate for your lawn type and climate. Liquid fertilizers are also available, and they provide nutrients quickly for a more vibrant turf.
The first time you fertilize your yard this spring, apply a starter fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to encourage strong roots and new growth. Follow up with a general-purpose lawn fertilizer in late summer to help your lawn cope with the heat and restore its color. Use a winterizer fertilizer in fall to prepare your lawn for the cold.
When applying lawn fertilizer, water thoroughly afterward to prevent burning or over-fertilizing. If you’re going to be mowing your lawn soon after fertilizing, wait a few days before doing so. Doing so gives the fertilizer a chance to break down, and you’ll avoid spreading the excess fertilizer onto your driveway or sidewalk.
Many homeowners use a combination lawn fertilizer and weed killer. While this is convenient, garden experts advise against it. This approach isn’t always effective and often uses chemicals that harm the environment. Using herbicide more specifically when weeds are actually present will help your lawn be healthier and more beautiful. And, if you do need to use herbicide, don’t spray your entire lawn. Instead, spot treat individual weeds with a low-toxicity herbicide. This method will be easier on the environment and won’t harm your lawn as much.
Aeration
A lush, healthy lawn adds value to your home and enhances curb appeal. It also helps keep dirt from seeping into the house and reduces allergy symptoms for you and your family. Lawn care includes a number of maintenance tasks such as weed control, fertilization, seeding/overseeding and core aeration. While most homeowners can handle weed control and fertilization, aerating your lawn requires specialized equipment. Your lawn service will use a device that pokes holes into the soil of your yard, eliminating grass thatch and loosening it up so water and nutrients can get to the roots more easily.
The reason this is important is because Alberta’s dense clay-based soil can be very compacted. Foot traffic, children’s play vehicles and garden maintenance equipment can all contribute to this. The resulting layer of compacted soil suffocates the grass root system by blocking access to vital air, water and nutrients.
Poking holes into the surface of the soil is not enough to alleviate this compaction, but aeration does the trick by removing grass thatch and soil cores as well. This can be done with a spike aerator or a plug aerator, which removes cores of grass and soil rather than just poking holes. Either one will work but a plug aerator is more effective.
Grass roots need air to breathe, and aeration creates mini ventilation channels throughout the lawn to provide this. This allows life-giving oxygen to reach the grassroots, encouraging them to grow thick and strong, fortified against drought and disease. Aeration also opens pathways for water and nutrients to reach the roots, allowing fertilizer and rainfall to be used efficiently.
Aerating your lawn on a regular basis is essential for its health. Ideally, this should be done once every year. Your lawn service will determine the best time to aerate your lawn based on the microclimate of your area and local weather patterns. Before starting the process, water the lawn thoroughly a day or two before. Then apply a lawn food to jump-start the flow of nutrients. If you need to seed or overseed, be sure to do so after the aeration, as grass will germinate and grow much more quickly in a rich aerated soil.
Mowing
A well-kept lawn is more than just grass. A good lawn care company provides many services beyond mowing that help your garden thrive. These may include weed control, fertilization, aeration and more. Some companies even provide spring and fall clean ups to remove fallen leaves and other debris from your yard.
While it’s possible to take on these services on your own, hiring a professional lawn service saves time and effort while ensuring you get the best results from your yard. Professional technicians are trained to spot early signs of weeds, insect infestations and other problems before they become severe and costly.
In general, a lawn should be mowed often enough to keep it free of excessive thatch and to promote upright shoot growth. The ideal thatch level is between one-third and three-quarters of an inch. Too much thatch prevents water, air and nutrients from reaching the roots of your grass. This can cause the grass to become stunted and unhealthy.
When mowing, it’s best to change the direction of mowing frequently to avoid continuous scalping and soil compaction. Alternating mowing patterns also helps to prevent the development of turn marks. Mowing with the proper height is important, too. Too short a cut will cause the grass to become weak and brittle, and it will not stand up well to heavy foot traffic. Mowing at the correct height encourages deep root growth and a stronger, healthier lawn.
Fertilizers are essential for healthy grass, but some types of fertilizers contain chemicals that can damage earthworms and other organisms that help the soil retain nutrients. Look for organic fertilizers that are slow-release and that contain organic matter.
Insecticides are sometimes used in lawn care to kill insects that damage the plants. However, overuse of pesticides can cause the lawn to become more vulnerable by reducing its ability to fend off disease and insect infestation. Look for lawn service providers that use targeted control approaches, such as spot treatments, rather than broad-based spraying.
Fungicides can be helpful in controlling lawn diseases that affect grass, but they are usually only necessary when the lawn is overfertilized, improperly watered, stressed by weather or cut too short. Some diseases are self-limiting, so preventing these problems in the first place is often the best way to ensure a beautiful, lush lawn.